The List's Eat & Drink 365

FREE

ed in

h rg bu

& 365

EAT DRINK

A year-round guide to restaurants, diners, bars and cafés across the city

2 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

CONTRIBUTORS

Welcome Back in 1994, The List produced its first Eating & Drinking Guide, recognising that going out to restaurants and bars wasn’t just part of our social lives but also part of our cultural scene. Hospitality is a living, breathing, reflection of ourselves and how we like to live, particularly in vibrant cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Eat & Drink 365 is a new way of talking about Edinburgh’s eating and drinking scene. We know there’s a lot of choice when deciding where to eat out, grab a bite, find a lovely spot for a coffee or head out on the town. That choice can be both exciting and daunting.

Navigating it can leave you in the hands of an intimidating mass of user-generated online reviews, highly selective top-end restaurant guides, social media influencers or, if you’re lucky, discerning friends who go out and about a bit. We like to think that’s us: we have decades of experience covering the food and drink scene right through the year for our magazine and website, which means we’ve had lots of practice in answering questions like ‘where’s good to eat (or drink) around here? I’m after a good spot for brunch, any tips? Where I can go with a group?’

We’ve picked out the places worth knowing about with over 50 TipLists: curated lists of suggestions and recommendations across different topics, styles of cuisine and areas of the city. We cover not just the city centre but diverse neighbourhoods too, the well-known and the hidden, newcomers and old reliables, the best and the best of the rest. You’ll also find the same information at list.co.uk, as well as new eat and drink coverage in The List every month, and we’ll be publishing Eat & Drink 365 Glasgow in October.

We’re grateful for the support and encouragement of William Grant & Sons, who share our belief that a great way to support Scotland’s hospitality scene is to help folk find it, appreciate it and discover even more. You have 365 days to eat and drink: enjoy every one of them.

Jo Laidlaw & Donald Reid, editors

Project Editors Jo Laidlaw & Donald Reid Copy Editor & Producer Paul McLean Design & Layout Seonaid Rafferty TipLists researched & written by Johanna Derry Hall, Jo Laidlaw, Paul McLean, Suzy Pope, Donald Reid, Ailsa Sheldon Advertising Jayne Atkinson, Lachlan McMaster Proofreading Jay Thundercliffe Additional Design & Digital Leah Bauer, Kevin Fullerton, Murray Robertson, Bradley Southam CEO Sheri Friers Supporting Partner

Published by List Publishing Ltd 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh www.list.co.uk email: eat@list.co.uk Eat & Drink 365 Edinburgh ISSN 2977-9189

© 2025 List Publishing Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of List Publishing Ltd. This edition published May 2025 Printed by Acorn Web Offset Ltd.

TipLists Enjoy The City DRINK

The Tollhouse

Cameo Cinema & Around: Places To Eat 56 Classic Edinburgh 87 Edinburgh Playhouse & Around: Places To Eat 33 Festival Theatre & Around: Places To Eat 80 Food & Drink Experiences 59 Food Markets 86 Great Views 27 Queen’s Hall & Around: Places To Eat 30 Royal Botanic Garden & Around: Casual Eating 24 Usher Hall & Around: Places To Eat 60 Whisky Experiences 34

SUSHISAMBA 4 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Explore The City

DRINK

Abbeyhill & Easter Road: Places To Eat & Drink 16 Broughton Street: Places To Eat & Drink 85 Canonmills: Places To Eat & Drink 43 City Centre: Bars 44 City Centre: Cafés 56 City Centre: Restaurants 9 Edinburgh University & Around: Bars 80 Edinburgh University & Around: Places To Eat 60 Leith Shore & Around: Bars 21 Leith Shore & Around: Cafés & Casual Eating 72 Leith Shore & Around: Restaurants 82 Leith Walk: Places To Eat 17 Leith Walk: Places To Drink 65 Portobello: Places To Eat 12 Royal Mile, Best Of 55 Southside: Casual Eating & Drinking 79 Southside: Restaurants 66 Stockbridge: Bars 33 Stockbridge: Restaurants 68 The West End & Around: Places To Eat 76

Food For Every Mood DRINK

Bread & Patisserie Breakfast & Brunch Budget Dining Burgers Coffee Shops Curry Delis & Places To Pick Up A Picnic Family Friendly Fine Dining Groups Italian Local Sourcing Mexicana Noodles Pizza Plant Based Seafood

38 39 65 43 72 15 45 73 62 86 37 28 10 6 69 77 22

Matto

Hey Palu

Heading Out For A Drink?

DRINK

Cocktail Bars Craft Beer Bars Old-fashioned Bars Outdoor Drinks Whisky Bars

18 57 24 73 71

Heading Out Of Town?

DRINK

Out of Town: Casual Eating Out Of Town: Trip & A Treat

40 29

When You’re On The Move DRINK

Haymarket Station & Around: Coffee & Snacks Waverley Station & Around: Coffee & Snacks

45 12

DRINK

Map Index

48–49 90–94 Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 5

Noodles Mirin

BARIUMA

MIRIN

41 Cockburn Street, bariuma.biz/en This is the only European branch of a ramen chain which started in Hiroshima. Above ground, it’s a noodle connoisseur’s shop with dashi and dry noodles to buy. Downstairs, steaming bowls of ramen come topped with melt-in-the-mouth pork.

9 Albert Place, mirin.uk Mirin’s noodle soups with slow-cooked broths are delicious. Hand-ripped noodles are topped with distinctly Scottish ingredients: wild boar and black pudding ragù, for example. Continent-hopping small plates are also worth a look

HAKATAYA

PHO VIET

122 Rose Street Lane, hakatayauk.com Unfussy yet stylish inside, Hakataya offers casual classics like donburi rice bowls alongside a decent selection of ramen. Their signature miso–based pork ramen is subtle and warming.

15 Dalry Road, phoviet.co.uk The ceiling is adorned with glowing lanterns and faux botanica, embracing the romance of Hoi An’s backstreets. Melting beef brisket stews in big, fragrant bowls of pho and vermicelli noodle salads offer a refreshingly light alternative for the noodle-lover. Plus, they do banh mi sandwiches, perfect for lunch.

IKIGAI 29–30 South Bridge, ikigairamenuk.co.uk It’s always worth trying to get a walk-in table at Ikigai (no bookings). The speciality is steaming bowls of ramen in slow-cooked rich dashi and the tantanmen has a brilliant spicy kick. The menu also delves into fusion with bowls of Malaysian laksa noodles.

MAKI & RAMEN 37 Leith Street, makiramen.com They have sites around the city, but it’s their Leith Street branch that first fully embraced the no-frills joy of ramen. Super-spicy noodle fans should try rust–red hell ramen while black tonkotsu ramen is so garlicky you could ward off vampires.

6 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

SATORU 45 St Patrick Square, satoru-edinburgh.square.site Japanese cuisine as it should be: a select menu specialising in one delicacy. In this case, tempura and udon noodles. Light and crispy battered prawns and vegetables star, topping bowls of thick noodles. Décor is simple yet effective, just like each dish.

Also try . . . Pomelo (page 66) for hand-ripped noodles, the two Ting Thai sites (page 60) for zesty pad thai or Sichuan House’s stir-fried noodle dishes

UKHospitality Scotland is the leading trade association for hospitality.

We support our members, helping them continue in their mission to deliver the very best hospitality experiences, every single day.

That’s why we’re delighted to support Eat & Drink 365.

Edinburgh’s food and drink scene is a tremendous success story and one of the best in the world. The variety, vibrancy and magical experiences on offer have never been greater. Neither has the vision, passion and enthusiasm to deliver the very best.

Whether you’re seeking simplicity and flavour, spice, purity and precision, carefully crafted libations, perfectly poured beverages and brews, nectar of the gods, or a couple of joyful pints in a lively pub, it’s all here to be explored, enjoyed and celebrated.

So, with the help of Eat & Drink 365, let's embark on a journey through some of the best culinary experiences that bring people together.

Let’s also support our brilliant hospitality teams: chefs, bartenders, servers, sommeliers, baristas and everyone who plays their part in delivering outstanding service.

There’s never been a more important time to support these remarkable businesses and the people who work in them.

At UKHospitality Scotland we are fully committed in our determination to support hospitality, working to see it thrive.

If you have a hospitality business, find out more about how UKHospitality Scotland can support you.

ukhospitality.org.uk

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 7

@UKHScotland

K

L

U

B

Every Friday night, Edinburgh’s one and only dinner theatre – Klub Kabaret – serves up immersive cabaret, live vocals, indulgent dining and late-night debauchery in a feast for the senses

www.brewhemia.co.uk 8 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

City Centre: Restaurants See also Fine Dining (page 62) and City Centre: Cafés (page 56)

BABA 130 George Street, baba.restaurant Full of the flavour and colour of the Eastern Mediterranean, dishes here are laden with spices from the Levant. There’s a selection of mezze plates as well as feasting dishes from the grill including rosepink côte de boeuf.

EVE 18–20 Cowgate, eveedinburgh.com All-day all-Italian dining on the ground floor of the swanky Virgin Hotel. Head chef Giulio Morroni serves up hearty helpings of his nonna’s comfort-food favourites, including saffron risotto, eight-hour slow-cooked pork bolognese with tagliatelle, and Roman carbonara.

FISHERS IN THE CITY 58 Thistle Street, fishersrestaurants.co.uk Plates piled with fresh oysters and oil-drizzled scallops still in their shells showcase Scottish seafood at this former warehouse on Thistle Street. It’s a celebration of all things coastal, claws and all, and each dish feels like it’s been refined over years of trading.

Eve

HIBIKI 45 North Castle Street, hibiki-japanese.co.uk Sleek and sophisticated, this one is an impress-your-date option.

You’ll find teriyaki chicken and a standard sushi selection, but the tantanmen ramen, with its powerful hit of chilli and tonkotsu topped with tender pork, make it a noodle lovers’ destination too.

Under The Table

NOTO 47a Thistle Street, notoedinburgh.co.uk Noto’s mission statement is ‘we make delicious food’, and it’s true.

The sharing plate combinations are eclectic, global and playful, inspired by Stuart Ralston’s time cooking and eating in New York.

Dishes include North Sea crab with cultured koji butter and trout temaki with yuzu kosho and daikon.

UNDER THE TABLE 3a Dundas Street, underthetable.uk A tasting menu at The Table on street level will set you back £110 per person, but this new basement bistro next door offers the same level of finery for a much more accessible prix-fixe affair. Portions are on the small side but each dish, like hay-smoked mackerel and crab with elderflower, is packed with flavour and is a delicious ode to Scottish produce.

Also try . . . relaxed and welcoming chain Rosa’s Thai, handsome wood-panelled The Spanish Butcher for excellent steaks or Tipo for a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine (page 37) Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 9

Paloma

Mexicana ANTOJITOS Edinburgh Street Food, Leith Street & Paradise Palms, 41 Lothian Street, antojitos.uk This all-vegan outfit burst onto the street food scene in 2020, serving crispy fried banana blossom in soft tacos, and quesabirria with vegan queso and chipotle jackfruit. A popular stop at ESF, Antojitos are also collaborating in the kitchen at Paradise Palms too.

THE BASEMENT 10a–12a Broughton Street, basement-bar-edinburgh.co.uk Deliciously sour Margaritas plus fusion soft tacos make this subterranean bar super-popular. As you’re licking homemade guac off your fingers and ordering another tipple from the huge tequila selection, you’ll know making that reservation was worth it.

BODEGA 14–15 Albert Place, ilovebodega.com A vision in pastel pinks and greens, Bodega offers a warm welcome. The menu is simple with a few starters, then a handful of tacos, small plates and sides. Start with charred padrón peppers then tuck into pork al pastor tacos glazed with chilli pineapple and served with salsa verde.

PALOMA 50–54 Henderson Street, palomatacos.co.uk 10 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Sunlight streams through the big windows at neighbourhood taco joint Paloma. Try crunchy nuggets of fried avocado in a hand-pressed corn taco, and garlicky prawns with pico de gallo.

Cocktails and alcohol-free versions are refreshingly different, such as a bell pepper and jalapeño shrub.

PAZ TAQUERIA 64 Thistle Street, paztacos.com The menu here splits between antojitos (sharing dishes) and pairs of tacos. Every taco pair is intriguingly different: battered cod with charcoal and squid ink crema is delicious. Try sopes de choripapa: thick chewy corn patties, with creamy refried beans, crisp potatoes, chorizo and goat’s cheese.

TACO LIBRE 3 Shandwick Place, instagram.com/tacolibre_edinburgh Mexican owned and run, the tacos are hot, fast and authentic at this gloriously kitsch technicolor restaurant. Order the baja fish tacos, guacamole, loaded sweetcorn, sopes with refried beans . . . and plenty of napkins to mop up. Also at Taco Libre Bar on Rose Street.

Also try . . . Chorrito Cantina on Leith Walk for delicious hand-pressed tacos or Topolabamba (page 60) on Lothian Road for barbacoa beef tacos

brunch & lunch from 8.30 every day 121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh urban-angel.co.uk urbanangel_cafe

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR INBOX SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND SEASONAL INSIDE THE ISSUE

DISCOVER THE AUTHENTIC TASTE OF SPAIN Open every day until late

EAT & DRINK

SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS FROM OUR PARTNERS

Whether you’re looking for something to eat or something to do, we’ve got you covered

SIGN UP NOW

0131 531 7051 cataedinburgh.co.uk 30 N W Circus Place, Edinburgh EH3 6TP Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 11

Greek Artisan Pastries

Portobello: Places To Eat On sunny days, the city heads to Edinburgh’s seaside, and Portobello more than rises to the challenge of keeping everyone fed and watered. On the High Street, Greek Artisan Pastries will sort you for the beach with a wedge of spinach and feta bougatsa and a box of baklava. If pastries aren’t enough, Nixos Greek Street Food at the other end of the street offers gyros, shawarma wraps and mezze platters.

Otto is a solid option for brunch, from pancakes and French toast to full Scottish, while Tanifiki is the place to go for locally roasted coffee. Spacious, relaxed and decorated in earthy tones, the café is also where co-owner Benjamin Murenzi roasts Rafiki coffee beans from Rwanda. There’s no shortage of options for baked goods: the compelling Twelve Triangles has a branch here, Babyfaced Baker recently opened a second site in Portobello, while locals argue about whether The Beach House or Miro’s, both located on the promenade, has the better cake.

Mamacita’s opposite Portobello Town Hall continues the international theme with Miami-style Cuban sandwiches. The classic is mojo pork, ham, cheese, pickles and mustard (though there are vegan and veggie options), as well as yuca fries, tostones and empanadas. Perch on a stool to eat in or grab and go.

Also on the prom, Shrimpwreck will do you a takeaway shrimp roll and a fish finger sarnie. Join the queue for fish suppers at St Andrews or head to Joppa Rocks at the east end of the prom for better views (and a fancier experience if you prefer your haddock on a plate with a glass of fizz). Come sunset the options thin out, but there’s always classy wine and cheese at Smith & Gertrude or a pint (and a burger) at the Portobello Tap to round off the day.

12 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Mimi’s Bakehouse

Around Waverley Station: Coffee & Snacks CAPPUCCINO EDINBURGH 25 Jeffrey Street, instagram.com/cappuccinoedinburgh Open from 8am, this coffee shop has lots of nooks and corners for working and reading. Guest roasts keep things interesting and there’s pastries to takeaway.

FRUITMARKET CAFÉ 45 Market Street, fruitmarket.co.uk/café Breakfast runs until noon at this stylish gallery café, so it’s ideal for a pre-train snack. Lunch goes beyond the run of the mill, with good veggie/vegan choices too.

THE MILKMAN COFFEE 7 & 52 Cockburn Street, themilkman.coffee They have an atmospheric café at either end of historic Cockburn Street where carefully sourced coffees change frequently. Open from 8am.

ROCKSALT CAFÉ 10 Jeffery Street, instagram.com/rocksaltcafe_edinburgh Loaded eggs benedict and chilli avocado toast are house specialities. Coffee and cake too if you’re after supplies for your train journey.

ROOM & RUMOURS COFFEE 25 East Market Street, instagram.com/roomrumourscoffee Pocket-sized spot that knows its way around a coffee machine and has doughnuts that delight. Opens 8am.

Also try . . . Mimi’s Bakehouse (page 38) at the City Art Gallery, Loudons for creative breakfast and lunch options or Tempting Tattie, one of Edinburgh’s last old-school baked potato shops

CO

M

IN

G

19 T

H

M

AY

s Paym

tles Contac

ents O

nly

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 13

A BLEND OF

VIEWS & VIBES

Our 1820 rooftop bar serves up stunning Edinburgh Castle views with food & drinks to match.

BOOK NOW Visit us at 145 Princes Street 14 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Thamel

Curry DUSIT 49a Thistle Street, dusit.co.uk Thai cuisine is raised to almost fine-dining status here. Dry curries from southern Thailand kick up the heat and the steamed curried fish is a delicate but unctuous ode to coconut and monkfish.

Classic green and red curries are not to be sniffed at either.

MOTHER INDIA’S CAFÉ 3–5 Infirmary Street, motherindia.co.uk This place has been around for years and is always busy (though the queue moves quickly). Paneer dosa is light and crisp, spiced haddock is oven baked and tender, and chana dhal is beautifully aromatic. Go with a group, or a big appetite, to maximise ordering opportunities.

MOWGLI 20 Hanover Street, mowglistreetfood.com Paired with Mowgli founder Nisha Katona’s trademark fairy-lit aesthetic, this former bank building makes a picture-perfect setting for bright plates and bold spicing. Butter chicken is tender and compelling, but it’s the flavour-explosions from yoghurt chat bombs that leave the biggest impression.

SABZI 162 Ferry Road, sabzistreetfood.com Sabzi brings vibrant Punjabi street food and home-style favourites to Edinburgh and the locals couldn’t be happier. The menu changes weekly, the dhal makhani is rich and delicious, and the masala haggis toastie with mango chutney can’t be beaten. It closes at 8pm so arrive early.

SEN VIET VEGAN 23a Brougham Place, instagram.com/senvietvegan Sen Viet Vegan Restaurant shows that plant-based doesn’t have to lack depth or flavour, especially when it comes to their Vietnamese curries. Banana and silken tofu cooked for days in a clay pot is the highlight, and coconut curry layers sweet, nutty and sour all in one.

THAMEL 7–11 East London Street, thamel.co.uk Himalayan hot pot here is deliciously tangy, lamb naga packed with spice and garlic naan dripping with butter. What’s not to love?

Add in a subterranean craft cocktail bar hidden behind a bookshelf and you’ve got everything for an entire evening’s experience.

Also try . . . various hotspots covered elsewhere in the guide including Cutting Chaii (page 82), Dishoom (page 39), Kalpna (pages 60 & 65) and Konj (page 60) Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 15

Abbeyhill & Easter Road: Places To Eat & Drink

Kitchen Table Montrose

16 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

A slice of the city that would once have been considered more between places, Abbeyhill and Easter Road is now forging a much more assured identity as an excellent location in its own right for coffee, drinks and eating out.

Twelve Triangles bakeries are dotted around the city; at their Kitchen Table on Easter Road, the love of good bread and local ingredients come together in a gorgeous neighbourhood café. Big focaccia sandwiches are hard to beat: try one with chicken and crispy chicken skin, roast fennel and jalapeño labneh, or packed with carrot bhajis, pickles and yoghurt. The Basque cheesecake with berries is outrageously good. On the same stretch of Easter Road, Polentoni offers delicious Italian focaccia and crispy hot farinata to take away. Nearby there’s always a queue for flat whites and long blacks at cult coffee spot Little Fitzroy and there’s a new-ish branch of Fortitude Coffee at Abbeyhill, always a great bet for an excellent coffee.

