18 editor picks in Edinburgh.
18 splurge places in Edinburgh, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in Edinburgh. All Edinburgh food.
Tom Kitchin's Commercial Quay dining room in Leith, Edinburgh, opened in 2006 and held a Michelin star within seven months, the kitchen that brought Scottish.
OrderThe seasonal Rock Pool starter and whatever lands fresh from the Anstruther day-boats that morning.
TipLunch is half the dinner price and runs the same kitchen. The Tom's Sunday lunch (the chef's table) gets cancelled less than the evening tasting if you book it.
Tom Kitchin's Leith dining room on Commercial Quay in Edinburgh, Michelin-starred since 2007, the kitchen that brought Scottish provenance back to fine.
OrderThe Land and Sea five-course tasting menu, with optional wine pairings from a 400-bottle list.
TipSaturday lunch tastings are the most reliable booking; the chef's table in the open pass accepts two with 30 days notice.
Martin Wishart's Shoreside Leith dining room in Edinburgh, opened in 1999 and Michelin-starred since 2001, the city's longest-running modern French tasting.
OrderThe eight-course Tasting Menu or the half-priced lunch tasting served Tuesday to Friday.
TipLunchtime four-course menu at £50 is the value play; same kitchen, same sommelier, half the dinner price.
Stuart Ralston's Shoreside Leith fine-dining room in Edinburgh, opened in 2024 and Michelin-starred within twelve months, a 14-seat tasting counter.
OrderThe full chef's tasting menu; this is a counter-only kitchen designed for the set sequence.
TipCounter seats numbers 1 and 14 face the open pass directly. Tasting menus only; no a la carte.
Martin Wishart's Shore dining room in Leith, Edinburgh, Michelin-starred since 2001, the city's longest-running French-leaning tasting kitchen.
OrderThe six-course Seasonal Tasting Menu or the half-priced lunch four-course Tuesday to Friday.
TipLunch is £50 for four courses; same kitchen, same sommelier, less than half the dinner price.
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.
TipThe summer courtyard under the oak takes 12 covers and is unreservable as a section; ask at booking.
Stuart Ralston's 14-seat tasting counter on The Shore in Leith, opened 2024 and Michelin-starred within twelve months, a fixed-sequence kitchen.
OrderThe tasting menu is the only option; no a la carte, no choice.
TipCounter seats numbers 1 and 14 face the open pass directly. Booking opens 60 days ahead at 10:00 GMT.
Conor Toomey's Marchmont neighbourhood kitchen in Edinburgh, opened in 2018 and Michelin-starred from 2020, a no-choice tasting menu in a 20-seat residential.
OrderThere is no choice. The fixed seven-course tasting menu is the only option; trust the room.
TipBookings open 60 days ahead on the dot at 10:00 GMT. The whole month sells in under an hour. Set a calendar alarm.
Sam Yorke and Tom Hagger's Henderson Street kitchen in Leith Edinburgh, Michelin-starred from 2024, an open-pass small-plates room on the Water of Leith.
OrderWhatever is landed at Scrabster that morning; the menu changes daily.
TipCounter seats face the open pass; ask at booking. Bar counter takes four walk-up seats from 18:00.
Conor Toomey's Marchmont neighbourhood tasting kitchen on Salisbury Place in Edinburgh, Michelin-starred since 2020, a no-choice seven-course menu.
OrderThe fixed seven-course tasting menu; the only option, the only ask is dietary requirements.
TipBookings open 60 days ahead at 10:00 GMT; the whole month sells in under an hour. Set a calendar alarm.
Rodney Wages's basement tasting room on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2024 after he relocated his San Francisco Avery to Scotland.
OrderThe set tasting runs around twelve courses; trust the kitchen and take the full pairing.
TipTuesday to Saturday only, one seating from 5pm; book via Tock four weeks ahead for weekend tables.
Stuart Ralston's Garden Room kitchen inside the Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh, opened 2014 and relocated in 2020, a no-choice market-driven tasting.
OrderThe six-course harvest tasting menu changed weekly; lunch is £45 for four courses.
TipThe hotel terrace takes walk-ins for a glass of fizz before service; smart casual.
Mark Donald's basement dining room inside The Balmoral hotel on Princes Street in Edinburgh, Michelin-starred from 2003 to 2024 and still running fine-dining.
OrderThe seasonal tasting menu; lunch sittings include a four-course at half dinner price.
TipThe Bollinger Bar upstairs (also at the Balmoral) takes walk-ins for a glass of fizz before service. Smart-casual dress code enforced.
Mark Donald's basement dining room at The Balmoral on Princes Street, Michelin-starred from 2003 to 2024 and still running fine-dining service.
OrderThe seasonal tasting menu; the chef's table takes six guests by 14-day request.
TipLunch sittings include a four-course at £55, half the dinner price. The Bollinger Bar upstairs takes walk-ins.
Paul Gunning's Stockbridge basement dining room on St Stephen Street in Edinburgh, opened 2014, a 20-cover tasting kitchen running monthly-changing.
OrderThe six-course evening tasting menu; lunch runs a slimmer four-course at £40.
TipBYO Tuesday with a £7 corkage is a cheap way to bring a bottle from the wine merchant down the street.
Paul and Lisa Wedgwood's Royal Mile dining room on Canongate in Edinburgh, opened in 2007, a family-run kitchen with a focus on Scottish foraging and game.
OrderThe chef's table in the kitchen takes four for a six-course tasting with kitchen commentary.
TipThe supper-club Sunday is half the price of weekday dinner and runs a slimmer four-course menu.
James Thomson's medieval-tavern dining room at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened 1979 inside Boswell's Court, the city's heritage-cuisine.
OrderThe Scotch beef Wellington for two and the haggis with whisky-cream sauce as a starter.
TipAsk for The Secret Garden, the second dining room down the stairs; the candlelit version of the experience.
James Thomson's heritage dining room at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened in 1979 inside Boswell's Court, the city's grand-occasion fine-dining.
OrderThe Witchery Theatre menu of three courses at £50 before 18:30 or after 22:00, the only value play.
TipAsk for The Secret Garden, the second dining room down the stairs; the candlelit version of the experience.
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