5 of the best restaurants in Edinburgh's west end

Away from the shopping masses and tourist hordes of Princes Street, the more sedate pace of the capital's west end makes it a great place to head out for a meal and with plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from you'll be spoiled for choice.

Kyloe can't be beat for steak. Picture: Kyloe

From fine dining and food with a Gallic flair to perfectly cooked steaks and, what we believe are some of the best burgers in the city, here are five of our favourite places to eat in Edinburgh’s west end.

L’ESCARGOT BLANC

(17 Queensferry St, Edinburgh EH2 4QW)

Run by one of our favourite chefs in the capital, L’escargot blanc is a great little restaurant that puts Scottish ingredients firmly at the fore - all cooked with a little French flare of course.

A champion for Scottish produce (and a winner of our Food Pioneer award) Fred offers a stunning array of dishes that feature the likes of Barra snails (hence the name of the restaurant), Orkney beef rib-eye steak and the best seafood from around the country, all cooked to perfection and paired with a well curated selection of the very best in French wines.

FORAGE AND CHATTER

(1A Alva St, Edinburgh EH2 4PH)

Found on the former premises of Edinburgh Larder Bistro, Forage and Chatter, as the name suggests, offers dishes which include lots of local and foraged produce, served in a cosy and relaxed setting to encourage plenty of chatter.

Expect contemporary dishes on its innovative menu with exciting Scottish ingredients such as Slow Cooked Pig Cheek, North Sea Hake and Monkfish all cooked with a modern flair in a quirky setting that’s warm and welcoming with its tartan clad furniture and potted plants.

KYLOE

(1-3 Rutland St, Edinburgh EH1 2AE)

Located in the first floor of the Rutland Hotel, Kyloe is named for an old Scots word for Highland beef cattle, which aptly represents its focus on sourcing the best cuts of Aberdeen Angus beef from around Scotland to grace their tables in the capital.

This gourmet steak restaurant is without a doubt one of the best in Edinburgh to enjoy sirloin, rib-eye or cuts on the bone and those with a carnivorous appetite would be well advised to grab a friend and take on the Chateaubriand or Porterhouse, while those feeling a little more adventurous can try out the Highland Wagyu and Guest Breeds for something a little different.

GALVIN BRASSERIE DE LUXE

(Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, The Caledonian, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AB)

The Auld Alliance theme continues with the Brasserie, which is the second Edinburgh restaurant opened by the renowned - and Michelin-starred - Galvin brothers, Chris and Jeff, and offers a “slice of Paris in the heart of Edinburgh”.

With private dining, masterclasses and of course a children’s menu for family occasions, the Brasserie is a fine dining eatery that’s pretty inclusive, where you’ll find dishes such as Beetroot cured salmon, Cod fillet, crayfish & carrot cassoulet, and Guinea Fowl Breast, as well as menus that won’t break the bank (such as the Seasonal menu with Two Courses for £19.00 and Three for £25.00).

BREAD MEATS BREAD

(92 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH3 9BE)

Ok, so Lothian Road might be stretching the borders of the west end just a little, but we don’t care as we felt the need to include the hugely popular Bread Meats Bread, which has recently conquered Glasgow’s burger scene and is making a strong foray into the capital with its latest venture.

Burgers are the order of the day here and the Cali Burger is a must try, while the Lothian Wolf is described by our critic Gaby as “an absolute beast” - and if you still have room for sides then their poutine can’t be beat.

• Inspire Me: Food and Drink