Right by the Abbeyhill Colonies, which hold a yearly festival, you’ll find Art And Vintage. Run by a chef and an artist, it’s a warm and welcoming space to enjoy a big breakfast, loaded sandwich, sourdough toastie or taco, and peruse the contemporary art on display in changing exhibitions. Nearby Red Kite Café serves superb scones and a full gluten-free menu, and try unassuming Think Pastry for wonderful Greek pastries.

For an evening out, book a table at Montrose. The ground floor is a relaxed wine bar, pouring organic lowintervention wines from across Europe alongside a menu of small plates like Islay oysters, saucisson and burrata, and heartier options like Shetland mussels and game sausage with pasta. Upstairs the restaurant is a more formal affair: there’s a calm hush, with thick napkins and flickering candles. It’s a set menu, so relax and lean into the experience: excellent local produce cooked creatively, with lots of foraged ingredients.

Among the local pubs you’ll find a crisp pint at Old Eastway Tap by Cross Borders brewery and a seat in the sun; laid-back hangout The Mash Tun is good for a burger; get tacos and a cocktail at the quirky The Safari Lounge while The Percy.pl offers hearty servings of Polish comfort-food favourites (or a pint next door).

Leith Walk: Places To Eat ANTE 1b Haddington Place, instagram.com/ante_coffee Like its wine-bar sibling Spry upstairs (page 65), Ante is cool and considered, with top-notch sourcing and a relaxed vibe. From the short menu, try the crab butter brioche, packed with white crab, pickled cabbage and celery, and fermented chilli mayo: it’s knockout.

BRUNSWICK BOOK CLUB 113 Brunswick Street, brunswickbookclub.co.uk A spacious outdoor restaurant set-up with a cosy library-inspired interior when the weather doesn’t play its part. Part of the Vittoria group, this new café/bar serves a hearty brunch till 5pm, with full fryups, rösti and waffles ready to set you up for the day.

ELEANORE 30–31 Albert Place, eleanore.uk There’s a soft minimal design to this bijou restaurant. It’s all sleek lines, handmade ceramics and thick curtains, allowing undivided focus on the outstanding food. There’s a regularly changing set menu (though add the oysters) and keep an eye out for the cult ‘Tirami-choux’ bun.

Brunswick Book Club Eleanore

ELLA: TASTE OF GREECE 134–136 Leith Walk, ellagreekmeze.com Bringing a little Greek sunshine to Leith Walk, Ella offers tapas, mezze, grilled dishes and packed gyros wraps. Order kolokithokeftedes (hot courgette and feta fritters) or go for the hearty Spartan salad: hummus, figs, fat chickpeas, olives, edamame beans and honeydressed cucumber with warm pitta.

ORIGANO 236 Leith Walk, origano-leith.co.uk Handmade pasta and gourmet pizza star at this casual spot. A stone pizza oven roars away and the mood is set by flickering candlelight.

Start with a piled-high meat or cheese board, then dive into cannelloni stuffed to bursting or spinacio pizza topped with oozing egg.

URBAN JUNGLE BRUNCH ROOM 187–189 Leith Walk, sebsurbanjungle.co.uk Just being in this sunny plant shop and café feels good for you.

Avocado on toast is the house special, topped with rocket, feta and optional eggs or bacon. Take home a potted leafy friend, ask for plant care tips or browse arty gifts.

Also try . . . La Casa for Mediterranean dishes and tapas, The Walnut for good value in an intimate bistro setting, handmade dumplings at 5 Dumplings or big bowls of pho at The Bami Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 17

Hey Palu

Cocktail Bars BRAMBLE 16a Queen Street, bramblebar.co.uk When Bramble first appeared on Edinburgh’s dimly lit latenight drinks scene, it delivered a shot of sophistication. Craft cocktails are mixed with the finesse of an alchemist and the rarely changing menu is tried and tested. The signature Bramble cocktail is a must-have.

CHANCHO 7 Bernard Street, chancho.co.uk Chancho’s cocktails are piquant and refreshing, conjuring up the heat and colour of Mexico even on the coldest night. Edinburgh’s only agave-focused cocktail bar will serve you a perfectly citrusy yuzu Margarita (or a Lagerita if you fancy a half-and-half twist), a suitably weighty Chancho Old Fashioned and a frankly delicious tequila Martini.

HEY PALU 49 Bread Street, heypalu.com One of the owners hails from the Amalfi Coast so the Negroni selection here is particularly good, but the gin Martini could give it a run for its money. The focus is cocktails, with an Italian twist on nearly all the innovative signatures. Plates of Italian cured meat and cheese provide some delicious sustenance.

THE LUCKY LIQUOR CO 39a Queen Street, luckyliquorco.com From the same folk as Bramble and The Last Word Saloon, this almost-understated New Town spot has a deliberately tiny backbar encouraging a less-is-more attitude to mixology, resulting in some of Scotland’s best (and most consistent) cocktails.

PANDA & SONS 79 Queen Street, pandaandsons.com The OG Edinburgh speakeasy-style cocktail bar has secured a place on many a ‘best bars in the world’ list since it opened in 2013. Masquerading as a barber’s shop, descend the stairs to find a fun, secret cocktail bar where drinks are created with the precision of a Michelin-starred chef.

THE WILDCAT 11–13 Tarvit Street, thewildcatbar.com Low-lit and intimate, this tucked-away cocktail bar still feels like a local secret. They’ll do you all the classics with finesse, but the menu is all about their inventive signatures: a yuzu-flavoured gin number, and rum with apricot, pineapple and absinthe. Keeping it accessible, there’s usually something around the £5 mark.

Also try . . . aperitivo-focused Bittersweet (page 72), rum specialist Ruma (page 85) and sleek Three Marys (page 21) 18 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 19

EXPERIENCE SUPERBLEND

BLENDED WITHOUT BORDERS Made in collaboration with the best whisky distillers from around the world, because what whisky tastes like matters more than where it comes from.

We’re not content with what whisky is, We want to discover what whisky can be.

THE 20 WORLDWIDE THE LIST Eat &WHISKY Drink 365 MAKERS

WOVENWHISKY.COM

Leith Shore & Around: Bars Three Marys

THE KING’S WARK 36 The Shore, thekingswarkpub.com The history here spans smugglers and royalty. Dating back to the 14th century, the building was originally a storehouse and armoury for James I before taking a turn as a plague house and then wine merchant. Now, this pub is all about real ales and fresh seafood.

THE LIONESS OF LEITH 21–25 Duke Street, thelionessofleith.co.uk A great neighbourhood bar whether you’re after a quiet afternoon pint, a slap-up burger meal or late-night Margaritas. Old arcade games and neon art add to the vibe, with candles flickering on stripped-wood tables. If you’re hungry, choose from 19 different burgers.

NAUTICUS 142 Duke Street, nauticusbar.co.uk A dark and sultry spot even in the daytime, Nauticus is unapologetically sophisticated: no screens or gimmicks, just really good cocktails and a wall of whisky. Drinks are inspired by Leith’s maritime trading history, from spice routes to the whisky boom, with a real commitment to championing Scottish producers.

It’s worth charting a course here.

ROSELEAF 23–24 Sandport Place, roseleaf.co.uk Leith’s friendliest pub? It’s certainly a strong contender. The Roseleaf is a brilliant all-day hangout

with a tasty and pun-tastic bar food menu. Think big burgers, truffled macaroni cheese or steak frîtes with skin-on chips. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly venue but staff will happily brew you up a potent cocktail served in a teapot.

TEUCHTERS LANDING 1a Dock Place, teuchtersbar.co.uk This unpretentious, good-looking bar has local beers on tap including Paolozzi lager and Moonwake IPA, which is brewed just a few yards away. Outside is a generous riverside beer garden and heat lamps, with warming mugs of stovies and a particularly fine whisky range to keep you nice and snug.

THREE MARYS 63–65 Henderson Street, instagram.com/threemarysleith With dark floral décor, stained-glass windows and plush velvet seating, Three Marys is a lot lovelier than your average city boozer. Better still, the cocktails are cracking, the local beer selection is strong and there’s frequent live music by local jazz bands. Charcuterie and cheese platters are an ideal accompaniment to an evening in this neighbourhood favourite.

Also try . . . the Port O’Leith for a messy but good-natured night out, The Shore Bar for a quiet pint in a beautiful wood-panelled room or Brass Monkey Shore for a burger and pub quiz Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 21

From top, clockwise: White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar, Fin & Grape, Barry Fish

Seafood BARRY FISH 62 Shore, barryfish.co.uk A new and welcome arrival on Leith Shore. In the stylish green-hued restaurant the menu is unapologetically fish-forward, moving from ‘low-tide’ snacks and lunch, through to ‘big snacks’ then dinner. Try lobster agnolotti in a smooth bisque-like brown butter sauce with the pleasing zip of fennel and capers.

FIN & GRAPE 19 Colinton Road, finandgrape.com A Southside neighbourhood restaurant with a classy wine-bar vibe, their relatively compact main menu offers carefully crafted fish dishes to share, along with some exceptional wines. The wine bar menu tilts to Mediterranean ‘tinned fish’ choices along with nibbles and sides.

FISHERS 1 Shore, fishersrestaurants.co.uk Set at the base of an old Leith watchtower, Fishers balances special occasion surroundings with laid-back service and precision cooking. Whether it’s a whole lemon sole or just one of the ‘Fishers Favourites’ such as mussels and fries at the bar, this is a restaurant for all seasons. There’s a sister venue up town too.

THE FISHMARKET 23a Pier Place, thefishmarketnewhaven.com Overlooking Newhaven Harbour and with Welch Fishmongers next door, this white-and-emerald-tiled diner captures a fresh-from-the-sea essence like nowhere else. Stop in for chowder or grilled langoustines, or join the locals picking up fish and chips to eat outside as the sun sets over the Forth.

THE SHIP ON THE SHORE 24–26 Shore, theshipontheshore.co.uk The cobbled Leith quay, the salty tavern vibe, sea charts and mirrors on the walls, the chalkboard specials and the groaning platters: The Ship On The Shore does quintessential old-school seafood dining formidably well. Its wide-ranging menu offers dressed crab, hand-dived scallops, whole roast trout or seafood paella for two.

WHITE HORSE OYSTER & SEAFOOD BAR 266 Canongate, whitehorseoysterbar.co.uk A compelling option in the city centre that works for drinks and fresh oysters, a combo meal of small plates or refined treats. The décor is simple and sleek; dishes likewise, with buttermilk cod, hake ceviche or crab scotch egg. Go all out with a seafood platter if you’re celebrating (and feeling flush).

Also try . . . Dulse with its branches on the back streets of Leith and the West End (page 76), hot shellfish platters at LeftField (page 28) and the seafood-oriented, ten-course tasting menu at Lyla (page 62)

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 23

Sip & Bark

Around Royal Botanic Garden: Casual Eating DI GIORGIO 1 Brandon Terrace, digiorgio.homesteadcloud.com Sandwiches full to bursting with garlicky mortadella, piquant salamis and gooey cheese are almost as substantial as the handmade pasta dishes here.

KREM KARAMEL 68 Inverleith Row, kremkaramel.co.uk Brunch classics like avocado toast dominate the savoury section but home baking is the highlight.

THE ORCHARD 1–2 Howard Place, theorchardbar.co.uk Pub grub with a few surprises, like delectable goat’s cheese soufflé, at this sunny corner spot.

SIP & BARK 108 Raeburn Place, sipandbark.co.uk This café is a treat for humans as well as dogs. Open sourdough sandwiches make up the core of the menu, coffee is top notch and there are cocktails too.

THE TERRACE CAFÉ Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, heritageportfolio.co.uk/cafes/the-terrace Self-service selection of quiches, sandwiches and frittatas overseen by top chef Roberta Hall-McCarron.

THE TOLLHOUSE

Halfway House

Old-fashioned Bars THE BARONY 81–85 Broughton Street, baronybar.com An old oak bar, a gentle coal fire in winter and a dimmer switch at just the right level create the atmosphere of a proper pub.

HALFWAY HOUSE 24 Fleshmarket Close, oldtownpubco.com/our-bars/halfway-house Known as a railway workers’ bar, it’s a relatively untouched reminder of the city’s recent drinking past.

JOLLY JUDGE 7 James Court, jollyjudge.co.uk Timber–beamed subterranean hideaway with a host of real ales, craft beers and an impressive whisky selection. At its cosiest when the fire is blazing.

MALT & HOPS 45 Shore, facebook.com/realaleleith One of the oldest pubs in the Shore area, this is a no-nonsense kind of establishment. A prime spot for real ales that take some muscle to pull.

THE ROYAL OAK 1 Infirmary Street, royal-oak-folk.com Traditional, cosy bar with real ales and live folk music every day. Elbow-to-elbow at the weekend which is all part of the charm.

THE WAVERLEY

50 Brandon Terrace, tollhouse.scot Architecturally intriguing restaurant showing a deft hand with seasonal produce.

3–5 St Mary’s Street, waverleybar.co.uk It’s creaky, it’s dark and it’s seen every pub trend from gilded kitsch to Scandi-chic and said ‘no thanks’. Live folk music and a big whisky selection.

Also try . . . RBG’s new Botanics Brunch Club (Sun only) in The Arboretum, an epic expansion of the John Hope Gateway, which launches summer 2025

Also try . . . Café Royal (page 71) for its majestic interior, The Blue Blazer for its range of ales or the convivial Malt Shovel near Waverley Station

24 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

BEER & GIN MADE ONSITE OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK SUNNY BEER GARDEN

BOOK A TABLE

theroyaldick.co.uk @the.royal.dick

only at

1 Summerhall / Edinburgh / EH9 1PL Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 25

ENJOY AUTHENTIC ITALIAN DISHES WHEN YOU VISIT THE LAWN AT MARINE NORTH BERWICK

18 Cromwell Rd, North Berwick EH39 4LZ | marineandlawn.com

26 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Nor’loft

Great Views

It’s a beautiful city, so when you want a room with a view, here’s where to head. See also Classic Edinburgh (page 87)

DEAN BANKS AT THE POMPADOUR The Caledonian Hotel, Princes Street, deanbanks.co.uk This ravishing room has gorgeous views of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street that vie with Dean Banks’ carefully plated, technically precise food. Stunning frescoes and ceilings make the whole thing a feast for the eye, while solicitous service cossets. One for blow-outs and very special occasions.

MARGOT 7–8 Barclay Terrace, margotedinburgh.co.uk Younger sister of the much-loved LeftField, Margot is a relaxed café by day and wine bar by night. From here the views of Bruntsfield Links and Arthur’s Seat are gorgeous, particularly with a few small plates and a glass of organic wine. It’s a relaxing haven, particularly special as the sun goes down while you watch the busy links ebb and flow with golfers and walkers.

NOR’ LOFT 6 Market Street, marketstreethotel.co.uk/norloft This rooftop champagne lounge is world’s away from busy Waverley station below. Open throughout the day, Nor’ Loft serves breakfast and daytime sharing platters to go with the city’s longest champagne list.

Try a blini platter with cured trout, smoked salmon

and Katy Rodgers crème-fraiche. If it’s warm, bag a seat on the balcony for views of the whole city centre.

THE OUTSIDER 15–16 George IV Bridge, theoutsiderrestaurant.com The Old Town’s bridges and changing levels mean The Outsider’s perfect castle views can come as a surprise to first-time visitors; it’s one of the best ways to appreciate the city’s jumbled yet beautiful rooflines. On the plate are modern European classics, with daily changing menus and a memorably witty wine list too.

SUSHISAMBA EDINBURGH 1 St James Square, sushisamba.com On the 10th floor of W Edinburgh, SUSHISAMBA offers a fusion of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, accompanied by a vibrant mix of culture, music and design. Its dynamic interiors include a signature restaurant and bar, a chef’s table and an outdoor terrace boasting panoramic views which really do stretch for miles and miles.

Also try . . . Joao’s Place in the W Hotel for equally sweeping vistas and the bar at The Port Of Leith Distillery for panoramic port views (page 35) Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 27

Good For Local Sourcing See also Fine Dining (page 62)

CAFÉ ST HONORÉ 34 North West Thistle Street Lane, cafesthonore.com This long-loved venue feels like a chic Parisian bistro with white tablecloths and plenty of candles. The vibes may be French, but chef Neil Forbes ensures only the best of Scotland’s larder appears in his dishes. The set menu is excellent value.

EDINBURGH LARDER 15 Blackfriars Street, edinburghlarder.co.uk If it’s not local, in season or the very best Scottish produce, then it’s not on the menu here. Breakfast features hazelnut and blueberry waffles and hash browns with cold smoked sea trout. Soup, salads and sandwiches are added at noon. Now also on Morningside Road.

FIRST COAST L’Escargot Bleu LeftField

97–101 Dalry Road, first-coast.co.uk A spot for all reasons and seasons; you’re as likely to be sitting next to a first date as a big group catch-up or family tea. The food is equally accessible, whether chicken breast with harissa and whipped feta or terrine with picalilli.

L’ESCARGOT BLEU 56 Broughton Street, lescargotbleu.co.uk Chef Fred Berkmiller grows all his own vegetables and salads for his classic French bistro. The restaurant is Pasture for Life accredited, showing commitment to sustainable farming. Enjoy the Gallic flavours with 24-hourbraised Hardiesmill farm beef bourguignon.

LEFTFIELD 12 Barclay Terrace, leftfieldedinburgh.co.uk LeftField lets the quality of Scotland’s seafood speak for itself. Fluffy halflobsters, steamed Shetland mussels and flaky sea trout are accompanied

by French flavours or sometimes just a simple, generous squeeze of lemon.

Conversations are absorbed by a wall of pot plants, creating an intimate atmosphere.

THE SCOTTISH CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT National Galleries Of Scotland, The Mound, contini.com Conveniently placed at the garden entrance of the National Gallery, this is a cut above your usual gallery caff. Sourcing is impeccable, with fruit and veg from the Contini kitchen garden and quality produce from across Scotland always on the menu. Afternoon tea comes highly recommended.

Also try . . . discovering the fine dining possibilities for discerningly sourced local produce on the TipList on page 62, while our Seafood Tiplist (page 22) majors on venues sourcing Scottish fish and shellfish 28 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Out Of Town: Trip & A Treat

See also Out Of Town: Casual Eating (page 40)

THE BRIDGE INN 27 Baird Road, Ratho, bridgeinn.com It’s an eight-mile walk along the Union Canal from Edinburgh to Ratho, and a brilliant way to work up an appetite for lunch.

Burgers, fish and chips, and homemade Belhaven Black steak pie are hearty favourites, and Sunday lunch is worth the hike.

THE FREE COMPANY Cockdurno Farmhouse, Balerno, the-free-company.com This regenerative farm has two long tables set for à la carte weekend lunches and dinner, with rustic feasting sessions every month or so. Menus reflect the week’s harvest, with meat and veg from the farm along with local game and fish.

THE LAWN Marine North Berwick, 18 Cromwell Road, North Berwick, marineandlawn.com/marinenorthberwick The refurbishment of this seaside hotel gave it a new lease of life. The Lawn restaurant offers Scottish produce with an Italian approach and a cracking Sunday lunch.

The Bridge Inn The Leddie

THE LEDDIE West Main Street, Aberlady, theleddie.com Walking through Aberlady nature reserve to the high dunes and sandy beach is gorgeous in any season. Warm up afterwards at The Leddie (previously Ducks Inn) with hearty chicken pie or a bowl of garlicky mussels. Great beer garden, too.

ROGUE BROS AT THE BOATHOUSE 16 Hopetoun Road, South Queensferry, theboathouse.online A friendly bistro whose huge terrace has incredible views of the bridges. Newly opened Los Hermanos Picaros upstairs (a stylish wine and tapas bar) is another reason to visit.

