30 best restaurants in Edinburgh 2025

Special occasions

The Spence combines a stunning domed venue with beautifully presented food, but it’s not just about appearances. While the building is historic, elegant and dramatic, the service is exceptional (informed, friendly and attentive). Its creative dishes deliver seasonality exceptionally well. While every quality restaurant boasts ‘seasonal produce’ The Spence truly taps into the shapes, colours, tastes and textures of the month. In spring and summer, savour the delicate flavour and fresh crunch of dressed crab with apple and celery on grilled brioche. The vibrant hues of the ricotta agnolotti with courgette, macadamia and basil, embody ‘spring on a plate’. End with the tart sweetness of a rhubarb and custard mille-feuille. Alongside an imaginative cocktail menu, it’s worth noting the non-alcoholic options make abstaining a pleasure – try the ‘Walnut’ cocktail featuring smoky lapsang souchong tea. Children’s menu also available. Mains from £18. gleneagles.com/townhouse/eat-drink/the-spence/

Where: The Spence, 39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD

Ardfern

Casual dining

Chef Roberta Hall McCarron has a trio of restaurants in Edinburgh. Leith’s Ardfern café, bar and bottle shop is open seven days, from 9am till late, kickstarting the day with breakfast and batch brew coffee, and ending the night with vino and sharing plates. Mid-morning highlights include oysters, hash browns and crab dauphine with Singapore sauce, but traditional ‘Full Scottish’ breakfasts and filled rolls are also available. Small plates from £8. Also try McCarron’s ‘Little Chartroom' and ‘Eleanore’. ardfern.uk

Where: Ardfern, 10-12 Bonnington Rd, EH6 5JD

The Witchery

Special occasions

Destination dining doesn’t get more atmospheric than this. The Witchery is a darkly intimate experience in a romantic Baroque setting. It occupies a 16th century building in Boswell’s Court, and the name refers to the witches burned at the stake nearby. Enter a candlelit close to access The Witchery original restaurant, or book a table at the equally atmospheric Secret Garden, where an identical menu is served. Traditional meats, fruit and veg are reimagined in dishes such as venison, partridge, pheasant and duck liver terrine to start, confit of celeriac with hazelnut beurre noisette crumb as a main, and a Pink Lady apple tart tatin for dessert. Imagine the swish of petticoats and hark back to the days of John Knox, Mary Queen of Scots and her witch-hunting son James VI. Nine luxury suites make an escapist overnight stay a fantastical possibility. Mains from £30. The Witchery's sister restaurant is ‘Rhubarb' at Prestonfield House. thewitchery.com

Where: The Witchery, 352 Castlehill, EH1 2NF

Noto

Casual dining

Stuart Ralston is a king among Edinburgh chefs, with four contrasting ventures to his name. Choose between his first restaurant Aizle, Tipo for Italian or Michelin-starred Lyla. A relaxed introduction to Ralston’s world is Noto. Expect small plates with Asian flavours — the menu is peppered with references to temaki, ponzu, wasabi, katsobushi, wagyu and sake. The fried shiitake mushroom doughnuts and soy pork belly are ideal dishes to share. Don't share the North Sea crab with warm butter, as that’s definitely one to keep to yourself... Small plates from £11. Open every day from noon. notoedinburgh.co.uk

Where: Noto, 47a Thistle Street, EH2 1DY

Haggis Box

Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly

Grab some of Scotland’s iconic haggis on Edinburgh’s bustling Royal Mile. In this informal setting, try haggis (traditional, gluten free, vegetarian/vegan) from Findlay’s of Portobello Butcher. Then add your sauce, such as Auchentoshan whisky and mustard sauce or red wine gravy, for an additional £1.50. The Haggis Box is a daytime pitstop, housed in the Scottish Storytelling Centre, so visitors can brush up on their local tales and folklore after dining. Haggis, £11. thehaggisbox.com

Where: The Haggis Box, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, EH1 1SR

La Garrigue

Special occasions, child-friendly

Since 2001, this French bistro has been a dependable stalwart. Chef and owner Morgan Miceli plates up comforting cuisine of the Languedoc region. Rustic ingredients are given a sophisticated flourish in dishes such as Languedocian cassoulet of confit duck, Toulouse sausage, pork belly and lingot beans. Mains from £19.50. lagarrigue.co.uk

