Feast your way through Edinburgh’s most exciting eats, from croissants at dawn to cocktails at dusk.
Crowned the UK’s Most Exciting Food Destination by Good Food Guide in 2025, Edinburgh’s allure lies not just in its 7 Michelin-starred restaurants – more than any other Scottish city – but in its eclectic array of artisan bakeries, buzzing bars and bold, locally-driven menus.
Whether you’re planning a gastronomic getaway or a casual food tour, the city promises experiences that are as memorable as they are mouthwatering.
Michelin-starred marvels
In 2025, Edinburgh celebrated two Michelin-starred additions to the city. Lyla is a celebration of modern seafood, with the 10-course tasting menu as artful as it is delicious. With just 28 seats available, and dishes prepared from an open kitchen so that diners can see the magic unfold, this is a truly intimate dining experience. While the 15-course tasting menu at Avery changes regularly to celebrate the best seasonal ingredients, with a particular focus on Japanese cooking techniques. Unique, hand-crafted tableware is used to complement the flavours, textures and aromas of each dish, reflecting Avery’s elevated yet relaxed atmosphere.
Picture yourself dining beneath timber beams and flickering candlelight at Timberyard, a converted 19th century warehouse. Here, each plate is art, painted with ingredients freshly foraged from Edinburgh’s wild edges. Condita takes dining to another level, where a Michelin-starred tasting menu unfolds like a secret story, each course personally narrated by the chef himself.
The neighbourhood of Leith is home to not one, but three Michelin restaurants. A masterclass in “from nature to plate” dining, The Kitchin merges seasonal Scottish produce with French cooking techniques. Housed in a converted whisky bonded warehouse, diners can even get a glimpse of the restaurant’s chefs at work via a window in the main dining room. Restaurant Martin Wishart has been a cornerstone of Edinburgh’s fine dining scene since 1999, with the restaurant holding a Michelin star since 2001. The menu masterfully combines classic techniques with the finest Scottish ingredients, while the elegant dining room provides a perfect setting for an unforgettable culinary experience. The latest member of Leith’s Michelin-star group is Heron. Delivering a relaxed, yet refined approach to Scottish cuisine, dines can indulge in beautifully crafted dishes that take their inspiration from Scotland’s land and sea.
For more decadent dishes, see fine dining in Edinburgh.
Local’s favourites
Edinburgh invites you to experience global cuisine unlike anywhere else. At Macau Kitchen, awardees of Highly Recommended at the Scotland Spice Awards 2024, the rare blend of Portuguese-Chinese flavours unfolds in aromatic dishes. While curry lovers should hot-foot it to Bombay Lounge in Dalkeith, which was awarded Dining Experience of the Year (South East) at the Scottish Curry Awards 2025. A host of local eating spots were also award winning spots in the Scottish Restaurant Awards 2024, including Vietnam House Restaurant (Noodles Restaurant of the Year), Tapa (Spanish Restaurant of the Year) and Valvona & Crolla (Italian Restaurant of the Year). Or for a slice of something award-winning don’t miss a visit to Civerinos, who in 2025 were named one of the best pizza restaurants in the world by Time Out Magazine.
And for those longed for summer days when we can’t get enough of alfresco dining, Angels with Bagpipes should be at the top of your list, having been awarded one of the Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in the world for 2025 by OpenTable.
Bars that raise the bar
A cocktail bar disguised as a vintage barbershop? Only in Edinburgh! Panda & Sons is part speakeasy, part science lab, serving cocktails with theatrical flair. So much so, that the bar has been included on Perrier’s list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, and its bartender awarded the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2024. Another cocktail bar well worth a visit is Hey Palu. Awarded a pin by The Pinnacle Guide in 2024, they are currently listed as number 5 on the UK Top 50 cocktail bar list.
The city’s inaugural Edinburgh Bar Awards 2024 also shines a light on some of the city’s acclaimed bars. With awards including Best Bar (The Raging Bull), Best Pub (Nauticus) and Best Restaurant Bar (Old Pal), it celebrates the city’s best drinking spots.
But it’s not just the city’s bars that are setting high standards when it comes to drinks offerings. Both Timberyard and Montrose won Drinks List of the Year in the Good Food Guide Awards 2025.
Bakeries that steal the show
Edinburgh’s bakeries promise irresistible, sensory indulgence – and they’ve got the accolades to prove it.
Now with seven locations across Edinburgh, including the original flagship, Mimi’s Bakehouse Leith, this family-run bakery is loved locally for its chewy brownies, towering cakes and moreish scones. Their tempting bakes have won them the coveted crown of Scottish Baker of Year at the 2023/24 Scottish Bakers Awards.
For impossibly flaky croissants, inventive viennoiserie and perfect cardamom buns, Lannan in Stockbridge regularly sells out – and for good reason. Awarded Pastry Opening of the Year at La Liste’s 2024 Pastry Awards, be sure to try their gorgeous pastries for yourself. While KREMA Bakehouse showcases desserts as edible art. Named Best Dessert Shop in Edinburgh 2024, their seasonal creations captivate both the eye and the palate.
Whether you prefer cosy comfort food, elegant fine dining, or theatrical cocktails, Scotland’s capital invites you to experience food and drink a little differently.
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This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
