Edinburgh is best known for its majestic castle and holding the world's biggest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, every August. But in recent years, Scotland's capital has also become home to one of the UK's best restaurant cultures. From traditional Vietnamese pho to eclectic Californian cuisine - and, of course, good old Scottish haggis, neeps and tatties - the city offers its visitors and residents a huge variety of eateries. But with such a vast range to choose from, it can be hard to know where to go to find a great meal in Edinburgh. Read on for some handy hints and tips on navigating Edinburgh's dining scene.
The first stop for most visitors in Edinburgh is its Old Town. It's here that you'll find some of the city's major sights: Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament. There are some great restaurants to be found in the Old Town, but unsurprisingly prices can be high and quality variable as a result of its popularity with tourists. There are some gems though: the Albanach pub and Deacon Brodies Tavern are great stops for traditional Scottish dishes. And the Elephant House cafe on George IV Bridge is an essential eatery for Harry Potter fans, as it's where JK Rowling wrote the first book in the series.
A 10 minute walk from the Royal Mile, you'll find the city's vibrant Southside. The heart of Edinburgh's university community, this is the place to go for affordable, hearty meals in the city. You'll find great Middle Eastern food here, from simple falafel sandwiches to specialist Sudanese dishes. It's also home to some of the city's best Asian restaurants, and you'll get delicious Chinese food, delectable curries and even mouth-watering Malaysian dishes in this diverse part of town.
One of Edinburgh's newest but most exciting destinations for food is its historic port of Leith. In recent years, Leith has been redeveloped from a deprived area of the city to a stylish, inviting part of town. You'll find some of Edinburgh's best seafood restaurants here, such as the centuries-old King's Wark pub and The Ship, an attractive gastro pub that specialises in a range of fish and shellfish dishes. And if you're looking for Edinburgh restaurants with Michelin stars, Leith is the place to find them. Martin Wishart, The Kitchin and The Plumed Horse are all located in the area and have been delighting fine diners for several years. And for 21212, head back up to the top of Leith Walk and ascend the slope of Royal Terrace, one of Edinburgh's most beautiful streets, to find this Michelin starred newcomer in Edinburgh.
Bruce Giles writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
