Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
chance to explore the nation's cuisine with £1.75 Scottish
tapas and a “whisky sommelier” on hand to suggest
accompanying drams for each. More substantial mains
range from the old Scots comfort food, stovies, at £9, up to
beef sirloin with whisky sauce at £19.50.
Mon-Thurs & Sun
10am-7.30pm, Fri & Sat 10am-9pm.
Ì
David Bann's Vegetarian Restaurant
56-58 St
Mary's St
T
0131 556 5888,
W
davidbann.com; map
pp.64-65
Thoroughly modern vegetarian restaurant
offering a wide choice of beautifully crafted,
unconventional dishes such as their pulse-packed chilli
pancakes with chocolate sauce - a savoury dish! - or the
ever popular chickpea koftas with home-made curd
cheese, both £12.
Mon-Thurs noon-9.45pm, Fri noon-
10.15pm, Sat 11am-10.15pm, Sun 11am-9.45pm.
The Grain Store
30 Victoria St
T
0131 225 7635,
W
grainstore-restaurant.co.uk; map pp.64-65.
This
unpretentious restaurant is a relaxing haven amid the
bustle of the Old Town, combining top-quality modern
Scottish and French cuisines. Lunches offer value with two
courses for £12.50 while the evening's £15 artichoke ravioli
and tru
es veggie option is by far the cheapest on the à la
carte.
Daily noon-2pm & 6-10pm.
La Garrigue
31 Jeffrey St
T
0131 557 3032,
W
lagarrigue.co.uk; map pp.64-65.
A place of genuine
charm and quality, with a menu and wine list dedicated to
the produce and traditions of the Languedoc region of
France. The care and honesty of the cooking shine through
in dishes such as the cassoulet or duck breast with stewed
peppers. The two-course lunch (£12.50) and dinner (£25)
menus offer consistent quality and value for money.
Daily
noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm.
Mother India's Cafe
3-5 Infirmary St
T
0131 524
9801,
W
motherindiascafeedinburgh.co.uk; map
pp.64-65.
This buzzy, Glasgow-based operation has a
refreshing approach to ndian food, serving freshly
prepared tapas-style dishes for £3-6 that allow you to eat
well but also lightly, with fish dishes in particular standing
out. The setting is atmospheric, with old photos on even
older stone walls.
Mon-Thurs noon-2pm & 5-10.30pm,
Fri & Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-10pm.
Ì
Ondine
2 George IV Bridge
T
0131 226 1888,
W
ondinerestaurant.co.uk; map pp.64-65.
Tucked in
beside (but a separate venture from) the
Hotel Missoni
, this
dedicated seafood restaurant from Edinburgh chef Roy
Brett, once Rick Stein's main chef in Padstow, turns out
some sublime dishes using native shellfish and fish from
sustainable sources. Two-course lunch and pre-theatre
menus cost £18.
Mon-Sat noon-3pm & 5.30-10pm.
Ì
Spoon Café Bistro
6a Nicholson St
T
0131 557
4567,
W
spoonedinburgh.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
A
homely, first-floor room with quirky, retro fittings serving
reliably rustic two- and three-course menus with punchy
flavours from £12. They also make the best soup in town,
served with a hunk of bread for £4.50. Under a different
name, this was the café where J.K. Rowling first penned
Harry Potter
.
Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun noon-5pm.
Ì
Wedgwood the Restaurant
267 Canongate
T
0131 558 8737,
W
wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk;
map pp.64-65.
This small but reputable fine-dining
restaurant with in-house forager creatively plates all the
best of Scotland's land, rivers and seas. There's so much
choice on the à la carte that they offer “deciding time” -
canapés and champagne - while you peruse the menu. The
mains here begin at £15 while the £12 lunch deal is a true
bargain, all with seasonal freshness guaranteed.
Mon-Sat
noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12.30-3pm & 6-10pm.
The Witchery by the Castle
352 Castlehill
T
0131 225
5613,
W
thewitchery.com; map pp.64-65.
An upmarket
restaurant that only Edinburgh could create, set in
magnificently over-the-top medieval surroundings full of
Gothic panelling, tapestries and heavy stonework, all a
mere broomstick-hop from the Castle. The rich fish and
game dishes are pricey, but you can steal a sense of it all
with a lunch or pre- or post-theatre set menu for under
£16.
Daily noon-4pm & 5.30-11.30pm.
NEW TOWN AND THE WEST END
For the flashier end of the restaurant scene, the New
Town and its western fringe, known as the West End, are
the happening parts of town. Many nationwide chains
have restaurants on and around Princes and George
streets, but it's worth exploring a little further afield to
areas such as Broughton Street to find more authentic,
home-grown places.
CAFÉS
Ì
Artisan Roast
57 Broughton St
T
07526 236 615,
W
artisanroast.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
If you're into the
black stuff, this is the must-visit coffee shop in Edinburgh. A
narrow, grungy shop lined with hessian, they roast on site,
make coffee with skill and care, and delight in taking pops
at mainstream coffee culture. Perch on a stool in the main
shop or shu
e through to cushioned benches in “The
Mooch”.
Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun
10am-8pm.
Eteaket
41a Frederick St
T
0131 226 2982,
W
eteaket
.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
The best of the tea boutiques in
the city centre, with a restrained but contemporary decor
scheme and tables outside. There's an extensive menu of
good-quality loose-leaf teas (mostly £2.60 a cup) and
some decent nibbles alongside including the essential tea
loaf for £2.75. You'll be given an egg timer to advise the
optimum time
to
remove your strainer.
Mon-Sat
9am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm.
Ì
Valvona & Crolla
19 Elm Row, Leith Walk
T
0131
556 6066,
W
valvonacrolla.com; map pp.60-61.
The
café at the back of what is arguably Britain's finest Italian
