38 upscale rooms in Edinburgh, editor-picked. occasion rooms in Edinburgh: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Edinburgh food.
Timberyard ★ 4.8
tollcross-west-end · 10 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DS
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.
Tip: The summer terrace under the oak in the courtyard is the best dining seat in the city when the weather permits.
Smith and Gertrude ★ 4.8
stockbridge · 26 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5BA
Smith and Gertrude on Hamilton Place in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2014, a 30-cover natural wine bar with a cheese-led food list and a vinyl.
Tip: BYO cheese policy from the deli next door at £5 corkage on a Tuesday. Pours are 100ml or 175ml from a chalkboard list.
Heron ★ 4.7
leith · 87-91 Henderson Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6ED
Sam Yorke and Tom Hagger's Henderson Street kitchen in Leith Edinburgh, opened 2021 and Michelin-starred 2024, an open-pass small-plates room.
Tip: The bar counter takes four walk-up seats from 18:00 if your booking falls through. Same menu, better view of the pass.
Panda and Sons ★ 4.7
new-town · 79 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 4NF
Iain McPherson's Panda and Sons on Queen Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2013, a speakeasy cocktail bar in a basement disguised as a barber-shop.
Tip: Enter through the barber-shop door at street level. Bookings open 30 days ahead; cocktail menu changes seasonally.
Bramble Bar and Lounge ★ 4.7
new-town · 16a Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE
Bramble on Queen Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2006 by Mike Aikman and Jas Scott, a basement cocktail bar credited with launching the city's modern.
Tip: Walk-ins only and the room fills fast after 9pm; ask the bartender for a dealer's-choice rather than the menu.
Spry ★ 4.7
new-town · 1 Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AE
Spry on Haddington Place at the top of Leith Walk in Edinburgh, a neighbourhood natural-wine bar and bottle shop with a basement cafe, pouring rotating.
Tip: Walk-ins at the bar most nights, table reservations by email; the bottle shop downstairs sells the same wines at retail to take home.
The Little Chartroom ★ 4.6
bruntsfield-morningside · 14 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh EH6 5JD
Roberta Hall-McCarron's Bonnington Road dining room in Edinburgh, a Michelin Bib-listed neighbourhood kitchen running modern Scottish tasting menus.
Tip: Roberta also runs Eleanore around the corner on Albert Place for walk-in small plates if the Chartroom is fully booked.
The Palmerston ★ 4.6
tollcross-west-end · 1 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AL
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.
Tip: The bakery counter sells off the day's bread at 16:00 for the next morning. Sourdough and cinnamon buns go first.
Vinette ★ 4.6
canonmills-inverleith · 36 Broughton Street, Edinburgh EH1 3SB
Stuart Ralston's Parisian bar a vin on Broughton Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened October 2025 on the former Fhior site, a wine-led bistro serving.
Tip: Cocktail bar Vivien sits one flight below, run by the same team; an aperitif there then a table upstairs is the move.
The Palmerston ★ 4.6
tollcross-west-end · 1 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AL
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.
Tip: The bakery counter sells off the day's bread at 16:00. Sourdough and cinnamon buns go first.
The Little Chartroom ★ 4.6
bruntsfield-morningside · 14 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh EH6 5JD
Roberta Hall-McCarron's Bonnington Road dining room in Edinburgh, opened in 2017, a Michelin Bib-listed neighbourhood kitchen running British-leaning.
Tip: Roberta also runs Eleanore around the corner on Albert Place for walk-in small plates.
The Bow Bar ★ 4.6
old-town · 80 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH
The Bow Bar on West Bow in Edinburgh Old Town, opened in the 1860s and refurbished in the 1990s as a classic Scottish pub, with 250 single malt whiskies.
Tip: No cocktails, no music, no kids. Cask ale list rotates daily; ask the bar what is on tonight.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society ★ 4.6
leith · The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in The Vaults on Giles Street in Leith, opened 1983, the world reference for single-cask whisky with a members bar and tasting.
Tip: Non-members can buy a day pass for £15 and bring a guest; ask at the door. The Queen Street branch is the New Town sibling.
