Food Scene
Castello Coffee Co
7A Castle StGreat coffee, charming lads, good soups.
Excellent steak lovely atmosphere. Booking recommended as very popular, even on weekdays.
32 locals recommend
Wildfire
192 Rose StExcellent steak lovely atmosphere. Booking recommended as very popular, even on weekdays.
Fantastic sourcing, romantic decor, impressive French/Scottish menu.
45 locals recommend
Cafe St Honorė
34 Thistle St N W LnFantastic sourcing, romantic decor, impressive French/Scottish menu.
Wonderful sourcing policy, excellent place to try imaginative modern Scottish food.
18 locals recommend
Edinburgh Larder Bistro
1A Alva StWonderful sourcing policy, excellent place to try imaginative modern Scottish food.
Superlative local, seasonal sourcing; imaginative cooking. Set menu, sit at long tables with other diners. A favourite of ours.
339 locals recommend
The Gardener's Cottage
1 London RoadSuperlative local, seasonal sourcing; imaginative cooking. Set menu, sit at long tables with other diners. A favourite of ours.
Lovely little cafe off the beaten track (but still very busy at lunch). Great sourcing, interesting salads, friendly staff.
55 locals recommend
The Edinburgh Larder
15 Blackfriars StLovely little cafe off the beaten track (but still very busy at lunch). Great sourcing, interesting salads, friendly staff.
Our favourite Peter's Yard (another in the Meadows and a new one on Queensferry Road): fab sourdough pizza to eat in or takeaway.
49 locals recommend
Söderberg Stockbridge
3 Deanhaugh StOur favourite Peter's Yard (another in the Meadows and a new one on Queensferry Road): fab sourdough pizza to eat in or takeaway.
Great cafe in the centre of town (not as common as you'd imagine), good for Scottish ingredients and cake.
68 locals recommend
Urban Angel
121 Hanover StGreat cafe in the centre of town (not as common as you'd imagine), good for Scottish ingredients and cake.
Great for lots of things: an ice cream parlour, casual cafe and stylish restaurant on each floor.
12 locals recommend
Cannonball Restaurant & Bar
356 CastlehillGreat for lots of things: an ice cream parlour, casual cafe and stylish restaurant on each floor.
A Stockbridge stalwart, Rafael is the most charming patron. Basement restaurant serving modern Spanish - not tapas.
6 locals recommend
Rafaels
2 Deanhaugh StA Stockbridge stalwart, Rafael is the most charming patron. Basement restaurant serving modern Spanish - not tapas.
El Quijote
The best tapas in Edinburgh, in my opinion.
Top of my to-try list! No menu, just that day's best ingredients, from which food will be created for you.
83 locals recommend
Aizle
38 Charlotte SquareTop of my to-try list! No menu, just that day's best ingredients, from which food will be created for you.
Burger
91-93 Shandwick PlJust great burgers, really - and hot dogs. Simple but effective. And cheap.
Very buzzy, fun place pretty much devoted to meat. Really really good steak, of course.
41 locals recommend
Steak Restaurant - Picardy Place
12 Picardy PlVery buzzy, fun place pretty much devoted to meat. Really really good steak, of course.
12 Picardy Pl
12 Picardy PlaceSister to Steak, great menu.
Imaginative, detailed cooking, good for a special meal but also great value lunch deals. Very pretty on the plate. Modern Scottish.
12 locals recommend
Restaurant Mark Greenaway
69 N Castle StImaginative, detailed cooking, good for a special meal but also great value lunch deals. Very pretty on the plate. Modern Scottish.
For a special meal. Seasonal Scottish, with international flair. Always something eye-catching on the menu, really like this place.
130 locals recommend
Wedgwood The Restaurant
267 Royal MileFor a special meal. Seasonal Scottish, with international flair. Always something eye-catching on the menu, really like this place.
Excellent cafe and deli. Great big sandwiches made with superb cheese and ham, also to takeaway.
24 locals recommend
Henri
48 Raeburn PlExcellent cafe and deli. Great big sandwiches made with superb cheese and ham, also to takeaway.
Wellington Coffee
33A George StDon't go to Starbuck's, go here, just across the road!
Cafe by day, restaurant by night. Quirky decor, lovely menu, good sourcing, very handy for the Festival Theatre.
21 locals recommend
Spoon Cafe Bistro
Cafe by day, restaurant by night. Quirky decor, lovely menu, good sourcing, very handy for the Festival Theatre.
A wonderful experience - huge tea list served in an antique shop. Booking recommended; absolutely fabulous.
9 locals recommend
Anteaques
17 Clerk StreetA wonderful experience - huge tea list served in an antique shop. Booking recommended; absolutely fabulous.
Splendid Thai food - not a cheap place, but a step up from all your regular Thai joints.
54 locals recommend
Dusit
49A Thistle StSplendid Thai food - not a cheap place, but a step up from all your regular Thai joints.
Fantastic Thai, served fast. Very cheap, and very good. Eat in or takeaway.
257 locals recommend
TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot PlFantastic Thai, served fast. Very cheap, and very good. Eat in or takeaway.
French menu, best of Scottish ingredients. Very good (not super-cheap), fantastic meat. Sister restaurant on Queensferry St.
172 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StFrench menu, best of Scottish ingredients. Very good (not super-cheap), fantastic meat. Sister restaurant on Queensferry St.
French menu, best of Scottish ingredients. Very good (not super-cheap), fantastic meat. Sister restaurant on Broughton St.
172 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StFrench menu, best of Scottish ingredients. Very good (not super-cheap), fantastic meat. Sister restaurant on Broughton St.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Edinburgh. Meatballs and ragu particularly recommended. Good wine list.
