5 Best Restaurants in Edinburgh Foodies Should Try
I’m a sucker for local fine dining, but even I don’t want white tablecloths every night. Finding the best restaurant in Edinburgh means looking beyond tasting menus and polished silverware.
Edinburgh’s food scene makes that easy, with everything from refined Scottish cooking to relaxed neighbourhood favourites. Sometimes I want a long, lingering dinner; other times, I just want something brilliant without the ceremony.
So I’ve broadened my horizons and done the delicious legwork. These are the Edinburgh restaurants that stood out for flavour, atmosphere and a meal worth remembering.
How much does it cost to dine at a restaurant in Edinburgh?
Dining in Edinburgh can cost anywhere from £8 to over £160 per person. It depends on the restaurant and how elaborate your meal is.
Budget eats usually cost around £8–£15 per person. This covers street food, pub classics, takeaway fish and chips, and other casual options.
Mid-range dining generally costs £20–£45 per person. You can expect a main with a drink or a relaxed multi-course meal.
Fine dining typically starts at around £70 per person. Tasting menus at high-end and Michelin-starred restaurants can reach £160 or more per person.
1. Dishoom Edinburgh
Address: 3a St Andrew Square
Contact: 0131 2026 406
Hours: Monday–Wednesday, 8 AM – 11 PM | Thursday–Saturday, 8 AM – noon | Sunday, 8 AM – 11 PM
Dishoom Edinburgh is my pick when I want dinner with a bit of swagger but none of the stiff fine-dining fuss. The Bombay-inspired interiors are lively, stylish and very easy to settle into.
Breakfast is dangerously good, especially the Bacon Naan Roll when cereal simply won’t cut it. Later on, the menu leans into curries, grills and sharing plates that make ordering one thing feel almost impossible.
I like that vegan and gluten-free diners get real options instead of sad little afterthoughts. The free chai during busy queues doesn’t hurt either!
The snag is that smaller groups can’t book after 6 PM, so that date night may involve a bit of queue roulette.
Collection can be restricted during the Edinburgh Fringe too, which is peak Edinburgh timing.
Customer Reviews
Delicious Food and Really Friendly Service
Absolutely loved this place! The food was delicious and full of flavour. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making the whole dining experience really enjoyable. The staff were incredibly friendly and took the time to introduce the dishes and give recommendations. They also came by several times to check if everything was okay and asked for our feedback, which made us feel well looked after. I’d definitely recommend trying the Chicken Ruby and the Malai Chicken—absolutely delicious and full of flavour. I’d also recommend making a reservation in advance, especially during tourist season, as it gets very busy every day.
- 张展鹏, Google Review
Great Food at Both Breakfast and Dinner
I recently visited Dishoom Edinburgh with a group of six friends, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. We had made a breakfast reservation well in advance, and the food was so good that we immediately asked for a dinner reservation on the same day.
Despite being very busy, the staff were incredibly accommodating and managed to fit us in later in the evening, which worked perfectly for our plans to explore the city in between.
Both breakfast and dinner were absolutely delicious, and the service was excellent throughout.
If you’re in downtown Edinburgh, Dishoom is a must-visit.
- Raj Sharma, Google Review
2. Fogo de Chão Edinburgh – Original from Brazil
Address: 102 George Street
Contact: 0131 215 1234
Hours: Sunday–Thursday, noon – 9 PM | Friday–Saturday, noon – 10 PM
Fogo de Chão Edinburgh is the sort of place I’d pick when I’m in the mood to swap dainty plating for a proper meat feast.
The Brazilian Churrasco setup keeps things lively, with gaúchos carving cuts straight at the table.
The Market Table gives you a breather between rounds of beef, with salads, sides and lighter bits to balance things out. I like that the whole experience feels theatrical without tipping into gimmicky.
There’s a private dining room for smaller celebrations, plus Bar Fogo if you fancy easing in with a drink first. Happy hour is a nice bonus when you’re making an occasion of it.
The catch is that this isn’t the best fit if you’re after a light meal or a subtle tasting-menu sort of evening.
Larger event packages are geared towards groups of 15 or more, too.
Customer Reviews
Great Food, Plenty of Choice, and Good Value
Had dinner here and it was really good! The self-serve salad bar had lots of different options, and all the sides are unlimited, which is great for the price. The meat was super tender and really tasty as well. The server was also very sweet and friendly 🙂 Just something to keep in mind—if you order the single cut, you’ll have to wait for the specific meat you chose to come around, but I didn’t mind. Overall, really good food, great value, and I’d definitely come back to try their lunch options!
- Grace, Google Review
A Faultless Dining Experience
Will absolutely be back here! A faultless dining experience; the restaurant itself is beautiful, and the waiting staff’s service was top class. Paloma was our waitress, and she couldn’t have been nicer. The food is just amazing, from the variety of meats to the buffet. My sister didn’t opt for the Churrasco experience and still really enjoyed the experience & food; I felt the buffet was a perfect opportunity to try different foods. I also had a mojito which was delicious and refreshing! 10/10 recommend, 100% returning.
- Eilidh Poll, Google Review
3. Miller & Carter Edinburgh City Centre
Address: 29-31 Frederick St
Contact: 0131 603 6080
Hours: Daily, noon – 11 PM
Miller & Carter Edinburgh City Centre is where I’d head when only a properly cooked steak will do. Their 30-day-aged British and Irish beef gives the menu plenty of serious carnivore appeal.
