Best Bistros & Brasseries

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Best Edinburgh Bistros & Brasseries - Travel Scotland

Best Edinburgh Bistros & Brasseries - We have for you a list of the Best Bistros & Brasseries in Edinburgh.

Skippers

Location: 1a Dock Place; corner of Leithoff Comercial Rd by the docks

Phone: 0131 554 1018

Opinion: A fine seafood bistro in town. Leith's original with 25 years of service. The menu is heavily accented by seafood but with vegan and meat selections as well. Very quayside with a friendly and intimate decor. Daily new menu. Thoughtful wine list. Lunch & dinner 7 days, LO 10pm.

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First Coast

Location: 99 Dalry Road

Phone: 0131 313 4404

Opinion: Quality bistro on the west of town. Very urban place. Food is good: simply awesome. No-nonsense menu with a fine list of choices; regularly updated. An altogether irresistible place to be. Mon-Sat lunch & LO 10.30pm.

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Urban Angel

Location: 121 Hanover Street

Phone: 0131 225 6215

Opinion: A basement place for the urban foodies. Relaxed and contemporary decor. Great value for money. Winner of 'budget restaurant of the year 2006/2007' The List food and drinks guide. Emphasis on organic and fresh produce.

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Home Bistro

Location: 41 West Nicolson Street

Phone: 0131 667 7010

Opinion: A homely bistro. Cozy and welcoming ambiance: living room feel. Dedicated to traditional homely Scottish cuisines. The menu would leave you spoilt for choices. Chef Richard Logan works his magic with ingredients creating some of the best modern and traditional British grubs. Great value and fresh simple dishes. Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Tue-Sat.

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Blue Bar Cafe

Location: Cambridge Street; on the west end

Phone: 0131 221 1222

Opinion: Contemporary Edinburgh restaurant with a more informal menu. A sibling of The Atrium. In the heart of the financial district side-by-side with the Usher hall, the Traverse and Lyceum Theatres. Drop in anytime to feel its intimate, warm and comfortable decor. A fine west-end entertainment hub. 12noon-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm daily. Bar to midnight (1am Sat). Closed Sun.

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The Apartment

Location: 7-13 Barclay Place

Phone: 0131 228 6456

Opinion: Just up the road from Kings Theatre. A trendy spot for diners. Decor is modern and sensible. The first of Malcom Innes fab eat-outs. Good salads, fine food and huge helpings. Menu defined along the lines of the chunky-healthy categories. 7 days dinner; LO 11pm. Lunch Sat/Sun only. Best to do an advance booking.

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The Outsider

Location: 15 George IV Bridge

Phone: 0131 226 3131

Opinion: Another one from the Malcom Innes; a sister of 'The Apartment'. Their hallmark eat-out oozing a sexy, contemporary feel; good value for money. Basic design with a great view of the castle. Signature dishes: grilled baby squid, prawns and pork. Try the contrasting dishes that add spice to the menu. Pricing is light on the purse. Sizable helpings. 7 days, lunch & LO 10.30pm.

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Herbe Bistro

Location: 44-46 George IV Bridge

Phone: 0131 226 3269

Opinion: Purveyors of modern, fresh gourmet food suiting different tastes and budgets. Basement place - spacious and calm decor. Favored spot by diners. Excellent value and spot-on be it food or service. A no-nonsense place to go for an eat-out. Lunch & LO 9.45pm. Sun closed.

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North Bridge

Location: 20 North Bridge

Phone: 0131 622 2900

Opinion: The bar and brasserie of The Scotsman Hotel. A capital place catering to Edinburgh's elite. Decor is essentially Victorian with dramatic interiors and a fine mix of classic and contemporary. The restaurant is guided by expert Chef Geoff Balharrie. Exemplary brasserie-type menu with seasonal twists; heavily accented with modern Scottish selections. 7 days, all day LO 10pm/10.30pm. Bar midnight.

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Howie's Bruntsfield

Location: 208 Bruntsfield Place

Phone: 0131 221 1777

Opinion: One of the four eat-outs in Edinburgh by the group. Oozing a smart contemporary decor and a hot-favorite with diners. One of the best in this street. Value for money, unpretentious and serving good Scottish food. 7 days, Lunch 12pm-2.30pm, Dinner 6pm-10pm, Brunch 10am-4pm (Sat-Sun).

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Howie's Waterloo

Location: 29 Waterloo Place, East end of Princes St; 5 mins from Wavery Station

Phone: 0131 556 5766

Opinion: Within a 200 year old lofty Georgian building. Grade 'A' listed. Expect the usual value for money and good food. No-fuss formula with impeccable flair of service. Great value lunch and dinner. Open 7 days a week. Lunch 12pm- 2.30pm (Sun-Fri), Sat lunch 12pm-3pm, Dinner 5.30pm-10pm.

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Sweet Melinda's

Location: 11 Roseneath Street

Phone: 0131 229 7953

Opinion: A hot favorite with locals and city-folks. 10+ years of service. Menu draws heavily on seafood and game. The best fish from Eddie's seafood market next door is handpicked every morning. Home-made organic bread and fresh produce. Emphasis on quality rather than buzz. Everything prepared from scratch. Good wine list. Lunch & LO 10pm. Mon no lunch; Sun closed.

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Shapes

Location: Bankhead Avenue, Sighthill

Phone: 0131 453 2666

Opinion: This stunning restaurant opened its doors in 2001. Run by the furniture and auction house, which also goes by the same name. This 100 seater was once the old works canteen and garage. Italian marble floors, gorgeous linen, gilt framed mirrors and candlelight create an ambiance of opulence and poise. Extensive menu and good wine list. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sat lunch until 2pm, dinner 7pm-9.30pm.

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Blonde

Location: 75 St Leonard's Street

Phone: 0131 668 2917

Opinion: A pretty place on the South Side. Charming neighborhood restaurant: informal, relaxing, friendly and at the same time sophisticated. Good service. Decor along the lines of an informal Southside apartment. Good menu, reasonably priced food; fine wine list. Blonde rooms. Lunch (not Mon) & LO 10pm. 7 days.

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Stockbridge Restaurant

Location: 54 St Stephen Street

Phone: 0131 226 6766

Opinion: Frontline place. Food is finger-licking-ly good, contemporary European using fine Scottish ingredients. Proprietor/ Chef Jason Gallagher's culinary and management skills have won accolades for the place. Highlights: pastries and Aberdeen Angus. A reliable place with carefully sourced ingredients. Generous portions served; value for money. Intimate ambiance good for a deux; so take someone good there. Lunch Wed-Fri, dinner Tue-Sun. LO 9.30pm.

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Iglu

Location: 2b Jamaica Street

Phone: 0131 476 5333

Opinion: A small upstairs bistro, tucked just off Howe Street, above the New Town bar. Winner of many awards and recognition; latest: Michelin Guide recommendation. Food prepared from locally procured ingredients. Organic and tasty selections. A favorite spot for foodies. Signature dish: Scottish meat delicacies. Modest bar menu. Not a good option for veggies. Book beforehand. Lunch: Fri-Sun, dinner 7 days. LO 10pm, bar 1am.

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