THE WEE RESTAURANT Main Street, North Queensferry, theweerestaurant.co.uk They know their way around a steak, but seafood is the real joy here. Try the specials or tuck into Shetland mussels with bacon, basil, pine nuts and parmesan.

Also try . . . a detour from North Berwick for a laid-back tour of the NB Gin & Rum Distillery at Whitekirk, or an alternative view of the three Forth bridges from the huge sunny terrace at Thirty Knots in South Queensferry Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 29

Around Queen’s Hall: Places To Eat

Also handy if you’re seeing a show at nearby Summerhall.

See also Around Edinburgh University: Bars (page 80) and Places To Eat (page 60)

Junk

THE DOG HOUSE

KIM’S MINI MEALS

18–24 Clerk Street, instagram.com/thedoghouseedinburgh Quirky and lively bar much frequented by students.

There’s always an interesting food pop-up: as we go to press, vegan chippy The Happy Fish are in residence. The bric-a-brac décor makes it one of the funkiest spots for a pre-show pint in the area.

5 Buccleuch Street, instagram.com/kimsminimeals No bookings and no takeaway; just show up, queue up and eat up some of the best bibimbap in town, served in sizzling stone bowls, topped with a raw egg.

JUNK 58 South Clerk Street, wearejunk.co.uk After winning a clutch of street food accolades, Junk expanded into bricks and mortar in 2022.

Their sophisticated take on everything the Scottish palate is supposed to love shows up as witty yet beautifully presented small plates and sophisticated cocktails in a narrow, exposed brick bar/restaurant.

KAMPONG AH LEE 28 Clerk Street, kampongahlee.co.uk Busy little place where you can grab flavourpacked Malaysian food. Chicken satay comes drowning in sauce and spicy bowls of laksa warm the back of the throat. You can order a cooling bottle of Tiger beer or BYOB. Fun, fast and casual.

30 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

MACAU KITCHEN 93 St Leonard’s Street, macaukitchen.uk Inspired by the street food of Macau, spices of Goa and tropical climes of Malacca, this compact spot claims to be the only Macanese restaurant in the UK. The duck glazed in plum wine is worth a detour from wherever you are.

TAPAS3 6 Howden Street, tapas3.co.uk Ditch the hubbub of Clerk Street and enjoy some calm at this tucked-away Spanish tapas bar. Head for classics like chorizo in red wine and padrón peppers, or more adventurous dishes like crisp tempura aubergine with sticky sugarcane treacle.

Also try . . . people-watching from Southpour’s big windows, al fresco drinks at The Royal Dick’s mega courtyard (page 80) or Greenmantle Rum Bar & Kitchen for (that’s right) a huge range of rums

quote ‘the list’ When booking for a glass of sparkling on arrival

Neighbourhood restaurant & wine bar.

Set in a late 19th-century building, originally built as an inn.

Montroserestaurant.co, 1 Montrose Terrace, eh7 Eat & Drink 365 5DJ THE LIST 31

Edinburgh’s Luxury Floating Hotel Afternoon Tea

- Seasonal Menus - Nautical Cabins

fingal.co.uk

AA FIVE-STAR HOTEL. 2 AA ROSETTE RESTAURANT

Dine at The Nook Tucked away within the Café Portrait, The Nook is a beautifully tranquil bistrostyle restaurant, just a 2-minute walk from the buzz of St Andrew Square.

Open daily, 10am – 4.30pm we serve fresh, homemade seasonal dishes, as well as a range of mocktails, cocktails, and hot and cold drinks.

The Nook at Café Portrait, National Galleries Scotland: Portrait, 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh

& Drink 365 Guide_Nook_128_90mm_v3.indd 1 32Eat THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

09/05/2025 09:49

Stockbridge: Bars THE ANTIQUARY 72–78 St Stephen Street, theantiquarybar.co.uk Basement bar with regular folk session. Food is classic and comforting, with real ales and craft pints on tap.

Bonnie & Wild

Around Edinburgh Playhouse: Places To Eat BONNIE & WILD Level 4, St James Quarter, bonnieandwildmarket.com Some of Scotland’s best-known food vendors and chefs have a second home at Bonnie & Wild, among them East Pizzas and burger kings El Perro Negro.

DOWN THE HATCH 13 Antigua Street, downthehatchdiner.com Canadian diner with huge bowls of poutine served alongside towering burgers.

EDINBURGH STREET FOOD Omni Centre, Leith Street, edinburgh-street-food.com For a solo feed or a night with the gang, ESF caters to all: the ten traders include Antojitos’ vegan Mexican, Bundits’ bao buns or newbies Razzo Pizza Napoletana.

KA PAO St James Crescent, St James Quarter, ka-pao.com Small plates with a South-East Asian twist. Fried chicken and crisp pork belly are contenders for best dish, but hispi cabbage with cashew nut butter wins.

KAHANI 10 Antigua Street, kahanirestaurant.co.uk Street food-style Indian dishes and plenty of veggie and vegan choices. Pre-theatre menu too.

PHO Level 4, St James Quarter, phocafe.co.uk A Vietnamese chain delivering the goods, their signature pho is deeply savoury and warmly generous.

GOOD BROTHERS WINE CELLARS 34 Northumberland Street, goodbrothers.co.uk Formerly of Stockbridge, this wine bar/bottle shop moved to New Town in 2023. Pick an old favourite or let them guide you to fresh and exciting varietals.

THE RAEBURN 112 Raeburn Place, theraeburn.com A strong menu of comfort classics, but it’s all about the al fresco, with no less than three outdoor areas to soak up the sun/cower from the rain.

SMITH & GERTRUDE 26 Hamilton Place, smithandgertrude.com Wine. Cheese. Company. This classy neighbourhood wine bar’s mantra succinctly encapsulates what they’re about. Also in Portobello.

ST BERNARD’S BAR 10 Raeburn Place, instagram.com/stbernardsbar The atmospheric interior looks like the aftermath of an explosion in a Victorian knick-knack emporium. Cosy up for beers, cocktails and lingering gazes.

ST VINCENT BAR 11 St Vincent Street, stvincentbar.com Old-school Edinburgh pub with dark-wood interior and button-back banquettes. Did we mention they love pups here? Their Dog Wall (which takes up half the ceiling too) is covered in four-legged beauties.

Also try . . . street food and apple-y goodness at The Cider House, independent beers at The Stockbridge Tap (page 57) or cocktail and whisky specialists The Last Word Saloon (page 71)

The Raeburn

Also try . . . Turkish grill favourites at Ada Restaurant, cocktails at The Alchemist or pre-show lubrication at Jeremiah’s Taproom Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 33

Whisky Experiences See also Whisky Bars (page 71)

AMBER 354 Castlehill, scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk As the whisky bar within the Scotch Whisky Experience, Amber has a formidable range of around 500 whiskies available on the bar. If that makes choosing hard, the team curates a special selection every month and can create bespoke flights based on flavour or themes like rare or limited editions.

THE BOTHY BAR 45 Princes Street, johnniewalker.com While the lower floors of the Johnnie Walker Princes Street visitor experience offer an engaging intro to whisky, it’s the top floor bars that will capture the interest of whisky fans, particularly the Bothy Bar with 150 rare and unusual bottlings from Diageo’s 28 Scottish distilleries. If you’re a stranger to whisky, work up through the floors; if not, hit the lift button and skip to the good bit.

KALEIDOSCOPE 28 Queen Street, smws.com For the most part, to drink in one of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s bars you need to be a member or the guest of a member. Kaleidoscope, however, is open to all and offers something a bit different.

Drams are sold under the society’s own coding system for bottlings with the emphasis on flavour rather than the traditional focus on region, style or age.

34 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Left to right: Scotch, Amber, Kaleidoscope

THE PORT OF LEITH DISTILLERY BAR 11 Whisky Quay, leithdistillery.com/the-distillery-bar A smart skyline bar above the UK’s first vertical distillery, you don’t have to go on a tour to drink here, but if you have time, it’s fascinating. From the bar, the views of the city and docks are outstanding; so too are the whiskies (flights are available), cocktails and considered small plates.

SCOTCH 1 Princes Street, roccofortehotels.com The whisky bar at The Balmoral Hotel displays 500 or so bottles in a handcrafted oak cabinet, making an impressive initial statement of intent. With soft chairs and sofas, it’s more gentleman’s club than a traditional bar and uniformed staff will guide you through tasting experiences. Alternatively, seek out their monthly whisky events featuring guest distilleries and bottlers.

TIPSY MIDGIE 67 St Leonard’s Hill, tipsymidgie.com Colin Hinds’ whisky bar near the Pleasance manages to convey all the romance of the water of life without the hokum. With suggested drams, tastings and late-night tutored whisky flights, this is a bar where they’ll take you by the hand and guide you through the myths to find a whisky you actually like.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 35

36 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Italian CONTINI GEORGE STREET 103 George Street, contini.com This grand restaurant is a perfect example of Italian roots melding with Scotland’s larder to produce restrained food bursting with flavour. Chicken Milanese is still homey and comforting, but accompaniments of almond purée and capers take this simple dish to somewhere quietly thrilling.

DIVINO WINE BAR & RESTAURANT 5 Merchant Street, divinoedinburgh.com This basement wine bar and restaurant serve cuisine from the length and breadth of Italy. Think mussels and prawns with paccheri pasta in lobster bisque, and steak served rare as you like.

The wine-lined private dining room is perfect for groups.

LITTLE CAPO 18 Howe Street, instagram.com/little__capo ‘Italian-ish’ Little Capo is all about feel-good, drop-by neighbourhood vibes. The menu is short, with a few snacks and charcuterie alongside four or so mains: grilled aubergine with caponata is rustic and punchy, and there’s always a hearty pasta.

LOCANDA DE GUSTI 102 Dalry Road, locandadegusti.com Rusticana is the watchword here and Neapolitan/southern Italian cuisine is king. Specials of fresh fish and handmade pasta change daily. It’s a family-run establishment and you can feel the love in every sun-ripened Sicilian pepper and beautifully balanced vegetable ragù.

RADICIBUS 2 Deanhaugh Street, radicibus.co.uk This sleek but cosy basement spot takes Scotland’s abundance of wild game, foraged mushrooms and seafood, and turns it into Italian fine dining. Choose between a seven-course tasting menu or go à la carte: artisanal Italian wines are carefully selected to pair with each dish.

TIPO 110 Hanover Street, tipoedinburgh.co.uk Tipo combines the smart-casual feel of a small-plates place with quality Italian cooking. It’s nicely rustic and generous of spirit: the zeppole (fried strips of dough) come with a snowdrift rather than a dusting of cheese and are dangerously addictive. Service is among the best in town.

Also try . . . elegant Sotto in Stockbridge with its excellent wine list (page 68), the cosy back room at long-established Domenico’s in Leith, and pasta palace Eve (page 9) on Cowgate. For a plantbased focus, try Sora Lella and Sora Diana (page 77) Tipo Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 37

Bread & Patisserie BABYFACED BAKER 341 Leith Walk & 219 Portobello High Street, babyfacedbaker.com Famous for decadent stuffed cookies, cinnamon buns and cruffins, the Babyfaced team have been keeping Leith Walk sweet since 2021, with a second branch now in Portobello. Both venues open Thursday to Sunday with teasers of the week’s menu shared on socials.

HOBZ BAKERY 106 Leith Walk, hobzbakery.com For a sunny window seat and an outrageously large pain au chocolat, it has to be Hobz. Try the marvellous croissant buns: the toasted sesame, almond and orange one is delicious, particularly when messily dunked in a strong coffee at an outside table.

KVASA

Hobz Bakery

Lannan Bakery

101 Leith Walk, instagram.com/kvasa.bakery This organic sourdough bakery sells the best miche loaf in town, alongside traditional Danish rugbrød packed with seeds. Make a beeline for the sourdough cinnamon buns, vegan and traditional croissants, and hearty slabs of topped focaccia.

LANNAN BAKERY 29–35 Hamilton Place, instagram.com/lannanbakery It’s easy to panic at the front of the Lannan queue. Maybe you need one of everything? Fear not, you can’t go wrong with the pain Suisse: the laminated layers of toffee-hued pastry are wrapped around rich coffee custard and caramelised milk chocolate. Best get two.

THE PASTRY SECTION 86 Raeburn Place & 143 Great Junction Street, pastrysection.com If you’re serious about cakes and bakes, then The Pastry Section needs to be on your radar. Peek into their busy kitchens to watch talented bakers at work, and take home incredible cinnamon buns and treats like blackberry and pistachio frangipane tarts.

TWELVE TRIANGLES Branches in Leith (Duke Street and Brunswick Street), Easter Road, Comely Bank, Dalry, Portobello, Morningside & Melrose, twelvetriangles.co.uk With eight branches, you’re never too far from a loaf of excellent sourdough or a twice-baked pain au chocolat. Well-honed artisan techniques are evident in their blood orange, olive oil and almond cake.

Also try . . . Company Bakery which now has a bakery and café in Musselburgh (page 40), Mimi’s Bakehouse for loaded cupcakes (pages 12 & 73), The Bearded Baker (page 43) for bagels and doughnuts, and newbie Project Canelé’s finely crafted sweet treats 38 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Breakfast & Brunch DISHOOM 3a St Andrew Square, dishoom.com/edinburgh It’s the bacon and egg between slices of fluffy naan that put Dishoom on Edinburgh’s brunch map. Irani café staples like spicy chicken keema topped with fried eggs are also worth a pilgrimage.

DON’T TELL MAMA 64 Home Street, donttellmama.uk There’s a standard brunch menu (plus a full Scottish and filled morning rolls) but the smart money heads for a full Greek breakfast mopped up with fresh pitta. A super-stylish spot.

GREENWOODS 61 Frederick Street, greenwoods.eu/restaurant/edinburgh Pancakes are piled high here and soda bread is worth the walk. From full Scottish to kimchi benny, it’s fast, filling and tasty.

PANTRY 1 North West Circus Place, thepantryedinburgh.co.uk Expect waffles dripping with maple syrup, towers of eggs benedict topped with fresh veg and fry-ups with pops of greenery.

ROSELEAF 23/24 Sandport Place, roseleaf.co.uk There’s plenty for carnivores, but the full veggie breakfast is a menu highlight: juicy portobello mushrooms and wilted spinach accompanied by tattie scone and roasted tomato.

Pantry

Seventy One Steps

SEVENTY ONE STEPS 22 Rodney Street, thebeardedbaker.co.uk/71-steps The luxuriously filled bagels that made The Bearded Baker popular are also on offer here. If you’re not indulging in a pastrami-packed reuben or sourdough waffles, doughnuts pair perfectly with rich black coffee.

TOAST 65 Shore, toastleith.co.uk On-trend shakshuka is a rich stew of a dish, while the rest of Toast’s menu takes a little detour around Scotland with Isle of Mull cheddar and Scottish smoked haddock on pak choi sourdough.

URBAN ANGEL 121 Hanover Street, urban-angel.co.uk Atmospheric basement café that adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts. It’s cavernous inside so don’t be put off by the queue.

Also try . . . Patisserie Florentin for a sunny start to your day, Edinburgh institution Snax Café (part of a dying breed of greasy spoons) and Scran’s near-legendary all-day breakfasts Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 39

Out Of Town: Casual Eating

See also Out Of Town: Trip & A Treat (page 29)

Dune Bakery

Bakery tourism is a growing trend and both Edinburgh and its surrounding area have much to offer those willing to travel (and queue) for a baked treat. In South Queensferry, the lines of patient pastry aficionados lead to the front door of Dune Bakery. Those in the know will have ordered their weekend collection box in advance, with a vegan version available on Saturdays. Pair with a walk on the beach and a look at the bridges before the train home. On the western fringes of the city, Patina is a bright, airy and goodlooking café with views into the bakery and plenty of outdoor seating. Near a tram stop, it’s making commendable efforts to build community among the office blocks and new housing of South Gyle.

Heading in the other direction out of town, Company Bakery Café is a bright, canteen-style space positioned down one side of their sizeable production unit in Musselburgh, which moved here from central Edinburgh in 2023. Watch the team at work, baking for 200-plus wholesale clients and ensuring the café has a ready supply of fresh, elegant and reliably exquisite pastries, both sweet and savoury, as well as crusty loaves stacked up on shelves behind. Heading further east, Bostock 40 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Bakery is also well worth a pastry pilgrimage. This artisan bakery in East Linton focuses on sourdough bread and perfect viennoiserie. The chocolate and pistachio ‘escargot’ are gorgeous. There’s also takeaway sandwiches, coffees and a little deli, a perfect stop-off for picnic supplies on your way to the beach.

If you’re walking on the John Muir Way, or like nothing more than a good garden centre mooch, head to the light and leafy Garden Café At Archerfield Walled Garden. There’s a tasty brunch menu and plenty of hearty lunch options: the black bean quesadilla with fries is a classic. The more dramatic side of East Lothian is on view at Drift by North Berwick, a converted shipping container with huge windows perched on a cliff edge overlooking Bass Rock. They serve brunch and lunch packed with local farm produce: try homemade sausage roll with celeriac slaw. The sea views might inspire you to learn to surf; if so, head to the new Lost Shore resort by Newbridge. Here, the spacious Canteen café has seasonally rotating guest kitchens, currently small plates by Glasgow’s Five March and pizza from Edinburgh’s Civerinos.

Celebrating the best of Scottish cuisine!

FRI 18 - SUN 27 JULY With performances from :

DUNCAN CHISHOLM

THE UNTHANKS THE EAST POINTERS ELIZA CARTHY & TUTION THE RESto TI be announced!

LIVE MUSIC, STREET FOOD, CHEF DEMOS, ARTISAN MARKETS, DRINKS, COCKTAILS AND MORE... edfoodfest.com

|

@EdFoodFest

and more

|

Produced by Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 41

ROOFTOP

SACRED GARDEN SUMMER Book now at: houseofgodshotel.com

42 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

PICTURE: STEPHEN LISTER

Burgers BOOZY COW 17 Frederick Street, boozycow.com Cavernous basement with plenty of room for groups.

Smash burgers are the undoubted stars, confidently seasoned with a hit of black pepper that lingers.

EL PERRO NEGRO Bonnie & Wild, Level 4, St James Quarter, el-perro-negro.com Pick of the menu is The Top Dog, a smashed patty in bone marrow, roquefort butter with black truffle mayo.

Cardinal

FAT PATTY’S Edinburgh Street Food, Leith Street, instagram.com/fatpattysburgers Fat Patty’s brings thin Cali smash burgers to the table, with lovely nubbins of caramelised and charred meat, topped with pickles and addictive house sauce.

THE LIONESS OF LEITH 21–25 Duke Street, thelionessofleith.co.uk Burger Mama has ruled the roost at this Leith corner bar since 2018. With patties made from flank and skirt steak, their 6oz burger hits the sweet spot.

PORTOBELLO TAP 87 Portobello High Street, crossborders.beer/ portobello-tap No cutlery; just bite into a nicely charred classic patty, oozing with mustard, ketchup, cheese and fried onions.

SALT HORSE 57–61 Blackfriars Street, salthorse.beer Don’t miss this beer haven’s banging burgers: smash patties, jazzed up with tangy burger sauce, monterey jack cheese and bourbon pickles.

Also try . . . upmarket chain Fat Hippo, tasty beef patties at The Black Fox or juicy old-school burgers at The Cambridge Bar

Fat Patty’s

Canonmills: Places To Eat & Drink It used to be a loch and Robert Louis Stevenson lived here as a nipper, but that’s enough fun facts. Tucked in a hollow at the foot of the New Town, Canonmills packs a surprising wealth of food and drink destinations into a small loop of streets. Start at The Bearded Baker, serving seriously good bagels and fine doughnuts (plus bread, pastries and coffee); or stroll 71 steps down Rodney Street to, well, Seventy One Steps, their casual brunch spot where you can tuck into those bagels, toasted and filled.

