Eat in Tollcross and West End, Edinburgh

Timberyard ★ 4.8

The Radford family's foraged-and-fermented kitchen on Lady Lawson Street in Edinburgh, opened in 2012 and Michelin-starred since 2024, a courtyard dining.

OrderThe full tasting menu at dinner; let the kitchen send what is best that day from the garden.

TipThe summer terrace under the oak in the courtyard is the best dining seat in the city when the weather permits.

The Palmerston ★ 4.6

Lloyd Morse, James Snowdon and Ruairidh Buchanan's Palmerston Place dining room in Edinburgh's West End, opened in 2021 in a former bank, a Michelin.

OrderThe whole roast chicken to share, and whatever fish has come off the East Coast that morning.

TipThe bakery counter sells off the day's bread at 16:00 for the next morning. Sourdough and cinnamon buns go first.

Timberyard 1 ★ ★ 4.8

The Radford family's Lady Lawson Street dining room in Edinburgh, Michelin-starred from 2024, a foraging-led courtyard kitchen built into a former timber.

OrderThe full tasting menu; the kitchen pulls from its own garden and the wild foraging team across the Lothians.

Book3 weeks ahead

TipThe summer courtyard under the oak takes 12 covers and is unreservable as a section; ask at booking.

Locanda De Gusti ★ 4.5

Rosario Sartore's Dalry Road kitchen in Edinburgh, opened in 2013, a family-run Neapolitan dining room running pasta, seafood and wood-fired pizza.

OrderPesce all'acqua pazza (whole fish in tomato broth) and the homemade pappardelle with wild boar.

TipThe lunchtime three-course express menu at £18 is one of the city's best Italian-value deals.

The Palmerston ★ 4.6

Lloyd Morse, James Snowdon and Ruairidh Buchanan's Palmerston Place dining room in Edinburgh's West End, opened in 2021 in a former bank, a Michelin Bib.

OrderThe whole roast chicken for two and the sourdough with cultured butter.

TipThe bakery counter sells off the day's bread at 16:00. Sourdough and cinnamon buns go first.

Lovecrumbs ★ 4.4

Lovecrumbs cake shop on West Port in Edinburgh, opened 2010, a tea-and-cake counter in a Grassmarket-adjacent townhouse with a sun-filled bay window.

DrinkFilter coffee and a slice of cake

TipTheir daily-changing cake counter is a one-glass-each affair; the upstairs nook seats four for quiet sessions.

Lovecrumbs ★ 4.5

Lovecrumbs cake shop on West Port in Edinburgh, opened 2010, a tea-and-cake counter in a Grassmarket-adjacent townhouse with a daily-changing slice counter.

Worth the queueSalted caramel cake

TipWalk in only; the upstairs nook holds four for a quieter window.

The Palmerston Bakery ★ 4.6

The Palmerston restaurant's bakery counter on Palmerston Place in Edinburgh, opened 2021, selling the day's bread from the kitchen at the end of restaurant.

Worth the queueCardamom and pistachio bun

TipStock varies by day; show up at 16:00 sharp. Sourdough and cinnamon buns go first within the first 20 minutes.

The Caley Picture House ★ 3.2

The Caley Picture House on Lothian Road in Edinburgh, a JD Wetherspoon pub in the grade-B listed 1923 Caley cinema building, serving budget cask ales.

DrinkCask ales and budget whisky

FoodFull Wetherspoon kitchen including pies and stovies

TipThe listed art-deco interior is worth seeing regardless of the Wetherspoon context; look up at the original plasterwork.

Edinburgh Farmers Market ★ 4.6

Edinburgh Farmers Market on Castle Terrace in Edinburgh, trading every Saturday since 2000 under Edinburgh Castle's south wall, the city's reference Saturday.

TipPark-and-Ride from the Ingliston site to bring a car to load up; the market closes at 14:00 sharp and stalls sell out.

LeftField ★ 4.5

LeftField on Barclay Terrace in Edinburgh Bruntsfield, a neighbourhood seafood bistro serving seasonal small plates with minimal-intervention wines.

OrderWhatever shellfish came in from the West Coast that morning and a glass of Gros Manseng.

Why locals goBruntsfield is a 25-minute walk from the Old Town and most visitors never go. LeftField is Phil White and Rachel Chisholm's seafood bistro with a natural wine list and no PR.

TipNo website booking form; call ahead on 0131 563 1792 or walk in at 12:30 for a lunch table.

Dulse ★ 4.6

Dulse seafood restaurant on Queensferry Street in Edinburgh West End, from the Dean Banks Group, a two-rosette seafood and oyster bar open Wednesday.

OrderHalf a dozen Scottish oysters with the house mignonette, and the monkfish with Highland butter sauce.

Why locals goThe Dean Banks Group is better known for Haar in St Andrews. Dulse slipped into Edinburgh's West End in 2023 without much fanfare despite holding two AA rosettes.

TipThe oyster bar counter at the front takes walk-ins without a booking. The full menu requires a reservation.

Margot ★ 4.3

Margot wine cafe on Barclay Terrace in Edinburgh Bruntsfield, a neighbourhood wine and small-plates room from the LeftField team, serving seasonal European.

OrderThe weekly-changing small plates with a glass of whatever the owner recommends from the bottle list.

Why locals goBruntsfield is where Edinburgh locals eat. Margot is the wine cafe on the corner of Barclay Terrace with a daily-changing small plates menu, a natural wine list and no social.

TipWalk-in only for brunch; evenings require a booking. The Thursday slot is the least contested.

Loudons ★ 4.2

Loudons on Fountainbridge in Edinburgh, a brunch room baking most of its menu on-site with Scottish-sourced ingredients, open until 16:00 daily.

OrderHoots Mon: haggis, black pudding puree and whisky hollandaise on a toasted muffin.

TipThe Hoots Mon version of eggs benedict is the reason to come. No dinner service; kitchen finishes before 15:00.

Margot ★ 4.3

Margot wine cafe on Barclay Terrace in Bruntsfield Edinburgh, from the team behind LeftField, a neighbourhood brunch room with natural wines and seasonal.

OrderPolenta with wild mushrooms and crispy chilli oil, or the smashed avocado with Stornoway black pudding.

TipThe natural wine list is available during brunch service. A glass of Muscadet with scrambled eggs is the move.

The Caley Picture House ★ 3.2

The Caley Picture House on Lothian Road in Edinburgh, a JD Wetherspoon pub in a grade-B listed 1923 cinema, serving budget food from 08:00 until kitchen.

TryFull Wetherspoon kitchen including pies and burgers

TipThe listed art-deco interior is impressive regardless of the Wetherspoon context. Look up at the original ceiling before ordering.

Hey Palu ★ 4.6

The Bread Street aperitivo bar inspired by Fellini's La Dolce Vita holds the UK's largest Amari collection at nearly 75 bottles, regular fixture on the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.

TipOrder an off-menu Negroni built around an unfamiliar Amaro, the staff are pleased to walk you through the collection rather than rush you out.

Lebowskis ★ 4.2

The Coen-brothers themed West End lounge bar makes 20 to 30 White Russian variations on the Dude's drink of choice, low-volume vinyl and deep booths.

TipOrder the Caucasian flight, three half-pour White Russians built around different cream, coffee and spirit ratios for around the price of a long drink.