Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Inverleith

"Proudly known as Edinburgh’s very first Michelin star restaurant – awarded in 2001 – Restaurant Martin Wishart is now one of the UK’s most highly acclaimed dining venues located in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith. The interior offers the perfect setting for any celebration with a charming contemporary design featuring rich wooden panelling on the walls, fresh-cut flowers and sleek furnishings. Choose from a selection of innovative and appetizing French style dishes ranging from Orkney scallops to ravioli of snails."

"Edinburgh-born Martin Wishart is lauded as one of the most respected Chefs in the UK, and upon a visit to his celebrated restaurant, it’s easy to see why. His Michelin-star restaurant found in the Port of Leith sees a dining experience that’s equally classic French as it is proudly Scottish, with dishes like Emmental Soufflé and Peterhead Mackerel holding equal weight on the menu."

"Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh|Courtesy of Restaurant Martin Wishart. Edinburgh local Martin Wishart trained under great French masters such as the Roux brothers in his youth. Returning to his home city from France, he was seen as something of a young Turk when he set up a restaurant in the run-down port of Leith in 1999."

"Another family run restaurant located in the riverside town of Leith, The Kitchin serves the finest British cuisine influenced by French cooking techniques. Filled with character, the restaurant has a very rustic, countryside atmosphere as it’s designed with natural textures such as exposed stone, wood and glass. In six short months after The Kitchin first opened it’s doors to the public, it was awarded a Michelin star and has since received 25 highly-acclaimed awards."

"Fresh, seasonal, locally sourced Scottish produce is the philosophy that has won a Michelin star for this elegant but unpretentious restaurant. The menu moves with the seasons, of course, so expect fresh salads... Top ChoiceFrench in Leith"

"Nowadays with so many food trends in eating healthy, sometimes it can be hard to arrange a BFF date if one of you is healthy conscious or has allergies. Hulla Juice Bar is great, as there are plenty of healthy alternatives and a such a great lively vibe!. This place is ideal with its cute trendy furniture and seating arrangements, meaning the hardest choice during this date will be picking which smoothie you’d like from the vast choices on the menu."

"Hula started off in Edinburgh as a juice bar but has now turned into so much more. They aim to be an “island in the city” where you can come and relax while enjoying amazing food and drinks that nourish your body at the same time!. They pride themselves on standing by their community and source all their food locally – including the coffee which is roasted here in Edinburgh."

"Located on the West Bow at the foot of Victoria Street just off The Grassmarket you'll find Hula Juicebar. This is a terrific option for anyone seeking a healthy breakfast in Edinburgh. You'll find great big bowls of porridge, bagels, fresh fruit and loads of tempting beverages."

"In an old railway shed near Holyrood Park, this gin and whisky distillery offers a peek behind the scenes with guided tours and tastings. Holyrood Distillery’s state-of-the-art visitor’s centre is kitted out like a science museum, with a dedicated nosing room, the tallest copper stills in Scotland and a lab-like gin experience room. Hit the outdoor courtyard bar where you can sample your favourite spirits in a heady cocktail mix."

"The first single malt whisky distillery in the city centre in almost a century, Holyrood Distilleryopened in 2019. Situated next to Holyrood Park, the 180-year-old railway goods building has been thoughtfully renovated as both a whisky and gin distillery. As such, they have a number of tours to choose from, covering all interests and tastes."

"As well as plating up fantastic Mexican food at decent prices, Illegal Jack’s also offers a great array of bottled beers. Their tasty burritos, quesadillas, tacos and nachos are all around the £7 or £8 mark, but small burritos are more than a pound cheaper than the standard size, and are more than enough to fill you up at lunchtime. Visit: 44-45 St Patrick Square, EH8 9ET"

"Everyone arranges BFF dates normally the day after a heavy night out, so there’s nothing better than a hangover cure at Illegal Jacks. This establishment has the greatest Mexican food with an American twist, so you know it won’t disappoint. This BFF date is not only one to remember, but with such a large variety of flavours, it will become a regular spot."

"The Tex-Mex fast food trend was slow to arrive in Edinburgh but there are now two excellent rivals – Illegal Jack's in the south of the city and Los Cardos in the north. Illegal Jack's is a slick branded operation with the product to match. While the menu carries fajitas, nachos and tacos, it's really all about the burritos."

"Housed in a converted warehouse and serving a menu that’s about as far removed from stereotypical Scottish cooking as imaginable, Tapa has earned itself a loyal following among in-the-know residents in Leith. Its take on Spanish tapas dishes provides a break from the norm: there are melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and the chef’s mother offers her own recipe for venison stew that’s not to be missed."

"Divided into a bar area and a restaurant area, both parts of this venue have a wholly nautical look with dark wood fixtures and fittings, maritime artefacts and other seagoing decorative touches. Its proximity to Leith Docks adds yet more saltiness. You can come here for breakfast from 9am, the lunch menu kicks in at noon, dinner from 5pm."

"You can’t have a roundup of Leith’s best meals without the inclusion of seafood. If you’re a fan of seafood, The Ship on The Shore is sure to please. Sharing the seafood platter one sunny afternoon was one of our favourite dining experiences in Edinburgh (and one we’re looking forward to repeating soon)."

"Smart, understated decor sets the scene for the thoughtfully prepared and well-presented seafood dishes on the menu here. You'll find a wide range of fresh seafood and an extensive champagne and wine list. The reasonable prices and generous portions served from the lunch menu are popular among diners."

"The curry laksa soup here is filed under a menu section titled ‘Big Bowl’ – and they’re not messing around. For £6.30, steaming troughs of slippery noodles, prawns, chicken pieces, tofu, bean sprouts and crab sticks come in bottomless quantities. Not to be confused with its equally delightful sister restaurant Kampung Ah Lee on Clerk Street."

"For delicious Malaysian food, head to Kampung Ali, where the portions are ginormous, but the prices are anything but. Pretty much everything on the menu is under a tenner. We recommend their curry laksa (£7.80), and Rendang chicken (£8.00)."

"Avalanche Gapinski was born from a friendship between Avalanche Records owner Kevin Buckle and artist Gerry Gapinski, whose punk, dark, reimagined images of Edinburgh fitted perfectly with Kevin’s new vision for Avalanche. The shop also has prints and t-shirts from the Brazilian artist ‘Butcher Billy’ famous for his post-punk superheroes and photos with matching quotes from the award winning "Dark Edinburgh". Add in a fantastic range of vintage clothing from Armstrongs and upcycled clothing from Psychomoda, and their Waverley Mall store is a treasure trove of unique and interesting finds, spanning music, fashion, art and so much more."

"Image SourceWaverley mall is an ideal shopping destination that has direct access from both Princes Street and from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station. It has recently been renovated creating a perfect space for fashion, food, and Scottish souvenirs.Location: 3 Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ, United Kingdom. Suggested Read:10 Hidden Beaches In Scotland To Spend The Most Magical Vacation Ever!"

"With direct access onto both Princes Street and into Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, Waverley Mall is an ideally located shopping destination. It's the perfect place to stop by for fashion, food and a last minute Scottish souvenir before catching your train."