The Beerhive off-licence has a cracking selection of brews, wines and spirits, or grab a pint at One Canon or O’Connor’s, both decent neighbourhood pubs.

Hata has porridgy goodness and granola for breakfast, with generous sourdough sandwiches at lunch, or continue downhill and squeeze into the minuscule Singapore Coffee House to dunk buttery roti canai into curry sauce. Next to the landmark Canonmills clock is The Tollhouse, an architecturally striking and classy dining joint perched right on the Water Of Leith, while WineKraft (founded by Good Brothers’ Graeme Sutherland) is just over the road and a great place to pick up sustainably produced global wines.

Detour into Eyre Place for dark and moody Cardinal, where Michelin-starred wunderkind Tomás Gormley is kicking the tasting menu in the pants and bringing the fun back to fine dining. Or finish at the foot of Dundas Street, where The Artisan Pasta Maker delivers precisely what it promises. Take away, sit in or (even better) tuck into their fantastic fresh pasta while supping a glass of something delicious at Bacco Wine, the cosy Italian vino experts right next door.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 43

PICTURE: ZAC AND ZAC PHOTOGRAPHY

The Burrow

City Centre: Bars

See also Cocktail Bars (page 18) and Whisky Bars (page71)

THE ABBOTSFORD

LADY LIBERTINE

3–5 Rose Street, theabbotsford.com One of Edinburgh’s best-preserved Edwardian interiors, the mahogany island bar commands the space here. Offering a good spread of ales and lagers on cask and keg from across the UK.

25 West Register Street, ladylibertine.co.uk Pulls off the near-impossible feat of being a place for every occasion without ever being bland or boring.

Thank three things: warm, confident service from a hip team, excellent Levantine-themed food and a banging cocktail list.

THE BOW BAR 80 West Bow, thebowbar.co.uk Hip joints come and go, but The Bow Bar endures.

You’ll find nothing trend-led here: just a well-kept cellar, a huge array of whiskies and some Jarvis Pickle pies (unless the ‘nae pies left’ sign is showing).

THE BURROW 19 Blackfriars Street, theburrowbar.com A decent Negroni for a tenner only a stone’s throw from the Royal Mile makes The Burrow worth one drink. The rest of its well-considered cocktail menu and Art Deco styling make it worth a second. Feels like a fantastic secret.

LE BISTROT West Parliament Square, lebistrot.co.uk Part of the French Institute, this is a slice of Paris on the corner of George IV Bridge and High Street. Open all day for pastries, coffee and classic French fare, it’s also a great spot for a generously poured glass of French wine.

UNO MAS

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

4 Picardy Place, unomasbar.co.uk Low ceilings, low lighting and late nights are the order of the day at this underground bar. A haunt for the city’s bartenders at the end of shifts, closing isn’t until 3am and the cocktails are always on point. Live DJs at weekends and jam sessions every Wednesday.

9 Advocate’s Close, devilsadvocateedinburgh.co.uk In an old Victorian pump house, this place has Pilot beer on draught, 300 whiskies, a menu that changes with the seasons, cocktails, an outdoor mezzanine and all-round lovely service.

Also try . . . the bars in some of the city centre’s upmarket hotels, currently enjoying a bit of a renaissance: The Court in the Caledonian hotel, Joao’s Place in the W Hotel and Commons Club in the Old Town’s Virgin Hotel

44 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Twelve Triangles

Valvona & Crolla

Around Haymarket Station: Coffee & Snacks

Delis & Places To Pick Up A Picnic

FLATBREAD TURKISH BAKERY HOUSE

Almost half of Edinburgh is covered in green space: that’s over 140 parks and patches of grass to plonk yourself down with some delicious deli goods. And you can’t mention Edinburgh delis without talking about IJ Mellis. The fine cheese purveyor has shops in Morningside, Stockbridge and Victoria Terrace, where you can buy all your picnic essentials.

Legs of cured meat, bundles of onions and salted salamis hang from the rafters at Elm Row’s Valvona & Crolla, with olives, pickles and roasted red peppers on their huge deli counter. It’s been going since 1934 and very much qualifies as an Edinburgh institution.

Polentoni’s sandwiches alone give foodies a reason to venture to Easter Road, while the number 9 at the Italian On The Mound is the stuff of legend.

The Banh Mi Brothers sling a precision menu of Vietnamese-French fusion sandwiches from their West Port shop; handy for Grannie’s Green at Grassmarket.

They know how to picnic in Stockbridge. Herbie Of Edinburgh is jam-packed with jars of kimchi, jams and chutneys with local cheeses and delectable homemade pesto. Or, if you prefer your pieces to be pre-made, head for a mega sandwich from Mootz General Store. There’s always a queue but it moves fast; you’ll be rewarded with Italian-style schiacciata sandwiches that don’t skimp on the fillings. Head to Inverleith Park to eat your spoils.

Victor Hugo Deli is another iconic café/takeaway: they’ve enjoyed a corner spot by The Meadows since 1968, (with newer branches in the city centre and Leith) and their pastrami on rye is legendary. If you’re starting from the other side of The Meadows, hit up Bruntsfield’s 181 Delicatessen, cute as a button and championing small, local producers. Big, hot sandwiches are the motto of nearby Alby’s (also in Leith). Big enough to cover three meals in one, they’re finger-lickingly good.

48 Haymarket Terrace, ohmyflatbread.co.uk There’s punchy coffee and baklava here, but fresh flatbreads star: crisp lahmacun with spicy mince or folded borek with olives and feta.

MILK 232 Morrison Street, cafemilk.co.uk Milk is a little room of calm for coffee, breakfast, bakes, brunch or lunch. Refreshingly sophisticated and strong on fresh ingredients.

NOMAD CAFÉ 2 Haymarket Terrace, nomadcoffee.net This family-run café’s origins lie in a wholesale artisan bakery which supplies the pastries, focaccia and cakes arrayed on the counter.

OLD PAL 28 West Maitland Street, oldpal.co.uk A bar for most times of the day or night. Stop in for a croque monsieur at lunch, an aperitif late afternoon, ox cheek and mash for dinner or just a nightcap.

THROAT PUNCH COFFEE CO 30 Dalry Road, throatpunch.co.uk If the coffee-making paraphernalia doesn’t give away Throat Punch’s obsession, then the hand-roasted beans and numerous ways to order your perfect brew should do it.

TWELVE TRIANGLES 50 Dalry Road, twelvetriangles.co.uk One of many branches around town (pages 12, 16, 38). Long-fermented sourdoughs are the basis for breads and pastries here, the latter pretty as a picture with some lovely fillings.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 45

Chef Engagement Programme Scotland Food & Drink is proud to support Scottish producers and chefs from across the country. We believe our food and drink are a natural expression of what Scots, and Scotland, are all about. It’s an encapsulation of our passion, pride and personality.

We recently partnered with the MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland Awards to bring the prestigious ceremony to Scotland, showing we’re seen as a culinary trailblazer and our produce is respected by world-leading chefs.

As part of our legacy activity from partnering with Michelin to bring the awards to Scotland, we’re looking to engage with chefs around the country to continue to support them, and our producers in continuing to put our food and drink front of mind.

46 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Pictured: Our Michelin Industry Event in February 2025, which featured chefs such as Lorna McNee (Cail Bruich) and Jonathan MacDonald (Scoop Restaurants).

If you are a chef and interested in working with us, please get in touch.

Advertising Feature

The Brasserie at The Scholar Hotel Hidden Gem in Edinburgh’s Southside A stylish yet welcoming Southside retreat, The Brasserie at The Scholar Hotel serves up seasonal Scottish flavours, refined comfort classics, and a warm, local charm

Nestled at the foot of Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, and within easy walking distance of Edinburgh’s bustling attractions, The Brasserie at The Scholar Hotel offers a dining experience that blends relaxed sophistication with a true taste of Scotland. Set in the city’s vibrant Southside, this hidden gem welcomes hotel guests and local residents alike, offering a warm, elegant setting perfect for everything from leisurely lunches to special evenings.

Start your visit in the adjoining bar, a welcoming space where expertly-crafted cocktails, fine Scottish spirits and leisurely coffees are served in a laid-back, stylish atmosphere. Whether you’re catching up with friends, marking a special occasion or simply looking to unwind, the bar sets the perfect tone for what’s to come.

The Brasserie’s menu is a heartfelt celebration of Scotland’s finest seasonal ingredients, sourced from trusted local suppliers and crafted into contemporary takes on British classics. Comforting favourites such as Cullen skink and Scottish beef burger sit alongside hearty choices like venison ragu pappardelle, while lighter vegetarian options such as the vibrant pumpkin puttanesca ensure there’s something for every taste. Designed for sociable dining, the sharing platters — including Scottish seafood selection and a charcuterie board — offer a perfect opportunity to sample a little of everything.

Sweet-toothed diners are equally well catered for, with tempting treats including sticky date pudding with honeycomb ice cream, and the locally inspired Scholar cranachan, a nod to Scottish tradition made with Edinburgh honey and University of Edinburgh whisky. Lighter options such as a selection of refreshing ice creams or a classic affogato are also on offer.

With its focus on flavourful, accessible cooking, impeccable local produce and warm Scottish hospitality, The Brasserie at The Scholar Hotel promises an unforgettable culinary experience in one of Edinburgh’s most historic and tranquil corners. n For more information or to book your table, please visit uoecollection.com/hotels/the-scholar/the-brasserie-bar 2025 Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 47

Royal Botanic Garden

LEI CANONMILLS BROUGHTON STREET

STOCKBRIDGE Edinburgh Castle

Th Usher Hall

OLD TOWN Cameo Cinema

Haymarket Station

King’s Theatre BRUNTSFIELD The Meadows

48 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

MORNINGSIDE

Summerhall

LEITH SHORE & AROUND CITY CENTRE WEST END & AROUND

LEITH

AROUND EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY SOUTHSIDE

LEITH WALK EASTER ROAD ABBEYHILL The Playhouse

PORTOBELLO

Waverley Station Queen’s Hall

Areas of Edinburgh Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 49

Advertising Feature

Leith

FACEPLANT

RAZZO PIZZA NAPOLETANA

THE LIONESS OF LEITH

59 Great Junction Street | EH6 5HX razzopizza.co.uk

21–25 Duke Street | EH6 8HH thelionessofleith.co.uk

Razzo Pizza serves up proper Neapolitan pizza in Leith, with fresh ingredients, blistered crusts and bold flavours. It’s a local favourite for good reason. Pizza plans?

You’ve just found them.

The Lioness Of Leith opened as a bar/bistro in December 2013.

Burger Mama was born in early 2018 out of the passion to deliver a real gourmet burger menu to the community.

PALOMA

VALVONA & CROLLA

LEITH DEPOT

50–54 Henderson Street | EH6 6DE palomatacos.co.uk

19 Elm Row | EH7 4AA valvonacrolla.com

138–142 Leith Walk leithdepot.com

Paloma is Leith’s newest neighbourhood taco spot. Located on Henderson Street in the heart of Leith, we serve up hand-pressed corn tortillas, sharing plates and banging cocktails. Our menu is 100% gluten-free and we’re open Wednesday–Sunday.

Established in 1934, Scotland’s oldest delicatessen is a fourthgeneration, family-run treasure trove of Italian food and wine, with a hidden caffè bar at the back. A real Edinburgh institution. Open Monday–Saturday 9am–6pm.

Leith Depot is an independent bar, restaurant and grassroots music venue in Leith, Edinburgh.

Established in 2015, we pride ourselves on providing great hospitality, food and local draught beers. To find out what’s on, check out leithdepot.com

37 Duke Street | EH6 8HH @faceplantfoods

A firm Leith favourite, this 100%vegan hotspot makes all their own ‘meats’ and ‘cheese’ in-house and crafts the most mouthwatering creations, including ever-changing specials. A minute away from the Foot Of The Walk tramstop, FacePlant is also on Deliveroo.

50 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Advertising Feature

Stockbridge

THE ORCHARD

1–2 Howard Place, Canonmills EH3 5JZ theorchardbar.co.uk

A casual, relaxed restaurant and bar located in Canonmills, just a few minutes walk from the Botanic Gardens. We offer a regularly changing menu with seasonal produce, providing classic meals with a modern twist. With over 100 whiskies, a great wine list and cask ales, there is something for the discerning drinker as well!

PATISSERIE FLORENTIN 5 North West Circus Place | EH3 6ST patisserieflorentin.com

One of Stockbridge’s oldest cafés, Patisserie Florentin just around the corner from Circus Lane offers artisan coffee, brunch, home baking and its signature croque monsieur.

A timeless Edinburgh favourite: perfect for relaxing, catching up or indulging in something delicious.

AVERY 54 St Stephen Street | EH3 5AL averyedi.co.uk

Chef Rodney Wages’ translation of his Michelin-starred restaurant, which recently moved from San Francisco to Edinburgh. Avery brings a unique perspective and technique from California to Scotland while celebrating the bounty of Scottish produce, meat and seafood.

CIVERINOS 48 Raeburn Place | EH4 1HL civerinos.com

Nestled in one of Edinburgh’s coolest neighbourhoods, the latest Civerinos pizzeria is thrilled to serve authentic pizza and vibes to the people of Stockbridge. Voted the World’s 13th best pizza by Time Out Magazine, we’re excited to offer our signature dishes, including 20-inch pizzas, giant mozzarella sticks and parmesan-covered salads, all created by our friendly team.

THE HOWDAH TEA & COFFEE COMPANY 5 Deanhaugh Street | EH4 1LU howdah.co.uk

The Howdah Tea & Coffee Company in Stockbridge is a proudly independent business offering over 100 types of premium coffee beans and loose-leaf teas.

Loved by local regulars, we also supply top-quality coffee and teas to businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH Arboretum Place | EH3 5NY rbge.org.uk/food-and-drink

Make your meal one to remember at the Botanics. Enjoy seasonal Scottish dishes made with organic ingredients from the Kitchen Garden, or relax with a cup of Fairtrade coffee and a home-baked sweet. Dining options include al-fresco decking, cosy seating and takeaway ideal for enjoying while you explore the Garden.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 51

Advertising Feature

Out of Town

PATINA

3 Airborne Place, Edinburgh Park EH12 9GR patinaedinburgh.com

A beautiful carbon net-zero bakery focusing on artisan bread, coffee and viennoiserie, with plenty of space to sit in the sun and enjoy the view across to the Pentland Hills.

Winner of Best Croissant in Edinburgh and third overall in Scotland 2024.

THE WEE RESTAURANT

17 Main Street, North Queensferry KY11 1JG | 01383 616263 theweerestaurant.co.uk

The Wee Restaurant is an awardwinning family-run restaurant, nestled under the Forth Bridge in the picturesque village of North Queensferry. They take advantage of small local suppliers in the surrounding area to offer seasonal food of the highest quality.

52 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

ARCHERFIELD WALLED GARDEN Archerfield Estate, Dirleton, East Lothian | EH39 5HQ archerfieldwalledgarden.com

The new spring menu has launched in the Garden Café at Archerfield Walled Garden. Brunch favourites include pancakes, avocado on toasted sourdough, shakshuka and loaded waffles. There’s a mix of sweet and savoury dishes, a children’s menu and also a nongluten containing version.

NB DISTILLERY Halflandbarns | EH39 5PW nbdistillery.com

NB Distillery is located in the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick. Producers of artisanal craft spirits, including their awardwinning NB Gin (voted World’s Best London Dry Gin in 2015) and exceptional Scottish Rums. Visit the distillery, shop online or book a 5-star Experience to ‘Learn, Sample & Relax’.

THE PUFFIN 114 High Street, North Berwick EH39 4HE thepuffin.co.uk

Family run, relaxed fine dining restaurant specialising in seafood and providing a high standard dining experience at a reasonable price. New owners Megan and Kristian looking to make their stamp in East Lothian.

HERRINGBONE

1–3 Westgate, North Berwick EH39 4AE theherringbone.co.uk

Whether it’s a relaxed gettogether or a special celebration, Herringbone North Berwick brings a taste of the coast indoors. Enjoy laid-back vibes, delicious dishes and chilled drinks, just a stone’s throw from the beach.

Advertising Feature

Southside

ALABURRITO

KATE’S

ARGILE

350 Morningside Road | EH10 4QL alaburrito.co.uk

116 Causewayside | EH9 1PU @kates_edinburgh

21 Argyle Place | EH9 1JJ argilerestaurant.co.uk

Alaburrito offer high-end catering across the UK, from film sets to festivals, serving fresh, flavourpacked food from all cuisines via their food truck and catering service. You can also visit their Morningside restaurant to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine and vibrant hospitality.

Kate’s is a local, family-run coffee shop and bakery, focusing on seasonal ingredients with daily home-style bakes like scones, Victoria sponge, sausage rolls and eclairs. Everything is made inhouse; preserves, bread and bakes, with a provisions section selling eggs, coffee and essentials.

From the French word for clay, Argile is an independent chef’s table in Marchmont. This intimate dining experience offers a frequently changing seasonal tasting menu which showcases the best of Scottish produce, cooked with a contemporary French leaning.

CAFE GRANDE

HENDERSONS

A WEE TASTE

7–13 Barclay Place | EH10 4HW hendersonsrestaurant.com

36 Leven Street | EH3 9LJ aweetaste.co.uk

Hendersons is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant by Bruntsfield Links, featured in the Michelin Guide. We serve flavourful meals inspired by classic Scottish dishes.

Join us for dinner with cocktails or enjoy our great lunch deal!

A Wee Taste is a wine and grazingboard bar wholly specialising in cheese, charcuterie and vegan platters, as well as scrumptious sides and hot tapas dishes. We also run monthly events and offer private hire too for birthday, hen and baby shower gatherings.

182–184 Bruntsfield Place EH10 4DF cafegrande.cafe

Family owned and run for 40 years, we’re the wise old kid on the block.

Our menu is freshly cooked from hearty Scottish breakfast through to lunch and dinner. With a beautiful wine list and children’s menu, everybody is welcome!

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 53

Advertising Feature

Old Town

SCRAN 7 North Bridge / 52 George IV Bridge | scranoldtown.com

Established in 2014, Scran Bistro is a vibrant eatery in Edinburgh’s Old Town, known for its inventive brunch menu and laid-back charm.

From stacked burgers to indulgent milkshakes and craft cocktails, the bistro serves bold flavours with plenty of personality. Whether you’re after a lazy brunch or drinks in the open air, Scran is a go-to for good food, good vibes, and great views.

WEDGWOOD THE RESTAURANT 267 Canongate | EH8 8BQ wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk

Wedgwood The Restaurant, on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, offers refined Scottish cuisine with a modern twist. Chef Paul Wedgwood’s passion for foraging and local ingredients shines through in seasonal menus, providing an unpretentious fine-dining experience.

ART AND VINTAGE 3 Lyne Street artandvintage-edinburgh.com

Bright and inviting neighbourhood café, shop and gallery, serving great food and coffee, gifts and artwork by local artists, and carefully sourced vintage homewares.

PARADISE PALMS

BLACK GRAPE

FRUITMARKET

41 Lothian Street | EH1 1HB theparadisepalms.com

240 Canongate, The Royal Mile EH8 8AB | theblackgrape.co.uk

45 Market Street | EH1 1DF fruitmarket.co.uk/cafe

Paradise Palms continue to deliver with their Lucky Pig Americaninspired menu, collaborating with award-winning Mexican street-food operators Antojitos to create a hybrid TexMex menu blending the best of both worlds. Kitchen open daily until 10pm: look out for Taco Tuesdays!

