Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
deli serves authentic Italian pizzas for around £10 as well as
delicious pastries, breakfasts and expensive à la carte
meals. The best advert for the café is the walk through the
shop - which has food stacked from floor to ceiling, with
display cabinets full of sublime olives, meats and cheeses.
Mon-Thurs 8.30am-5.30pm, Fri & Sat 8am-6pm, Sun
10.30am-3.30pm.
or the £17 herb-crusted lamb. The brasserie, with its
simpler risottos and grills, is less pricey but a little less
memorable.
Mon noon-3pm, Tues-Fri noon-3pm &
6-10pm, Sat & Sun noon-3.30pm & 6-10pm.
Ì
The Gardener's Cottage
1 Royal Terrace Gardens,
London Rd
T
0131 558 1221,
W
thegardenerscottage
.co; map pp.60-61.
In an achingly beautiful little cottage,
uniquely sited in a woodland setting, it's incredible to think
you're steps away from the city's beating heart. Dining is
intimate, in two small rooms with communal long tables,
while the open kitchen is stamp-sized. There's no choice,
just six breathtaking courses of Scottish design for a
bargain £30, featuring seasonal ingredients. Vegetarians
are catered for if advised on booking.
Thurs-Mon noon-
2.30pm & 5-10pm.
Ì
Henderson's
94 Hanover St
T
0131 225 2605,
W
hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
Over
the past fifty years Henderson's has evolved from a veggie
canteen into a gourmet institution and arts centre. At
street level there's a deli and bakery while the canteen
below still bashes out a superb feast of salads and hot
comfort food where you can fill up for around £8-10. In the
evening, things get more intimate as restaurant menus
take over and solo musicians play inoffensively in a corner.
Mon-Wed
1
RESTAURANTS
21212
3 Royal Terrace, Calton Hill
T
0845 222 1212,
W
21212restaurant.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
Perhaps
Edinburgh's most technically adventurous restaurant,
21212
picked up its first Michelin star within ten months of
opening and has no intention of giving it up. Choose from
two starters, one soup, two mains, one cheeseboard and
two desserts - and soon you realize where the name comes
from. Five courses start at £54, or you can opt for a two-
course lunch for just £20 midweek and feast on crab
followed by trout.
Tues-Sat noon-1.45pm & 7-9.30pm.
Centotre
103 George St
T
0131 225 1550
,
W
centotre
.com; map pp.60-61.
Slick but welcoming bar, café and
restaurant in an ornate former bank, offering unfussy, top-
quality Italian food, from fresh pastries and coffee to
interesting pizzas at a pricey £12 - all accompanied by a
seriously impressive drinks list. Arrive before 7pm to
benefit from the £16 three-course menu.
Mon-Sat
7.30am-midnight, Sun 10am-10pm.
Ì
Chaophraya
33 Castle St
T
0131 226 7614,
W
chaophraya.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
This Thai restaurant
is housed in Edinburgh's most glamorous, upmarket dining
space with a rooftop location that gives it the best views in
town. If you're lucky you'll get to sit in the “Glassbox”
looking north, south and west to Fife, the Castle, and
Corstorphine, as well as up to the sky. The menu is stunning
too, and pretty reasonably priced considering the location;
if you go veggie, there's a set meal for just £25. Otherwise
try the super-hot jungle fish curry for £15 or pass on the
food altogether a have a drink on the convivial roof terrace.
Mon-Sat 11am-10.30pm, Sun noon-10pm.
Dusit
49a Thistle St
T
0131 220 6846,
W
dusit.co.uk;
map pp.60-61.
Pairing bold Thai flavours with expensive
British delicacies like asparagus might be a grave error of
judgement but the overriding genius of this place is its
adventurous spirit; the use of whisky as spice in their grilled
pork tapas is inspired. More conventional Thai dishes are also
available, all harmoniously spiced. Mains hover around £9.
Mon-Sat noon-3pm & 6-11pm, Sun noon-11pm.
Forth Floor Harvey Nichols
30-34 St Andrew Square
T
0131 524 8350,
W
harveynichols.com; map pp.60-
61.
While the rooftop views don't quite match those of its
rival,
Chaophraya
(see above), there's a confidence to
Harvey Nicks
' approach which makes it a real contender
among the city's Scottish fine-dining options. Choices
might include roast John Dory with poached oyster at £23,
&
Sun
noon-8.30pm,
Thurs-Sat
noon-9.30pm.
L'Escargot Bleu
56 Broughton St
T
0131 557 1600,
W
lescargotbleu.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
A nice step on
from the rustic, no-frills French bistro that's still in evidence
across Edinburgh. Here classic French country cooking is
brought to bear on a range of locally sourced produce, from
rare-breed pigs to Trossachs pike. Even the liquor for
conventional dishes like coq au vin is sourced locally
making it coq à la bière. Two-course pre-theatre or lunch
menus cost £13.
Mon-Thurs noon-2.30pm & 5.30-
10pm, Fri & Sat noon-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm.
Mussel Inn
61-65 Rose St
T
0131 225 5979
W
mussel
-inn.com; map pp.64-65.
After feasting on a kilo of
mussels and a basket of chips for under £16 you'll realize
why there's a demand to get in here. Their close ties to
west-coast shellfish farmers help ensure that the journey
from sea to plate is short and swift. Check the website for
special deals.
Mon-Thurs noon-3pm & 5.30-10pm, Fri
& Sat noon-10pm, Sun 12.30-10pm.
Urban Angel
1 Forth St
T
0131 5566323; 121 Hanover
St
T
0131 225 6215; map pp.60-61;
W
urban-angel
.co.uk.
With two contemporary New Town branches you're
never far from the best eggs benedict in town. Served
as part of their all-day brunch menu you can also choose
from a variety of “little plate” options like artichoke
bruschetta or polenta bites from £4-£5 to temper your
appetite while more substantial meals arrive in the
evening.
Forth St Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-5pm;
Hanover St Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm.
