British, Modern Restaurants in Edinburgh
1. Number One, Balmoral Hotel
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
1 Princes Street - EH2
“One of Scotland's finest” – the “super club-like” basement of this landmark hotel has long been one of the city’s main culinary attractions, providing a splendid mix of sophisticated decor (especially given that it’s subterranean), alongside “excellent service, luxurious tasting menus and high-quality wines”. Former Northcote head chef Matthew Sherry took over at the stoves in 2021 and devised new three- and seven-course menus focused on Scottish produce.
2. The Stockbridge
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
54 St Stephen's St - EH3
“Attentive service and perfectly cooked dishes” win praise for this traditionally decorated, picture-lined basement serving Scottish cuisine.
3. Gardener’s Cottage
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
1 Royal Terrace Gardens, London Road - EH7
2021 Review: “The menu is fixed and you sit at one of three large tables with others” at this quirky venture, which occupies a stone cottage in Royal Terrace Gardens. You get what you’re given from a mystery tasting menu on which sustainability is to the fore, with many of the ingredients grown by Charlie the gardener. On practically all reports the food is well-rated, and they must be doing something right having last year now opened The Lookout (see also).
4. Angels With Bagpipes
British, Traditional restaurant in Edinburgh
343 High St, Royal Mile - EH1
2021 Review: Owned by the Crolla family (who started Valvona & Crolla, Scotland’s oldest deli and Italian wine merchant – see also), this sixteenth century fine dining spot is a beacon on the otherwise touristy Royal Mile owing to its “well-cooked and well-seasoned” Scottish fare and “good value Sunday lunch”; for a truly intimate dining experience, try ‘Halo’, upstairs, which seats just four.
5. The Lookout by Gardener's Cottage
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
Calton Hill - EH7
“Spectacular views over Edinburgh” and “subtly flavoured” modern bistro fare are twin incentives to visit this eye-catching cantilevered structure, partially suspended over Carlton Hill – “a must for any visitor to this beautiful city!”.
6. The Outsider
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
15 - 16 George IV Bridge - EH1
2021 Review: “Get the best seats in the place” (at the back, which offers “beautiful views” of the castle) to make the most of a visit to this city-centre staple, also turning out “enjoyable” cuisine of a modern European bent.
7. Noto
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
47a Thistle Street - EH2
Chef-owner Stuart Ralston's diner-esque follow-up to Aizle, inspired by his time in NYC, and named after his roommate there, food snapper Bob Noto. A “great city-centre location”, bang in the heart of New Town, and “outstanding” small plates with a strong Asian slant complete the picture.
8. 21212
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
3 Royal Ter - EH7
“Intriguing, inventive flavour combinations and presentation” has long been the hallmark of Paul Kitching’s cuisine and continues to win high ratings for this Georgian townhouse, which he runs with partner, Katie O’Brien. “Delightful warm service” and “wonderful decor” make for a very good “overall experience” that ranks amongst the city’s best.
9. The Wee Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
61 Frederick Street - EH2
2018 Review: Craig & Vikki Wood’s yearling (a follow-up to the decade-old original of the same name), is “a real gem of an addition to the New Town” (and “saves a trip across the Forth to North Queensferry” to their other gaff). Between the “first-class food and service” (the former from ex-El Celler de Can Roca chef Michael Innes) it’s “difficult to fault”.
10. The Walnut
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
9 Croall Place - EH7
2021 Review: This “real gem” on the road to Leith – “family-run with flair and passion” – “uses unusual cuts of locally sourced meats and seasonal produce to keep the cost of lunch to £10”. It’s “intimate and cosy, but on a hot summer’s day, sitting outside sipping wine and eating the amazing fresh food the kitchen sends out is a real treat”.
11. Timberyard
Scottish restaurant in Edinburgh
10 Lady Lawson St - EH3
The Radford family’s Scandi-influenced converted Victorian warehouse is “a delight for anyone looking to stray away from the beaten track” – not just for the cooking, but for its “interesting, natural and small-batch wines”. Regulars should expect significant changes, though, following the appointment late last year of head chef James Murray (ex-Lyles, Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and Nur in Hong Kong) and head pastry chef Richard Phillips (ex-L’Enclume and Waterside Inn). Chef Ben Radford, who runs the show with his brother Jo and sister Abi, is moving to a different role in the business.
12. Dean Banks at The Pompadour
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, Princes Street - EH1
Chef Dean Banks is the latest name to take the reins of this august and spacious dining room, first opened in 1925 – about 20 years after the grand hotel that contains it – and run in recent years by The Galvin brothers (and then briefly by Dan Ashmore). At dinner (lunch is simpler), it presents two tasting menus for £85 and £125 per head in a similar culinary vein to his St Andrews venture, Haar (see also).
13. Purslane
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
33A St Stephen Street - EH3
The “wonderful food” at chef Paul Gunning’s “very small” basement in Georgian Stockbridge is extremely “good value” – notably a “seven-course tasting menu with a succession of excellent dishes” for £65.
14. Grazing by Mark Greenaway
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh (The Caledonian), Rutland Street - EH1
“In the Caledonian Hotel (Waldorf Astoria)” for the past couple of years, in a space previously occupied by the Galvin brothers, Mark Greenaway's hyped modern English and Scottish venture may be a little ill-named (it's less about sharing plates than heftier options) but receives feedback that’s notably sound, including for the “fab” puds and “well-presented” Sunday lunch.
15. The Rabbit Hole
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
11 Roseneath Street - EH9
“Good all round” – this popular and well-priced Marchmont venue keeps a local crowd happy with the French-accented dishes sent out by its owner-chefs, a Sicilian/Canadian couple who live nearby. A proper two-course lunch costs under £20, which adds to the appeal.
16. Condita
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
15 Salisbury Place - EH9
A surprise tasting menu by chef Conor Toomey is the format at this contemporary and relatively small (six tables) venue. Having nabbed a hard-to-gain 5/5 for its cuisine last year, it suffered from a dearth of feedback in this year’s survey, but was blessed with a star by the tyre men in January 2021.
17. The Little Chartroom
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
14 Bonnington Road - EH6
In September 2021, Great British Menu chef Roberta Hall-McCarron and FOH husband Shaun relaunched their French/British-inspired venture in larger, more polished premises on Bonnington Road. We’ve maintained ratings in anticipation of a more ambitious spin on their menu, foraged from the wilds and waters of the Scottish landscape (now with three options for each course, plus in-house sourdough). (Eleanore, a restaurant and wine bar for counter-style dining on Scottish small plates, is due to succeed this venture in the ex-Little Chartroom premises in late 2021).
18. Duck & Waffle
British, Modern restaurant in Edinburgh
St James Quarter, St James Square - EH1
Opening, along with several other big-name London restaurants, in the new St James development in 2022.
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