The BBC Good Food team has dined its way around Edinburgh to produce their pick of the best places at which to eat, from 'cheap eats' to restaurants which are perfect for a 'special occasion'.
While some of the choices won’t surprise you, there are sure to be some gems on his list you've not tried before.
. Contini
Where: 103 George St, Edinburgh EH2 3ES. Best for: Casual dining. BBC Good Food says: It’s worth visiting for the décor alone – housed in a former Georgian banking hall, with a vaulted ceiling, sculpted pillars, chandeliers and a marble bar, Contini is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. Photo: Third Party
. Cannonball Restaurant & Bar
Where: 356 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: Set in a converted school, this three-floor venue has a prime location next to Edinburgh Castle – but there’s more to Cannonball than the fabulous views. Photo: Third Party
. Ondine
Where: 2 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1AD. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: No trip to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to this seafood mecca, run by chef-proprietor Roy Brett, an alumnus of Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant. Photo: Third Party
. The Fishmarket
Where: 23A Pier Pl, Newhaven, Edinburgh EH6 4LP. Best for: Casual dining. BBC Good Food says: This upmarket fish and chip shop has a prime spot overlooking Newhaven Harbour and is well worth the 15-minute drive from the city centre. Photo: Third Party
. La Garrigue
Where: 31 Jeffrey St, Edinburgh EH1 1DH. Best for: Special occasions, child-friendly. BBC Good Food says: For 15 years, this French bistro has been a dependable stalwart. Chef and owner Jean-Michel Gauffre is evangelical about the comforting cuisine of his native Languedoc. Photo: Third Party
. Timberyard
Where: 10 Lady Lawson St, Edinburgh EH3 9DS. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: Modern yet traditional, cool yet unpretentious, Timberyard is set in a converted warehouse. Photo: Third Party
. Restaurant Martin Wishart
Where: 54 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RA. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: The insight which saw Martin Wishart boldly unleash fine dining on Leith back in 1999 and garner Edinburgh’s first Michelin star continues to drives his restaurant. It’s a well-oiled machine, still capable of surprising and delighting Photo: Third Party
. Pickles
Where: 60 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3SA. Best for: Casual dining. BBC Good Food says: The genius of Pickles is its simplicity. This unassuming Broughton Street bolthole serves local pâtés, chutneys, and meat and cheese platters, meaning this cosy cellar bar is often crammed with locals sharing an informal bite and a bottle of wine. Photo: Third Party
. Gardeners Cottage
Where: 1 Royal Terrace Gardens, London Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5DX. Best for: Special occasions, child-friendly. BBC Good Food says: Looking like a Wizard of Oz-style tornado has deposited a quaint rural abode on the side of busy London Road, Gardener’s Cottage keeps the magic going inside. Photo: comp
. Leith Chop House
Where: 102 Constitution St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AW. Best for: Casual dining, cheap eats. BBC Good Food says: With its filament lightbulbs, bare brick and high beard count, it might look like a hipster joint, but these guys take their meat very seriously. Photo: Third Party
. The Kitchin
Where: 78 Commercial Quay, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6LX. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: Tom Kitchin’s obsessive pursuit of perfection extends even to the bespoke crockery, which was specially commissioned for his Michelin-starred restaurant. Photo: Third Party
. Origano
Where: 236 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5EL. Best for: Casual dining, cheap eats. BBC Good Food says: This bustling premises on Leith Walk may just be the best pizzeria in town, and is complete with a wood-burning oven Photo: Third Party
1. Contini
Where: 103 George St, Edinburgh EH2 3ES. Best for: Casual dining. BBC Good Food says: It’s worth visiting for the décor alone – housed in a former Georgian banking hall, with a vaulted ceiling, sculpted pillars, chandeliers and a marble bar, Contini is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. Photo: Third Party
2. Cannonball Restaurant & Bar
Where: 356 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: Set in a converted school, this three-floor venue has a prime location next to Edinburgh Castle – but there’s more to Cannonball than the fabulous views. Photo: Third Party
3. Ondine
Where: 2 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1AD. Best for: Special occasions. BBC Good Food says: No trip to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to this seafood mecca, run by chef-proprietor Roy Brett, an alumnus of Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant. Photo: Third Party
4. The Fishmarket
Where: 23A Pier Pl, Newhaven, Edinburgh EH6 4LP. Best for: Casual dining. BBC Good Food says: This upmarket fish and chip shop has a prime spot overlooking Newhaven Harbour and is well worth the 15-minute drive from the city centre. Photo: Third Party