The Butcher’s Block is a fun way to sample several cuts without committing to just one favourite. I like that the kitchen takes steak training seriously, rather than treating doneness as a guessing game.
There’s a dedicated gluten-free menu accredited by Coeliac UK, which makes ordering much less stressful.
Bigger sharing cuts work nicely for birthdays, anniversaries or any excuse to turn dinner into an event.
The only catch is the smart-casual dress code, so sportswear may leave you feeling a bit underdressed. It’s polished rather than stuffy, but definitely not a roll-in-straight-from-the-gym sort of place.
Customer Reviews
A Sunday Meal With Great Service
We had the 3-course Sunday set menu. Loads to choose from. Started with calamari. Beautifully presented and more than an ample serving. For mains, husband had the rib eye, and I had wagyu, which came with all the trimmings, and the additional surcharge was well worth it. We were served by Michael. Despite being busy, he went above and beyond when it came to customer service and served our food, lager and cocktail very promptly and ensured we had everything we needed. We were so full we couldn’t have managed dessert. Will certainly be back.
- Loraine McCartney, Google Review
A Lovely Spot for a Special Occasion
If you desire superb food and atmosphere, then this place to go, but be sure to book a table. It’s located in the city centre, not far from the Scott Monument. From the first moment, we felt welcome, and the place has a nice and calm atmosphere. We celebrated our anniversary there, and both of us had the wagyu steak for our main course. You can choose from several different side orders. All to your choosing. The steak was perfectly prepared to our liking. The staff was very welcoming, helpful and service-minded. Truly a place to recommend.
- Kjetil Lindløkken, Google Review
4. Tattu Edinburgh
Address: 18 West Register Street
Contact: 0131 558 1922
Hours: Sunday–Thursday, noon – 9:30 PM | Friday–Saturday, noon – 10:30 PM
Tattu Edinburgh is where I’d go when dinner needs a bit of theatre along with the food. The reflective interiors and Chinese-inspired details make the whole place feel properly dressed for the occasion.
The Black Dragon Brunch turns Saturday afternoons into something much livelier, with sharing plates and a DJ in the mix.
Their set menu is a handy way to sample the place without going completely rogue on the bill.
I’m especially fond of the Temple Bar, where the cocktails lean into Chinese medicinal inspirations rather than the usual predictable suspects. It’s polished, dramatic and very much built for a night you’ll remember.
The catch is that Tattu is completely cashless, so leave the notes at home.
Private celebrations are limited to semi-private spaces too, which may not suit anyone wanting total seclusion.
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Birthday Meal
I came to have a belated birthday meal with my brother; from the moment we entered, the service was superb. We were blown away by the atmosphere and decoration. Tayeeba was our host & wow, what a terrific job she did! Explained every meal, was very attentive & even offered some recommendations. The food was outstanding; I will be dreaming about it for days. Would go as far as to say it’s been my favourite meal of the year so far! Thank you for making my birthday so special! 🌸
- Katie Sharp, Google Review
Delicious Brunch With Great Attention to Dietary Needs
Went here for a lovely brunch to celebrate an anniversary. We tried both their vegetarian and meat dishes, highly recommend. The food was delicious, and the portion sizes were good. We tried several of their cocktails and the flavours were amazing and reflected the Asian theme. Our server Keiron was very attentive and made sure that allergens and dietary requirements were taken care of.
- Janice To, Google Review
5. Gurkha Bar and Restaurant Edinburgh
Address: 6 Brougham Pl
Contact: 0131 229 3839
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 2 PM – 11 PM | Friday–Sunday, 11:30 AM – 11 PM
Gurkha Bar and Restaurant is where I’d head when I want something warming, generous and a little outside my usual fine-dining lane.
The Nepalese and Indian menu has plenty of character, backed by owner-chef Tej Prasad Kandel’s long kitchen experience.
The restaurant’s award history gives it extra credibility without making the place feel overly polished. I like that vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diners still get plenty to choose from.
Ordering direct is tempting too, with 25% off takeaway orders over £20. That’s the sort of perk that makes staying in feel far less lazy.
The main drawback is the later weekday opening, which rules out an early lunch Monday to Thursday. If you’re planning a midday meal, you’ll need to time it accordingly.
Customer Reviews
First Visit and Definitely Not the Last
First visit and on this quality, won’t be the last. Welcomed and well looked after by a young man; his name sounded like “sur detail pop”.Not been in a Nepalese restaurant before, but as the largest part of Nepal is Hindu, we started with Veg Thukpa Noodle Soup 10/10, with a reminder of Chinese hot and sour. Lamb Momos are dumplings, again very good. Our curry, Lasumi Chicken, was great, with lovely crunchy onion and peppers along with a fine Tarka Dhal and rice. All first class. Finished with Kulfi, not homemade but very nice.
- JimmyMac, Google Review
Authentic Food That Felt Like Home
It was my first time visiting Edinburgh, and having Nepali food at this restaurant truly made me feel like I was back home. The taste was authentic and brought back wonderful memories of my country. The service was excellent, with friendly and welcoming staff, and the atmosphere was warm and comfortable. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious, authentic Nepali food in Edinburgh.
- Shrinkhala Thapa, Google Review