Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
value pre- and post-theatre deals.
Castle Terrace
33-35 Castle Terrace
T
0131 229 1222,
W
castleterracerestaurant.com; map pp.60-61.
With its
first Michelin star recently bagged, this sister restaurant to
the highly successful
The
Kitchin
, brings high-level French
cooking to bear on excellent Scottish produce. Chef-patron
Dominic Jack's philosophy is “nature to plate” but clearly
there's some magic in between. If your budget will stretch,
head straight for the £65 or £75 tasting menus, otherwise
try the three-course lunch at £26.50.
Tues-Sat noon-
2pm & 6.30-10pm.
Ì
Timberyard
10 Cambridge St
T
0131 221 1222,
W
timberyard.co; map pp.60-61.
This swanky yet
somehow rustic old workshop makes for a genial
atmosphere with its shared, candlelit benches indoors and
sunny courtyard garden. The food focuses on high-quality
Scottish produce, some of it sourced from the nearby
farmers' market. Pre-theatre lunch menus are £14 while à
la carte mains start at £11.50.
Tues-Sat noon-1.30pm &
5.30-9.30pm; bar stays open until 1am.
STOCKBRIDGE AND AROUND
On the northern fringe of the New Town, Stockbridge is home
to many of the city's young professionals and consequently
has more than its fair share of fine cafés and restaurants.
CAFÉS
The Gateway Restaurant/Terrace Café
Royal
Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place
T
0131 552 2674;
map pp.56-57.
At the West Gate of the Botanics, the new
John Hope Gateway Centre has tables and a terrace
overlooking the gardens on its upper floor, serving cream
tea for £6 as well as full breakfasts and lunches. A few
hundred yards beyond, the busy
Terrace Café
serves coffees,
snacks and less formal lunches, with lots of outdoor tables
and kid-friendly options.
Daily: March-Sept 10am-6pm;
Feb & Oct 10am-5pm; Nov-Jan 10am-4pm.
Ì
Peter's Yard
3 Deanhaugh St
T
0131 332 2901,
W
petersyard.com; map pp.60-61.
Another side to the
Continental baking scene, this time a Swedish sourdough
outfit with the bread ovens on view and baskets of
delicious, crusty loaves out front. They also sell delicate
cardamom pastries to go with their satisfyingly nutty
coffees for around £5, while most popular around
mealtimes is the vibrant sourdough pizza at £10.
Mon-Fri
8am-9pm, Sat & Sun 9am-9pm.
SOUTHSIDE
As the student quarter of the city, the Southside boasts
plenty of good-value eating, but it's also an area where
more progressive and interesting restaurants can establish
themselves on the fringe of the more expensive city centre.
RESTAURANTS
Purslane
33a St Stephen St
T
0131 226 3500,
W
purslanerestaurant.co.uk; map pp.60-61.
Edinburgh's
smallest restaurant punches well above its weight when it
comes to dishing out high-end nosh -
Purslane
's offerings are
intricate and beautiful to look at, fresh and fragrant to
consume. Elements of classic French and Basque cooking are
evident on the menu, like the piperade with fennel, but it gets
a modern delivery. Three courses for under £26 is not bad
value.
Tues-Sun noon-2pm & 6.30-11.30pm.
Ì
The Stockbridge Restaurant
54 St Stephen St
T
0131 226 6766,
W
thestockbridgerestaurant.co.uk;
map pp.60-61.
It's hard to believe swanky St Stephen's St
used to be one of Edinburgh's worst slums. This basement
restaurant sums up how far things have come with its fine
linen, silverware and fancy platters, while the blackened
stone walls and candlelit hearth give it a slightly bohemian
atmosphere. Save for one veggie option, it's meat, game
and fish all the way but the quality is exceptional and
affordable; set menus begin at £20.
Tues-Sat 7-9.30pm,
Sun 7-9pm.
CAFÉS
Falko Konditorei
185 Bruntsfield Place
T
0131 656
0763,
W
falko.co.uk; map pp.56-57.
German master-
baker Falko Burkert has brought a new level of continental
sophistication to Edinburgh's café scene with his superb
plunderstück
- German version of a Danish pastry - and
chewy mini-brioche, both £1.70.
Wed-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat
8.30am-6pm, Sun 9.30am-6pm.
Ì
Peter's Yard
27 Simpson Loan, Southside
T
0131
228 5876,
W
petersyard.com map pp.60-61.
Southside
branch of the popular independent café-bakery,
specializing in Scandinavian cakes and sourdough breads
all baked to perfection in house.
Mon-Fri 7.30am-7pm,
Sat & Sun 9am-7pm.
RESTAURANTS
The Apartment Bistro
7-13 Barclay Place, Bruntsfield
T
0131 228 6456,
W
apartmentrestaurant.com; map
pp.60-61.
The hippest place for miles when it opened in
1999, a recent makeover under the same ownership has
seen it revitalized as a sultry, Parisian-style brasserie with
hearty cooking, good wines and plenty of stylish
sophistication. From lunch to pre-theatre you'll be paying
about £10 for two courses, but double that after 7pm.
Daily
noon-10pm.
Hanedan
41 West Preston St
T
0131 667 4242,
W
hanedan.co.uk; map pp.56-57.
Not the roomiest of
LOTHIAN ROAD & TOLCROSS
While Lothian Road, running between Princes St and
Tolcross just west of the Old Town, has a shabbier side,
particularly around its various late-night bars and clubs,
this is Edinburgh's theatre district, with a decent selection
of sophisticated, lively places to eat and drink, and good
