Best Places to Eat in Edinburgh

Milk, West End

232 Morrison Street, Edinburgh

With 4 locations across Edinburgh, Milk sits at the “ultra-trendy” end of the breakfast spectrum. They have superb options for vegetarians and vegans and take a more cosmopolitan approach to breakfast and brunch. The menu is quite different at each of the locations, with one being just a coffee shack. So make sure to check what’s on the menu at the one closest to you before you go to make sure it’s what you’re after. The West End location is our favourite. If you’re looking for something away from the traditional heavy breakfast and brunch items, then Milk is the place for you. It won’t satisfy a hungover craving for greasy food, but it will get your day off to a great start.

Must-try dishes: The Brunch boxes are superb especially the vegan one – the jalapeño ferment makes it!

Smoke Stack

53-55 Broughton Street, Edinburgh

As a BBQ focused restaurant you can imagine what the breakfast offering looks like at Smoke Stack. Here you will find steak and eggs, full fry-ups and filled rolls a-plenty. However, they also do amazing stacks of waffles with everything from fruit to fried chicken. Their location on Broughton street makes it very centrally located, handy for all your day’s plans – and they also serve breakfast until 4pm. So, no matter when the need takes you, you can get your breakfast food fix.

Must-try dishes: Waffles with fried chicken, bacon bits and maple syrup

Ting Thai Caravan

8-9 Teviot Place, Edinburgh

Starting as a small pop-up serving just 4 dishes, Ting Thai Caravan has become an icon of the Edinburgh food scene. Run by Ting and Ae Tapparat, who used to cook for the Thai royal family, they now run multiple “street food” style restaurants. They have been a sensation in Edinburgh since they first fired up their woks at the Fringe festival in 2012. Ting Thai Caravan is a relaxed affair with no reservations possible and seating at communal tables – so expect a queue when visiting. Despite always being busy, the staff somehow find the time to explain anything on the menu you are unsure of. But it’s best to go with your instincts and enjoy what is probably the best Thai food in Edinburgh.

There is also Ting Sabotuer on Teviot place, which Ting and Ae also run, but is Vietnamese focused. The Ting Thai Caravan on Lothian Road has the same menu as the one on Teviot Place if that is more conveniently located to wherever you are.

Must-try dishes: Khao mun gai tod (battered chicken in something called 2 brothers sauce), Gaeng pha talay (shellfish in Jungle curry), Seabass Maeklong. All washed down with beer, of course.

Treacle

39-41 Broughton Street

Treacle sits handily located on Broughton Street, close to the Playhouse Theatre, Vue Cinema and Princes Street shopping. It is a relaxed, quirky bar offering Asian inspired pub food. So, it’s a bit different from your average Scottish pub fare. The menu also has a really good range for Vegetarians and Vegans. Their drinks list has a great selection of cocktails (including a Bathtub Gin which comes with a rubber rub swimming in it) and a fun atmosphere, making this a great little bar to hang out in. The service can be a bit slow out of the kitchen, but I’m always inclined to overlook such things when the food is this good – and gives you time to sample more of their great drinks offerings!

Must-try dishes: Crispy coconut chicken burger; Garden rice bowl with Halloumi; Crispy beef, mango and chilli salad

Stack Dim Sum Bar

42 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh

It doesn’t look like much from the outside. In fact, it doesn’t look like much on the inside either. But it’s the food that matters and Stack serves the best Dim Sum in Edinburgh. Though Dim Sum is traditionally a late morning meal in China, having a multitude of baskets of delicious steamed parcels of joy is an ideal lunch or dinner choice. It can get very busy as they only have a few tables, so make sure to book in advance. If you’ve never had siu lun bao before, soupy dumplings as we call them, bite the side and pour the liquid onto your spoon to drink and then eat the dumpling. We burned our mouths many times before being told this is how you eat them!

Must-try dishes: Crab meat siu lun bao, Chef’s special king prawn dumplings, Char sui bun

Pickles

60 Broughton Street, Edinburgh

Pickles is a lovely little family-run wine bar towards the bottom of Broughton Street. This is the ideal setting for those who view a meat and cheese platter as a sensible dinner decision, which we most definitely do. It’s very cosy and filled with regulars popping in for a glass or two of wine after work. The wine list isn’t extensive but covers all the crowd-pleasers and is sensibly priced – ideal when you’ve suddenly ordered the 4th bottle of the evening.

Must-try dishes: Has to be meat AND cheese to share, would be a shame to only have one.

Best Places for Pre-Theatre Dining in Edinburgh

Whether you’re going to see a show or just fancy an early, great value dinner, Edinburgh has superb value options for pre-theatre menus to suit all tastes. You are spoilt for choice of theatre venues when visiting Edinburgh, so it makes sense that the pre-theatre options are just as good. During the Fringe festival, you may find all restaurants removing their cheaper menus instead asking about showtimes and how far you need to go. This is so they can ensure you have enough time to enjoy your meal and make your show. If you’re getting some food before a show it’s always best to tell the staff just to make sure you have time – all the best places to eat in Edinburgh are really understanding and helpful.

Kahani

11 Antigua Street, Edinburgh

Previously called “Kushi’s”, Kahani looks like a tourist trap as it is opposite the theatre and has big flashy signage. But as your mamma always taught you “never judge a book by its cover” and, in this case, a restaurant by its neon lighting. If you dismissed Kahani’s based on site alone, you would be missing out on what is probably the best Indian restaurant in Edinburgh.

It started life as a dingey restaurant on Potterow with only one cook. Now, the menu includes something for everyone including the very “non-traditional” dishes you’ll find in most British Indian restaurants. But the lesser-known options are definitely the best. Kahani is also a BYOB restaurant – beer and wine only – charging only a very small corkage charge per bottle, which is excellent.

