Dishoom | https://www.dishoom.com/edinburgh/
3a St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2BD
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00~24:00 / Saturday – Sunday 9:00~24:00
Dishoom is a lovely place with a great ambiance and knowledgeable staff. The menu is centred around dishes from Mumbai, and all the flavours are exquisite. Rest assured there’s something for everyone. The portion sizes are great, both for sharing and enjoying individually. You can even enjoy a full Scottish breakfast style fry up but with an Indian twist. “The Big Bombay” is Dishoom’s take on a Scottish fry up, a must for any gourmet. For £12.50 your plate will be laden with abundant akuri (spicy scrambled egg), char-striped smoked streaky bacon from Ramsay of Carluke, peppery Shropshire pork sausages, masala beans, grilled field mushrooms, grilled tomato and buttered, home-made buns. Such a great selection of foods for a reasonable price where you can enjoy a filling fry up with an Indian twist. The delicious food, great service and friendly staff make the dining experience so enjoyable. As an aside, I would certainly recommend trying the Pau Bhaji for £5.70 and the House Daal for £6.90. Both incredibly tasty!
Dusit | https://www.dusit.co.uk/
49a Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 12pm~15:00 / 17:00~22:00
Saturday – Sunday 12pm~22:00
At Dusit you can enjoy modern and innovative Thai cuisine using local Scottish produce in a beautiful setting. Arguably the best service I have ever received in a restaurant, so attentive and friendly. Very accommodating and they made sure we were all looked after with vegan and gluten free options. Your glass is never left empty. The food is excellent with generous portions. The “Pretty Duck” starter/appetiser was absolutely divine. Would highly recommend. Char-grilled duck, fresh mango, cashew nuts and red onion, dressed with sweet chilli sauce for £8.50. One of the best starters I’ve tasted anywhere in a while. The “Pad Kra Prao Look-Kae” main for £16.50 is also another top pick! Slow cooked lamb shank stir-fried with Thai holy basil, garlic and chilli, packed with flavour, and will leave you feeling full. Definitely a must for lovers of Thai food and anyone looking for an amazing dining experience.
Hawksmoor | https://thehawksmoor.com/locations/edinburgh/
23 W Register St, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Lunch | Friday – Saturday 12pm~15:00 / Sunday 12pm~16:30
Dinner | Wednesday – Sunday 17:00~21:00
The restaurant itself is stunning and situated in an enviable location near the trendy St Andrews Square. The menu is indeed extensive with an impressive choice of starters, sides, main courses and of course, the main event, the Hawksmoor steaks! The 275g fillet steak at £34 cooked medium rare was just perfection and melted in my mouth. Definitely one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. It certainly is a more high-end steak restaurant, but a lovely treat. The dripping fries they offer as a side are THE best and a must try! There’s also nothing quite like the old spot belly ribs starter which would be another top recommendation of mine. The staff are lovely and knowledgeable, and the food is served quickly. There is a great atmosphere and would be in my top picks for a luxurious meal out in Edinburgh.
Contini George Street | https://www.contini.com/contini-george-street
103 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES
Opening Hours: Breakfast | Monday – Saturday 10:00~11:30 / Closed on Sunday
Lunch | Monday – Saturday 12pm~15:00
Dinner | Monday – Friday 17:30~21:00 / Saturday 17:00~21:00 / Sunday 17:00~20:00
Amazing food, drink and service. Beautiful interior with efficient and caring staff. The food arrived relatively promptly and was delicious. Their menu changes regularly to reflect seasonal availability and certain specials may only feature for a few days. Rest assured you will enjoy a completely new dining experience if you opt to pay multiple visits! The Prosciutto di Parma DOP with super sweet Italian melon starter I had for £12 was admittedly rather pricey but incredible. Any pasta you get at Contini is sublime but my personal favourite is the “Ravioli Con Granchio”, which is homemade fresh East Coast crab and ricotta ravioli with a light Amalfi lemon, butter, courgette, dill and chilli for £22. They had so many mouth-watering options for desserts when I visited, including Tiramisu, Panna Cotta and a 70% cocoa torta, each for £7. I decided on the Panna Cotta which was just incredible! Would recommend paying a visit to enjoy some lovely traditional Italian cuisine in an aesthetic setting.
Holy Cow | https://holycow.cafe/
34 Elder Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3DX
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10:00~22:00
The food here is excellent and better than a lot of other vegan restaurants I have been to. The flavour, presentation, value for money and setting are all wonderful and add so much to your experience. Being able to enjoy a full vegan menu, made from scratch in the centre of Edinburgh at reasonable prices is certainly a treat. The staff are welcoming and service is great. I tried the Vietnamese tofu burger with lettuce, hoisin marinated tofu, cucumber, asian style coleslaw and sriracha mayo for £13 which was divine. Would strongly recommend. They also offer a large variety of yummy vegan cakes that are all incredible. You can get a chocolate and orange cake, banoffee pie or carrot cake, each for £4.50. Holy Cow also offers a takeaway service which is lovely as you can enjoy the delicious food from the comfort of your own home.
Cafe St Honoré | https://www.cafesthonore.com/
34 North West Thistle Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH2 1EA
Opening Hours: Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Lunch | Thursday – Monday 12pm~14:00 (last booking)
Dinner | Thursday – Monday 17:00~21:30 (last booking)
A great little French bistro. The menu is small and uses seasonal ingredients. The food is very tasty with lovely, friendly staff. You’re also able to order takeaway from their Cafe at Home menu. Everything is freshly made and delicious. The service and food are both superb. The wine list is concise but there are quite a few 250ml glass options which suited our menu choices. The menu is short-changing which means you could visit on multiple occasions and enjoy a completely different meal each time. On my visit I had the “Cafe St Honoré Pork & Sage Terrine” starter with red onion jam, cornichons and croutons for £12.50 which I really enjoyed. Definitely not the cheapest restaurant in New Town, but a nice place to visit for a fancier meal out on a special occasion, perhaps.