Visiting Edinburgh – The Top 10 Restaurants to Tantalize Your Taste Buds

What does the second most visited city in the UK have to offer in terms of food? Edinburgh has some of the best restaurants around. Not only can you enjoy a fine-dining experience, but you can also eat high-quality food at a bargain price.

Edinburgh is famous for many things, which include its food culture. So much so that chefs come from all over the world to work here. Most menus feature heavy influences of international and contemporary cuisine.

A good number of restaurants elevate traditional Scottish and British dishes. Some even put unique spins on old classics. And throughout the city, chefs make it a habit to use local ingredients as much as possible.

Here is a list of restaurants you must visit on your next trip to Edinburgh.

1. Condita

Condita is deservingly-rated one Michelin star and easily one of the best restaurants Edinburgh has to offer. If you’re after fine-dining, this is one of the top places to go to.

The menu has enough variety and combines British, Scottish, and international cuisines. It also has a few gluten-free items and a vegetarian-friendly selection of dishes. The restaurant is also outside the city center, so it’s easy enough to reach.

Its cozy ambiance makes it even better – as if high-quality cooking wasn’t enough.

2. Fhior

Fhior offers midrange-priced meals and a menu filled with local ingredients. And the seven-course menu is one of the finest in town. But why is it one of the top restaurants in Edinburgh, you ask? 

It’s because you won’t know what you’re about to eat until the time of service.

At Fhior, you go for the experience. The menu is kept secret, but you can choose between seven and 10 courses. Whichever menu you end up with, you can rest assured that it’s a journey through local cuisine.

In the end, you also get a copy of the menu. You’ll see what the dishes were and you get a cool souvenir to take home at the same time.

3. Timberyard

Timberyard, Edinburgh’s most innovative restaurant, also awaits. It’s right in the middle of the New Town. It’s easy to get to, not too expensive, and has a lovely ambiance.

But the main draw is the menu. The dishes feature unusual ingredients for Scottish cuisine. Yet the combinations always make sense and wake up the taste buds. What’s even more impressive is that it’s a family-run business.

Not to mention, most of the ingredients are locally-sourced.

4. Borough

The Borough is one of the top 10 best restaurants in Edinburgh. Located near the port, it offers an intimate ambiance and a fantastic menu. Proximity to the port means that all seafood dishes are fresh.

It’s also a budget-friendly place, with both lunch and dinner services. The menu combines British, Scottish, and European cuisines. There’s enough variety to satisfy picky eaters and a good selection of local staple dishes.

5. The Witchery by the Castle

If you want to dine in baroque surroundings, the Witchery is the place to be. It has incredible ancient oak paneling, tapestries, and painted ceilings. The seats are very comfortable, and the décor reflects Scottish history.

The menu changes depending on the season. The Witchery uses local produce as much as possible to ensure that everything is always fresh. What’s more, the restaurant stays open until 11:30 pm from Monday to Sunday.

It’s also a great place for a romantic fine-dining experience.

6. The Table

This is another one of the top restaurants in Edinburgh for anyone wanting a unique dining experience. Seating only around 10 people, The Table is one of the smallest restaurants in town but has some of the best food in the entire country.

The open-plan kitchen area invites interaction between customers and chefs. It’s a similar experience as something you would get at a sushi restaurant. Yet, this one serves local staples. It’s an excellent combination of performance art and fine-dining.

7. New Chapter

New Chapter offers a modern menu that heavily features European cuisine staples. The kicker is the use of mostly Scottish produce and local ingredients. Like most family-run restaurants in the New Town, this one is also a popular choice for locals and tourists.

The customer service is excellent, and the warm atmosphere makes it an ideal place for both parties and romantic dinners. There’s a lot of emphasis on using local fresh ingredients. That’s why both the dish menu and cocktail menus change often.

8. Aurora

Aurora is one of the most affordable top restaurants in Edinburgh. Most guests describe the experience as fine-dining on a budget. It’s also probably the best small restaurant in Leith.

Most dishes contain unprocessed produce or ingredients. The plating is very stylish, which helps elevate some of the lesser intricate combinations.

If you want some of the best seasonal menus, Aurora should meet your requirements. You may also appreciate the use of reclaimed materials for its interior design.

9. The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage

This restaurant has one of the most amazing views of the city. At the Lookout, you can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is seasonal but also highly varied. That’s why you can find anything from crab to deer.

There are plenty of vegetarian-friendly dishes, too. But what makes the experience memorable is the floor-to-ceiling view. That means you can look across the entire city and up to Firth of Forth.

10. Edinburgh Food Studio

Another unique dining experience can be had at the Edinburgh Food Studio. The restaurant serves only lunch and dinner. But, both are worthy of true gourmands. 

What sets this place apart is the level of interaction.

As each course comes, chefs take the room and explain their dishes. They point out unique combinations or unusual ingredients. It’s also one of the few places in Edinburgh where you may eat a dish made by chefs from all over the world.

The Edinburgh Food Studio also hosts a variety of events throughout the year. With that in mind, it’s a hard place to get into, so make your reservation well in advance.

Edinburgh – Go for the Attractions, Stay for the Food

It’s no surprise that Edinburgh can provide such an amazing culinary journey for locals and visitors. There are many hidden gems and some very successful family-run restaurants after all. Prices vary, but even the cheapest places still try to use mostly local ingredients.

From budget-friendly restaurants to Michelin star restaurants, there’s a lot to choose from in Edinburgh.