60 locals recommend
Osteria del Tempo Perso
208 Bruntsfield PlOne of the best Italian restaurants in Edinburgh. Meatballs and ragu particularly recommended. Good wine list.
One of Edinburgh's best Italian restaurants - where Italians go.
121 locals recommend
Locanda de Gusti
102 Dalry RdOne of Edinburgh's best Italian restaurants - where Italians go.
La Favorita
321-325 Leith WalkBest delivered pizza in town, also a big sit-in restaurant.
Hakataya
122 Rose Street South LaneGood sushi, just around the corner.
Kanpai Sushi
8-10 Grindlay StReally good sushi - the best I've had in Edinburgh.
Cafe and very good food shop specialising in organic, Scottish and ethically sourced.
42 locals recommend
Earthy Foods & Goods
Ratcliffe TerraceCafe and very good food shop specialising in organic, Scottish and ethically sourced.
Highly fancy Michelin-starred. The best meal I've had in Edinburgh. Very expensive but worth it.
85 locals recommend
Castle Terrace
33-35 Castle TerraceHighly fancy Michelin-starred. The best meal I've had in Edinburgh. Very expensive but worth it.
The most atmospheric restaurant imaginable. Very good food, at the pricey end of the spectrum. A real experience though.
192 locals recommend
The Witchery by the Castle
352 CastlehillThe most atmospheric restaurant imaginable. Very good food, at the pricey end of the spectrum. A real experience though.
Khushi's
10 Antigua StFun, family-friendly Indian restaurant - the oldest in Edinburgh.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great atmosphere, splendid cooking, excellent drinks list. A bit special.
184 locals recommend
TIMBERYARD
10 Lady Lawson StGreat atmosphere, splendid cooking, excellent drinks list. A bit special.
A menu you'll want to work your way right through: modern Scottish. Highly recommended.
107 locals recommend
Three Birds
3-5 ViewforthA menu you'll want to work your way right through: modern Scottish. Highly recommended.
Immediately famous restaurant-pub-bar from Michelin-starred Tom Kitchin. Mostly restaurant. Some tables put aside for walk-ins, but good luck as it's extremely popular.
378 locals recommend
The Scran and Scallie
1 Comely Bank RdImmediately famous restaurant-pub-bar from Michelin-starred Tom Kitchin. Mostly restaurant. Some tables put aside for walk-ins, but good luck as it's extremely popular.
Rollo Restaurant & Wine Bar
108 Raeburn PlGood tapas/small plates. Nice atmosphere.
Burger Meats Bun
1 Forth StMore great burgers.
The best craft beer bar in Edinburgh, with a very satisfying menu.
169 locals recommend
The Hanging Bat
133 Lothian RdThe best craft beer bar in Edinburgh, with a very satisfying menu.
I've not been yet, but it's from the Hanging Bat guys (Lothian Rd) and therefore must be good. More about the food than the Hanging Bat - see The List's most recent review for more.
16 locals recommend
SPIT/FIRE
26B Dublin StreetI've not been yet, but it's from the Hanging Bat guys (Lothian Rd) and therefore must be good. More about the food than the Hanging Bat - see The List's most recent review for more.
Amazing interior, great atmosphere. Gets very busy at office-close. Decent pub menu.
125 locals recommend
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StAmazing interior, great atmosphere. Gets very busy at office-close. Decent pub menu.
We go for the bar rather than the restaurant - lovely subterranean atmosphere. A good wine bar.
39 locals recommend
Whighams Wine Cellars
13 Hope StWe go for the bar rather than the restaurant - lovely subterranean atmosphere. A good wine bar.
Super-romantic wine bar/classy Italian restaurant.
21 locals recommend
Divino Enoteca Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar
5 Merchant StSuper-romantic wine bar/classy Italian restaurant.
V Deep
60 Henderson StreetExcellent craft-beer bar.
A Scottish phenomenon, BrewDog are taking over the world with craft beer. A fun bar, with their very good beer and cracking pizza.
82 locals recommend
BrewDog Edinburgh
143 CowgateA Scottish phenomenon, BrewDog are taking over the world with craft beer. A fun bar, with their very good beer and cracking pizza.
Everything Else
Gelato parlour serving the best gelato/ice cream in town! You will not be disappointed. A must. Also do good coffee and hot chocolate.
23 locals recommend
Affogato
36 Queensferry StGelato parlour serving the best gelato/ice cream in town! You will not be disappointed. A must. Also do good coffee and hot chocolate.
Really excellent ice cream, highly recommended - and Mary is so friendly.
131 locals recommend
Mary's Milk Bar
19 GrassmarketReally excellent ice cream, highly recommended - and Mary is so friendly.
Essentials
Lovely deli selling AMAZING chicken liver pate, bread, chutneys, chocolate etc - the makings of a great picnic.
21 locals recommend
Herbie of Edinburgh
66 Raeburn PlLovely deli selling AMAZING chicken liver pate, bread, chutneys, chocolate etc - the makings of a great picnic.
Useful to know about - the nearest big supermarket. Still quite a walk, but will have everything you need.
92 locals recommend
Waitrose & Partners Comely Bank
38 Comely Bank RdUseful to know about - the nearest big supermarket. Still quite a walk, but will have everything you need.
Sainsbury's
Unit 9-10 Moray Park TerraceThe nearest supermarket - an express store.
George Bower Butchers
75 Raeburn PlThe best butcher in Edinburgh.
Armstrong G
80 Raeburn PlExcellent fishmongers.