Japanese£££new-townDaily 12:00-14:30 17:30-21:00
Stuart Ralston's Thistle Street basement in New Town Edinburgh, opened 2019, a Japanese-inflected small-plates kitchen with sashimi, rice and fermented sides.
Order: Wagyu tataki with truffle, miso-glazed octopus and a glass of Aged Junmai sake.
Tip: Counter seats look directly onto the sushi pass. Lunchtime bento sets are £25 and the best New Town lunch deal.
Modern British£££bruntsfield-morningsideWed 12:00-14:15, Wed 17:30-21:15, Thu 12:00-14:15, Thu 17:30-21:15, Fri 12:00-14:15, Fri 17:30-21:15, Sat 10:00-14:15, Sat 17:30-21:15, Sun 10:00-14:15, Sun 17:30-21:15
Roberta Hall-McCarron's Bonnington Road dining room in Edinburgh, opened in 2017, a Michelin Bib-listed neighbourhood kitchen running British-leaning.
Order: Beef tartare with smoked oyster, and the set lunch on Friday for three courses at half price.
Tip: Roberta also runs Eleanore around the corner on Albert Place for walk-in small plates.
Steakhouse£££new-townMon-Thu 12:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 11:30-23:00
Hawksmoor's Edinburgh branch on West Register Street in New Town Edinburgh, opened in 2019 inside the former National Bank of Scotland Hall, the steakhouse.
Order: The 800g porterhouse for two from native Scottish beef and the beef-dripping.
Tip: Express menu before 18:30 and after 22:00 runs three courses at £28; the express menu version of the same kitchen.
Scottish Gastropub££stockbridgeDaily 12:00-21:00
Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack's Stockbridge gastropub in Edinburgh, opened in 2013, the casual sibling to The Kitchin running British classics in a Comely.
Order: Fish and chips with mushy peas, or the Sunday roast that books out a week ahead.
Tip: Children's menu is taken seriously here; meatballs and mash is a proper plate.
Bombay-irani Cafe££new-townMon-Wed 08:00-23:00; Thu-Sat 08:00-00:00; Sun 08:00-23:00
The Edinburgh outpost of the London Bombay-Irani cafe on St Andrew Square in Edinburgh, opened in 2016, a 200-cover all-day room in the former Bank.
Order: Bacon naan roll at breakfast, house black daal at any other time.
Tip: No dinner bookings under six; walk in from 17:30 and wait 30 to 60 minutes. Basement bar pours while you queue.
Modern Scottish££old-townThu 11:30-14:30, Sun 17:00-21:15, Sun 11:30-15:00
Howies on Victoria Street in Edinburgh's Old Town, the flagship of David Howie Scott's Scottish-bistro mini-chain opened 1990, an everyday Scottish-classics.
Order: Haggis bonbons with whisky cream and the Aberdeen Angus steak with peppercorn sauce.
Tip: Pre-theatre two-course menu 17:30-19:00 is £22, the best value in the Old Town.