Where: La Garrigue, 31 Jeffrey Street, EH1 1DH

Wedgwood

Casual dining, special occasions

Open every day, owners Paul and Lisa Wedgwood have a passion for Scottish food. Chef Paul is also a keen forager (even running Wild Foraging Experience Days) so dip your bread into his wild garlic oil, and expect all dishes accompanied with vegetables that are colourful and considered. Flexibility is key, choose a main dish or browse Wedgwood’s set menus. A relaxed three-course lunch starts with pigeon pastrami with corn and carrots (Paul smokes the pigeon himself), enjoy a main of salt-baked celeriac, finishing off with a light lemon and passion fruit posset (one course £17.50, two courses £27.50, three courses £32.50). By night, look out for the Wee Taste of Scotland tasting menu featuring Loch Eriboll scallops, roe deer loin and gorse flower and sage brownie. Mains from £17.50. wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk

Where: Wedgwood, 267 Canongate, EH8 8BQ

Ragù Pasta

Cheap eats, casual dining, child-friendly

A chef creating handmade pasta in the window of Ragù draws in the curious. Inside find a contemporary industrial setting that works for all ages. A refreshing spritz menu – all £10.50 – offers the classic Aperol and bitter Campari to the fresh cucumber or aromatic Mirto spritz. The most popular dish, generous chunks of beef ragù and pappardelle, is warming and hearty and with mains from £9.95, you can’t argue. Open seven days from noon. ragupasta.co.uk

Where: Ragù Pasta, 92 George St, EH2 3DF

Chez Jules

Cheap eats

Chez Jules is a much-loved French bistro in Edinburgh, partly thanks to its famed three-course lunch that costs £15.90. Start with a French onion soup with gruyère croutons; enjoy a main of classic coq au vin; and finish with vanilla panna cotta with raspberry coulis. The price includes salad, bread and butter, pickles, pâté or rosette de Lyon. Three-course lunch, £15.90; two-course lunch, £12.90; one-course lunch, £9.90. chezjulesbistro.com

Where: Chez Jules, 109 Hanover Street, EH1 4DJ

Palm Court at the Balmoral

Special occasions

Afternoon tea at Edinburgh’s Balmoral hotel is an escapist experience. The serene Palm Court welcomes guests to dine beneath green palm trees, basking in light from the handsome glass dome overhead. Having chosen from over 80 teas, the attentive waiting staff proffer the first cup in an impressive tea-pouring ceremony. The food begins with an amuse bouche of beetroot, ginger and coconut soup. The savouries swiftly follow: Toulouse sausage roll, a pea and mint cheesecake, and a selection of sandwiches. Scones and delicate sweets include a gâteau marjolaine. Afternoon tea from £82.50. Don’t forget, Number One at The Balmoral is under the same roof. roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-balmoral-hotel/dining/palm-court

Where: Palm Court at the Balmoral, 1 Princes St, EH2 2EQ

Fingal

Special occasions

Dine aboard a luxury ship, reminiscent of the heyday of ocean-liner elegance. Docked in Leith, Fingal is a stunning and quirky setting for dinner. The ship’s two-star AA Rosette ‘Lighthouse’ restaurant has elegant Art Deco style interiors, with subtle nautical touches and a shimmering ceiling reminiscent of rippling waves. Start with Eyemouth crab, enjoy a main of Black Isle beef picanha, pearl onions, Wye Valley asparagus and a rioja wine sauce, and complete the dining experience with a Valrhona Guanaja chocolate and hazelnut cake. Diners can book to stay in one of 22 luxury cabins onboard. Mains from £34. fingal.co.uk