The Black Grape is an awardwinning wine bar and restaurant located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Our vibrant bar is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink while the beautifully appointed restaurant serves a selection of delicious small plates.

Fruitmarket café offers tasty food at affordable prices. The menu has firm favourites such as kala chana, baked eggs and specials that change daily. Plus, all the money made in the café goes back into Fruitmarket’s exhibition and learning programmes.

54 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Black Grape

Best Of The Royal Mile Plenty of foot traffic means the Royal Mile’s vendors don’t need to do much to entice customers. It would be easy for restaurants and bars to sit back and rely on location alone. However, there are a few places on and around this 1.2 mile stretch of the Old Town offering something daring, different or downright delicious.

As thousands of tourists traverse the route daily, there’s an appetite for Scottish cuisines. The menu at Cannonball changes with the season, featuring Scottish lamb, sea trout and sometimes a wild garlic risotto served alongside one of the best views of the castle and Royal Mile. Down a narrow close opposite St Giles’ Cathedral, the Devil’s Advocate has one of Edinburgh’s biggest whisky collections and serves a Scottish-style bar-bistro menu. And while some bars attract stag parties, there’s still a handful of old-fashioned pubs along the Royal Mile for a cosy, quiet pint. The Ensign Ewart and Jolly Judge are time capsules eschewing everything gastro-pub showy, while further down, The World’s End feels like a 17th-century coaching inn inside.

Not far away, Wedgwood The Restaurant has provided an intimate haven of fine but unfussy dining since opening in 2007. Chef Paul Wedgwood’s love of foraging can be seen in the seasonal menu of dishes such as pigeon pastrami with sweet cicely, and he runs foraging experiences on alternating weekends.

Just across from Wedgwood, Black Grape is a sleek and sophisticated wine bar where Scottish produce like sea trout and wild mushrooms is crafted into a delectable selection of small sharing plates, accompanied by a varied and delightfully affordable wine list. Their cocktails are worth mentioning too.

Nearby, Piggs brings a touch of Spanish passion with an excellent selection of wine and traditional tapas dishes to share. For fish lovers, Scotland’s natural bounty from the sea is finely crafted into small plates at White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar, where fresh oysters are a must and crab scotch eggs show the chef’s inventive side.

Finally, a short turn off the Mile onto Blackfriars Street takes you to Three Blind Mice and its tasty wood-fired pizza defying the hiked tourism prices in the area. There’s a secret speakeasy-style cocktail bar in The Burrow below, as well as Edinburgh Larder café next door and Salt Horse, good for burgers and craft beer, just down the street.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 55

Harajuku Kitchen

The Nook

Around Cameo Cinema: Places To Eat

City Centre: Cafés

A WEE TASTE

Our pick of casual cafés and places to pop in for a bite don’t require a booking and are certainly a step up from a Pret sandwich. The Nook at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait is a bistro-style spot within the refurbished Café Portrait. It’s a sit-down-and-dine place where a menu of Scottish-style dishes, like smoked haddock hash, and signature cocktails are inspired by famous Scots and artworks within the galleries. Sticking with the Galleries, The Scottish Café And Restaurant at the National Gallery features a local produce-led menu from the folk at Contini in a big bright space overlooking Princes Street Gardens.

Plenty of places in town take their coffee seriously.

The team at Lowdown Coffee on George Street know when a long pour might enhance flavour or which blend goes best with oat milk. To eat is a mouthwatering array of cakes, soup, sourdough and pomegranate-speckled avocado toast. Bastard Barista on Queen Street is a steampunk hideaway where intricate coffee paraphernalia shows they care about the perfect brew, plus they’ve got pastries and sandwiches for a quick snack.

Big, substantial breakfasts, brunch croques, bagels and leftfield plates of pierogi make up the menu at The Painted Rooster in the West End. Everything is made from scratch, and it’s fast, filling and fuss-free. Hidden down Dublin Street is MaRobert’s café-style spot, which feels like stumbling on a local secret. Tanzanianspiced plantain, chickpea chicken and fragrant rice is designed to be taken away in plastic tubs, but you can sit in.

For a sandwich or soup and a side of social responsibility, pop into Social Bite on Rose Street. The charity has been tackling homelessness in Edinburgh through various projects over the years, including employing those experiencing homelessness in their kitchen.

36 Leven Street, aweetaste.co.uk Showcasing local and international produce on packed charcuterie and cheese boards, this is a dinky spot to while away an evening.

HARAJUKU KITCHEN 10 Gillespie Place, harajukukitchen.co.uk A hybrid of endearing neighbourhood bistro and more-than-sushi Japanese specialist.

HENDERSONS 7–13 Barclay Place, hendersonsrestaurant.com A go-to for reliable vegetarian dining since 1962. Saltbaked celeriac and foraged mushroom risotto prove natural plant-based trumps faux-meat any day.

THAILANDER 25 Brougham Street, thailandertakeaway.co.uk Perch on a stool to enjoy vibrant, richly flavoured Thai cooking. Larger restaurant in Newington.

TUK TUK 1 Leven Street, tuktukindianstreetfood.com Fast-cooked, Indian street food-style eats and BYOB make this good value. Also on Drummond Street.

YAMATO 11 Lochrin Terrace, yamatoedinburgh.co.uk Serene Japanese fine-dining, with top-notch sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls and the chance to sample highgrade tuna, wagyu beef and saké.

Also try . . . Brauhaus for craft beers and ciders, The Wildcat (page 18) for classy cocktails, Bennet’s Bar for old-time pub vibes and Cloisters (page 57) for a wide choice of cask ales 56 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Craft Beer Bars BELLFIELD BREWERY TAPROOM & BEER GARDEN 46 Stanley Place, bellfieldbrewery.com This place has a large indoor bar plus a veritable shanty town of outdoor wooden booths. Excellent brewed-on-site craft beers are complemented with pop-up food offerings ranging from banh mi to tacos and fried chicken.

CLOISTERS 26 Brougham Street, cloistersbar.com Housed in an old parsonage, Cloisters features craft ales from small producers and lesser-known or innovative breweries. With an emphasis on those that are organic and Scottish, the selection on the pub’s 20 taps (10 of them casks) are constantly rotating.

THE HANGING BAT 133 Lothian Road, thehangingbat.com With a small in-house brewery, around 20 draught beers and ales plus over 100 bottles, this is a mecca for younger craft-beer enthusiasts. Thirst-quenching lagers and hoppy APAs can be enjoyed alongside a menu of American-style bar food like chilli dogs and macaroni cheese.

SALT HORSE 57–61 Blackfriars Street, salthorse.beer

A friendly craft beer bar in the heart of the city with 14 draught lines and 210 different cans and bottles.

Well-informed staff guide you through the choices, there’s a small, well-curated wine and spirits list, a burger-based bar menu and the cutest secret beer garden too.

THE STOCKBRIDGE TAP 2–6 Raeburn Place, instagram.com/thestockbridgetap A dog-friendly haven for fans of craft beers and ales.

With a rotating selection of both kegs and casks, the focus is on unusual and independent brews from all over the UK. Named by CAMRA as Edinburgh and South East Scotland pub of the year for 2025.

THE WEE VAULT 7a West Maitland Street, vaultcity.co.uk This quirky tasting room and bottle shop is one of the smallest in Edinburgh. A beacon for beer lovers, there are more taps than seats with 24 on at any time.

The narrow venue also has a fridge full of cans for takeaway.

Also try . . . some of the other brewery taprooms, in particular down in Leith where Moonwake, Newbarns, Pilot and Campervan are all within easy walking distance of one another

Bellfield Brewery Taproom & Beer Garden

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 57

58 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Food & Drink Experiences

Not restaurants, bars or cafés but other food and drink-related venues, attractions and activities

THE CHOCOLATARIUM 3–5 Cranston Street, chocolatarium.co.uk Grab your very own golden ticket at this unexpected venue tucked off the Royal Mile which offers micro factory tours covering the history, growing, manufacture and culture of chocolate, followed by a chance to create your own chocolate bar and taste your way through dozens of different types and flavours.

EDINBURGH GIN DISTILLERY Arch 16, East Market Street, edinburghgin.com A tangle of gleaming steel piping and copper stills are literally front and centre of this glamorous new HQ for the capital’s eponymous gin maker. Set in the historic Old Town overlooking Calton Hill, a range of tours, tastings, gin-making and cocktail classes are available, and there’s also a glitzy bar.

EDINBURGH NEW TOWN COOKERY SCHOOL 7 Queen Street, entcs.co.uk The city’s premier culinary school for aspirant professionals and enthusiastic amateurs. It’s an impressive multi-floor set-up that allows for small class sizes and fun learning whether you’re eyeing up a six-month diploma or a half-day workshop, with classes for kids, teenagers, students and those just after a few more practical skills.

Wedgwood Foraging Experiences

HOLYROOD DISTILLERY 19 St Leonard’s Lane, holyrooddistillery.co.uk In a former railway engine repair shed near Arthur’s Seat, this is a serious and ambitious 21st-century whisky project. Different tours are offered, from a shorter highlights whirl to in-depth distiller-led journeys that include a stop in their intriguing taste and testing lab.

SUMMERHALL DISTILLERY 1 Summerhall, summerhalldistillery.com Tucked away among the warren of buildings and rooms in the city’s former Royal Dick Vet School, now Summerhall Arts venue, is the hand-built micro-distillery of Pickering’s Gin. You can get to know more about the brand’s back story and folk behind it on a distillery tour, masterclass or tasting session.

WEDGWOOD FORAGING EXPERIENCES 267 Canongate, wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk Once a month, chef Paul Wedgwood escapes the kitchen to guide groups on a foraging trip into rural East Lothian. Along with learning how to identify and pick wild plants, you’ll get tips on preparation and cooking, before heading back to the restaurant for a wild tasting menu lunch.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 59

Around Edinburgh University: Places to Eat CANOPY KITCHEN & COURTYARD Topolabamba

Around Usher Hall: Places To Eat BENTOYA 13 Bread Street, bentoya.co.uk A fusion of classic sushi with experimental twists, plus ramen, udon and donburi. It’s a compact spot, so reservations are essential.

DINE 1st Floor, 10 Cambridge Street, dineedinburgh.co.uk You’d be hard pushed to find a handier spot for a pre or post-theatre meal. Order à la carte, or try the fixedprice menus (available at lunch or pre-show).

INNIS & GUNN TAPROOM 81–83 Lothian Road, innisandgunn.com/taprooms Obviously it’s mainly about Innis & Gunn’s own brews here and much of the food is typical pub fare. But the star is steak frîtes for just £20 . . . with free seconds!

KONJ 15–17 Grindlay Street, konjcafe.com Persian breakfasts with fried eggs, feta and walnuts or sweet omelette flavoured with saffron whisk you to the streets of Tehran.

Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place, canopyedi.com Relaxed all-day dining as part of the Uni’s hospitality portfolio, alongside Bonnar’s At The Scott and The Brasserie At The Scholar (both at Pollock Halls).

CIVERINOS SLICE 49 Forrest Road, civerinos.com Civs usually has around 12 different pizzas on the pass, most available by the slice or pie. Also in Hunter Square, on the prom in Portobello and in Stockbridge.

FETTLE 24 Marshall Street, instagram.com/fettle.edinburgh With signature sourdough focaccia springing regularly from their ovens, Fettle has the essentials for a mega sandwich. Fillings are fresh and generous.

KALPNA 2–3 St Patrick Square, kalpnarestaurant.com Friendly vegetarian restaurant for a reliable South Indian feast. The lunchtime buffet is incredible value.

PAOLOZZI RESTAURANT & BAR 59–61 Forrest Road, paolozzirestaurantandbar.co.uk Small plates, gorgeous pasta and crisp pizza, all (naturally) accompanied by their own brews.

SÖDERBERG PAVILION

TING THAI

1 Lister Square, soderberg.uk/pavilion Söderberg’s flagship dishes up waffles and baked eggs for brunch, plus excellent sourdough pizzas at night.

55–57 Lothian Road, tingthai.co.uk Vibrant Thai flavours shine in spicy coconut curries and umami-rich noodles. Walk-ins only: if busy, try their original branch a 15-minute stroll away at Teviot Place.

Also try . . . stunning soups at Union Of Genius, epic sandwiches at Alby’s (also in Leith) or Greek/ Mediterranean brunch/lunch at Lady & The Bear

TOPOLABAMBA 93 Lothian Road, topolabamba.com A great choice for groups, with soft tacos, spicy carnitas and blow-your-face-off jalapeño poppers.

Also try . . . craft beer mecca The Hanging Bat, the rotating taps at Red Squirrel or top cocktails with an Italian twist at Hey Palu (page 18) 60 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Civerinos

fettercairnwhisky.com PLEASE ENJOY FETTERCAIRN RESPONSIBLY. FETTERCAIRN, THE UNICORN LOGO, THE FETTERCAIRN ROUNDEL LOGO, AND THE FETTERCAIRN BOTTLE SHAPE ARE ALL TRADE MARKS OF WHYTE AND MACKAY LIMITED

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 61

Fine Dining With seven Michelin-starred restaurants (the highest concentration in a UK city after London), Edinburgh has an incredible fine-dining scene. Seasonal produce guides the best local chefs, so expect to encounter sea herbs from East Lothian, game from the forests of the Borders, farm produce from the Lothians and Fife, and the bounty of North Sea fishing boats and Hebridean creelers. If you’re in the market for a tasting menu or a special celebratory meal, the city has some enticing choices. Few of these experiences come cheap, though it’s worth noting that many places offer lunch or shorter menus.

Starting with the stalwarts, The Kitchin in Leith has been Michelinstarred since 2007 and winning awards ever since; this is a restaurant that continues to innovate and impress with a ‘From Nature to Plate’ philosophy influenced by classic French techniques. Restaurant Martin Wishart is celebrating 25 years in Leith this year, and the creative but assured Frenchstyle approach to Scottish produce continues to dazzle those who dine here. In the modern European style, Number One at The Balmoral Hotel is a glorious underground dining room with beautifully plated dishes and impressive wines, right beside Waverley Station.

For more of a Scandinavian-style approach, family-run Timberyard near the Usher Hall has some of the most innovative and exciting food in Scotland. Alongside top local produce, you’ll find pickles and ferments, foraged ingredients, plus herbs and edible flowers grown in the restaurant courtyard. Sister restaurant Montrose in Abbeyhill is also very special but at a more accessible price point. American chef Rodney Wages moved his Michelin-starred restaurant Avery from San Francisco to Edinburgh’s Stockbridge, plates and all, and this year regained the star he left behind.

It’s bold creative cooking, where Californian and Japanese influences meet Scottish produce: think raw razor clam with grilled anchovy gel on a soft kuzu dumpling, or pineapple-glazed eel wrapped in nettle leaves.

There are also Japanese notes on the eclectic menus at light and lovely Leith-based Heron too, like shio koji with turbot. At Condita in Newington, only 12 guests a night are treated to Scottish chef Tyler King’s creative cuisine. The beautiful décor changes seasonally and the menu comes as a series of hand-drawn pictograms at the end of the night. There’s also an intimate setting at Eòrna in Stockbridge, where chef Brian Grigor and sommelier Glen Montgomery serve a set six-course menu to 12 diners at a long chef’s table. Nearby, Tomás Gormley’s Cardinal is a wee warren of rooms, muffled with thick black curtains and glowing with candlelight. Both lunch and dinner are curated, fixed-choice tasting affairs.

If you’re going to blow the budget in style, go to Lyla on the edge of Calton Hill where chef Stuart Ralston is at the peak of his powers. Expect ten delicate but dazzling seafood-focused courses from the open kitchen.

Every dish is beautiful: think tender cured plaice decorated with radish flowers, an individual Exmoor caviar pearl in every bud. Ralston’s first finedining restaurant Aizle on Charlotte Square pivots around the seasons with an à la carte offer that remains an absolute treat.

62 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

From top left, clockwise: Cardinal, Lyla, Heron, Avery

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 63

ART FILM

The Orchard Bar is an informal, relaxed bar and restaurant situated in Canonmills only a few minutes walk from the botanic gardens.

With a regularly changing and varied menu using locally sourced seasonal produce The Orchard provides excellent classic meals with a modern touch.

BOOKS KIDS

MUSIC

COMEDY

DANCE

PODCASTS

FOOD & DRINK

THEATRE

TV

LIST.CO.UK

1-2 Howard Place, Canonmills, Edinburgh, EH3 5JZ theorchardbar@gmail.com theorchardbar.co.uk

@theorchardbar 0131 550 0850

Get a life with Scotland’s definitive guide to arts & culture

LISTING UP TO 30,000 UK WIDE EVENTS REACHING 1 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY MONTH

SUMMERHALL DISTILLERY

EAT, DRINK, SUPPORT LOCAL. JOIN US FOR FLAVOUR-PACKED FOOD PAIRINGS, CHAMPIONING BRILLIANT LOCAL PRODUCERS FROM CHARCUTERIE AND CHEESES TO SMOKED SALMON, SMALL-BATCH SPIRITS AND CRAFT BEER.

ENJOY 10% OFF WITH CODE EATDRINK10 BOOK YOUR TICKETS AT SUMMERHALLDISTILLERY.COM

64 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Leith Walk: Places To Drink ABODE CAFÉ BAR 229 Leith Walk, abodebarleith.co.uk Relaxed bar with enticing wine list and local beers on tap. Pop in for coffee, wine or a platter of Mellis’ cheese and East Coast Cured charcuterie.

THE JOKER & THE THIEF 71 Elm Row, jokerandthief.co.uk Laid-back pub with superb range of Scottish beers on tap and a Thursday night magic show. Pizzas available from nearby Origano (page 17).

LEITH DEPOT 138–142 Leith Walk, leithdepot.com Proper community-minded pub, with grassroots music venue next door. Enjoy hearty pub food with stacked burgers and ‘filthy’ chips. Kids welcome until 9pm.

THE MOTHER SUPERIOR 96–98 Leith Walk, instagram.com/the.mother.superior.bar Really good selection of beers including local favourites Campervan, Newbarns and Pilot, and a cocktail list that punches way above most pubs.

SPRY 1 Haddington Place, sprywines.co.uk The focus here is on natural and organic wines by the glass. Elegant small plates can be built into a fivecourse tasting menu.

VICTORIA 265 Leith Walk, bodabar.com/victoria Chilled space to catch up with friends for a quiet pint or cocktail, plus a range of Scandi spirits and a Swedish sweet shop too.

Also try . . . studenty vibes at Brass Monkey Leith, a quiet pint and loaded fries at Jeremiah’s Taproom or a drink in the sun outside Joseph Pearce

Spry

Chizuru Tei

Budget Dining

PICTURE: SIOBHAN NEVADA

‘Budget’ is hard to quantify in a time of rising costs but there are plenty of good-value options around the city, particularly if you can forgo alcohol or bring your own. The Original Mosque Kitchen (in the Edinburgh Mosque grounds on Potterrow) is a case in point: there’s nothing fancy about the fluorescentlit basement room, but the portions, served canteenstyle, are huge and feel like love on a plate. Likewise, Kalpna’s lunchtime buffet (page 60) is both generous and an unbelievable back-to-the-80s price deal. The Pakora Bar is another top spot: pakora wraps are banging, the kathi rolls smack and their £20 pakora and curry combo will keep you going all the way up Arthur’s Seat.

Seafood is never exactly cheap (nor should it be), but Chizuru Tei in Haymarket strikes a fantastic balance of spanking fresh sushi and reasonable prices, with cheap BYOB helping to keep the bill reasonably low; The Mussel Inn is another spot where a bargain can be had, especially if you stick to their excellent signature mussel pots.

Fine dining (see page 62) comes with a bill to match, but if you want to push the boat halfway out, you’ll get change from £50 at new-kid-on-the-block Cardinal.

