Best places to eat and drink in Edinburgh

Few British cities can rival Edinburgh when it comes to great restaurants, bars and pubs. Read our guide, hire a Scottish castle or holiday home, and look forward to a short break filled with some of the best food and drink you'll ever enjoy...

The Kitchin

Tom Kitchin has developed a reputation for his stunning dishes incorporating all manner of local ingredients. His Michelin-starred restaurant serves up all manner of delicacies designed to tantalise the taste buds and make guests truly appreciate Scottish fare, from a tartare of wild salmon and brown crabmeat served with caviar and capers to saddle of rabbit and poached guinea fowl.

WHISKI

This atmospheric bar on the Royal Mile is the perfect place to sample some of Scotland's most famous export. The whisky menu is pretty staggering - to the point where you can actually spend hours deciding what to drink! Another great feature is the live music patrons can enjoy on a weekly basis. Look at for gigs by The Gorms and Muckle Flugga in particular.

David Bann

Haggis-loving Scotland might not seem like the best place to open a vegetarian restaurant, but there are actually several establishments in Edinburgh that pride themselves on their meat-free fare. One of the best is David Bann, which presents dishes that combine flavours from around the world to create some incredible food, including smoked tofu with mango chutney and chilli filo tart with sweet potato and chocolate sauce.

Number One

Located in the prestigious Balmoral Hotel, Number One has had its Michelin star for a decade. Head chef Jeff Bland's classic dishes range from squab pigeon with sweetcorn puree and asparagus to roe deer served with baby beetroot, skirlie, hazelnuts and pea puree. The tasting menu is an excellent way to sample as many of the restaurant's delicious dishes as possible, with a vegetarian version also available.

The Sheep Heid Inn

Opened in 1850, the Sheep Heid Inn is the oldest pub in Scotland. Situated in Duddingston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the venue serves up some superb traditional Scottish food and is famed for a rather unusual attraction - a skittles alley that can be hired by the hour or for a whole evening. This is definitely a place to go out of your way to visit!