Where: Fingal, Alexandra Dock, EH6 7DX

Fava Greek Kitchen

Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly

Expect homely Greek favourites in this relaxed spacious restaurant near Haymarket. Vast wooden tables and numerous wicker lampshades and chairs bring an earthy communal vibe that works for meat-eaters and veggies alike. Start with an array of mezedes — from classics such as fava bean dip and tzatziki, to more colourful fried courgette chips or kefalotiri cheese with honey. Don’t miss traditional mains such as slow-cooked kleftiko lamb or grab a chicken gyros. Wash it all down with Greek beer, Rhoscento sparkling wine, ouzo or Metaxa. Open seven days a week. Mains from £15.50, ‘Street Food’ gyros from £9.50. favarestaurant.co.uk

Where: Fava, 248 Morrison Street, EH3 8DT

The Scran & Scallie

Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly

With the likes of oysters and traditional fish or steak pies on the menu, the Scran & Scallie is a gastropub with attitude. Choose from ‘Yer Mains’ on ‘Oor Menu’ – a Wagyu beef burger is £22.50 and fish and chips is £20.50. A little pricey for pub grub, but this is Tom and Michaela Kitchin, Dominic Jack and Jamie Knox pub grub, meaning excellence is fitted as standard. And unlike many Edinburgh pubs, this one is child-, dog- and foodie-friendly. Be sure to check out Scran & Scallie’s sister restaurant while in town, the wonderful Kitchin in Leith. scranandscallie.com

Where: Scran & Scallie, 1 Comely Bank Road, EH4 1DR

Cannonball

Special occasions

Set in a converted school, this three-floor venue has a prime location next to Edinburgh Castle – but there’s more to Cannonball than the fabulous views. Owned by Italian Scots and culinary heavyweights the Contini family, the menu focuses around local produce with a modern twist. Haggis is reinvented with pickled turnip and whisky cream, while the Scottish lamb rump is served with artichoke hearts and potato rosti. Finish your meal with artisan Scottish cheeses and soak up the views. Mains from £25. Also look out for Cannonball’s Italian sister restaurant ‘Contini’. contini.com/cannonball

Where: Cannonball, 356 Castlehill, EH1 2NF

The Fishmarket

Casual dining

This upmarket fish and chip shop has a prime spot overlooking Newhaven Harbour and is worth the 15-minute drive from the city centre. The Fishmarket is light, bright and modern, with a fabulous view of the fishing boats and lighthouse. The menu dishes up fish supplied from Welch Fishmongers and focuses on sustainable, locally caught fish cooked to order. Go classic with haddock and chips or try the Atlantic prawn cocktail followed by lobster grilled with garlic butter. Eat in or take away; mains from £16. thefishmarketnewhaven.co.uk

Where: The Fishmarket, 23A Pier Place, Newhaven, EH6 4LP

Makar’s Mash

Casual dining, child-friendly

Calling all potato lovers, Makar’s Mash plates up a range of homely portions with a choice of nine types of mash, from classic Scottish dairy butter to Stornoway black pudding mash. Mains include lamb shank, beef shoulder, wild boar sausages and haggis. Vegetarian and kids portions available too. Mains from £18.50. makarsmash.com

Where: Makar’s Mash, 9-12 Bank St, EH1 2LN

Condita

Special occasions

For the surprise element, make it Condita. The owners, Rachel Hayward and Mark Slaney, aim to create the vibe of visiting a friend’s house — if your friend is a Michelin chef — whereby you don’t know exactly what you’ll be served when you arrive. Diners book one of six tables in this intimate space (no walk-ins) and are presented with a hand-drawn menu outlining key ingredients in the surprise tasting menu. Chef Tyler King sources ingredients from across Scotland, including Orcadian tea and locally foraged magnolias, and he was recently getting creative with sea urchins. £160 per person. condita.co.uk

Where: Condita, 15 Salisbury Pl, EH9 1SL

Kanpai Sushi

Casual dining, cheap eats

The minimalist decor and crisp, clean lines of Grindley Street's Kanpai offer the first hint of the immaculately presented and exquisitely fresh Japanese food served here. As well as superior sashimi and sushi dishes, the king prawn tempura roll should not be overlooked. Five-piece sashimi dishes from £6.90. kanpaisushiedinburgh.co.uk

