Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Arthur's Seat

"Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh|Courtesy of Restaurant Martin Wishart. The first of Edinburgh’s restaurants to be granted a hallowed Michelin star, Leith’s Restaurant Martin Wishart could take credit for turning what was once a forgotten corner of the city into one of its most exciting culinary scenes. The chef’s tasting menus are legendary – classic French cooking meets Scottish-caught lobsters and langoustines – and the elegant setting and crisp linen tablecloths in the pristine dining room add to the refined experience."

"This Leith restaurant retains its one star, with the guide commenting on how it has become an Edinburgh institution. Photo: Restaurant Martin Wishart"

"A little out of the city center, in fashionable Leith, is The Kitchin. Opened in 2006 by husband and wife team Tom Kitchin, chef, and Michaela Kitchin, hotelier, The Kitchin is a French/Scottish fusion restaurant, using French techniques on local produce. The pair are passionate about sustainability and sourcing local Scottish produce for their menus, and their passion shines through in their beautifully presented dishes."

"There was only going to be one winner on this list and Tom Kitchin's chic Michelin-starred eatery was the only one of our top restaurants to score higher than 90 per cent. Our premier critic Gaby Soutar reviewed the celebrity chef's eponymous eatery in 2015, waxing lyrical about everything from the decor to the desserts - which she described as "symphonies of tasty bits"."

"Based in Leith and run by famed chef Tim Kitchin, The Kitchin opened in 2006 and claimed its Michelin star in 2007. Although the restaurant could ride on the success of Tom Kitchin alone, the food steals the show for every diner. Simple, straightforward and unfussy dishes are presented on the menu and there are no unusual ingredients just for the sake of it."

"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."

"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."

"This one wasn’t recommended by anyone but we did drive past it and it looked great. It was our last day and didn’t have time to stop in but we did see a young family having a bite so it passed the family-friendly test. Not far from Waverly station, we were on the Hop on Hop off bus tour at the time."

"Cruz Bar is one of the most memorable gastro pubs in Edinburgh. It occupies a WWI minesweeper boat anchored in the heart of Leith's docklands at The Shore. There is a cozy and ambient dining area and bar inside the ship, but the on deck seating area really lifts Cruz above the competition."

"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."

"There are a number of buffet style Chinese restaurants in Edinburgh, but China Red is arguably the best. With an absolutely massive range of dishes, even the pickiest diner will find something to their taste, and their high tech buffet tables ensure the hot dishes remain hot and the chilled dishes nice and cool. The range includes all of the classics you would expect with numerous seafood and vegetarian offerings as well."

"China Red is a buffet restaurant, so slightly different to the other options featured on this list. And you don't have to spend too much time scrolling through reviews before finding one very satisfied customer who described the place as the "best Chinese buffet I've ever been to". They add: "I usually find buffet food all tastes quite bland and samey, but the chicken curry was so tasty and the noodles were amazing."

"Always fresh, delicious food with a variety so much bigger than any other Chinese buffet I've been to. Polite staff, funky entrance and good availability of seating space." 30 Grindlay Street, EH3 9AP"

"Just a short walk from Haymarket station you’ll find a little bit of Naples in Edinburgh. Chef Rosario Sartore (pictured) imports Denominazione di Origine Protetta (D.O.P) artisan produce from Italy, combining them with prime Scottish ingredients to recreate authentic dishes from southern Italy. The menu changes daily and includes fresh fish and seafood, hand-made pasta and cakes, with gluten-free options always available."

"When walking in, do not expect to find a modern and sophisticated place. This Italian restaurant has a more familiar and traditional style, where you will eat as if you were in the Italian Peninsula. Everything tastes like it looks, incredible, but without a doubt, fish and seafood in general are among their specialties."

"While the decor highlights the venue's love of all things Scottish, the highlight of the restaurant is the menu. Serving a handful of traditional recipes - all made using local ingredients and cuts of meat - each dish has been purposely paired with a particular whisky to highlight certain flavours."

"Give your next date night a sophisticated edge by heading to Whiski Rooms for an evening of tasting tipples and nibbling on cheese. Try out a selection of drams from all over Scotland, with paired bites for each drink."