Restaurant recommendations in Edinburgh, please!

[BIWI]

Bit short notice, but we're off tomorrow (me, DH and a friend) and will be staying in the Old Town. It looks like there are loads of places to choose from, which is great, obviously, but does anyone have any particular favourites?

We like all manner of foods and don't mind spending if it's really worth it. Would prefer to avoid chain restaurants. Very happy to consider pubs too, if the food is good!

TIA

https://fazenda.co.uk/location/edinburgh

If you love meat, that's a very nice place, but better to book a table

I do love meat, and that sounds great - thank you!

You'll be spoiled for choice. Also Edinburgh is tiny and the Old Town is the most tourist-focused bit of it so actually it's not my favourite place to eat at all - it's a lot more hit than miss. Don't eat in The Grassmarket and apart from the places mentioned below, I wouldn't eat in the High Street either.

In the Old Town from the top of my head: Wedgwood and Angel's With Bagpipes (trad Scottish but not touristy shite). Below the Stairs is a great pub with good food too.

Up near the uni is more cheap and cheerful as you'd expect: Ting Thai Caravan is great for Thai, also there's El Cartel which is Mexican.

In town, Tipo and Contini for Italian.

Pubs with good food - Devil's Advocate which is up a close leading up from Cockburn Street. Lady Libertine in St Andrew Square also. The Holyrood 9A does a good burger. And The Black Grape on the High Street is good. The Pakora Bar is super-casual and good if you're down near Arthur's Seat.

I do like Fazenda, but it is a chain.

Oh and forgot French - Cafe St Honore and L'escargot Bleu.

That's probably enough now

I'd go and get a pizza at Civerinos on Forrest Road followed by gelato from Alanda's for dessert but that might be a bit too casual for you!

We were at the fringe and ate at Purslane and The secret Garden at the Witchery.
Highly recommend both - especially The Secret Garden,the halibut was the best gosh I've ever eaten anywhere.

Fish not gosh !

If you like seafood, I can't recommend this place enough:

www.ondinerestaurant.co.uk

Also, if you fancy a stroll to the new town, this a terrific place for breakfast:

greenwoods.eu/restaurant/edinburgh/

Wow! Thank you so much. So much to choose from! Really looking forward to this trip. Just wish it was more than an overnight.

fish - fishers in the city or Dulse
pub grub & whisky - Whiski bar on the royal mile
scottish - Howies
quirky - the outsider on George IV Bridge
for social values - Vesta
indian - mother India’s cafe or dishoom (although it’s a chain but it’s not your classic curry house)
french - La Garrigue
vegetarian - David Banns

I loved Noto when I visited last year, delicious small plates.

Aizle, fantastic food, it’s a seasonal tasting menu.

Based on recent experience (some July / mid-August, most in the last year I would highly recommend (mostly outside Old Town, but all worth the trip):

Leftfield - Seafood
Eórna - Tasting menu
Aizle
Fishers - Seafood (more traditional)
Little Chartroom - Tasting menu
Heron - Tasting menu

@LaviniasBigBloomers we went to The Black Grape for a drink/late lunch snack (having eaten a huge breakfast earlier), and it was lovely - thank you for the suggestion.

And @NotFastButFurious we had dinner last night at Le Garrigue, which was really good.

Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions. We had a really good time - just wish we could have been there for a bit longer.

as the saying goes……haste ye back!

Angels with bagpipes is lovely!

We had the most amazing breakfast here

Glad you liked it and thanks for updating! It's a fab city, come back soon.

In case anyone is interested/still reading (!) this is why were were in Edinburgh:

Mystery Guide

I can highly recommend these guides - they're a great way to see a new city