Never Really Here ★ 4.6
new-town · 89 Rose Street North Lane, Edinburgh EH2 3DX
Never Really Here on Rose Street North Lane in Edinburgh New Town, a tucked-away speakeasy behind a graffiti-covered black door with seven tables.
Tip: Cash-only, walk-ins only by knock on the door; arrive before 9pm for a chance of a table on Fridays.
Vinette ★ 4.6
canonmills-inverleith · 36 Broughton Street, Edinburgh EH1 3SB
Stuart Ralston's Parisian bar a vin on Broughton Street in Edinburgh, opened October 2025 on the former Fhior site, a wine-led restaurant with a rotating.
Tip: Bookings via vinette.co.uk; for an aperitif first head one floor down to sister cocktail bar Vivien before sitting at the table.
Noto ★ 4.5
new-town · 47a Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DY
Stuart Ralston's Thistle Street dining room in New Town Edinburgh, opened in 2019, a Japanese-inflected small-plates kitchen in a former townhouse basement.
Tip: Bar seats look directly onto the sushi pass. Stuart's other rooms, Aizle and Tipo, sit within a four-minute walk.
Aizle ★ 4.5
new-town · Garden Room, The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, 38 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ
Stuart Ralston's Garden Room kitchen inside the Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh, opened 2014 (relocated 2020), a no-choice market-driven tasting menu.
Tip: The hotel terrace is open to walk-ups for a glass of fizz before service. Lunch is half the dinner price and runs the same menu.
White Horse Oyster and Seafood Bar ★ 4.5
old-town · 266 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8AA
White Horse Oyster and Seafood Bar at 266 Canongate on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh Old Town, opened in November 2017 inside what is reckoned the oldest inn.
Tip: The narrow room books out for dinner; lunch from noon and the late-night kitchen until midnight take walk-ins at the counter.
The Cottage at Royal Terrace ★ 4.5
canonmills-inverleith · 1 Royal Terrace Gardens, Edinburgh EH7 5DX
Peter Adshead's restaurant in the 1836 William Playfair stone cottage at Royal Terrace Gardens in Edinburgh, opened May 2026 on the former Gardener's Cottage.
Tip: Thursday to Sunday only; the £25 two-course lunch from 12:30 is the value entry, evening tasting climbs to £85.
Noto ★ 4.5
new-town · 47a Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DY
Stuart Ralston's Thistle Street basement in New Town Edinburgh, opened 2019, a Japanese-inflected small-plates kitchen with sashimi, rice and fermented sides.
Tip: Counter seats look directly onto the sushi pass. Lunchtime bento sets are £25 and the best New Town lunch deal.
Hawksmoor Edinburgh ★ 4.5
new-town · 23 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
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.
Tip: Express menu before 18:30 and after 22:00 runs three courses at £28; the express menu version of the same kitchen.
The Devil's Advocate ★ 4.5
old-town · 9 Advocate's Close, Edinburgh EH1 1ND
The Devil's Advocate in Advocate's Close off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened 2013 in a former Victorian pump house, a stone-walled whisky and cocktail.
Tip: Find the bar by going down the steep close from the High Street; the street-level entrance is unmarked.
Hawksmoor Bar ★ 4.5
new-town · 23 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
Hawksmoor's bar on West Register Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2019 inside the former National Bank of Scotland Hall, a 30-seat cocktail bar.
Tip: Express menu before 18:30 runs three courses at £28 from the bar; the cocktails are the same as the restaurant.
Toast ★ 4.5
leith · 65 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RA
Toast on The Shore in Leith Edinburgh, opened 2019, a daytime-into-evening wine bar pouring biodynamic European producers beside open-fire-toasted sourdough.
Tip: Wine flights of three pours run a fixed list at £18; lunchtime sandwiches double as a snack-with-wine programme.
Purslane ★ 4.4
stockbridge · 33a St Stephen Street, Edinburgh EH3 5AH
Paul Gunning's Stockbridge basement dining room on St Stephen Street in Edinburgh, opened 2014, a 20-cover neighbourhood kitchen running set tasting menus.
Tip: BYO Tuesday with a £7 corkage is a cheap way to bring a bottle from the Wine Pantry next door.
