16 Best Restaurants in Edinburgh (2026)
The 16 highest-rated restaurants in Edinburgh right now, from 12-seat chef's tables to Korean street food stalls. Every place holds a 4.6+ Google rating.
Best Restaurants in Edinburgh
The places worth eating at in Edinburgh aren’t on the Royal Mile. They’re in converted Leith shopfronts, Marchmont side streets, and Portobello police boxes. A wave of small, ambitious restaurants has opened in the last two years, many with fewer than 20 seats, run by chefs who trained at Scotland’s Michelin-starred kitchens before striking out on their own. The result is a city where a perfect 5.0 Google rating is no longer unusual, and where the best meal you eat might cost less than a pint at a tourist pub on the Mile. The result is a city where a perfect 5.0 Google rating is no longer unusual, and where the best meal you eat might cost less than a pint at a tourist pub on the Mile.
If a place seats 12 or 14 people, you need to book. For the casual spots, turning up at off-peak times (before noon, after 2pm, or early evening) saves you a wait. And if you only have one night: go to Leith. Three of the top five restaurants on this page are within walking distance of each other down there.
1. eòrna
Edinburgh’s most intimate dining experience. Chef Brian Grigor (formerly of Michelin-starred Number One) cooks a seasonal Scottish tasting menu for just 12 guests, while sommelier Glen Montgomery handles wines and service. You sit at the counter and watch every dish being prepared. The ingredients are hyper-local: Orkney beef, Perthshire strawberries, Scottish seafood. The MICHELIN Guide recognizes eòrna for “Good cooking,” and reviewers regularly call it one of the best meals they’ve had in Scotland. Book well ahead.
eòrna restaurant
- Experience delicious food prepared in front of you
- Enjoy exquisite wine pairings throughout multiple courses
- Appreciate intimate dining setting with only twelve seats
Make reservations well in advance due to limited seating capacity
"Eòrna restaurant in Edinburgh/Stockbridge offers a truly memorable dining experience with stunning food prepared before your eyes, expertly paired wines, and exceptional service. Chef Brian Grigor and sommelier Glen Montgomery create an intimate evening for just 12 guests."
2. Dùthchas
A 14-seat restaurant in Leith from the team behind Purslane, Dùthchas (meaning “heritage” in Gaelic) celebrates Scottish seasonal ingredients through French technique. The menu rotates roughly every two weeks depending on what local producers deliver. The six-course tasting menu runs £95, with a shorter three-course “Wee Taster” at £55 for those who want a smaller commitment. Ranked in Edinburgh’s top 10 on TripAdvisor. Owner Alex makes every guest feel like they’re eating at a friend’s house, which is exactly the point. Reservations essential.
Dùthchas
- Experience exceptional food and fun wines with options like a hybrid ala carte/tasting menu
- Enjoy attentive service from the owner Alex in an intimate and cozy setting
- Appreciate the relaxed yet upscale atmosphere that makes guests feel among friends
Make reservations in advance due to limited seating (about 14 people)
"Dùthchas in Leith offers an exceptional dining experience with outstanding Scottish seasonal food, attentive service, and an intimate setting of just 14 seats. The menu rotates roughly every two weeks based on what local producers bring."
3. Nishiki
The sister restaurant to Yamato, Edinburgh’s long-running Japanese spot. Nishiki takes a lighter approach: bright Japandi design (think white walls, blond wood), izakaya-style small plates, and one of Scotland’s first sake bars. Chef-owner Max Wang’s menu is focused but precise. The miso aubergine, beef skewers, and shiro ramen with rich broth and perfect noodles are the standouts. Eel rice and tuna sashimi are also worth ordering. Located on Morrison Street near Haymarket, the space seats about 40. Can get cold inside and portions lean small, so order generously.
Nishiki
- Experience authentic Japanese cuisine in the heart of Edinburgh
- Serene ambiance with minimalist Japanese style decor
- Standout dishes like miso aubergine, beef skewers, eel rice and tuna sashimi
Try to visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds as it can get busy during peak times.
"Nishiki is the sister restaurant to Yamato, serving Japanese-Western fusion in a bright Japandi-style space. The limited but quality-focused menu features standout dishes like miso aubergine, shiro ramen, and kitsune udon with homemade noodles."
4. Go Go Beets
The best plant-based lunch in Edinburgh. This Portobello cafe makes everything to order: the roll with leeks, veggie haggis, and tattie scone is a local favourite, and the HLT sandwich with lime and coriander drizzle converts even committed carnivores. Nearly everything on the menu has a gluten-free option, including the pastries. The cakes and empire biscuits are excellent. Dog-friendly, colourful interior, and the kind of place where staff remember your name. Visit off-peak if you want to sit in, the space is small.