You’ll also find a fabulous lunch/early dining menu (with equally fabulous views) at The Outsider: ignore the steak and most mains come in around the £10 mark (but the garlicky fries are worth every extra penny).

Thai can be spenny, but Bluerapa Thai beats the trend with affordable dishes and a reasonable corkage charge. And Chez Jules’ set lunch is a social-media legend that (for once) lives up to the hype: free salad, appetiser and bread plus bargainous house wine makes the whole experience feel generous and homely, no matter when you eat.

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 65

Southside: Restaurants

See also Southside: Casual Eating & Drinking (page 79)

Nàdair

ARGILE 21 Argyle Place, argilerestaurant.co.uk Seating a maximum of eight people along a dining bar, this culinary hotspot is the epitome of an intimate dining experience. Chef Jack Montgomery’s intriguing dishes are crafted in front of you, accompanied by friendly chat about ingredients and the wine list.

NÀDAIR 15 Roseneath Street, restaurantnadair.com A small, calm and minimal restaurant with Scandi sage tiles and sprays of dried flowers. In the kitchen there’s a fondness for local and foraged ingredients, while wooden cutlery and tree-slice placemats add an earthy, foresty feel: ‘nàdair’ is Gaelic for nature.

There’s always a bit of a buzz at this neighbourhood brasserie thanks to an eclectic clientele of students, family groups and curious visitors. The Frenchinspired menu with seasonal Scottish produce turns out comforting casseroles and confits along with fresh salads and lovingly presented fish dishes.

TEMPO PERSO 208 Bruntsfield Place, mytempoperso.com Stylish décor and towering ceilings keep things feeling classy in this popular Italian. It offers an excellent selection of Italian regional wine, and while the menu doesn’t stray far from the classics, rich sauces that have simmered for hours and ingredients are good quality.

POMELO

THREE BIRDS RESTAURANT

27 Sciennes Road, pomelocafe.co.uk It could be mistaken for a funky wine bar but there’s an infectious youthful earnestness in the contemporary pan-Asian food served here. Deep braises and umami flavours are prominent in their rich, tingling and filling dishes, including signature handripped noodles.

3–5 Viewforth, threebirds.co.uk Three Birds belies its compact size with a big plateglass frontage and a multi-faceted and adaptable menu. Brunch, a set-priced lunch deal and dinner options are complemented by varied sides and nibbles, kids’ picks, blackboard specials and a decent wine and drinks list.

THE RABBIT HOLE

Also try . . . Fin & Grape (page 23) for classy fish dishes and LeftField (page 28) overlooking Bruntsfield Links for special occasion neighbourhood dining

11 Roseneath Street, therabbitholerestaurant.com 66 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 67

Stockbridge: Restaurants See also Stockbridge: Bars (page 33)

CATA 30 North West Circus Place, cataedinburgh.co.uk Edinburgh restaurateur Iggy Campos is back with his trademark Spanish flair. Cata is a cool, contemporary space with a menu focused on tapas and pintxos. The chalkboard wine list is, naturally, Iberian-focused.

KENJI SUSHI 24 Deanhaugh Street, kenjisushi.com Kenji makes the most of its subterranean surroundings with dark walls, paper lanterns and cute room dividers. A big menu hits all the marks, but you’re probably here for the sushi: it’s among the best in the city.

MOSS 112 St Stephen Street, mossedn.co.uk Chef Henry Dobson’s farm-to-table venture has a neighbourhood feel and price point to match. The à la carte menu features over 90 products sourced directly from his family farm.

PURSLANE RESTAURANT Moss Skua

33a St Stephen Street, purslanerestaurant.co.uk Chef-owner Paul Gunning’s multi-course tasting menus change seasonally but are always an ode to Scottish produce and fine French technique.

Expect game and fish with careful saucing and refined flavours.

SKUA 49 St Stephen Street, skua.scot There’s fried chicken and then there’s Skua’s fried chicken. Spicy, crunchy coating, tender marinated meat and fermented peach hot sauce. Chicken aside, it’s small sharing plates here and the atmosphere is dark and sultry.

SOTTO 28–32 Deanhaugh Street, sottoedinburgh.com Upstairs in the big-windowed bar area, tuck into top-drawer bar snacks and a glass from an impressive wine collection. Downstairs, the classy trattoria has à la carte options as well as a four-course chef’s selection that’s great bang for your buck.

STOCKBRIDGE EATING HOUSE

PICTURE: STEPHEN LISTER

7 St Stephen Street, stockbridgeeatinghouse.co.uk Dale Mailley (once of Gardener’s Cottage/The Lookout) goes casual and hits the bullseye with this venture. The daily-changing menu (think roasted grouse with girolles or grilled half lobster and chips) takes local sourcing seriously, the vibe is intimate and the bill super-affordable.

Also try . . . further fine dining at Avery, Cardinal and Eòrna (all covered in the TipList on page 62), Radicibus (page 37) for upmarket Italian, Nok’s Kitchen for Thai and elevated gastro-pub dining at Tom Kitchin’s The Scran & Scallie (see page 73) 68 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Pizza

The best spots for a slice

MATTO 29–33 Newington Road & 370 Morningside Rd, mattopizza.co.uk Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven that sparkles like a 70s disco ball here. Toppings vary from classic margarita to more eccentric concoctions of carrot cream, goat’s cheese and pickled beetroot. Also on Morningside Road and takeaway-only at Meadowbank.

NOVAPIZZA VEGAN KITCHEN 42 Howe Street, novapizza.co.uk Proof that great pizza can exist without mozzarella, Novapizza has been keeping the city’s vegans happy for a decade. This pocket-sized Italian, run by a Roman family, dishes up pasta and a huge range of pizzas, plus an extensive gluten-free menu.

PIZZA GEEKS 126 Easter Road, 7 Commercial Street & 19 Dalry Road, pizzageeks.co.uk Pizza Geeks has three venues across the city: the pop-up-madepermanent on Easter Road has a retro games and blockbuster movies theme. A pizza from The Shire is forged in an R2D2 oven and house classics include The Mario and The Luigi. This is excellent Neapolitaninspired pizza. xxx

PIZZERIA 1926

xxx

Matto

Pizza Geeks

85 Dalry Road, pizzeria1926.co.uk As Scotland’s only member of the True Neapolitan Pizza Association, pizzas here have the stamp of approval from both Naples and Pizzeria 1926’s many happy regulars. Expect pillowy crusts, fresh toppings and traditional pizzas renamed to honour Napoli football players.

RAZZO PIZZA NAPOLETANA 59 Great Junction Street, razzopizza.co.uk Don’t ask for pineapple: the pizza toppings at Razzo are straight outta Napoli. Their sourdough pizzas are among the best in the city and the Napoletana is hard to beat: crushed San Marzano tomatoes with anchovies, capers, basil and oregano. Also at Edinburgh Street Food.

SAN CIRO’S 148 Leith Walk, sanciros.com This Maradona-themed pizza spot has quickly moved up the hotly contested pizza rankings down in Leith. On the menu are delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas with classic toppings, and a few more out-there specials. Share hot arancini or crisp calamari while you wait. Service is chatty and fun.

Also try . . . family friendly wood-fired pizza at Pomo Pizzeria by Haymarket, and pizza by the slice from Civerinos at locations across the city: a hot slice on Portobello prom is fast becoming a seaside staple Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 69

70 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Whisky Bars

See also Whisky Experiences (page 34)

The Belfry

THE ABBEY 65 South Clerk Street, abbeybar.co.uk With up to 700 whiskies on the back bar at any one time, including a selection of their own single-cask bottlings, The Abbey is a fine place for a dram or a flight curated by region, age, decade or distillery.

ATHLETIC ARMS 1–3 Angle Park Terrace, athleticarms.co.uk Better known as Diggers, this Polwarth institution likes its sport, showing everything from darts to dogs. It has a wonderful whisky offering at great prices and when you see folks in high-vis and suits in the same bar, you know you’ve found a melting pot.

on Rose Street, the modest size of this one-roomed pub belies its heft as a whisky bar. As an Ardbeg ‘embassy’, it offers special edition bottlings from the venerated Islay distillery as well as whiskies from independent bottlers.

CAFÉ ROYAL 19 West Register Street, cafe.royaledinburgh.com This classic bar (with adjoining oyster bar, famous for its shellfish, stained glass and ceramic tiles) has an excellent whisky list, representing all regions of Scotland, with a nod to the ‘rest of the world’ and helpful dram suggestions for the indecisive.

THE BELFRY

THE LAST WORD SALOON

1–3 Barclay Place, thebelfryedinburgh.co.uk A bar for locals as well as whisky enthusiasts, their selection of around 100 bottles may be small but it’s well curated. Featuring one-of-a-kind and independent bottlings, the ethos is to offer good drams that you might not find elsewhere.

44 St Stephen Street, lastwordsaloon.com Dark and moody is the order of the day at this subterranean saloon as flickering candlelight creates a snug vibe. With a fine list of single malts, blends and world whiskies and a strong cocktail showing, it’s ideal for a night cap.

THE BLACK CAT

Also try . . . either of the two Teuchters bars in town (pages 21, 73 & 76), the tucked-away Devil’s Advocate (pages 44 & 55) or Leith’s sultry Nauticus (page 21)

168 Rose Street, facebook.com/theblackcatbaredinburgh Claiming to be the only independent public house

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 71

Specialist Coffee Shops BEATNIK 2 Brougham Place, beatnik.cafe A stripped-back space with strict no-laptops rule, featuring ever-changing blends and beans. Their cupping and collab nights are the stuff of legend.

Bittersweet

CAIRNGORM COFFEE ROASTERS 1 Melville Place, cairngorm.coffee One of the OGs on the Edinburgh coffee scene, Cairngorm’s Melville Street base is a hub for tired commuters, nearby office workers and local residents.

The food is good and they’re open from 7am.

MACHINA ESPRESSO 388 Marchmont Road, machina-coffee.com This good-looking café opens nice and early for those seeking a shot on the commute. They also roast their own coffee, sell kit and offer various subscriptions for home brewing.

MR EION COFFEE ROASTER 44a East Trinity Road & 9 Dean Park Street, mreion.com Not satisfied with one small-batch roastery, Mr Eion now boasts two. Trinity has a lovely sun-drenched feel while Stockbridge has recently undergone a smart reno and now also welcomes sit-ins.

ORIGIN COFFEE 6–8 South College Street, origincoffee.co.uk Expect meticulous attention to detail, thanks to well-drilled staff who know about the beans they’re grinding. Regular classes and cupping sessions.

Also try . . . Edinburgh’s clutch of specialist tea suppliers, including Rosevear Tea in Bruntsfield, Broughton Street and Clerk Street, Pekoetea on Leith Walk and Stockbridge’s The Howdah Tea & Coffee Company

72 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Beatnik

Leith Shore & Around: Cafés & Casual Eating When the sun is shining, there’s nowhere quite like Leith Shore. Tables in the sun are in high demand as cafés and pubs spill out beside the Water Of Leith.

Elegant Toast has window seats and outdoor tables and it’s a leisurely place to while away a few hours.

Alongside a long wine list, brunch offerings are particularly strong, with interesting Mediterraneaninfluenced small plates later in the day.

Also on the river is a branch of Edinburgh stalwart Victor Hugo Deli if you’re in the market for a pastrami on rye or a wedge of Basque cheesecake.

Another top spot for a lunchtime sandwich is just behind the Shore on Sandport Street, where familyrun Domenico’s serve their ‘Chilli Goats Gruff’ focaccia: goat’s cheese, artichokes, peppers, pine nuts, tomato pesto and sriracha. Out back, tables are set with red-checked tablecloths for a hearty menu of Italian favourites including chicken saltimbocca, venison ragù with tagliatelle, and gnocchi with burrata and basil pesto.

Catching the morning sunshine, Printworks on Constitution Street is a popular breakfast hangout.

The coffee is good and strong and there’s a simple menu of breakfast rolls, or an excellent granola with fresh fruit and pistachios. Next door, Rocksalt Café has lots of space for groups and an outrageous selection of tiffins and cakes, while the nearby The Old Spence is a charming, cosy spot worth a look in too.

Towards Ocean Terminal is the original branch of stacked ‘big hot sandwich’ pioneers Alby’s: look out for the sticky aubergine, with kaeng kari mayo, som tam, herbs and crispy noodles, but the fried chicken club is also hard to resist. For an early evening casual bite, head to relaxed bar Bittersweet where it’s always Italian aperitivo hour: try oozing arancini, bruschetta and golden calamari with a house spritz.

Places To Drink Outdoors THE BLACKBIRD 37–39 Leven Street, theblackbirdedinburgh.co.uk Cocktails are one of the main pulls here but out back you’ll find one of the best beer gardens in town, with its eye-popping Mr Doodle graffiti walls.

COLD TOWN HOUSE 4 Grassmarket, coldtownhouse.co.uk Roof terrace offering cocktails, icy cold beer, hot pizza and loaded fries, with unfettered views of the castle.

1820 ROOFTOP BAR Johnnie Walker Princes Street, 145 Princes Street, johnniewalker.com Rooftop terrace with jaw-dropping views: the castle rises above and the Old Town trails into the distance.

LOST IN LEITH BAR & FERMENTARIA 82 Commercial Street, campervanbrewery.com/lostinleith Run by local brewers Campervan, this spot has European canal-side vibes. Alongside their own brews, you’ll find low-intervention wines and beers.

THE PITT 20 West Shore Road, thepitt.co.uk The Pitt’s global street-food market on the shores of the Forth is a fine spot for an outdoor pint.

TEUCHTERS LANDING 1c Dock Place, teuchtersbar.co.uk This unpretentious bar has a generous riverside beer garden with heat lamps to keep you snug.

Also try . . . The Cumberland Bar’s leafy sunken garden, Mara’s huge terrace by the Shore or Herringbone Abbeyhill’s raised timber deck

Down The Hatch

Family Friendly DOWN THE HATCH 13 Antigua Street, downthehatchdiner.com With a kids’ menu of burgers, chicken bites and even a small-size poutine, this is sure to be a hit for the littles.

MIMI’S BAKEHOUSE 63 Shore, mimisbakehouse.com Kids’ afternoon teas that are as colourful and rainbowsprinkled as a five-year-old’s birthday party.

THE ORCHARD 1–2 Howard Place, theorchardbar.co.uk Room for buggies make this a great spot for dining with kids. Each main from the kids’ menu comes with an ice lolly after.

POMO PIZZERIA 250 Morrison Street, pomopizzeria.co.uk Wordsearches, mazes and crayons at the table; this Haymarket pizzeria has old-school kids’ entertainment. There’s a menu for the little ones plus (of course) ice-cream for afters.

PORTO & FI 47 Newhaven Main Street, portofi.com The toys and colouring books let you know this place is family friendly, as well as the dedicated kids’ menu.

THE SCRAN & SCALLIE 1 Comely Bank Road, scranandscallie.com The special menu for under 12s features pub classics like fish and chips and sausage and mash so no one feels left out. Plus, there’s a kids’ corner with plenty of toys and a colouring-in station.

Also try . . . Coro Chocolate Café, known as ‘the chocolate place!’ by many an excited child, Edinburgh Street Food (page 33) for space and lots of choice, or family-friendly bar Joseph Pearce

Cold Town House

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 73

Your summer of food awaits at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh, expand your culinary skills at the award-winning Edinburgh New Town Cookery School. With classes for all ages and abilities covering a range of cuisines and techniques, join us for a session and head back to your own kitchen inspired.

If you want to professionally advance your food and drink career, we also offer a full suite of professional courses of one to six months in duration.

Find out more and hear from our successful alumni by visiting our website. entcs.co.uk Edinburgh New Town Cookery School ent_cookeryschool

74 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

SCAN TO FIND THE COURSE FOR YOU

Advertising Feature

Bonnar’s at The Scott Hotel Where every meal feels like a special occasion

A celebration of Scotland’s seasonal larder, Bonnar’s at The Scott Hotel pairs elegant surroundings with imaginative, ingredient-led cooking from acclaimed chef Pier Berretta Set within the beautiful and elegant surroundings of The Scott Hotel, Bonnar’s offers a refined yet relaxed take on Scottish fine dining. Led by acclaimed Head Chef Pier Berretta, the restaurant showcases Scotland’s exceptional produce through creative, flavour-driven dishes designed to delight and inspire.

Menus at Bonnar’s follow the rhythm of the seasons, ensuring each dish celebrates the freshest local ingredients. Highlights include delicate cured sea trout with tangy buttermilk and fresh dill; rich Orkney scallops served with fish cassoulet and indulgent roe butter; and tender Castle Game venison paired with a house-made BBQ sauce. Desserts are equally imaginative — from the distinctive Morangie brie custard with spruce syrup to a playful rhubarb and meadowsweet Eton mess — each one balancing tradition with culinary flair.

The setting is just as memorable. Guests dine beneath an ornate painted ceiling adorned with classical frescoes, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the hotel’s lush gardens, filling the space with natural light and calm elegance — the perfect backdrop for a remarkable dining experience.

Bonnar’s is all about bringing the best of Scotland’s natural bounty to the table. From crisp lettuces grown at Phantassie Farm to fragrant herbs and golden

honey sourced from The Scott’s own estate, each ingredient is selected with care and pride. Dishes are crafted to let these local, seasonal flavours shine, and a carefully curated wine list — featuring organic and international favourites — offers the ideal pairing for every plate.

Whether it’s a romantic dinner, a family celebration, or a special occasion, Bonnar’s offers an experience where exceptional food meets heartfelt hospitality.

Warm, elegant and full of culinary creativity, Bonnar’s at The Scott Hotel promises an unforgettable dining experience in one of Edinburgh’s most captivating settings.  For more information or to book your table, please visit bonnars.co.uk

2025 Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 75

Fava Greek Kitchen

Around The West End: Places To Eat See also Around Haymarket Station: Coffee & Snacks (page 45)

DULSE 17 Queensferry Street, dulse.co.uk Dean Banks’ seafood-focused Edinburgh restaurant is a less formal foil to the elegant fine dining he offers up the road at The Pompadour in the Caledonian Hilton. Scottish seafood is king, and while prices are on the high side, the set-lunch deal is good value.

FAVA GREEK KITCHEN 248 Morrison Street, favarestaurant.co.uk This place does a roaring trade thanks to its flexible seating and crowd-pleasing options. There’s an extensive selection of mezze if you want to dip and share, including good veggie options, while the street-food selection majors on wraps and greatvalue gyros.

NOK’S 192–194 Morrison Street, noks.co.uk This surprisingly spacious restaurant and fun-loving bar is adorned in colourful kitsch and serves up a pan-Asian menu of tasty stir-fries, pad thai, tempura and specials. The same folk run lovely Nok’s Kitchen in Stockbridge and a third venue by the castle.

THE PALMERSTON 1 Palmerston Place, thepalmerstonedinburgh.co.uk The beautiful bones of a former bank, a daily76 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

changing Scottish contemporary menu, in-house baker and an instinctive understanding of what people actually want to eat means The Palmerston is well worth its place on your list of should-know locations for long lunches and proper dining.

VIETNAM HOUSE 1–3 Grove Street, vietnamhouserestaurant.co.uk ´ Spicy, soupy bowls of huê-style noodles and fresh summer rolls cover the spectrum of Vietnamese cuisine at this cosy restaurant. There’s an extensive pho selection too, topped with traditional raw beef and beef balls, or even fishcakes. BYOB or sip a hot lotus tea.

THE WEST ROOM 3 Melville Place, thewestroom.co.uk A seductive small bar where settling in for a cocktail or a glass or two of wine feels like the natural thing to do. To encourage lingering, they serve Venetianstyle ‘cicchetti’ (small plates of arancini, croquettes or pizzette) as well as fresh salads and pasta dishes, all decently priced.