Wedgwood the Restaurant ★ 4.4
old-town · 267 Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH8 8BQ
Paul and Lisa Wedgwood's Canongate dining room on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened in 2007, a family-run fine-dining kitchen with a focus on Scottish.
Tip: The chef's table in the kitchen takes four guests; book a fortnight ahead for the demo-led version of the tasting menu.
The Last Word Saloon ★ 4.4
stockbridge · 44 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh EH3 5AL
The Last Word Saloon on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2014, a wood-panelled cocktail bar named after the Prohibition-era drink.
Tip: Sister bars on the same street include The Bon Vivant's Companion; the basement seats fill from 21:00 on Friday.
Fishers Bar at The Shore ★ 4.4
leith · 1 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QW
Fishers Bistro on The Shore in Leith Edinburgh, opened 1991 in a former 1700s signal tower, a seafood bar serving native oysters and Edinburgh Gin.
Tip: Bar counter takes walk-ins; the upstairs dining room books out at weekends but the bar is the better seat anyway.
Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar ★ 4.3
old-town · 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Amber whisky bar and restaurant inside The Scotch Whisky Experience on Castlehill in Edinburgh, opened in 1988, a tasting bar pouring 470-plus single malts.
Tip: Book the Region Flight; five drams from five Scottish whisky regions with tutored tasting from a brand ambassador.
Civerinos Cocktail Counter ★ 4.3
old-town · 5 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW
Civerinos pizza counter and bar on Hunter Square in Edinburgh Old Town, opened 2016, an all-Italian cocktail and amaro programme beside the slice counter.
Tip: Slice plus a negroni at the counter is the local move after midnight; the cocktail menu changes monthly.
The Witchery Bar ★ 4.3
old-town · Boswell's Court, 352 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF
The Witchery bar in Boswell's Court at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened 1979, a heritage candlelit room pouring cocktails and an extensive wine.
Tip: Ask for The Secret Garden, the second dining room down the stairs; the candle-lit version of the experience.
Good Brothers Wine Bar ★ 4.3
stockbridge · 4-6 Dean Street, Edinburgh EH4 1LW
Joe and Dan Worthington's wine bar on Dean Street in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2015, a brother-run natural wine room with rotating snacks and a 30-deep.
Tip: Sunday is closed for the cellar audit; Tuesday is the new-wine night with growers' tastings every other month.
The Dome Cocktail Bar ★ 4.2
new-town · 14 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PF
The Dome cocktail bar on George Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 1996 inside the former Commercial Bank building, a glass-domed grand-room space pouring.
Tip: The Christmas decoration installation in November to January is famously over-the-top; book a window seat ahead.
Noto Wine Bar ★ 4.2
new-town · 47a Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DY
Stuart Ralston's Noto on Thistle Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2019, a Japanese small-plates dining room with a wine and sake list pairing modern.
Tip: Counter seats look at the sushi pass; the wine list is short but unusually well-compiled for sake pairing.
The Dome ★ 4.1
new-town · 14 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PF
The Dome on George Street in Edinburgh's New Town, opened in 1996 inside the former Commercial Bank building, a glass-domed grand brasserie room running.
Tip: The Georgian Tea Room at the back is a quieter alternative if the main hall feels too touristy at peak hours.
The Wine Pantry ★ 4.1
stockbridge · 21 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh EH3 5AN
The Wine Pantry on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2017, a retail-wine-shop-meets-bar pouring shop-bottle by-the-glass with a small.
Tip: Buy any bottle on the retail shelf and drink it in-house for a £10 corkage; doubles as a value play for natural wine.
Vinatura ★ 4.0
leith · 23 Bath Street, Edinburgh EH15 1HG
Vinatura on Bath Street in Portobello and Leith Edinburgh, opened 2022, a seaside natural wine bar with a daily-changing list of small-producer Italian.
Tip: Sunday and Tuesday closed for cellar work. Friday natural-wine flight at £22 is the value play with cheese.
The Caley Picture House ★ 3.2
tollcross-west-end · 31 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2DJ
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.
Tip: The listed art-deco interior is worth seeing regardless of the Wetherspoon context; look up at the original plasterwork.