Where: Kanpai Sushi, 8-10 Grindlay St, EH3 9AS

Timberyard

Special occasions

Modern yet traditional, cool yet unpretentious, Timberyard is set in a converted warehouse. On the Michelin-starred menu you’ll find responsibly sourced seasonal ingredients such as roe deer and turbot, combined with more unusual items like smoked eel and razor clams. While the larder is notably Scottish, there’s a Scandinavian feel to the decor. The three-course lunch is £80, and the tasting menu starts at £120 for four courses or £150 for seven courses. Timberyard’s sister venue is wine bar and restaurant, Montrose. timberyard.co

Where: Timberyard, 10 Lady Lawson St, EH3 9DS

David Bann Vegetarian Restaurant

Vegetarian, cheap eats

Vegetarian venues are often housed in low-key, informal cafés, so it’s refreshing to dine in a smart central restaurant that dishes up exclusively vegetarian and vegan food. Start with David’s signature smoked tofu, enjoy a main of wild mushroom cheese and heather ale strudel, then finish with a zingy ginger citrus cradle. Open seven days from noon. Mains from £15.25. davidbann.co.uk

Where: David Bann Vegetarian Restaurant, 56-58 St Mary's St, EH1 1SX

Thamel

Casual dining, cheap eats

Escape to colourful Thamel for a taste of Kathmandu and Nepal. South Asian flavours include Gau Ko Kukhuro village style chicken curry on the bone, washed down with a minty Durbar Marg Hopper, Grasshopper Style or a fruity alcohol-free Lumbini Lychee Garden. After dining head downstairs to the Blind Tiger speakeasy bar. Mains with steamed rice from £15.

Where: Thamel, 7-11 East London Street, EH7 4BN

Ecco Vino

Casual dining

The smell of mussels and garlic announces the seafood side of this relaxed wine bar in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Ecco Vino prides itself on Italian fare, such as mushroom ravioli and Tuscan chicken pasta. Cheese, antipasti and seafood sharing platters feature on the menu, too. And, with floor to ceiling shelves of wine, there’s no problem finding something tempting to drink. Mains from £16. eccovinoedinburgh.com

Where: Ecco Vino, 19 Cockburn St, EH1 1BP

Restaurant Martin Wishart

Special occasions

The insight which saw Martin Wishart boldly unleash fine dining on Leith back in 1999 and garner Edinburgh’s first Michelin star continues to drives his restaurant. It’s a well-oiled machine, still capable of surprising and delighting. The hushed, unflavoured decor ensures the food takes centre stage – an assured and finessed fusion of French-style modernity with the best of Scotland’s larder. Enjoy a three-course lunch for £65; the six-course tasting menu is £145. restaurantmartinwishart.co.uk

Where: Restaurant Martin Wishart, 54 Shore, EH6 6RA

Colonnades at The Signet Library

Special occasions

Surrounded by elegant Corinthian columns in a library used by the Society of Writers to His Majesty’s Signet, take tea in the calming interiors of this elegant A-listed building. Don't expect one glorious silver cake stand – here, visitors await two (one sweet, one savoury). Start with Vichyssoise and miniature smoked haddock tacos. Sweet treats include winter berries cheesecake and Victoria sponge with strawberry Chantilly. Afternoon tea £69. thesignetlibrary.co.uk/colonnades

Where: Colonnades at The Signet Library, Parliament Square, EH1 1R

Toast

Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly

They take their wine very seriously at this bright and stylish café and bar overlooking Leith’s waterfront, with one of the finest lists in the city. But the vibe here is far from studious and a chalkboard of staff picks will help you find your way. Local beers on tap, great coffee, brunches, ice cream and cake, plus a good value menu of light bites make this a destination for wine refusers, too. Mains from £9.50. toastleith.co.uk

Where: Toast, 65 The Shore, EH6 6RA

Mamma Roma

Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly

Rock up at Mamma Roma and ask the waiter Mennato if it’s a family business to hear how his grandfather, Giovanni Mastrocinque, owned an Italian restaurant in North Berwick, and he followed in his footsteps establishing Mamma Roma in Edinburgh in 1996. Ideal for the Edinburgh Playhouse, look out for the pre-theatre menu (three courses and coffee for £27.95), or simply stick to the homemade lasagne. Mains from £11.95. mamma-roma.net

