Holidays in Scotland

Restaurants in the New Town

Restaurants in the Old Town | Restaurants in the New Town | South Edinburgh Restaurants | Restaurants in Edinburgh's West End | Restaurants in Leith | Guide to Restaurants in Scotland

Expensive

Café Royal Oyster Bar, 17a West Register St, Tel: 5564124. An Edinburgh institution and much-loved by numerous celebrities. The ornate tiles and stained- glass windows create an atmosphere of Victorian elegance and opulence – just make sure you look at the prices! There are better seafood restaurants in town but none are as classy. Open daily 1200-1400, 1900-2200. The adjoining bar is just as impressive (see page ).

Cosmo Restaurant, 58a North Castle St, Tel: 2266743. Elegant and expensive modern European fine dining restaurant that's superior in every sense. Excellent food, excellent wine list and excellent service. Popular with the city's more distinguished visitors (Sean C is said to have dined here). Booking essential. Monday to Friday Noon to 2.30pm and dinner 7 to 10pm. Saturday Dinner only and Sunday is closed.

Duck's at Le Marche Noir, 2-4 Eyre Pl, Tel: 5581608. Classic French provincial cooking (perhaps Edinburgh's finest) in sumptuous surroundings. Complemented by an extensive wine list. Open Mon-Fri 1200-1400, 1900-2200, Sat 1900-2230, Sun 1830-2130.

Haldane's, 39 Albany St, Tel: 5568407. Smart Scottish country house cuisine in the centre of town. Excellent value set lunch. No smoking. Open Mon-Thu 1200-1400, 1800-2130, Fri till 2200, Sat 1800-2230, Sun 1800-2130.

Hadrian's, 2 North Bridge (under the Balmoral Hotel), Tel: 5575000. Excellent modern Scottish cuisine with nouvelle-ish tendencies, soothing and well-designed modern surroundings. Superb value for money. Open daily 1200-1430, 1830-2230 (Sun 1230-1500).

Le Café Saint-Honoré, 34 Thistle Street La, Tel: 2262211. Tucked away in a little side street, this place couldn't be any more French. An authentic corner of Paris in the heart of Scotland's capital. The food is seriously French, too, and seriously priced, but seriously wonderful. Seriously! Open Mon-Fri 1200-1415, 1900-2200, Sat 1900-2200 only.

36, 36 Great King St, Tel: 556-3636. Basement restaurant of the Howard Hotel (see under 'Sleeping'). One of the places to eat in the capital. The very best of modern Scottish cuisine in contemporary, minimalist surroundings. Open Sun-Fri 1200-1400, 1900-2200, Sat 1900-2200. No smoking.

Mid Range

A Room in the Town, 18 Howe St, Tel: 2258204. Excellent quality Scottish produce presented with flair and imagination in a friendly atmosphere. Exceptional value. BYOB. Open daily 1200-1500, 1730 till late.

Bell's Diner, 7 St Stephen St, Tel: 2258116. The best burgers and steaks in town. This diner is popular with Stockbridge locals, students and tourists alike who come for its honest, filling and great value food in an informal atmosphere. Open Mon-Fri 1800-2300, Sat/Sun 1200-2300.

Blue Parrot Cantina, 49 St Stephen St, Tel: 2252941. Set in the heart of quasi-bohemian Stockbridge, this is arguably the city's finest Mexican restaurant, offering a varied selection of dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. Open Mon-Fri and Sun 1700-2230, Sat 1300-2230.

Howies, 4-6 Glanville Pl, Tel: 2255553. The newest addition to the Howie's range of bistros. Chic yet informal and with the same superb value Scottish menu.

Guilianos Italian Restaurant 18/19 Union Place, Edinburgh, Tel: 0131-556 6590

Kweilin, 19-21 Dundas St, Tel: 5571875. A bit more expensive than other Chinese restaurants in town but backed up by some of the most imaginative Cantonese cooking around. Open Tue-Thu 1200-2245, Fri/Sat 1200-2315.

