Edinburgh has a fine range of restaurants and cafe's to keep you well fed. Here you will find information on the places we think you should visit.

Oloroso, Castle Street. New Town

Penthouse position on corner of Castle Street and George with superb views of the Castle, New Town and as far as the Firth of Forth. Very fashionable and currently “the place to be seen”. Run by James Sankey (lately of Atrium and Blue Bar café fame) and Tony Singh (ITV Chef of the Year and Head Chef on The Royal Yacht Britannia). Excellent cuisine and wines. Generally very busy and difficult to get tables. Staff professional, enthusiastic, knowledgable and friendly. Very good atmosphere and no stuffiness! Consists of Lounge Bar, Restaurant, Private Restaurant and Roof Terrace.

The Tower, Chambers Street. Old Town

Penthouse position on top of the Museum of Scotland with stunning views of the Castle. Access by “secret” little lift from within the museum. Very exclusive and also very corporate. Rooftop balcony is used in summer. Cuisine Scottish themed with excellence in seafood (oysters, Buckie shell crabs, king scallops usually available). Very sophisticated. Run by the same team who operate the “Witchery”.

The Witchery, Castlehill. Old Town

Now part of Edinburgh’s “establishment” although it opened just over 20 years ago and referred to as “The Perfect lust den" by Dannii Minogue in Cosmopolitan Magazine! Its reputation as being a very romantic venue must be balanced with the fact that one of the two restaurants, the downstairs “Secret Garden” apparently used to be a meeting place for Satanists! However, that does not have any detrimental effect on the total quality of the Witchery experience - in fact, it probably enhances it. Fantastic atmosphere, overwhelmingly popular and dinner might take some time if you are a wine-buff – 900 wines on the list? The Witchery offers a meal experience – no, an entertainment - unlike any other in Edinburgh and cannot be missed.

The Dome, George Street. New Town

One of the more popular bars / bistros in the New Town, especially with the financial fraternity! Since opening in 1996, The Dome has become established as a first choice venue to meet friends and colleagues for Coffee, Cocktails, Lunch and Dinner. Facilities include The Grill Room, Frazers Cocktail Bar and The Garden Café.

The Dome has a very opulent feel to it perhaps reminiscent of previous incarnations of the building (Physicians Hall and National Commercial Bank of Scotland) but it definitely has a “suit” feel to it. Corporate business appears to be the main market. Nice to experience a venue where the food, drink and service interact with the building so well. The cocktails are well worth indulging in and the food is always creative – go with the flow!

Restaurant Martin Wishart, The Shore. Leith

Has experienced a hefty rise in popularity since opening in 1999 resulting in Edinburgh’s only Michelin 2 star restaurant and 2 Restaurant of the Year awards – all within the first 3 full years of operation! Why – quality of ingredients and imagination. Quality goes with availability so it is not surprising to find that the menus change regularly. Although you are not sure what you are going to get until you get there, you can be assured that his dishes will offer a collage of flavours, which, if the awards are to be believed, will be the best in Edinburgh.

Vintners, Giles Street. Leith

In a gorgeous old building in the port of Leith, this has now been taken over by new owners who we hope will recapture the excellent standards of a few years ago. Recent meals have certainly been pretty good - we wait to see how it will settle down. Underneath the Scottish Malt Whisky Society (also worth a visit).

The Atrium, Cambridge Street. West End Old Town

Andrew Radford, the owner of the Atrium has an eye for talent. That is why so many of Edinburgh’s restaurants have been developed by his former staff! But have they matched the quality of the Atrium? At times, perhaps, but for consistency in achievement and for longevity, perhaps not. The Atrium is mature and confident, comfortable and warm and the staff polite, knowledgeable and helpful. And the food? Always excellent and the secret? Like any successful business, constantly changing and improving and keeping one step ahead of the market. Perhaps there are things that he does not want to teach his staff?

Jacksons, High Street. Old Town

One of Edinburgh’s longer established Old Town restaurants down one of the High Street’s famous old “closes”. Traditionally Scottish with a rustic atmosphere enhanced by the bare walls, tapestries and torch lights – a subterranean experience but very pleasant nonetheless. If you are going to have Haggis in an Edinburgh restaurant, have it here – the atmosphere is just right for it! As one would expect of a restaurant specialising in Scottish cuisine, game and especially venison is particularly good and is recommended especially when complemented by a 12 year old Craigellachie!

