Edinburgh restaurants

[RaquelGreen]

My partner and I are going to Edinburgh for a big birthday this year, and would like to book a nice restaurant-any suggestions of where to go?

We'd like somewhere interesting/atmospheric but with good, hearty food (ideally locally sourced). Budget of up to £100pp.

Lunch and matching wines at the Kitchin in Leith

The Witchery by the Castle. Not cheap but it was fantastic. We ate in the ‘secret garden’ room.

edit skim read so missed your budget. We paid £400 for 3 of us so a little bit over your budget but we had some expensive wine.

The Little Chartroom or Eleanor's in Leith. The Lookout (you won't get a better view anywhere!). Fhior is amazing too. There's lots and lots of brilliant food in Edinburgh. I could go on for ages!

Martin Wishart is the best food

Howies on Waterloo place

Brasserie Prince at the Balmoral. Great steak, good service, lovely location. Rhubarb at Prestonfield Hotel.
Italian - La Locanda Cockburn Street (fab Harry Potter type street - great gelato shop other end too) fabulous small family owned Italian - food superb.

Placemarking

@platinumplus

me too 😁

I certainly wouldn’t recommend Howies. Blonde near the Commonwealth Pool is lovely.

I’d definitely recommend Kyloe. It’s a gourmet steak restaurant but there’s more on the menu than just steak. Some of the tables have an amazing view of the castle.

Scran & Scallie is very hearty (I could barely walk home I was so full!) and is also owned by Tom Kitchin but is more gastropub than restaurant.
The Witchery is much better value at lunchtimes but I don't know how hearty it is.
Gardeners cottage is very locally sourced but maybe less atmospheric, but as a result there's no choice on the menu so it depends how fussy you are!
Angels with Bagpipes might suit.

Oh wow thank you for the suggestions! I'm working through the list now! We'll be there for 4 days so maybe I'll book some lunches in as well

I second the Kitchen.

I had the best meal of my life at Ffior. Would also recommend the Lookout, Wedgwood, Scran and Scallie for lunch.
Also think about Rhubarb which is the restaurant at Prestonfield House hotel. It's a wee bit out of the centre but definitely atmospheric.

I was really disappointed with Howies recently. I thought it was very bland, and overpriced for what it was.

Place watching for our next trip!

The Palmerston

Interesting! I’ve walked past that so many times and always thought it was more of a coffee shop!

Thank you all! I have looked through all your suggestions and have made a shortlist. We tend to prefer a la carte rather than tasting menus and can be fussy about the type of meat we eat so I think it will either be The Lookout, Rhubarb or La Locanda for the birthday meal.

Alongside this, I've added The Witchery, Kyloe and Scran and Scallie to the list for lunches. So many great suggestions!

The Johnny walker experience if you like whisky/drinks etc with fantastic food. Lovely evening out.

Six by Nico. It’s a tasting menu but priced so reasonably at £40pp. Its 6 courses and the menu changes every 6 weeks. Ive been to the Manchester one several times and it’s always great. Not stuffy and too posh for a tasting menu either

I wouldn't go to Howie's for a special meal. It's nice but nothing outstanding.

For a cheaper lunch try Chez Jules, it's lovely wee french place, does a steak and frites lunch deal and it is so good, it comes with olives, salad, baguette etc.

There's also a good street food market in the Omni centre for lunch or quick dinner.

I went to aizel last time I was in Edinburgh as couldn’t get into six by nico. It was epic but much more expensive

I was very disappointed with the lunch at the Witchery. Nothing too awful regarding the food but over priced and over hyped. Claustrophobic, heavy and drab surroundings in main restaurant, it’s probably got a much better atmosphere at night with candles. I won’t be going back.

Papillo is our favourite restaurant when visiting Edinburgh. It’s a little Italian and very reasonably priced.

If you like seafood and fish Ondine is amazing.