Best restaurants in Edinburgh

16 November 2022|Read time 2 mins

Edinburgh offers a plethora of restaurants to suit every palate and wallet!

Choose from city centre restaurants, to local gems out-with the city centre.

For example, enjoy the village feel of Stockbridge with its lively cafes, pubs and restaurants or head to Edinburgh's waterfront at Leith which is growing in stature as a key gastronomic destination.

Best restaurants in Edinburgh for eating out

Eating out in Edinburgh gives you the chance to taste local, national and international specialities.

From cafes to good pub grub and Michelin-starred restaurants, the choice is endless.

Indeed, some people believe that Edinburgh has more restaurants per capita than London.

If you are wondering where to eat during your self-catering trip to Edinburgh, here are our top restaurants in the city.

Cafe Royal, Edinburgh

Serving its famous Oysters throughout the week, this beautifully tiled Victorian venue has a modern and laid-back attitude.

With a varied bar menu, this is the ideal place for a lighter meal in a unique setting.

If you’re looking for a wee tipple after dinner, then they stock 30 Scottish whiskies as well as real ales, beers and continental lagers.

West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA.

Chop House Bar & Butchery

This steak house in Leith offers a delicious cocktail menu for those pre-dinner drinks.

Their award-winning British beef is dry-aged in-house for thirty-five days, before being lovingly cooked on a charcoal grill.

Chop House also have locations on Market Street in the city centre and Bruntsfield so you don't have to travel far to sample their tasty menu.

102 Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AW.

Dusit, Edinburgh

Nestled in the New Town, Dusit has been serving customers since 2002.

With an intimate friendly atmosphere, this Thai restaurant combines the freshest Scottish produce with contemporary Thai cooking, serving new flavours in more traditional dishes.

The monkfish, scallops and king prawns are especially recommended.

49a Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY.

The Kings Wark

This 15th-century, waterfront inn combines the traditional with the modern and offers tasty seasonal menus. 

Eat like Royalty with a roast pig’s head banquet and wash it down with a cocktail, wine or even coffee. The delicious a la carte menu and homemade steak burger are recommended.

36 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QU

Mamma’s Pizza, Edinburgh

For handmade Gluten-Free pizza, fresh pasta and the tastiest Italian food in Edinburgh, Mamma's has been a favourite with locals and tourists since 1985.

Mamma's have a restaurant on Grassmarket, making it the ideal place for a bite to eat after exploring Edinburgh's attractions.

30 The Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU.

Shore Bar & Restaurant

A hidden gem in Leith to enjoy after visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia or shopping at Ocean Terminal!

A waterfront dining experience serving classic British dishes with a European mix - with fish and shellfish on the menu too!

If freshly caught and local fish and shellfish are your thing, then the Fishers bistro next door is part of the same award-winning chain.

3 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QW 

The Witchery

James Thomson opened The Witchery in 1979 and has been offering fine dining to customers ever since.

Indulge yourself with a luxury dining experience, hidden below the entrance to Edinburgh Castle and next to the Scotch Whisky Experience.

This restaurant offers fabulous dining, in a stunning setting of oak panelling and candlelight.  

Castle Hill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF.

Book a city break with Reserve Apartments

Book a trip to Edinburgh with Reserve Apartments and stay in one of our self-catering apartments. 

As you can see, you have many restaurants to choose from if you don't fancy cooking during your stay, even if you are staying at Christmas!