Also try . . . various good pizza options in this area including Pomo Pizzeria (page 73), Pizza Geeks and Pizzeria 1926 (both page 69). For a drink, William Street is the place to head for Teuchters Bar And Bunker or The Voyage Of Buck across the cobbles

Plant Based Even the smallest café or restaurant in Edinburgh will have some plant-based options these days, but if you want to prioritise fully vegan places then drop your map pin on Brougham Street. There, Sora Lella focuses on hearty Roman-style home-cooking; the non-stop pasta deal on Thursdays will keep you going for days (also check out newer sister restaurant Sora Diana on Causewayside).

Black Rabbit combines café with deli, so you can pick up ingredients for dinner alongside your breakfast pastry, while Sen Viet Vegan has all the glories of Vietnamese comfort food in plantbased form.

Up towards Bruntsfield, you’ll find Hendersons, a family business that pioneered vegetarian hospitality in Edinburgh back in the day. This latest offshoot offers vibrant veg-based food in a contemporary setting, which can all be easily veganised. Curran Geal is a super-cute café-deli (the name means white carrot). As well as a handy grocery range, they do soup, coffee and cake to eat in or takeaway. Nearby Seeds For The Soul specialises in brunch, including biscoff pancakes (yes please); brunch runs until 3pm, so there’s no need to rush. They’re also open into the evening from Thursday–Saturday when burgers and bowls take centre-stage on the menu. Getting sweet treats for the office? Considerit’s chocolate, doughnuts and ice-cream look stunning, taste amazing and are fully vegan; you don’t even have to tell the team that there’s no dairy involved.

David Bann has been flying the flag for plant-based cooking for decades, in a cosy Old Town spot that’s special enough for celebrations. Popular with Edinburgh’s student community, Soul Vegan is a cute wee Malaysian restaurant, with a skilled chef devoted to turning the classics into plant-based options (get the crispy mushrooms).

FacePlant in Leith does exactly what it says on the tin, with oozy grilled cheeze sandwiches and mac and cheeze that you just want to, well, plant your face into. You might also spot them at events around town: don’t hesitate to dive in. The Sly Fox nearby offers Czech-style vegan dishes alongside interesting specials and their own juices. In town, Novapizza Vegan Kitchen has been slinging vegan pizza and pasta for a decade now; they’re also great on gluten-free options, so always attract a crowd. And on the days when only a two-handed burger will do, head for Holy Cow. Portions are huge but do try to leave room for their stunning baking.

Hendersons

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 77

DINE AT THE BOTANICS Dine at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and enjoy seasonal Scottish dishes made with organic ingredients harvested from our Kitchen Garden.

Relax with nourishing salads, Fairtrade coffee, and homebaked scones in our cafés, or swing by our seasonal popups and savour flavourful street food al fresco in the summer sun.

RBGE_Brunch_128_90mm_AW4.indd 1

C

07/05/2025 15:49

B R E A K FA S T L I K E A B O M B AY I T E

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

A few minutes’ amble from Edinburgh Waverly station, much-needed morning replenishment awaits.

A nudge of the door. Cosy chairs and steaming glasses of House Chai are happily bestowed. Sip endless comfort – fortifying Assam tea, ginger, black peppercorns, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves (made the traditional way, or with oat milk).

Bacon Naan Rolls, wrestler-sized portions, nicely spiced Akuri or a Parsi Omelette.

Fresh fruits, grains and plentiful vegan options, sure to please any appetite.

Should you wish to stay awhile, there are dishes to delight – morning, noon and night.

COMPLIMENTARY CHAI Carefully brewed, gently spiced comfort.

78 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

For years, we’ve been lovingly brewing Masala Chai at Dishoom. Come, curious wanderers, for a complimentar y glass at our Edinburgh café.

Kindly scan the QR code for chai.

Terms & conditions apply. Offer ends 30 th June 2026.

FIND US AT 3a St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2BD

Southside: Casual Eating & Drinking

See also Southside: Restaurants (page 66)

If you’re trying to kick a caffeine habit, don’t wander the streets of Edinburgh’s Southside. Cafés and coffee shops are winking at you from almost every corner and the blocks in between.

Some keep it short and focused such as Modern Standard or Artisan Roast in Bruntsfield, while others add in a wider selection of pastries and bites, like Kate’s on Causewayside with its seasonal homemade cakes and scones, or chic, cleanlined Argyle Place in Marchmont. Still under the café banner, others offer a more comprehensive lunch and daytime menu, including sunny Toast in Marchmont and outposts of Pantry in Bruntsfield and Edinburgh Larder at the top of Morningside Road. Each of the latter three have well-established originals elsewhere in the city but bring their considered sourcing and confidently presented brunch and lunch options south of the Meadows.

Spanish café-bar Piggs is another recently branching out in Bruntsfield, with longer opening hours extending into evening meals and the chance to linger over tapas and a beer or glass of wine. Across the road long-standing Café Grande hits a similar note with its seven-day 9am–9pm opening and all-round menu in a classic, lived-in setting. You’ll find a wider selection of drinks on one side of leafy Bruntsfield Links at Black Ivy, with its popular patio strung with fairy lights and lamp shades, as fire pits (and cocktails) keep the evening chill at bay. Also by the Links, lovely Margot (page 27) is a youthful café by day and sophisticated wine bar by night.

Near the foot of Morningside Road is one of the area’s hidden secrets, where the IJ Mellis Wine Lounge often opens for a few hours into the early evening in a room at the back of the esteemed cheesemonger, pairing the shop’s expertly matured artisan and farmhouse cheeses with some approachable wines and other drinks. If you’re feeling peckish for something more substantial nearby, Alaburrito is a colourful nook for burritos and tacos, Matto pizzeria has a branch here (there’s also one in Newington), while the pun-tastic Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao have recently opened just up Comiston Road with their effervescent approach to the possibilities of a loaded bao bun for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

One final spot to uncover is the adventurous Mara’s Picklery, which squeezes a few tables into a small shop space in Marchmont and serves up lunchtime sourdough toasties or larger dinner plates featuring their own preserved, fermented and pickled ingredients, plus various homemade sodas and shrubs. Be brave!

Kate’s Mara’s Picklery

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 79

Around Festival Theatre: Places To Eat BEIRUT The Royal Dick

Around Edinburgh University: Bars BRASS MONKEY 14 Drummond Street, brassmonkeyedinburgh.co.uk Relaxed student-friendly pub with good beer list and a cosy lounging back-room for daily film screenings.

THE DAGDA BAR 93–95 Buccleuch Street, facebook.com/thedagdabar Stalwart serving real ales that need a bit of muscle to pour them and a shimmering collection of single malts.

PARADISE PALMS 41 Lothian Street, theparadisepalms.com Paradise Palms is quite simply great fun. Food (by Lucky Pig) is all veggie/mostly vegan, and they do a mean French Martini. LGBTQ friendly.

THE ROYAL DICK 1 Summerhall, instagram.com/summerhallery Summerhall is a mighty arts venue, but don’t forget the charms of The Royal Dick, its very own courtyard bar. Completely traffic-free with ample seating.

24 Nicolson Square, beirutrestaurant.co.uk Mediterranean restaurant’s grill-focused menu is full of crowd-pleasers. Skewers of lamb and chicken are generous, and lunch platters are a bargain.

SEN 41 West Nicolson Street, senrestaurant.co.uk Stylish Vietnamese where you can roll your own rice paper rolls (the grilled prawn mousse is a must) or slurp down turmeric rice noodles with chicken and prawns.

SOLTI 10 Drummond Street, soltiedinburgh.co.uk Dishes at Solti aren’t just tasty, they’re beautiful to look at. Highlights are Himalayan specialities like tangy Hamali hot pot.

SOUL VEGAN 46 West Richmond Street, soulvegan.uk Wee vegan Malaysian with a street food-slanted menu. A place to fill up for a reasonable price.

10 TO 10 IN DELHI 67 Nicolson Street, 10to10takeaway.co.uk Café-cum-Indian restaurant decked out like a Bedouin tent. Perfectly spiced dopiazas and lamb curries are served and washed down with cups of chai.

UMI

THE SOUTHERN

12–14 Chapel Street, umiedinburgh.com Little Japanese restaurant serving fresh sushi, tempura and beautiful bowls of ramen. Their yasai ramen has a rich soy-milk broth with shimeji mushrooms and tofu.

22–26 South Clerk Street, thesouthern.co.uk Strong representation of local breweries on its taps (Moonwake, Campervan, Pilot and Barney’s all feature) alongside a menu of pub classics.

Also try . . . pre-show drinks in Hotel Du Vin’s courtyard, post-show drams and folk music at The Royal Oak (page 24) or gins galore at 56 North

ZERO/ZERO 18 South Clerk Street, zerozerowines.co.uk Cool tunes and low lighting give this little wine bar an intimate feel. The list is all natural and boards are piled with IJ Mellis and East Coast Cured cheese and meats.

Also try . . . The Pear Tree for its cobbled courtyard, burgers and beers at Holyrood 9A or Sandy Bell’s for a whisky and trad music mood 80 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Umi

Our surf-side café serves up mouthwatering menus from guest kitchens including Five March & Civerinos, all day, every day.

An all-day place for food, drink and friends, Herringbone has fast become something of an institution here in Goldenacre, serving 30 wonderful wines by the glass, along with our favourite local craft and draft beers. From beautifully crafted cocktails to dishes prepared with the best seasonal and regional produce, we like to keep things simple and delicious.

HERRINGBONE-GOLDENACRE.CO.UK @HERRINGBONE_GOLDENACRE

HERRINGBONEGOLDENACRE

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 81

Leith Shore & Around: Restaurants

See also Leith Shore & Around: Cafés & Casual Eating (page 72)

ARDFERN 10–12 Bonnington Road, ardfern.uk Next to sister restaurant The Little Chartroom, Ardfern is an all-day café, wine bar and bottle shop. In the morning enjoy fresh doughnuts or a full vegetarian breakfast with oyster mushrooms, asparagus and home-cooked beans. Later, come back for a glass of wine, bar snacks or a fish finger sandwich with fries.

CUTTING CHAII 18–20 Salamander St, cuttingchaii.co.uk Tapas-style Indian dishes inspired by the traditional Iranian cafes and food carts of old Bombay. Designed to share, the street chaats are a speciality: crushed samosa topped with chaat masala and house chutneys, and Pondicherry fish is another standout dish. Food is fast and service friendly.

DÙTHCHAS 187 Great Junction Street, duthchas-restaurant.co.uk Dùthchas is dedicated to foraged ingredients and Scottish game, with ‘wee’ (three-course) or six-course tasting menus, or a la carte lunch. Expect rabbit with a rich cabbage reduction or foraged seaweed with a side of Japanese dashi. The space is packed with plantlife; a fitting backdrop to pretty plating.

THE LIGHTHOUSE Fingal, Alexandra Dock, fingal.co.uk Luxurious, special and definitely not something to rush through, Fingal is Edinburgh’s floating hotel with accompanying restaurant and bar. They aim to evoke the glamour of a bygone age and afternoon tea, in particular, is a gorgeous way to while away a few hours. There’s really nowhere quite like it.

THE LITTLE CHARTROOM 14 Bonnington Road, thelittlechartroom.com Chef Roberta Hall-McCarron is queen of the micro season, with menus changing as seasonal ingredients appear, even fleetingly. The restaurant is calm and minimal, with floor length curtains dividing the space, old family maps on the walls and views into the open kitchen. It’s a three or five-course fixed-price menu, with three dazzling options for every course.

TAPA 9 Shore Place, tapaedinburgh.co.uk This spacious tapas bar has been keeping diners happy with piled plates of patatas bravas, pimientos de padrón and hot gooey croquetas for years. Try the chunky garlic gambas and octopus carpaccio. The lunch deals are good value and it’s a fun place to go with a big group.

Also try . . . the restaurants run by some of Edinburgh’s fine-dining royalty such as Restaurant Martin Wishart, The Kitchin and Heron (see TipList, page 62), as well as fantastic seafood venues, including Barry Fish, Fishers and The Ship On The Shore (see TipList, page 22) 82 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Left to right: Cutting Chaii, Ardfern, The Lighthouse

From top, clockwise: The Lighthouse, The Little Chartroom, Cutting Chaii, Ardfern

Ardfern,

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 83

CIAO

EDINBURGH! h’s Cowgate, Eve is a vibrant, Tucked in the heart of Edinburg of Italian culinary tradition welcoming space where the best itality – it’s a perfect pairing. meets the warmest Scottish hosp

meal with la famiglia, a cheeky Whether you’re visiting for a big craving a comforting Tuesday aperitivo with friends or you’re to see you. afternoon tagliatelle, we can’t wait edinburgh.com

Book your table now at www.eve 84 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Broughton Street: Places To Eat & Drink Schlepping up Broughton Street, you’ll pass some of Edinburgh’s best wining and dining. Wine is certainly at the forefront of many an establishment here. Pickles Of Broughton has been a crowd favourite for over a decade, moving into bigger premises a few years ago to keep up with the demand for jars of homemade pâtés, charcuterie, wine and, of course, pickled goods, all served in a romantic series of rooms. Rollo’s vast bottle collection is on display, shimmering in the dim light against dramatic black walls. It’s a refined and cosy spot for slowly sipping picpouls and pinots. The food is pretty gorgeous too; steak pan-seared until unctuous and tuna with a lip-smacking kick of chilli and lime. Beneath iconic French restaurant, L’Escargot Bleu, is the L’Escargot Wine Bar which is the perfect spot for a rich red from the Languedoc or a dry bordeaux before dining on some of Edinburgh’s finest bouchon-style fare in the restaurant above. Further forays into French cuisine can be found just down the street at Coco Bistro, where the chateaubriand for two encourages intimate dining and is delicious to boot.

Wine aside, there’s no shortage of places for a drink on Broughton Street. The Keller Taproom tucked down Broughton Street Lane has a photoshoot-worthy interior of hanging chairs and hops adorning the ceiling, and their German-style beers are brewed onsite. Fairly new on the street, Ruma eschews Scotland’s gin boom in favour of rum-first cocktails and has one of the largest collections of rum in the country. The Ox is a fine and fuss-free place for a pint and offers a steady menu of gastro-pub fare to fuel your evening. And The Basement may be a bar first and foremost (with an incredible selection of tequila and mezcals), but its fusion soft taco and quesadilla menu secures its position as a destination Mexican restaurant too. The green jalapeño relish on the Baja fish tacos sticks with you.

It’s a testament to Lucky Yu’s quality and inventiveness that it has come out the other side of the 2010 bao bun craze still swinging. This and consistently updating the menu to feature crispy fried gyoza, moreish yakitori skewers and often a tasty sando (the next big thing to come out of Japan). Finally, if you find yourself around here during the day, Artisan Roast is the place for coffee. They’ve several branches around and supply other coffee shops with their roasts, but the Broughton Street branch is the OG.

Ruma The Basement

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 85

Edinburgh Farmers’ Market

Food Markets

Brewhemia

Good For Groups

EDINBURGH FARMERS’ MARKET

BREWHEMIA

Castle Terrace, every Saturday, 9am–2pm A behemoth of local produce. Plenty of street food too, with Nonna’s Italian Kitchen and Café St Honoré making regular appearances, alongside East Coast Organics, Errington Cheese and Tweed Valley Venison.

1a Market Street, brewhemia.co.uk One of the biggest bars in town, Brewhemia offers private spaces and big tables that work for everything from parties to casual after-work drinks that have grown to include the whole department.

GRASSMARKET MARKET

BABA

Grassmarket, every Saturday, 10am–5pm A big focus on jewellery and design here, but plenty of chances to stock the pantry with traders like Au Gourmand Boulangerie and Caithness Smokehouse.

Lovely Paella and The Whole Hog provide the snacks.

130 George Street, baba.restaurant BABA is a great spot for groups. There’s a selection of mezze plates you can’t stop picking at, as well as feasting dishes from the grill including an entire seared sea bream dripping with Levantine flavours.

LEITH MARKET

ENCORE

Dock Place, every Saturday, 10am–4pm A fine start or end point for a wander along The Water Of Leith. Traders change regularly, but include the likes of MaRoberts Tanzanian Food and Planet Kuku, as well as Phantassie Organic Farm for fruit and veg.

2–4 Hope Street, encoreedinburgh.com This Paris-themed bar is an absolute blast of campery and fun, and their velvet-lined booths, push-button service, snacky food and signature cocktails make it a solid choice for smaller groups.

THE PITT MINI MART

FAZENDA

20 West Shore Road, every Saturday noon– 5pm, every Sunday 11am–4pm The Pitt’s weekend mini marts are just getting started, so get down and support them as they build a roster of traders. Company Bakery are there regularly, alongside Simply Organix with fruit, veg and eggs.

102 George Street, fazenda.co.uk Anyone who suffers from bill-splitting stress will appreciate Fazenda’s churrasco experience, where a fixed price gets you endless grilled meat plus unlimited salads and sides. Private dining room seats ten.

STOCKBRIDGE MARKET

29 Waterloo Place, howies.uk.com Howies have been with us since 1990 and are dab hands at celebrating the Scottish larder without falling into tourist-trap territory. They also know their way around a group, with a private dining room seating 28.

Saunders Street, every Sunday, 10am–4pm Weekly market with food from the likes of Cala Cala and Harajuku Kitchen, plants, produce, makers and artists. Lots of Edinburgh’s best-known street-food folks got their start here, so it’s worth a look.

Also try . . . The Neighbourgood Market at the Accies Ground in Stockbridge from May–July with its rotating band of street food traders and bars 86 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

HOWIES

Also try . . . for a very special occasion, book out the chef’s table at Eòrna (12 people, page 62) or The Table (for ten). Cannonball also offers a variety of private dining options (page 55)

Classic Edinburgh

Whether it’s a restaurant in a former bank or a bar that’s been there forever, some places just scream ‘Edinburgh’. See also Great Views (page 27)

CANNY MAN’S 237 Morningside Road, cannymans.co.uk The definition of an Edinburgh institution, the Canny Man’s has been passed down the Kerr family for generations. Unassuming from the outside, inside the walls are covered in decades of ephemera, with a dark-wood bar, tartan touches and an impressive whisky collection to explore. Good, simple food and the odd bottle of champagne popping for no good reason completes the picture.

THE COLONNADES AT THE SIGNET LIBRARY Parliament Square, thesignetlibrary.co.uk/colonnades In the Signet Library’s former reading room, The Colonnades’ afternoon tea creates a sense of occasion amid towering shelves of gilded books.

Silver teapots and cake stands twinkle and champagne glasses sparkle against a stunning background: you might even see a librarian pop through to search the shelves as you enjoy dainty finger sandwiches, scones and patisserie.

HAWKSMOOR 23 West Register Street, hawksmoor.com/locations/Edinburgh Set in the original headquarters of the long-gone National Bank Of Scotland, Hawksmoor’s sympathetic

restoration of an Art Deco jewel creates a sumptuous backdrop for their high-end steaks. Sunday roast is a great way to experience the decadence. Just don’t forget to look up: Sadie McLellan’s etched windows are a legit national treasure.

THE SPENCE AT GLENEAGLES TOWNHOUSE 39 St Andrew Square, gleneagles.com/ townhouse/eat-drink/the-spence This grand St Andrew Square address is part of the fabric of Edinburgh’s New Town. The gorgeous former banking hall is now The Spence all-day restaurant, for afternoon-tea, lunch or dinner; or just for a cocktail and to admire the intricate domed ceiling.

THE WITCHERY 352 Castlehill, thewitchery.com Undeniably one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful restaurants. The Original Dining Room has a candlelit interior of dark, carved wood, while The Secret Garden is a ridiculously romantic inside/outside space. Expect East Lothian lobster and aged Scottish beef tartare.

