Best Fine Dining in Livingston

"Edinburgh native Martin Wishart has been cooking up a storm at his eponymous restaurant in Leith for the past 20 years and was awarded a Michelin star in 2001 – retaining it ever since. The classic French cuisine, served in a contemporary dining room, is mouth-watering perfection. Go the whole hog and plump for the eight-course tasting menu, which perfectly showcases Wishart’s skills, including exquisite dishes such as Black Angus beef, sliced pig’s trotter, squab pigeon and Calvados ganache."

"This multi award-winning restaurant is located in the historic port of Leith area of Edinburgh. Opened in 1999 by Martin Wishart, an award-winning chef and restaurateur, it was the very first restaurant in Edinburgh to receive a Michelin Star in 2001. With fresh flowers on tables and gentle glowing lighting, it certainly won’t disappoint with the romantic aspect."

"Maverick chef Paul Kitching’s 21212 opened in 2009 and has been winning accolades ever since, including one Michelin star. Situated in an elegant Georgian townhouse in Royal Terrace, the restaurant serves up cooking that’s contemporary French in style, but that description doesn’t begin to do justice to Kitching’s Willy Wonka-style ability to coax the most unlikely flavour combinations. In theory these should create merry mayhem – who would have thought that brandy snaps, black pudding and chicken could be transformed into a sublime dish?"

"The four bedrooms above this Michelin-starred restaurant are no afterthought; there is a confident hand at work in rooms that are as striking as the food, displaying a sometimes surprising but always sensual contemporary/Baroque style and unexpectedly leafy views. A low-key location for a high-octane operation. Chef Paul Kitching is a maverick; think silky pink trout served with artichokes, pasta, almonds, chickpeas, kidney beans, oriental mushrooms, warm coleslaw and feta cheese."

"What: Experimental chef Paul Kitching offers a choice of two starters, soup, two mains, cheese and two desserts – hence the 21212 moniker. The restrictive formula doesn’t mean there’s any limit to the chef’s ambition in the kitchen, however – or sense of humour. ‘Kidnapped in Scotland’ is a starter plate of the chef’s favourites while the soup might be ‘Rainy Allotment’ flavour."

"This is an intimate hidden contemporary-styled gem and recently awarded a Michelin Star, tucked away where the Old Town meets Southside. During the day, light pours into the airy whitewashed room from the large skylight. Condita has six tables and food is prepared for the number of diners booked in (no walk-ins allowed)."

"The very best of Scottish cooking is on the menu at James Thomson’s Rhubarb Restaurant in the sumptuous surroundings of Prestonfield Hotel. Diners can choose from an eclectic fare of hand-dived scallops, roast loin of Glemalmond Estate roe deer, Dornochi lamb and poached autumn fruits for a sweet finale. Priestfield Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5UT (Tel: 0131 225 1333)"

"Rhubarb is the decadent and romantic restaurant of the Prestonfield House Hotel. Nestling in the shadow of Arthur's seat, Prestonfield House is a beautiful seventeenth-century building. The restaurant is formed from two opulent oval rooms in the heart of the house, decorated with plush rich fabrics."

"Set in the splendid 17th-century Prestonfield hotel, Rhubarb is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The over-the-top decor of rich reds set off with black and gold and the sensuous surfaces that make..."

"Opened in 2009 with Head Chef Mattia Camorani at the helm, award-winning restaurant Cucina is the vibrant, bustling soul of Radisson Collection Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh located on the city’s historic Royal Mile. The restaurant offers fresh and authentic Italian dishes, perfectly matched to the season, all year round. The menus and atmosphere created at Cucina are based on the enjoyment of good food, genuine Italian hospitality and a concept of sharing with friends and family."

"Set in the thick of all the fun on George IV Bridge, Cucina is a firecracker of a restaurant. The hypnotic palette of colours of the fashion-forward furnishings are just as mesmerising as the impeccable menu. Thoughtful, perfectly constructed dishes play host to classic Italian recipes with contemporary flair, resulting in a gastronomic adventure."

"As its name suggests, Edinburgh Food Studio, located on a nondescript road a short cab ride from central Edinburgh, is the city's apex for gastronomes. Although it's a bona fide restaurant, EFS has the hum, chatter, and excitement of a pop-up. James Murray, the chef, and Ben Reade and Sashana Souza Zanella, the young, supremely knowledgable founders, sometimes appear to chat about ingredients and dishes."

"Far from the city centre throng, Edinburgh Food Studio is a tiny unassuming restaurant and ‘food research hub’ dishing up some of the most creative, nerdy and – fear not – delicious cuisine in the capital."

"Canongate, The Royal Mile, EH8 8DX (website) Open daily 9:30am-6pm (26 March to 31 October) and 9:30am-4.30pm (1 November to 25 March)Adult: £6.70, Over 60/Students £6.10, Under 17/Disabled: £3.40, unders 5's go free. If you like art but find conventional art galleries too big and daunting, then the Queen's Gallery is the answer, as it hosts small intimate exhibitions as part of the Royal Collection Trust. The building is a conversion of a former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School and features a beautiful teak and sycamore staircase."

"Situated at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, this gallery is one of 15 in the UK that houses the Royal Collection, the largest private art collection in the world. This is a fascinating record of the personal tastes of kings and queens over the past 500 years, comprising decorative arts, drawings, watercolours, paintings and photographs. Those that have made contributions to the collection over the years include Frederick Prince of Wales, George IV, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary."

"The Queen's Gallery, located in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, was opened by Her Majesty The Queen in November 2002 as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Now, it hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. A worthwhile stop on a visit to the Royal Mile."

"Linlithgow Palace: Used as a royal residence throughout the ages, Linlithgow Palace is located in a town of the same name and was one of the most important seats of the monarchy during the 15th and 16th-centuries. In fact, it was even the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots!"

"Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark was home to a social experiment at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Robert Owen…"

"The lunch menu at Bell’s Diner has barely changed in 40 years, but why change a winning formula?. This cute little diner on the corner of St Stephen Street has been serving up gourmet burgers long before the likes of Byron got in on the act. Its steaks are also excellent and come with a choice of five sauces (go for the garlic butter), while the large hot fudge sundae pancakes are legendary in these parts."