Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Leith

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

"Tom Kitchin was the youngest person to win a Michelin star when his restaurant on Commercial Street was recognised with the accolade in 2007. The Kitchin prides itself as a place which presents "modern British seasonal cuisine influenced by French cooking techniques". They do A la carte menus along with sample set lunches and chef's surprise tasting menus."

"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"

"After a morning spent meandering around the vintage shops of Grassmarket, pop into this charming café for a juice, a veggie snack and a dose of green goodness. Find your perch by a pastel-hued table amid jungle-esque decor and sip on a smoothie (the Ass-Aye-Eee with berries, açai, apple and coconut milk is delightfully sweet) and nibble on a slice of toasted sourdough or a warm bowl of veggie curry."

"Not many food options are more Instagrammable than a tropical açaí bowl or a multicoloured poké bowl. At Hula Juice Bar you’ll have all the most photogenic options on the menu including an epic healthy drinks menu - fresh juices and smoothies, milkshakes, turmeric lattes, matcha lattes and more. Smoothie bowls, poke bowls and lunch bowls take up most of the menu because they’re that good!"

"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."

"This café is part of a volunteer-run events space that contains a performance and workshop programme. They serve vegetarian treats and meals and offer a genuine “human connection” according to reviews on TripAdvisor."

"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."

"New Town is architecturally stunning and is full of wonderful cafes, we think you’ll love staying here:. The Bearded Baker started off by supplying wholesale bagels to many of the city’s best cafes, and when the opportunity arose to turn The Bearded Baker into a cafe, they jumped at the opportunity!. We’re so glad they did as the cafe is a gem, and most importantly they also serve up a fabulous range of delectable doughnuts."

"With the Royal Botanic Gardens nearby, Canonmills is a lovely part of Edinburgh to stay in, and we think you’ll enjoy your stay at. The Bearded Baker is a cosy bakery and coffee shop located in Canonmills – who are famous for their delicious bagels!. As well as bagels, they also offer a variety of cakes, doughnuts, sourdough loaves and coffee!"

"Bearded baker Rowan creates his bagels and treats from scratch every day, and it really shows. Where: 46 Rodney St, EH7. Shop online at:thebeardedbaker.co.uk"

"Split between two buildings on either side of Belford Road, Modern One and Modern Two, the gallery houses the nation's collection of modern and contemporary art. Modern Two, previously the Dean Gallery, was built as an orphanage. An austere structure, it's home to a large collection of Dada and Surrealist art, and a collection of the works of Sir Eduardo Paolozzi."

"The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is housed in 2 historic buildings. Art lovers will be in their element viewing the over 6000 pieces on display. For the latest exhibitions visit the official Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art website."

"Edinburgh's gallery of modern art is split between two impressive neoclassical buildings surrounded by landscaped grounds some 500m west of Dean Village. As well as showcasing a stunning collection of paintings..."

"This great museum has some fantastic ways to get hands on, so it’s worth a visit at any time of year – although especially if you’re looking for things to do in Edinburgh in the rain with kids. The different galleries have different themes – creativity in Imagine for example, plus science and technology, as well as Adventure. You could climb into a human hamster wheel, or dig for dinosaur bones in the Adventure Planet gallery if they fancy themselves as mini archaeologists."

"Stuffed animals, sarcophagi and ancient chessmen are all housed at the magnificent National Museum of Scotland. The museum's roof terrace is also worth a visit, offering unique views of the city. Visit: Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF - nms.ac.uk"

"This attraction was the first museum in the world which focused on the history of childhood and it’s a wee gem. As soon as I stepped inside I was hit by a wee wave of nostalgia, certain that my last memories of doing so were as a child myself. While the ground floor has changed since my last visit, with new brightly-coloured and illuminated exhibits, the rest of the museum was just as I remembered."

"This fascinating attraction was the first museum in the world to be dedicated to the history of childhood. The collection was originally established by Patrick Murray, an Edinburgh Councilor who was a passionate collector of toys and childhood memorabilia. The permanent exhibition contains a huge collection of antique toys, games and teddy bears (including a collection of early Steiff bears)."

"The Museum of Childhood is a collection of children’s toys and playthings, situated on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood."