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Boutique hotels

Edinburgh Eating, drinking and dancing

Restaurants

+44 (0)131 523 1030

21212

This Smith-approved restaurant with rooms takes its name from its menu structure (three courses where you get two choices, two where you get one). The chefs get to work behind a perspex screen, whipping up deconstructed dishes with a different taste per mouthful; the lamb curry consists of braised flank, kebab and Merquez sausage, with banana and cucumber confit, currants and peanuts, celeriac and sticky rice coleslaw, basil leaves, saffron, and yoghurt and onion soubise sauce. You know what they say about variety. Why not go the whole hog, and bed down here, post-feasting?

3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5AB

+44 (0)131 225 1550

Centotre

Housed in a beautifully bright, high-ceilinged old bank, this modern Italian restaurant celebrates good food made with the simplest of ingredients, either grown locally or sourced from Italy.

103 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES

(+44 (0)131 220 4447)

Creelers Seafood Restaurant

Fresh seafood and fish that has been through the owners’ own smokehouse on the Isle of Arran. Location-wise, it’s just off the Royal Mile and couldn’t be more central.

3 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW

(+44 (0)131 556 5888)

David Bann's Vegetarian Restaurant

A stylish and innovative meat-free restaurant that manages to be both a mung bean-free zone and a shrine to chic, Scandinavian design.

56–58 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SX

(+44 (0)131 624 8624)

Dome

Formerly HQ of the Commercial Bank of Scotland, this restaurant on George Street serves traditional lunch and Modern Scottish dinner in a very impressive interior. The titular cupola in the rear room overlooks a central circular bar: the Thirties cocktail bar on one side is loud and lively, with a lighter lunch menu on offer during the day; the restaurant, on the other, is more refined and elegant.

14 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PF

(+44 (0)131 225 5109)

Fishers in the City

Spin-off restaurant from the celebrated Fishers Bistro in Leith. Naturally, the emphasis is on fish and seafood – signature dishes include freshly caught seabass stuffed with chorizo, mozzarella and herbs, and, when in season, poached Lindisfarne oysters. Decor is smartish, the atmosphere lively (www.fishersbistros.co.uk).

58 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1EN

(+44 (0)131 476 5333)

Iglu

Award-winning gastropub where the food is organic, local, eco or ethical. The highlight of the extensive drinks menu is a vodka made with Scottish raspberries.

2b Jamaica Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HH

(+44 (0)131 557 9899)

Nine Cellars

A champion of true Southern Indian cuisine. Don’t miss this delightful restaurant and bar run by PC Thakur, winner of the 2007 International Indian Chef of the Year competition – just don’t go asking for naan bread or balti…

1–3 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EB

(+44 (0)131 226 7614)

Oloroso

Insist on a window seat at this rooftop restaurant that’s a dining room, terrace and contemporary lounge bar all rolled into one. Gourmet Mediterranean food is served à la carte, there’s a curry of the day in the bar, and it has a fantastic selection of sherries, too.

33 Castle Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DN

(+44 (0)131 553 3557)

Restaurant Martin Wishart

Much-lauded Michelin-starrer in Leith that showcases the best of Scottish seafood, game and beef. It works its line in contemporary and classic French cuisine to perfection.

54 the Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RA

(+44 (0)131 225 1333)

Rhubarb

Split into two richly glamorous dining rooms, the flamboyant restaurant at boutique manor house Prestonfield piles on the decadence. Compared to the Jacobean-inspired decor – a pink fit of brocade, tassels and deer antlers – the unfussy food looks almost traditional.

Prestonfield, Priestfield Road, Edinburgh EH16 5UT

(+44 (0)131 622 7800)

Rick’s

By day, fuel up on light brasserie-menu bites, a plate of oysters, or the full contemporary-cuisine kit and caboodle. By night, this stylish place is a venue worth dressing up for – Rick's super mixologists shake up award-winning martinis.

55a Frederick Street, Edinburgh EH2 1LH

(+44 (0)131 555 1755)

The Kitchin

The chef helming this Leith waterfront favourite is the youngest in Scotland to be awarded a Michelin star. Clearly, good things happen when seasonal ingredients – hand-dived Orkney scallops, net-caught River Esk salmon – meet classic French methods.

78 Commercial Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6LX

(+44 (0)131 226 2781)

The Villager

With its comfy leather sofas, chic chandeliers and beer-battered haddock on the menu, this smart lounge bar and gastropub is a great laid-back option for lunch, dinner or a quick pint. Twinned with the nearby Dragonfly bar.

