I had some amazing meals in Edinburgh. Don’t miss our top recommendations:
Spoon Café Bistro: This is a fun upstairs restaurant at 6a Nicolson Street. You will enjoy the eclectic décor and the solid home-cooked, local and seasonal food.
Ondine: Located at 2 George IV Bridge, this is a very contemporary seafood restaurant with a creative menu. The fish prepared in curry was well-prepared. It is a nice break away from the tourists on the Royal Mile. They offer a two or three course lunch menu at a good value.
The Kitchin: Be prepared for a most memorable meal at this well-known Edinburgh restaurant with one Michelin Star. The food is really outstanding. They do offer a three course set lunch. Examples of what you will have include a chilled tomato consommé served with heirloom tomatoes and marinated line-caught mackerel, a seared fillet of North Sea hake served with herb crust and red pepper piperade and a lemon soufflé with Loch Arthur frozen yoghurt. There were wonderful breads, crudité with a blue cheese sauce with toasted barley and a wonderful taste of seasonal vegetables and crispy bacon. It is located at 78 Commercial Quay near the harbor.
The Outsider: Don’t miss The Outsider. It is a lively restaurant with a young crowd and great design. Menu items include an excellent lime and coriander marinated salmon fillet, balsamic roasted beetroot, braised fennel and salsa verde with apple beetroot coleslaw. I highly recommend this fun, casual spot. It is at 15-16 George IV Bridge.
Oink: At 34 Victoria St., this is a great place for a fast sandwich. Recommendations include the hog roast roll with freshly carved hog roast similar to pulled pork. It comes a with white or brown roll and a choice of sage and onion, apple sauce, chili relish or haggis. You should try your first haggis which is actually quite good. It is a good location for a bite between your Fringe Festival performances. They recently opened a second location on the Royal Mile.
Wedgwood The Restaurant: At 266 Canongate (Royal Mile), this a fine-dining restaurant featuring local produce and products.
Harvey Nichols: Located at 34 St. Andrews Square, there is a sleek, contemporary bar and restaurant on the 4th floor of the famed department store. It has wonderful views of the city and is a perfect spot for afternoon tea!
Leith and Commercial Quay: This is a neighborhood near the water with small pubs and many restaurants. It is home to The Kitchin mentioned above, Fishers-Leith which is well-known for seafood and Teuchter’s which is a fun pub with outdoor seating on the water.
Other restaurants getting great reveiws include Aizle named after an old Scots word for “spark”, Timberyard close to the Edinburgh Castle in an authentic warehouse and The Table with only ten seats.