Go Go Beets
- Enjoy a variety of flavorful dishes such as the roll with leeks, veggie haggis, tattie scone or the HLT sandwich
- Experience accommodating gluten-free options for almost everything on the menu
- Relish in numerous vegan choices while enjoying friendly service at this local vegetarian business
Visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds especially if you plan to dine-in
"Go Go Beets is a beloved spot known for delicious made-to-order dishes, great cakes, accommodating gluten-free options, and a cozy dog-friendly atmosphere."
5. A Wee Taste
Part wine bar, part grazing spot, A Wee Taste on Leven Street in Bruntsfield does wine tastings with generous pours (£20 for four different wines) alongside sharing boards loaded with quality meats, cheeses, and vegan options. The owner’s knowledge of wine is deep but never intimidating, making this a great place to learn what you actually like drinking. The boards are more than bar snacks; they’re proper meals if you order enough. Cozy interior, Instagram-friendly presentation. Book ahead for weekend evenings.
A Wee Taste
- Enjoy a fabulous wine tasting experience with generous pours at £20 for 4 different wines
- Indulge in delicious grazing boards featuring a variety of high-quality meats, cheeses, and vegan options
- Experience a cozy atmosphere perfect for social gatherings or special events
Make reservations in advance to secure your spot as it can get busy
"A Wee Taste offers a delightful wine tasting experience with delicious grazing boards. The curated selection of wines and welcoming hosts make it a charming spot in Bruntsfield."
6. Seoul Nibbles
Korean street food from a police box in the Grassmarket, which is about as Edinburgh as it gets. The city repurposed its old police boxes years ago and the best ones are now food stalls. Seoul Nibbles operates seasonally (roughly October to March, Thursday to Monday, 11am-5pm), so timing matters. The menu is tight: corn dogs, tteokbokki, bungeoppang, and mandu. The deep-fried Korean corn dogs are the thing people queue for, and there’s a deep-fried Mars bar with a Korean twist that shouldn’t work but somehow does. Check their Instagram (@seoul_nibbles) for current opening days before making the trip, since hours can shift with the weather.
Seoul Nibbles
7. El Dorado Taqueria
Another police box operation, this time on Leith Walk. El Dorado is run by Zsolt and Elizabeth, a husband-and-wife team serving family recipes: tacos, burritos, and quesadillas with proper attention to the details that most UK Mexican places skip. The tortillas are fresh, the salsas have actual heat, and the portions are honest. They also pop up at markets and festivals around Edinburgh, so you might run into them at the Meadows or Leith Market too. Check their website for the current schedule, since the police box isn’t open every day.
El Dorado Taqueria
8. Locale Neapolitan Pizza
Marchmont’s best pizza, and probably Edinburgh’s. Locale does proper Neapolitan-style pizza with the charred, blistered crust and simple toppings that purists want. No stuffed crusts, no BBQ chicken, just good dough, San Marzano tomatoes, and fior di latte. The neighbourhood location on Marchmont Road, well away from the tourist crowds on the Royal Mile, means you’re eating with Edinburgh locals and university students. It’s the kind of place where half the tables are regulars. The space is small and they don’t take reservations, so going early or slightly late avoids the worst of the wait.
Locale Neapolitan Pizza
9. CrispyQ Asian Kitchen
Asian street food on Nicolson Street, just south of the Royal Mile. CrispyQ sits in the middle of Edinburgh’s student quarter, which means two things: the portions are generous and the prices are low. The 5.0 Google rating has been earned through volume rather than hype. It’s not a date night restaurant; it’s the place you go when you’re hungry, don’t want to spend much, and want something with proper flavour. The Southside location makes it an easy detour after the National Museum or before cutting through the Meadows.
CrispyQ Asian Kitchen
10. La Querencia Leith Walk
Spanish dining on Crighton Place, just off Leith Walk. Leith already has Scottish fine dining, Mexican tacos, and Japanese fusion within a few blocks of each other, and La Querencia fills the Spanish-shaped gap. They take bookings through OpenTable, which is useful since walk-in availability can be unpredictable. If you’re doing the Leith restaurant crawl (and with three of this list’s top restaurants in the same neighbourhood, you probably should), La Querencia works well as an aperitif-and-tapas stop before heading to Dùthchas for the main event.
La Querencia Leith Walk
11. Cha Cha
On Hanover Street in New Town, Cha Cha is the most centrally located restaurant on this list, and the easiest to fit into a day of sightseeing. It’s the kind of place you stumble past between the Scottish National Gallery and George Street shopping and think “that looks good,” and it is. Convenient for pre-theatre meals at the Traverse or Lyceum. You’ll pay New Town prices for the privilege of the location, but the food justifies it. The downside is that central Edinburgh restaurants attract a mix of tourists and locals, so the atmosphere can feel less neighbourhood-y than the Leith or Marchmont spots.
