Mentioned by DesignMyNight
Quirky Restaurants in Edinburgh
"We didn’t know much about Scottish cuisine, except for Haggis and whisky we couldn’t actually think of anything specific. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the plethora of vegetarian and vegan dining options Edinburgh has to offer!. It must be one of the most vegetarian/vegan friendly cities we’ve come across during our travels so far."
"Hula do an aaaamazing range of juices which as a juice bar you would probably expect. Although not totally vegan, still worth a shoutout on this list though as they did have some delicious and healthy vegan food on offer!. Think smoothie bowls, avocado and toast and sandwiches."
"Get your brunch fix at Hula Juice Bar in Grassmarket, which serves up smoothie bowls, sourdough sandwiches and colourful salads to Edinburgh’s health foodies."
"What: With two locations in the city, Loudon’s is a firm favourite amongst Edinburgh’s foodies. The restaurant serves a wide-ranging breakfast menu which features everything from poached eggs and avocado on homemade raisin soda bread, to American-style pancakes layered with bacon and baked banana, and drizzled with maple syrup. There are vegan options too, including a vegan take on eggs Benedict, all served alongside tea, coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.Where: 94B Fountainbridge, EH3 9QA; 2 Sibbald Walk, New Waverley, EH8 8FT"
"Loudons represents the perfect place to take your parents, with garden centre vibes (in the best way), it is the ideal backdrop for lying to your folks that the reason you’re tired is from an all nighter in the library, not because of the eight vodka cranberries you had at the club last night."
"What: Open for breakfast (and brunch) seven days a week, Urban Angel is a popular spot to start your day. The menu sticks to the classics, so that means you can expect to see the likes of French toast topped with bacon and maple syrup, avocado on sourdough toast, and organic porridge with plum compote, yoghurt and seed crumble. On the drinks side of things, we’d recommend trying Urban Angel’s Super Mango smoothie which blends spinach, mango, coconut water and spirulina.Where: 121 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ"
"If you’re looking for brunch in the New Town, Urban Angel is a great place to try, with the menu available every day until closing time at 5pm. You can access it easily from the city centre, where it is located just off Princes Street, and it’s considered one of the best brunch places in the New Town. Having been open for 15 years, you can be sure that Urban Angel will provide you with an excellent meal, and they place strong emphasis on carefully sourcing their ingredients."
"The aim at Urban Angel is to provide the people of Edinburgh with seasonal, organic, local produce. They offer a range of sit-in or take away options and they have a tasty brunch menu. You can opt for healthy, with porridge or muesli, or you can get a decent fry up."
"For brunch at any time of day, while you roam the many streets of the Old Town, head to The City Cafe. This fun, vibrant, American style diner will provide you with delicious food all day long, and you can head back again in the evenings if you feel like getting a few drinks. You can find all the classics on their brunch menu, whether you want sweet or savoury, and you’ll find Scottish ingredients, like haggis, alongside American classics, such as pancake stacks or poached eggs and hollandaise."
"Be transported to another time with City Cafe's diner setting and huge fluffy pancake stacks. A local favourite since 1980, you can find the portal to 1920s America on Blair St. Sit next to the jukebox and go for a classic bacon and syrup combo (teamed with an ice-cream shake of course) for the ultimate quintessential American experience."
"Step into your dream, cheesy, American teen drama (*cough* Riverdale *cough*) in Edinburgh’s very own traditional late night diner just along from your Cowgate favourites such as Subway and Sneaky Pete’s. A blissful combination. Truly the platonic ideal for a stack of pancakes, sometimes simple really is the best."
"Disclaimer: My meal at Loudons New Waverley was a gifted experience. All opinions are my own. Loudons runs two cafes in Edinburgh – the original on Fountainbridge, and a new spacious location at New Waverley, a development project with living space, hotels, shops and restaurants just off the Royal Mile."
"(Score: 90%, address: 102 Constitution St, Edinburgh EH6 6AW). There was always going to be at least one steakhouse on this list and in Leith's Chophouse, which opened its doors on Constitution Street in 2015, Gaby Soutar found her winner. Offering up to 90 day dry-aged cuts of British beef, Gaby described the rib-eye as a cross-hatched beauty that was "almost as soft as fillet” as well as praising the seafood dishes like the monkfish scampi and lobster bisque."
"Leith Chop House is a stylish restaurant in Leith which above all sets out to be the capital's best steakhouse. The interior is chic but relaxed with some lovely design features, such as the large glass dividers offering a view of the open grill. The menu is packed with delicious carnivorous offerings, but also manages to do enough to welcome lovers of seafood and vegetarians."
"Also dating back to the 1800s, Old St Paul’s has since been renovated multiple times – the nave extended and the chancel floor raised with marble. Nearly all of the many panes of stained glass, ornaments and vestments were made possible by fundraising or donations. Unusually, the gargoyles at Old St Paul’s are located inside, not on the exterior of the church as is common on buildings of this period."
"Many years may have passed since Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code and the subsequent film came out, but floods of visitors still descend on Scotland's most beautiful and enigmatic church – Rosslyn Chapel. Built in the mid-15th century for Sir William St Clair, third prince of Orkney, its ornately carved interior – at odds with the architectural fashion of its time – is a monument to the mason's art, rich in symbolic imagery. Hourly talks by qualified guides are included with admission."
"On Day 2, venture outside of the capital to see some of Scotland’s other historic sites, such as Rosslyn Chapel (a fifteenth-century chapel that is also one of the settings in The Da Vinci Code). Overnight in Edinburgh."
"Address: East London Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4BL, Scotland, UK Mansfield Place Church is to be found within the New Town area, standing close to the bus depot and the King George V Park. Built in 1872 by Robert Rowand Anderson, this old church has had many uses over the years and once even functioned as a nightclub. Today, it is owned by the Mansfield Traquair Trust, a conservation group who have actively restored the building over a number of years."
"This sophisticated restaurant in Edinburgh’s West End is warm and atmospheric. Go at lunchtime for the two-course lunch menu, or order from the à la carte menu at dinner. Start off with a kir royale to sip on as you peruse the menu, which is chock-full of seasonal seafood and fresh ingredients, and then move on to a bottle of Beaujolais."
"This friendly and casual bistro in New Town serves up French classics like coq au vin and escargots, as well as fun, modern delights such as the ‘macaroni cheese with ‘un twist’. Accompany your meal with a French wine from the extensive wine list, or stay true to Scottish roots with a Caledonian ale."
"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. Jules remember that Mother’s Day is coming!. We are getting ready to make all mums feel special and happy!"
"It seems that every new restaurant promises neighbourhood appeal, seasonal produce and locally sourced foods. Bia Bistrot is no different, except it really delivers. Husband-and-wife team Matthias and Roisin Llorente oversee a regularly changing menu, including venison carpaccio, glazed pork belly and a range of perfectly cooked fish."
"This couple run restaurant fuses French bistro food with an Irish influence to produce fresh, responsibly sourced, and seasonal dishes like hake with purple laver crust and samphire and homemade ice cream for dessert. Enjoy 2 courses from the daily changing set menu for £9.50 or 3 for £11."
"Bia Bistot is a couple-run neighbourhood restaurant focusing on fresh, seasonal, local and sustainable produce. Order a restaurant quality meal to be enjoyed at home from a weekly menu of dishes including slow braised pork cheeks, butternut squash risotto and ginger cake."