Must-try dishes: Goan Monkfish curry, Chicken Karahi, Kodambakkam Curry

Dusit

49a Thistle Street, Edinburgh

Very different from Ting Thai Caravan, Dusit is a more formal Thai restaurant. They serve dishes with beautifully crafted vegetable flowers and have a more fine dining style of service. The food is absolutely fantastic, with a very diverse menu of delights. The only trouble is choosing what to eat. They don’t do a specific pre-theatre menu. However, they open at 5.30pm and are very adept at ensuring you have a fantastic dinner with plenty of time to saunter down the road to your show. If you have more time, the Banquet menu offers superb value and is an experience not to be missed.

Must-try dishes: Singaporean Chilli-Crab, Prad Kraprao Look-Kae (slow-cooked lamb shank stir-fry), Hor Mok (steamed Thai curry fish)

Le Roi Fou

1 Forth Street, Edinburgh

Le Roi Fou adds its name to the list of an increasing number of Edinburgh restaurants who pride themselves on getting the best out of local produce. They take a more cosmopolitan view when it comes to style. So, you’ll see everything from classic steak tartare to miso and kombu braised beef. With big flavours being the focus, there really isn’t a dish that disappoints. Plus, the unfussy service and reasonably priced wine list top it off nicely. As an added bonus, the kitchen puts the environment at the forefront of their business practices. Therefore, they don’t use sous vide machines which need plastic bags, all clingfilm has been removed from the kitchen, and they compost all food waste (which is minimal).

Must-try dishes: The menu is frequently changing but the steak tartare is always superb

Best Places for Fine Dining in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a paradise for those looking to dine out at the finest high-end restaurants in Scotland. The city boasts many Michelin Star and AA rosette awarded top chefs so there really is no better place in Scotland to have your tastebuds pampered. Don your gladrags and be prepared for a great night out as we have saved the best of the best places to eat in Edinburgh to last.

The Table is one of the best fine dining experiences in Edinburgh. Photo Credit: The Table

The Table

3a Dundas Street, Edinburgh

2 Chefs, 10 seats, one sitting. It all sounds incredibly simple. But The Table offers so much more than that. Eating here is a fantastic interactive fine dining experience like no other in Edinburgh.

The Table is run by 2 brothers, their process being 1 sitting each night, bringing you a fantastic, Italian inspired tasting menu. The casual environment and open friendliness of the chefs really make this experience special. We have dined there 3 times and the food has never been less than exceptional. They now have a short wine list which is a shame as they used to run BYOB with no charge and we took real advantage of that policy.

You need to book well in advance as they are fully booked for months (rightly so). They run their booking system like theatre ticketing – at the time of booking, you pay upfront for your “ticket”.  Then, if you need to cancel, you will get your money back as long as they can resell the seat. You should also be aware that they don’t accommodate dietary requirements as they prepare and serve all the same food at once.

Must-try dishes: You don’t get a choice so this is a bit redundant but the cheese courses we’ve had have been incredibly innovative

Fhior

36 Broughton Street, Edinburgh

The Head Chef of Fhior, Scott Smith, was a sous chef for many years at the Michelin starred Peat Inn in Fife. Here, he has brought everything he learned about incredible attention to detail and combined it with a desire to use lesser-known Scottish ingredients. For example, the bread is made from a rare variety of wheat only grown on Orkney. Plus, there are foraged herbs and vegetables, and obscure aromatics weaving their way through the exciting and constantly changing menu. The service is quite casual but always excellent. This is a more affordable exploration of Scottish ingredients than many other fine dining restaurants with a similar theme.

Must-try dishes: Tasting menu only but the bread with home churned butter is an absolute highlight

Restaurant Martin Wishart

54 Shore, Leith

Restaurant Martin Wishart’s has held it’s Michelin Star since 2001. Here, they serve classical French Haute cuisine. Though some find the service a bit stuffy, every member of the team works hard to ensure everything is refined to slick perfection so we can’t say that we agree. We’ve only ever had lunch and a midweek dinner special and found everything to be of excellent value – and mouthwateringly tasty. It’s not Scottish by any stretch of the imagination but it’s really, really good. The wine list is also pleasantly well-priced and the cheese trolley is a joy, if a bit pricey.

Must-try dishes: Their changing menus make this a tough one, but if they have a special on offer order it!

Aizle

38 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh

Aizle has long been hanging around the top of the “best places to eat in Edinburgh” lists – and with good reason. The concept is fairly common these days: whatever is in season is synthesized into a delicious series of dishes for you. Recently they have moved to the Kimpton on Charlotte Square but it is the same excellent team as always. On their website, you’ll find the current “harvest” which lists all the ingredients currently being used on their menu. Those familiar with the original menus at 11 Madison Park will recognise this concept. The food is always imaginative and their commitment to sustainability goes all the way through to their drinks offering as well.

Must-try dishes: Personally, I think Autumn is the time to visit a restaurant like this as its game season which I love

Number One at The Balmoral

1 Princes Street, Edinburgh

Being attached to a premier hotel is a blessing and a curse for many restaurants. However, Number One has managed to stay fairly separate from the rest of the Balmoral Hotel. Head Chef, Mark Donald, has an impressive list of top restaurants on his CV including Noma and Hibiscus and has brought a more modern slant to the celebration of Scottish food. They have recently moved to a 7 course constantly changing menu, do you see a theme here across the fine-dining restaurants? Scottish produce is the star of the show on their menus. So expect the very finest ingredients with Orkney Scallops and Highland Wagyu beef as of the menu.

Must-try dishes: One thing that hasn’t changed is the petit fours trolley. Believe us, it’s worth having a late-night coffee just for this.