Cha Cha
12. Katero Food Bar
A small spot on Marchmont Crescent, literally round the corner from Locale pizza. Having two restaurants with perfect Google ratings on the same block says something about what’s happening in Marchmont right now. This part of Edinburgh has always been popular with students and young professionals, but the food has caught up with the demand. If you’re staying in an Airbnb south of the Meadows, you don’t need to trek into the city centre to eat well. Katero and Locale between them cover most evenings.
Katero Food Bar
13. Croccante & Co
Italian at Lynedoch Place in the West End, close enough to Haymarket station that you could eat here before your luggage hits the hotel. Croccante does the classics well without trying to reinvent them, which is refreshing in a city where every new opening seems to need a “concept.” Also a solid option if you’re heading out toward Dean Village for a walk along the Water of Leith and want to line your stomach first. The West End is underrepresented for good independent restaurants, so Croccante fills a real gap.
Croccante & Co
14. Neighbourgood Beach
Right on Portobello Promenade, with the kind of view you don’t expect from Edinburgh: sand, sea, and an actual horizon. If you’re at the beach on a sunny day (and you should be, at least once), Neighbourgood is the obvious lunch stop. It’s seasonal though, so check they’re open before making the 30-minute bus ride from town. The move is to combine it with Go Go Beets up the road on Portobello High Street. Start with a plant-based lunch at Go Go Beets, then walk down to Neighbourgood for a drink on the promenade. That’s a proper Portobello afternoon.
Neighbourgood Beach
15. Sky’s Thai Kitchen
The furthest from the centre on this list, and the hardest to justify on a short trip. Gilmerton is a residential neighbourhood in south Edinburgh, well away from anything a tourist would normally visit. But that’s exactly why Sky’s Thai Kitchen is interesting. A perfect Google rating in a place with no tourist foot traffic means one thing: locals eat here repeatedly, and they rate it highly because the food is genuinely good, not because the location is convenient. If you’re staying in an Airbnb in south Edinburgh, or if you have a car and want Thai food that’s worth the drive, this is it. On a three-day trip, skip it. On a longer stay, make the effort.
Sky's Thai Kitchen
Bonus: Mirin
The best ramen-turned-fusion restaurant on Leith Walk. Mirin started life as Gulp Ramen and rebranded in 2023 with a broader menu that fuses Asian technique with Scottish ingredients. The wild boar dumplings, pigeon with haggis, and noodles with Stornoway black pudding sound unlikely but work brilliantly. The kimchi crust burger is another standout. The space is tiny, so book ahead. Rated 4.6 on Google with a perfect 5.0 on TripAdvisor. Plates are served as they’re cooked, so the meal unfolds at its own pace. Ask staff what’s good that day, since the menu changes frequently.
Mirin
- Unique Asian fusion dishes incorporating Korean, Thai, and Scottish elements
- Standout plates like wild boar dumplings and pigeon with haggis
- Innovative creations such as kimchi crust burger and BBQ pigeon breast
Book ahead, the restaurant is tiny and walk-ins are often turned away
"Mirin combines Asian-inspired flavours with Scottish produce in a tiny Leith Walk restaurant. Diners consistently praise the handmade dumplings and noodles. Evolved from Gulp Ramen, the menu now features wild boar, Stornoway black pudding, and Hebridean ingredients."
How to Plan Your Edinburgh Restaurant Day
For fine dining: Book eòrna or Dùthchas at least two weeks ahead. Both are small enough that last-minute tables are rare. Evening only.
For a Leith crawl: Start at El Dorado Taqueria for lunch, walk to La Querencia for an aperitif, and finish at Dùthchas for dinner. Leith has the best restaurant density in Edinburgh. End with drinks at one of the best bars in Leith.
For a budget day: Seoul Nibbles in Grassmarket for lunch, CrispyQ on Nicolson Street for an afternoon snack, and Locale in Marchmont for pizza at dinner. All hold 5.0 Google ratings and none will cost more than £15 per person.
For Portobello: Combine Go Go Beets for a plant-based lunch with Neighbourgood Beach for afternoon drinks on the promenade. Take the bus from the city centre (about 30 minutes).
If you’re planning your days, our 5-day Edinburgh itinerary slots restaurant picks into each day. For drinks, see our best bars guide. For morning plans, our best brunch guide covers 14 breakfast spots. And for non-food activities, there’s our things to do guide.
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