49–50 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1E1

(+44 (0)131 225 5613)

The Witchery

For an ultra-romantic evening, dinner at this candelit spot by the Castle is second to none. Except, in truth, it’s two restaurants in one – the Secret Garden snuggery has windows onto the terrace and offers luxe, up-close-and-personal dining; the Witchery restaurant is wood-panelled and candlelit. Both serve exceptional contemporary Scottish cuisine.

352 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NF

Bars

(+44 (0)131 226 6343)

Bramble

Very cool, gritty basement bar with carefully selected live DJs that closes when the last person leaves (about 3am most nights). An absolute must. Check their website for the music line-up (www.bramblebar.co.uk).

16A Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE

(+44 (0)131 225 9179)

Candy Bar

Get dolled up for a night at this unapologetically populist New Town bar. There’s a wide-ranging bar food menu – from chicken strips to crostini – to help soak up the similarly encyclopaedic cocktail menu.

113–115 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4JN

(+44 (0)131 228 4543)

Dragonfly

A favourite with professionals and posh students, this place classes itself as a cocktail bar but is so much more. Rock-star decor with chandeliers and sexy black walls. Dragonfly hosts live bands and always has a good tune playing.

52 West Port, Edinburgh EH1 2LD

(+44 (0)131 226 2275)

Opal Lounge

One of Edinburgh’s most talked-about destinations: 8,000 square feet of after-dark revelry, with candlelit leather-clad corners, where you’ll hear sweet and soulful music on chilled nights and upbeat party tunes at the weekend. Asian-influenced eats and a 3am licence.

51a George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2HT

(+44 (0)131 558 7604)

The Bongo Club

Multi-arts centre with party nights, live showcases, comedy and guest DJs playing it for the leftfield.

37 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8BA

(+44 (0)131 225 5005)

Tigerlily

You want chic cocktails, cutting-edge interior design and disco attitude, all tucked away inside a Georgian townhouse? You got it. This smart hangout also has an excellent restaurant and its own club, Lulu.

125 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4JN

(+44 (0)131 225 7224)

Whiski Rooms

The Mound is the ideal rendezvous for a swig of Scotch on any night. There is a specialist whisky shop attached with one of the finest ranges of the liquid gold in the land, and the bistro serves some elegant plates. It’s also the only Ardbeg Embassy in the UK, and at 6pm they do tastings.

4–7 North Bank Street, EH1 2LP

Cafés

(+44 (0)131 225 6267)

Café Florentin

Rich coffee, gooey cakes and all things French-flavoured. Diet another day.

8–10 St Giles Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PT

(+44 (0)131 556 2414)

Palm Court

For those times when nothing but a ‘refined’ afternoon tea – taken while enjoying the strains of a live harpist – will do.

The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ

+44 (0)131 228 5876

Peter’s Yard

Come to this fragrant Swedish bakery for memorable cake, coffee and pizza. You can also take home some delicious crispbreads to pair with dips and cheese or to just crunch on solo. Delicious.

Quartermile, 27 Simpsons Loan, Edinburgh, EH3 9GG

(+44 (0)131 225 6215)

Urban Angel

For organic haggis, clapshot mash and leek cream, head to this deli-café, an emphasis-on-food haven with a distinct Nordic feel. Every ingredient used has upstanding eco credentials, being either locally sourced or Fairtrade. You’ll have to queue, but it’s worth it. They’ll also prepare picnics on request.

121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DJ

(+44 (0)131 556 6066)

Valvona & Crolla

Edinburgh’s pre-eminent deli was opened in the 1930s by Italian immigrants. Nowadays, Scotland's oldest deli, wine merchant and fine food emporiium keeps the city’s gastronauts smiling with cooked-to-order pasta lunches and crumbly lemon cake in its its Caffè Bar. Go, and be transported to heaven on the scent of hams and dried herbs... (www.valvonacrolla.co.uk).

19 Elm Row, Edinburgh EH7 4AA

(+44 (0)131 557 0088)

VinCaffè

An offshoot of iconic Valvona & Crolla deli and café opened in honour of its 70th anniversary, this is a wine bar, cafe and retail outlet, all rolled into a sinful, delicious one. The perfect place to rest your feet with a tall skinny latte after a designer shopping spree.

11 Multrees Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ

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