Igg’s, Jeffrey Street. Old Town

Together with the adjacent Barioja Tapas Bar, Iggs is one of the more established but growing number of Spanish themed restaurants in Edinburgh. Spanish it may be but there is still a good Scottish presence on the menu with plenty of local seafood – salmon, oysters and scallops. The winelist, is though, unapologetically Spanish in origin with some exceptional choices personally chosen by proprietor Iggy Campos who has a well earned reputation for excellence and quality.

Santini’s, Conference Squre. West End

Opened in 2001, next to the Sheraton Grand Hotel, this is Gino Santini’s first UK venture outside London – he also has a presence in Milan. This is fine Italian cuisine which can be experienced either in the informal Bistro or the “main” restaurant. Both, however, share a common standard of high quality within their different menus. Although a new kid on the block in terms of Edinburgh’s restaurant scene, Gino’s reputation is still very much intact and Santini’s is due to be in the higher echelons of culinary perfection for many years to come.

The Living Room, George Street. New Town

Although already established in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham and London (2), this is the first Living Room development outside England and is Edinburgh’s newest “neighbourhood-based” restaurant (140) and Bar (250).

Opal Lounge, George Street. New Town

Seriously-trendy offering a stylish but casual approach to day and night entertaining. Offers all day food (strong Far East and healthy eating influences) together with fine selection of cocktails and Continental lagers. All combined with funky music in a clinically trendy atmosphere.

Number One, Princes Street. East End New Town

Jeff Bland has finally received the much deserved recognition for the work he has done at Number One having won Scottish cuisine's most prestigious prize, the Drambuie Scottish Chef of the Year. Situated ‘underneath’ the Balmoral Hotel, the hustle and bustle of Princes Street suddenly seems miles away as you relax in a golden and silver splendour of luxury. After a hard day’s work, Number One acts as the ideal switch-off remedy, and as one would expect of a Chef of this calibre, the food is superb. Don’t try to do a critique, not in this case – just accept what you get as being perfect and you will have an evening to put in your diary!

The Pompadour Restaurant at the Caledonian Hilton Hotel. West End New Town

The Caledonian is probably Edinburgh’s most grandiose hotel and the long standing Pompadour Restaurant certainly complements this impression. No matter how “Continental” the surroundings might be, though, the cuisine is most definitely of a Scottish bent using the very best of Scottish ingredients. This opulence comes with a price as the Pompadour is one of the more expensive restaurants in the this fair city – but you can be assured of value for money if the whole meal experience is considered.

Rogue, Morrison Street. West End

Being situated within the confines of a life assurance building should not be taken seriously – the rest of your life will be that little bit more fulfilled having been to David Ramsden’s new venture. Rogue is a mixture of bar and restaurant, ideal for those, perhaps, with little time on their hands but not necessarily so. The restaurant and bar cater for quick light dishes as well as a full culinary experience which has to be said is particularly rewarding. Rogue opened in 2001 to a blaze of good PR and its initial hype has not appeared in hindsight as being over the top. It is good because it is different in operational terms from its competitors / colleagues – you choose how long to spend there and Rogue will do its utmost to oblige, without any risk to its high quality.

Rick’s, Frederick Street. New Town

A relative newcomer to Edinburgh’s bar and bistro scene but fast securing a loyal clientele within the business and local communities. A very popular and chic bar – one of the places to be seen in – with a restaurant catering for executives in a hurry or, in areas away from the bar, those who want to spend time enjoying the Far Eastern flavours of the cuisine. Rick’s is a compelling and exciting experience whether you eat or spot the celeb in the bar!

Indigo Yard, Charlotte Lane, New Town

Another of the new, chic Edinburgh life-style bistros that are springing up in the city. The neat, tidy, almost clinical bar serves a huge range of drinks to a New Town business clientele either winding down from their days work or just relaxing and having fun especially in the evening. The bar and restaurant share the same atmosphere and menu presentation is similarly stylish. Cuisine has an Oriental feel and you can choose finger-style eating in the bar along with a cocktail, aperatif or one of the fine selection of beers or concentrate on the cuisine itself in the restaurant - with a fine wine of course from a very fine selection!