The 15 Best Restaurants in Edinburgh

This Michelin-starred, family-run restaurant is a warm and welcoming treasure. A vast cocoon of dark wood and elegantly spaced tables, this converted warehouse has an almost holy ambiance for such an industrial space. In keeping with current trends, they serve locally sourced artisanal produce and a gorgeous wine list sourced from growers who “respect the land and grape.” While creative, the food remains pleasantly hearty and unpretentious – you can leave full and satisfied. The unique space and elegant food provide a sense of ceremony, which makes Timberyard a wonderful spot for a special occasion, while the affable staff keeps the atmosphere relaxed.

From the team behind local favorite The Little Chartroom, eleanore opened on Leith Walk a couple of years ago. There is a kind of restrained dignity to the interior, rustic but simple, that feels refreshing and modern in a city of dark restaurants. This is a relaxed room serving elevated food. And oh – the food! Served across set menus, the dishes are rich, fresh, and thoughtfully layered. The plating is beautiful and the friendly staff are accommodating to dietary requests. It is easy to see why eleanore is generally regarded by locals as one of the most exciting restaurants in town.

Opened in 2022, The Palmerston has quickly become the name to drop in this city. Also awarded a Michelin star, there is an old-fashioned, comfortable energy to the experience, akin to a classic bistro in Paris. The space also has the kind of rustic elegance familiar to classic European restaurants. Known for its sustainable, whole-animal approach to food, the menu is sturdy and ever-changing according to the seasons and available local produce. The kind of lavish, hearty fare that brings to mind words like “mead” and “stew” even though what you are actually eating is exciting, fresh, and elevated.

A clean and compact spot nestled on charming Thistle Street, Noto is a hidden gem offering innovative Asian-inspired food made with local Scottish produce. The space brings to mind that certain breed of minimalist style associated with Scandinavia while the bustling energy offers a cosy atmosphere. Clean white walls and dark floors are adorned only with plants – wry old branches that dance across the wall like charcoal drawings. This is food for sharing, small plates full of joy. There is a coolness here; you can feel the time that the chef and owner spent working in NYC.

The Free Company, a farm on the outskirts of Edinburgh that practices regenerative agriculture, offers a unique dining experience. Their restaurant space opens seasonally and creates a literal farm-to-table meal; the changing menus are all sourced from the animals and vegetables they cultivate on their land. Their ticketed evenings go on sale periodically through the website and create evenings where guests sit at communal tables and “pay what you think it is worth” bills at the end. These open-hearted choices, combined with their truly sustainable approach, infuse their food with genuinely good values, making everything more enjoyable. This is more than a meal; it is a special kind of experience.

This is a vibrant, casual restaurant that started as a pop-up during lockdown, a joyful family venture in which the matriarch still does all of the cooking. And what she cooks is amazing: lively Punjabi street food inspired by recipes that have been handed down for generations. Fresh produce and an ever-changing menu keep things feeling alive and exciting while the space is colorful and cheerful. Their motto, “good food with good people,” tells you all you need to know, really – this is a great choice for a relaxed, friendly, and satisfying meal.

Macau Kitchen is a hidden gem and an inconspicuous chef’s favorite (always a ringing endorsement). This intimate restaurant has a real independent spirit and has won many awards, including Best Asian Fusion Restaurant In Scotland. Their offerings of Macanese and Malacca Portuguese cuisine, inspired by the Portuguese journey along the Asia spice route are unique among the Edinburgh food landscape. The restaurant has both a consistent menu of favorites and ever-changing creative specials inspired by the chef’s personal relationship with Macau and Malacca. With a welcoming atmosphere, BYOB policy, and an authentic menu that encourages sharing, Macau Kitchen is full of joy. When you visit, you, too, will be full of joy – and excellent food. Just be sure to go early if you don’t have a reservation.

An Edinburgh institution, this vegetarian café was started by Janet Henderson in 1962, making it the UK’s longest-running vegetarian restaurant. Many hearts were broken when it was forced to close down during the pandemic, and a gaping hole was left in Edinburgh’s food scene. Thankfully, in 2021, it was reincarnated by the Henderson’s grandson in a new location, given a glow-up, and brought into the contemporary scene. This new space is fancier and more modern than the homespun hippy café we were familiar with, but the ethos of healthy, often organic food that is accessible to any dietary requirement remains.

One of the joys of the city break is, of course, a leisurely morning stretched out with coffee stops and indulgent brunches. Thomas J Wells Coffee, a handsome space that occupies and retains many of the dignified features of a converted opticians, offers excellent options for both. The atmosphere is mellow, the spacious room is decked in elegant wood paneling, and the coffee is lovely. Their brunch menu offers all the contemporary classics – shakshuka, avocado on toast and creative egg options are all here – simple, fresh fare done well. You can happily linger with a book here, relaxing in the jovial company of students, tourists, and locals alike.

I would be remiss to get through a dining list for Edinburgh without including at least one classic pub. Café Royal is a historic pub of the most refined breed, a Victorian “palace pub” with gilded Parisian-style features and stained glass windows. It claims to be Scotland’s oldest oyster bar, and the seafood is indeed a highlight of this Grande Dame of the Edinburgh scene. Their selection of malt whiskies and ales also makes this a wonderful place to while away a few hours, sampling the finest of Scotland’s famous beverages. Despite the elegance of the fine dining on offer, the atmosphere here is always pleasantly spirited and merry.