Also try . . . Fingal for dinner on a boat formerly operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (page 82), Cannonball for castle views and history (page 55) and Le Di-Vin for a glass of wine in a unique halftimbered, half Art Deco-style building

The Witchery

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 87

upscale seafood with top quality meat. ” “ForMixes British cooking, Hawksmoor is top of the pile.

THE ULTIMATE SCOTTISH COOKBOOK

TIMEOUT

‘Impressive’

– The Scotsman

‘What a Treat’

– Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod

23 W Register St, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA Tel: 0131 526 4790

www.birlinn.co.uk www.birlinn.co.uk

www.thehawksmoor.com/locations/edinburgh

马来 风味 马来风 风味

Opening time: Monday - Sunday

2786-List, Eat & Drink Magazine - 1-4 12noon F-C -- 3pm, Kith.indd 1

KAMPONG A KAMPONG AHH LLEE EE

南 传统 洋 美 ⻛ ⻝味

5pm - 10pm

25/04/2025 11:18

Tuesday closed

KAMPONG AH LEE A Malaysian restaurant had been established in Edinburgh on the 1st August 2007 by Mr Lee, a day that worth memories by all our customer who love what we do.

“it been a pleasure to serve Edinburgh for over 15 years and still counting, thank you everyone for showing your love and support us along the way, we are looking forward to continue bringing you our beloved Malaysian cuisine and our creativity”

ADDRESS: 28 Clerk Street Edinburgh, EH8 9HX TELEPHONE: 0131 281 6172 www.kampongahlee.co.uk

88 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Advertising Feature

Canopy Kitchen & Courtyard Where food, culture and creativity collide Tucked inside the old Royal Infirmary Of Edinburgh, Canopy Kitchen blends bold flavours, biophilic interior design and a laid-back vibe in one of the city’s most surprising new dining spots

Set within the architecturally stunning Edinburgh Futures Institute — the University of Edinburgh’s visionary redevelopment of the historic Royal Infirmary on Lauriston Place — Canopy Kitchen & Courtyard is one of the city’s most exciting new destinations for modern, seasonal dining. Inspired by its creative surroundings, Canopy combines fresh flavours, stylish design and a creative, community-driven atmosphere.

The menu is packed with globally-inspired dishes made from local, seasonal ingredients — from colourful salads and warmly spiced grain bowls to hearty mains and generous sharing platters. Standout plant-based plates like spiced cauliflower shank and wild mushroom risotto sit proudly alongside prime Scottish meats and sustainably sourced seafood, all crafted with the same sense of creativity that defines the wider Futures Institute.

Canopy’s courtyard is a hidden gem — a bright, openair space perfect for al fresco lunches, coffee catch-ups or unwinding just steps from The Meadows. Indoors, original features blend with contemporary design and natural light to create an inspiring setting for everything from daytime meetings to relaxed evenings.

Whether you’re here for a laid-back drink, a catch-up over coffee or a flavour-packed lunch, Canopy offers a fresh, inclusive space to connect, create and unwind — where bold ideas and bold flavours meet. n To find out more or reserve a table, please visit canopyedi.com

Eat & & Drink Drink 365 365 THE THE LIST LIST 89 89 2025 Eat

INDEXES INDEX OF TIPLISTS

Out of Town: Trip & A Treat

29

Babyfaced Baker (Portobello)

Outdoor Drinks

73

Bacco Wine

Pizza

69

The Balmoral Hotel

Plant Based

77

The Bami

17

Portobello: Places To Eat

12

Banh Mi Brothers

45

Queen’s Hall & Around: Places To Eat

30

Abbeyhill & Easter Road: Places To Eat & Drink

16

Bread & Patisserie

38

Royal Botanic Garden & Around: Casual Eating

24

Breakfast & Brunch

39

Royal Mile, Best Of

55

Broughton Street: Places To Eat & Drink

Seafood

22

85

Budget Dining

65

Southside: Restaurants

66

Burgers

43

Stockbridge: Bars

33

Stockbridge: Restaurants

68

Usher Hall & Around: Places To Eat

60

Waverley Station & Around: Coffee & Snacks

Southside: Casual Eating & Drinking 79

12, 38 43 35, 62

Bariuma

6

The Barony

24

Barry Fish

23, 82

The Basement

10, 85

Bastard Barista

56

The Beach House The Bearded Baker

12 38, 43

Beatnik

72

The Beerhive

43

Beirut

80

The Belfry

71

12

West End & Around: Places To Eat

Bellfield Brewery Taproom & Beer Garden

57

76

Bennet’s Bar

56

87

Whisky Bars

71

Bentoya

60

Cocktail Bars

18

Whisky Experiences

34

Bittersweet

Coffee Shops

72

Craft Beer Bars

57

Curry

15

Delis & Places To Pick Up A Picnic

45

Cameo Cinema & Around: Places To Eat

56

Canonmills: Places To Eat & Drink

43

City Centre: Bars

44

City Centre: Cafés

56

City Centre: Restaurants

9

Classic Edinburgh

Edinburgh Playhouse & Around: Places To Eat

33

Edinburgh University & Around: Bars 80

MAIN INDEX

18, 72

The Black Cat

71

The Black Fox

43

Black Grape

55

A Wee Taste

56

Black Ivy

79

The Abbey

71

Black Rabbit

77

Abbeyhill

16

The Blackbird

73

The Abbotsford

44

The Blue Blazer

24

Edinburgh University & Around: Places To Eat

60

Abode Café Bar

65

Bluerapa Thai

65

Family Friendly

73

Ada

33

Bodega

10

Festival Theatre & Around: Places To Eat

Aizle

62

Bonnar’s At The Scott

60

80

Alaburrito

79

Bonnie & Wild

33

Fine Dining

62

Alby’s

Boozy Cow

43

Food & Drink Experiences

59

The Alchemist

33

Bostock Bakery

40

Food Markets

86

Amber

34

The Bow Bar

44

Great Views

27

Ante

17

Bramble

18

Groups

86

The Antiquary

33

Brass Monkey (Drummond Street)

80

Haymarket Station & Around: Coffee & Snacks

45

Italian

37

Leith Shore & Around: Bars

21

Leith Shore & Around: Cafés & Casual Eating

45, 60, 72

10, 33

Brass Monkey Leith

65

The Arboretum

24

Brass Monkey Shore

21

Archerfield Walled Garden

40

Brasserie At The Scholar

60

Ardfern

82

Brauhaus

56

72

Argile

66

Brewhemia

86

Leith Shore & Around: Restaurants

82

Argyle Place

79

The Bridge Inn

29

Leith Walk: Places To Drink

65

Art And Vintage

16

Broughton Street

85

Leith Walk: Places To Eat

17

The Artisan Pasta Maker

43

Brunswick Book Club

17

Local Sourcing

28

Artisan Roast

79, 85

Mexicana

10

Athletic Arms

71

The Burrow

Noodles

6

Avery

62, 68

Café Grande

Old-fashioned Bars

24

BABA

9, 86

Café Royal

Out of Town: Casual Eating

40

Babyfaced Baker (Leith Walk)

90 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

Antojitos

38

Bundits (Bonnie & Wild)

Café St Honoré

33 44, 55 79 24, 71 28

BABA

Cairngorm Coffee Roasters

72

The Caledonian Edinburgh

27, 44

The Cambridge Bar

43

Cameo Cinema

56

Campervan Taproom

57

Cannonball

55, 86, 87

Canny Man’s

87

Canonmills

43

Canopy Kitchen & Courtyard

60

Canteen

40

Cappucino Edinburgh Cardinal

12 43, 62, 65, 68

Cata

68

Chancho

18

Chez Jules

65

Chizuru Tei

65

The Chocolatarium

59

Chorrito Cantina

10

The Cider House City Centre

33 9, 44, 56

Civerino’s Slice

60

Civerinos

69

Cloisters

56, 57

Coco Bistro

85

Cold Town House

73

The Colonnades At The Signet Library

87

Commons Club

44

Company Bakery

38, 40

Condita

62

Considerit

77

Contini George Street

37

Coro Chocolate Café

73

The Court

Drift

40

Fin & Grape

23, 66

Dulse

23, 76

Fingal Hotel

82, 87

Dune

40

First Coast

28

Dusit

15

Fishers In The City

Dùthchas

82

Fishers (Leith)

23, 82

East Pizzas (Bonnie & Wild)

33

The Fishmarket

23

Easter Road

16

5 Dumplings

17

Edinburgh Farmers’ Market

86

Flatbread Turkish Bakery House

45

Edinburgh Gin Distillery

59

Fortitude Coffee

16

Edinburgh Larder (Morningside) 28, 79

The Free Company

29

Edinburgh Larder (Old Town)

Fruitmarket Café

12 40

28, 55

9

Edinburgh New Town Cookery School

59

Garden Café At Archerfield Walled Garden

Edinburgh Playhouse

33

Gleneagles Townhouse

87

44

Edinburgh Street Food (ESF)

33, 73

Good Brothers Wine Cellars

33

Edinburgh University

60, 80

Grassmarket Market

86

The Cumberland Bar

73

1820 Rooftop Bar

Greek Artisan Pastries

12

Curran Geal

77

El Perro Negro

Cutting Chaii

15, 82

73 33, 43

Greenmantle Rum Bar & Kitchen

30 39

Eleanore

17

Greenwoods

The Dagda Bar

80

Ella: Taste Of Greece

17

Hakataya

6

David Bann

77

Encore

86

Halfway House

24

27

Ensign Ewart

55

The Hanging Bat

62, 68, 86

Harajuku Kitchen

56

Hata

43 87

Dean Banks At The Pompadour The Devil’s Advocate

44, 55, 71

Eòrna

Di Giorgio

24

Eve

Diggers

71

FacePlant

77

Hawksmoor

Dine

60

Fat Hippo

43

Haymarket Station

15, 39

Fat Patty’s

43

Hendersons

Dishoom

9, 37

Divino Wine Bar & Restaurant

37

Fava

76

Herbie Of Edinburgh

The Dog House

30

Fazenda

86

Heron

Festival Theatre

80

Herringbone Abbeyhill

Fettle

60

Hey Palu

56 North

80

Hibiki

Domenico’s

37, 72

Don’t Tell Mama

39

Down the Hatch

33, 73

57, 60

45 56, 77 45 62, 82 73 18, 60 9

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 91

Hobz Bakery

38

Leith Walk

Holy Cow

77

The Lighthouse

Holyrood 9A

80

The Lioness Of Leith

Holyrood Distillery

59

Little Capo

37

Hotel Du Vin

80

The Little Chartroom

82

The Howdah Tea & Coffee Company 72

Little Fitzroy

16

Howies

86

Locanda Di Gusti

37

IJ Mellis

45

Los Hermanos Picaros

29

IJ Mellis Wine Lounge

79

Lost in Leith Bar & Fermentaria

73

Ikigai

6

Lost Shore Surf Resort

40

Innis & Gunn Taproom

60

Loudens

12

Italian On The Mound

45

Lowdown Coffee

56

Jeremiah’s Taproom

33, 65

The Lucky Liquor Co

18

Joao’s Place

27, 44

Lucky Yu

85

John Hope Gateway

24

Johnnie Walker Princes Street The Joker & The Thief

34, 73 65

Jolly Judge

24, 55

Joppa Rocks

12

Joseph Pearce

65, 73

Lyceum Theatre Lyla

17, 65 82 21, 43

60 23, 62

Macau Kitchen

30

Machina Espresso

72

Maki & Ramen

6

Malt & Hops

24

Junk

30

The Malt Shovel

24

Ka Pao

33

Mamacita’s

12

Kahani

33

Mara

73

Kaleidoscope

34

Mara’s Picklery

79

Kalpna

15, 60, 65

Margot

27, 79

Kampong Ah Lee

30

Marine North Berwick

29

Kate’s

79

Market Street Hotel

27

The Keller Taproom

85

MaRoberts

56

Kenji Sushi

68

The Mash Tun

16

Kim’s Mini Meals

30

Matto

The King’s Wark

21

Milk

45

Kitchen Table (Twelve Triangles)

16

The Milkman Coffee

12

The Kitchin

62, 82

Konj

15, 60

Krem Karamel Kvasa L’Escargot Bleu

24 38 28, 85

La Casa

17

Lady & The Bear

60

Lady Libertine

44

Lannan Bakery The Last Word Saloon

38 33, 71

The Lawn

29

Le Bistrot

44

Le Di-Vin

87

The Leddie

29

LeftField

23, 28, 66

Leith Depot

65

Leith Market

86

Leith Shore

21, 72, 82

92 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

The Roseleaf

National Galleries Scotland: Portrait Nauticus

56 21, 71

NB Gin & Rum Distillery

29

Neighbourgood Market

86

Newbarns Taproom

57

Nixos Greek Street Food

12

Nok’s

76

Nok’s Kitchen

68

Nomad Café

45

12, 38

The Nook

56

Mimi’s Bakehouse (The Shore)

73

Nor’ Loft

Mirin

6

North Berwick

Miro’s

12

North Queensferry

Mr Eoin Coffee Roaster

72

Noto

79

Novapizza Vegan Kitchen

Mimi’s Bakehouse (City Arts Centre)

Modern Standard

69, 79

27 29, 40 29 9 69, 77

16, 62

Number One

62

Moonwake Taproom

57

O’Connor’s

43

Mootz General Store

45

Old Eastway Tap

16

Moss

68

Old Pal

45

Mother India’s Café

15

The Old Spence

72

The Mother Superior

65

One Canon

43

Mowgli

15

Mussel Inn

65

Montrose

Musselburgh Nàdair National Galleries Scotland: National

38, 40 66 28, 56

181 Delicatessen The Orchard

45 24, 73

Origano

17

Origin Coffee

72

The Original Mosque Kitchen

65

Otto

12

Rollo

85

Room & Rumours Coffee

12

Rosa’s Thai

9

Roseleaf

21, 39

Rosevear Tea

72

Royal Botanic Garden

24

The Royal Dick

30, 80

Royal Mile

55

The Royal Oak

24, 80

Ruma

18, 85

Sabzi

15

The Safari Lounge

16

St Andrews Fish & Chips

12

St Bernard’s Bar

33

St Vincent Bar

The Outsider

27, 65

The Pitt Mini Mart

86

33

Salt Horse

43, 55, 57

San Ciro’s

69

Sandy Bell’s

80

Saturo

6

Scotch

35

Scotch Malt Whisky Society

34

The Scotch Whisky Experience

34

The Scottish Café & Restaurant

28, 56

Scran

39

The Ox

85

Pizza Geeks

69, 76

Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao

79

Pizzeria 1926

69, 76

The Painted Rooster

56

Polentoni

16, 45

The Pakora Bar

65

Pollock Halls

The Palmerston

76

Pomelo

Paloma

10

Pomo Pizzeria

Panda & Sons

18

Port O’Leith

21

The Shore Bar

Pantry (Bruntsfield)

79

The Port Of Leith Distillery

27

The Shore, Leith

Pantry (Stockbridge)

39

The Port O Leith Distillery Bar

35

Shrimpwreck

Paolozzi Bar & Kitchen

60

Porto & Fi

73

Sichuan House

6

Paradise Palms

80

Portobello

12

The Signet Library

87

The Pastry Section

38

Portobello Tap

Singapore Coffee House

43

Patina

40

Printworks

72

Sip & Bark

24

Patisserie Florentin

39

Project Canelé

38

Skua

68

Paz Taqueria

10

Purslane Restaurant

68

The Sly Fox

77

The Pear Tree

80

The Queen’s Hall

30

Smith & Gertrude (Portobello)

12

Pekoetea

72

The Rabbit Hole

66

Smith & Gertrude (Stockbridge)

33

The Percy.pl

16

Radicibus

Snax

39

Pho

33

The Raeburn

Social Bite

56

Pho Viet

6

Razzo Pizza Napoletana

Soderberg Pavilion

60

Pickerings Gin

59

Red Kite Café

16

Solti

Pickles Of Broughton

85

Red Squirrel

60

Sora Diana

37, 77

Piggs (Bruntsfield)

79

Restaurant Martin Wishart

62, 82

Sora Lella

37, 77

Piggs (Royal Mile)

55

Rocksalt Café (Old Town)

12

Sotto

37, 68

Pilot Taproom

57

Rocksalt Café (Leith)

72

Soul Vegan

77, 80

The Pitt

73

Rogue Bros At The Boathouse

29

South Queensferry

29, 40

60 6, 66 69, 73, 76

12, 43

37, 68 33 33, 69

The Scran & Scallie

68, 73

Seeds For The Soul

77

SEN

80

Sen Viet Vegan

15, 77

Seventy One Steps

39, 43

The Ship On The Shore

23, 82 21 21, 72, 82 12

80

Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 93

The Southern

80

Twelve Triangles Kitchen Table

The Waverley

24

Southpour

30

Umi

80

Waverley Station

12

Southside

66, 79

Under The Table

9

Wedgwood Foraging Experiences

The Spanish Butcher

9

Union Of Genius

60

Wedgwood The Restaurant

The Spence At Gleneagles Townhouse

Uno Mas

44

The Wee Restaurant

29

87

Urban Angel

39

The Wee Vault

57

Spry

65

Urban Jungle Brunch Room

17

The West End

76

Usher Hall

60

West Room

76

68

Valvona & Crolla

45

Stockbridge Market

86

Victor Hugo Deli (Meadows)

45

The White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar

23, 55

The Stockbridge Tap

33, 57

Victor Hugo Deli (The Shore)

72

The Wildcat

18, 56

Stockbridge Stockbridge Eating House

33, 68

16, 38

59

55, 59

Summerhall

30

Victoria

65

WineKraft

43

Summerhall Distillery

59

Vietnam House

76

The Witchery

87

SUSHISAMBA

27

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

The Table

86

The Voyage Of Buck

Taco Libre

10

W Edinburgh

Tanifiki

12

The Walnut

Tapa

82

Tapas3

30

Tempo Perso

66

Tempting Tattie

12

10 To 10 In Delhi

80

The Terrace Café Teuchters Bar & Bunker Teuchters Landing

24 71, 76 21, 71, 73

Thailander

56

Thamel

15

The Bothy Bar

34

Think Pastry

16

Thirty Knots

29

Three Birds

66

Three Blind Mice Three Marys Throat Punch Coffee Co Timberyard Ting Thai (Lothian Rd) Ting Thai (Teviot Place) Tipo Tipsy Midgie

55 18, 21 45 62 6, 60 6 9, 37 35

Toast (Marchmont)

79

Toast (The Shore)

39, 72

The Tollhouse

24, 43

Topolabamba

10, 60

Traverse Theatre Tuk Tuk

60 56

Twelve Triangles (Portobello)

12, 38

Twelve Triangles (Dalry Road)

38, 45

94 THE LIST Eat & Drink 365

9, 37, 44 76 27, 44

The World’s End

55

Yamato

56

Zero / Zero

80

17

Ruma

EVERY WEEKEND DESERVES A FRESH MIX Eat & Drink 365 THE LIST 95

A brand-new guide from The List’s Eat & Drink team showcasing the best in restaurants, bars, cafés and more across Edinburgh

Inside, discover the best of Edinburgh’s hospitality scene with this compilation of TipLists: curated lists of eating and drinking suggestions and recommendations across different topics, styles of cuisine and areas of the city. With inspiring and handy recommendations for over 365 venues, you’ll find informed options for every mood, every season and every day of the year.

• Over 50 TipLists from Breakfast & Brunch to Great Views, Budget Dining to Fine Dining • Independently researched and written by those who follow the local scene all year round • Packed with reliable, well-informed and wide-ranging insight and ideas

ALSO ONLINE AT LIST.CO.UK