Loon Fung, 2 Warriston Pl, Tel: 5561781. Still one of the great Oriental eating experiences in town, this Cantonese restaurant is an old favourite, with a wide selection of dim sum and seafood dishes. Open Mon-Thu 1200-2330, Fri 1200-0030, Sat 1400-0030, Sun 1400-2330.

The Lost Sock Diner, 11 East London St, Tel: 5576097. Relaxed by day and buzzing by night, this bistro offers a huge range of dishes at unbeatable value. Open Mon 0900-1600, Tue-Sat 0900-2200, Sun 1000-1700.

Maison Hector, 47-49 Deanhaugh St, Tel: 3325328. Described as Stockbridge's answer to Central Perk, this is one of Edinburgh's original bistros but still one of the best. Restaurant serves a fine Scottish/French menu while the café-bar area is just brill for weekend brunch. Open Mon-Wed 1100-2400, Thu/Fri till 0100, Sat 1030-0100, Sun 1030-2400.

The Mussel Inn, 61-65 Rose St, Tel: 2255979. What could be better than a huge pot of steaming fresh mussels and a bowl of fantastic chips? Not much, judging by the popularity of this place, in the heart of pub-land. A must for seafood-lovers. Open Mon-Thu 1200-1500, 1800-2200, Fri/Sat 1100-2200.

Rhodes & Co, 3-15 Rose St, Tel: 2209190. Recently opened by TV celebrity chef Gary Rhodes. Very retro (food and decor), serving British standards as you've never tasted before. Open Mon-Sat 1200-1430, 1800-2230, Sun 1200-1430.

Siam Erawan, 48 Howe St, Tel: 2263675. Edinburgh's original Thai restaurant and still the best. The cosy basement ambience encourages you to take your time. Open Mon-Sat 1200-1430, 1800-2300, Sun 1800-2230. They now have three other branches, which may or may not be as good:

Baan Erawan, 14 South St Andrew St, Tel: 5568558;

Erawan Express, 176 Rose St. Tel: 2200059;

Erawan Oriental, 1 4 South St Andrew St, Tel: 5564242.

Tapas Olé, 10 Eyre Pl, Tel: 5562754. Excellent tapas, friendly service and a good vibe. Good value lunch menu. There's a new branch in the Old Town, at 4a Forrest Rd, Tel: 2257069. Open daily 1100-2300.

Tapas Tree, 1 Forth St, Tel: 5567718. This Spanish restaurant, has built up a reputation for excellent food and service. Their tapas are good value, particularly the lunch-time specials, and they even offer a vegetarian selection. Booking advised at weekends. Open daily 1100-2300.

Cheap

à table, 4 Howe St, Tel: 2205335. Eating here is like sitting in someone's French farmhouse kitchen. There's one huge table in the middle where you're served with healthy continental dishes made from organic produce. Open Mon-Fri 0830-1730, Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1000-1600.

Bar Napoli, 75 Hanover St, Tel: 2252600. Basic Italian which offers much the same as the others in the street but which has the added advantage of offering the best-value set lunch and it stays open late. Open Mon-Thu and Sun 1200-0200, Fri/Sat 1200-0400.

Est, Est Est 135 George Street Ideal for families as they are supremely and Italianly patient with kids and noise. Otherwise, forget it.

Henderson's Salad Table, 94 Hanover St, Tel: 2252131. This basement vegetarian self-service restaurant is the oldest in the city and still one of the best. It can get very busy but manages to combine efficiency with comfort. Excellent value 2-course set lunch. Open Mon-Sat 0800-2230. Upstairs is their deli and takeaway, and round the corner, at 25 Thistle St, is Henderson's Bistro, Tel: 2252605, which provides the same excellent food but in more intimate surroundings, with table service and at only slightly higher prices.

Tampopo, 25a Thistle St, Tel: 2205254. Japanese fast-food at its best. Always busy with takeaway trade, so if you're after a quick, healthy, tasty and economical snack, this is the place for you. Try the sushi. Open Mon 1200-1500, Tue-Sat 1200-1500, 1800-2100.