Where: Mamma Roma, 4-7 Antigua St, EH1 3NH

Avery

Special occasions

A visit to Edinburgh can be life-changing, as San Francisco chef Rodney Wages discovered. A visit to Scotland’s capital made such an impression he moved his family and restaurant to Stockbridge and Avery now boasts a Michelin star. Pre-paid reservations only. Multi-course experience £149. averyedi.co.uk

Where: Avery, 54 St Stephen St, EH3 5AL

Seeds for the Soul

Vegan, casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly

Edinburgh is spoiled when it comes to vegan cafés. Seeds for the Soul is 100 per cent vegan, dishing up breakfast, soul bowls, gluten-free plates, pancakes, wraps and burgers. Mains from £7.90. Kids menu too. seedsforthesoul.co.uk

Where: Seeds for the Soul, 167 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DG

The Palmerston

Casual dining, child-friendly

The Palmerston is a West End institution, handy for Haymarket but always bustling, so book ahead. It’s a hands-on venue, buying in whole animals to prepare in the in-house butchery, and the Palmerston bakery creates fresh bread and pastries daily. Meaty treats include baked Shetland lamb shoulder and slow roast beef rump. Mains from £18. thepalmerstonedinburgh.co.uk

Where: The Palmerston, 1 Palmerston Pl, EH12 5AF

Salt Horse

Cheap eats, casual dining

Tucked away on a side street off the Royal Mile, this casual bar looks unassuming enough but it’s a place of pilgrimage for lovers of craft beer. There’s an ever-changing line-up of 14 draught lines and around 210 different canned and bottled beers from around the globe. Food comes in the form of chunky burgers with twice-cooked chips, dirty fries and bar bites such as Cubano spring rolls and ‘Cauli Bombs’. Mains from £13.50. salthorse.beer

Where: Salt Horse, 57-61 Blackfriars St, EH1 1NB

Foodie places to try and where to shop

Bonnie & Wild

This vast Scottish food marketplace works well for parties with different tastes. It’s home to 10 kitchens, a café, boutique bottle shop and three bars, with seating for 400 guests (no reservations). Look out for the White Heather Ceilidh Club held on the last Thursday of every month. bonnieandwildmarket.com

Where: Level 4, St James Quarter, 415-417 St James Crescent, EH1 3AE

Edinburgh Farmers’ Market

Every Saturday, Castle Terrace is filled with food stalls. Lunch on hot pies and local produce. edinburghfarmersmarket.co.uk

Where: Castle Terrace, EH1 2EN

Edinburgh Street Food

A similar marketplace vibe, offering up lashings of Informal dining and a blast of colour. Traders include Haldi Indian street food, Bundits bao buns and Harajuku Japanese cuisine. Outdoor seating available for those sunny days. edinburgh-street-food.com

Where: Leith St, EH1 3AU

Mary’s Milk Bar

This gelato parlour makes some of the most sinful creations you’re ever likely to encounter. Gelato is made fresh every morning with the flavours changing each day and each season. marysmilkbar.com

Where: 19 Grassmarket, EH1 2HS

Rosevear Tea Shop

Around 200 teas personally sourced by the owners Adam and Isabelle Rosevear, located across three neighbourhood tea shops. roseveartea.co.uk

Where: 100 Bruntsfield Place, 71 Broughton Street and 17 Clerk Street

Söderberg

This Scandinavian outfit offers seven coffee shops across Edinburgh, from Morningside to the Meadows. Look out for the signature Swedish cardamon bun paired with coffee roasted to their own recipe with sweet hints of chocolate and caramel. Sourdough bread, cakes, brunch and lunch options available, too. soderberg.uk

Where: There are 7 Edinburgh Söderbergs to choose between.

Valvona & Crolla

The go-to place for continental cheeses, meats, pasta, wines and food gifts. valvonacrolla.co.uk

Where: 19 Elm Row, EH7 4AA

Like this? Read more foodie travel guides...

Best places to eat in Glasgow
Best places to eat in Aberdeen
Best places to eat in Cardiff
Best places to eat in London

Got any other suggestions for places to eat in Edinburgh? Leave a comment below...

Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.