Mentioned by Culture Trip
The Best Restaurants in Edinburgh
"This noodle bar invites you to tailor your order based on a selection of ho fun, ramen, udon, egg or rice noodles, then add duck, vegetables, tofu, pork, chicken or beef. Throw in three bits of colour and roughage, customise things with options of chilli, spring onion or coriander, and finally pick from one of ten sauces. One of these paper Chinese takeaway boxes filled to the brim will set you back an overdraft-friendly £5.60."
"Close to the University of Edinburgh is budget Chinese fast food restaurant Red Box. Here, you can grab a noodle or rice box with your choice of meat, 3 vegetables and sauce for just £6.90. For an extra 50p you can choose to have a mixed meat box if you just can't decide which to go for."
"Build-your-own meal is the order of the day at this popular noodle bar. You choose everything from the kind of noodle (egg, rice, ramen etc) to the meat, vegetables and sauce in the mix – which, even if you’re picky, makes it rather hard to go wrong!"
"Dusit provides a modern take on traditional Thai cuisine using local produce combined with exotic spices imported from Thailand. Many dishes have been given whimsical nicknames, such as "run-away fish" for the Thai staple Tod Mun Pla (fishcake) and "lovely lady" for teriyaki prawns, but there is no doubt that the chefs take their jobs very seriously, as they consistently serve food of the highest quality. The decor is minimalist with crisp white linen complimenting black wooden tables and some beautifully understated Thai art, including a wonderfully serene Buddha."
"Very different from Ting Thai Caravan, Dusit is a more formal Thai restaurant. They serve dishes with beautifully crafted vegetable flowers and have a more fine dining style of service. The food is absolutely fantastic, with a very diverse menu of delights."
"Chizuru Tei is popular for its delicious selection of bento boxes to carry out. You can also eat in at their friendly and welcoming Haymarket restaurant. Either way, you'll fine some fresh and tasty sushi here."
"Indian food can be such a delight, and Mumbai Mansion is an excellent place for your BFF date; with its exquisite décor and unique selection of curries it will not disappoint. This is the ideal restaurant, as they have the traditional Indian cuisine and additionally this place serves yummy cocktails, so you and your BFF can ponder over the selection. So, get ready to post your order on Instagram and make others jealous."
"The Cauldron is a 1 hr 45 min immersive class where you wield a working magic wand and use molecular mixology to brew drinkable, fantastical elixirs. After donning a robe and receiving a magic wand, you are led to an interactive work station where you learn spellcasting 101 by pouring a welcome drink of either beer, cocktail, or mocktail. You then follow instructions to brew two of our molecular potions that change colour, bubble, and smoke."
"57a Frederick Street, Edinburgh EH2 1LH (Tel: 0131 466 1973). The Cauldron is a 1 hr 45 min immersive class where you wield a working magic wand and use molecular mixology to brew drinkable, fantastical elixirs. After donning a robe and receiving a magic wand, you are led to an interactive work station where you learn spellcasting 101 by pouring a welcome drink of either beer, cocktail, or mocktail."
"We're big fans of The Cauldron, the wizarding-themed bar which opened in the New Town this year. Harry Potter fans will feel as if they're at a boozy Hogwarts leaving do in their immersive cocktail experiences. Visitors to this unique bar don robes and wave wands as they create magical colour-changing drinks."
"In cute café-peppered Stockbridge, Merienda is a chic little joint (white tables, green tiles, wooden floors) where you design your own tasting menu from ‘farms and pastures’, ‘rivers and seas’ and ‘fields and gardens’. Mediterranean-inspired but made with Scottish ingredients, dishes include sea bass ceviche with beets, lemon sauce and cucumber or roast salmon gravalax with black garlic and dill emulsion."
"Stroll the cobbled streets of North West Circus Place and you’ll come across Mediterranean-inspired eatery Merienda. Part of the ethos of the restaurant (pre-lockdown that is) was communal dining: the ability to pick and choose small plates to share. This allowed you to try a few things on the menu rather than one main meal, in a sense creating your own tasting menu."
"Owned by a group that runs several Edinburgh pubs, the Red Squirrel is at the bottom end of Lothian Road and it combines a well-stocked bar with cheap, tasty pub grub. You'll find standard Scottish options on tap alongside some more exotic options. You can get a breakfast, late into the afternoon, and choose from a wide range of burgers featuring haggis, venison, pork and chorizo."
"The smallest and friendliest pub in Perth offers great entertainment every week (open-mic Thursdays from 9pm, live-music Saturdays from 9pm), fine ales from several nearby breweries, and local gins and whiskies."
"Average spend: £10 lunchtime deal of chef’s selection tapas for two, 12.30-5pm daily Tapa plates around £5 each individually. Whatta bargain – get six tapas dishes, bread and salad to share between two for just £10 every lunchtime. Tapa staples include griddled chorizo with tomato salsa, Iberico ham, squid with aioli and aubergine crisps drizzled with honey."
"Out of all Edinburgh's restaurants, Tapa lures me through its doors most often. The attraction is the fun and authentic Spanish tapas coupled with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Load up on patatas bravas, meatballs and the most perfect tortilla you will ever eat."
"The castle sits on a rocky promontory overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. Similar to the ruined Cathedral which stands a few hundred metres away, St Andrews Castle dates back to the mid-12th century. One of the most historic and scenically beautiful castles in Scotland, St Andrews Castle was first fortified around 1100."
"On a headland to the north of St Andrews stand the ruins of the town’s castle, the main residence of the bishops and archbishops of St Andrews – the focal point of the Church in medieval Scotland. Today, explore the underground 16th-century siege mine…"
"Dating in part from the 13th century the castle is the ruins of the castle of the archbishops of St Andrews. The visitor centre has a very good exhibition of the history of the town and the underground 16th-century siege tunnels are well worth a look."
"Aimed at children under five, this play cafe offers a fun, stimulating environment for little ones and friendly, relaxed atmosphere for parents. The cafe is the brainchild of a busy mum who knows all too well how stressful a simple cup of coffee can be when you have a lively youngster!. The large, bright play area space and fantastic selection of traditional toys will leave you safe in the knowledge your child is happy, so you can truly relax with free wifi and coffee on tap."