Our A-Z of Edinburgh's newest and best restaurants and cafes, from Aizle to Zucca
A
Aizle - part of the Kimpton Charlotte Square. Head chef, Stuart Ralston, represented Scotland on the Great British Menu, www.aizle.co.uk
Alby’s - best door-stopper sandwiches, www.albysleith.co.uk
Artisan Roast - making perfect flat whites while newer third-wave cafes were still in nappies, www.artisanroast.co.uk
Aurora - Modern European cuisine on Great Junction Street, www.auroraedinburgh.co.uk
B
Baba - another one at Kimpton Charlotte Square. Excellent mezze, www.baba.restaurant
Balmoral Palm Court - Add afternoon tea here, served by Omar, to your bucket list, www.roccofortehotels.com
Borough - the menu features roast North Sea Hake with peas, leek and whey, www.boroughrestaurant.com
Bross Bagels - expanding like freshly proven dough, with branches in Portobello, the West End, Leith, Bruntsfield, Stockbridge, St James Quarter, www.brossbagels.com
Bundits – they’ve opened a sit-in restaurant, so we no longer have to eat their bao buns in the car, www.bunditsofleith.co.uk
C
Cafe St Honore - Chef patron Neil Forbes’ classics include an orange and almond cake, www.cafesthonore.com
Chums - we haven’t been to this new Henderson Street pie shop, from the people behind Solas Neon, but we know it’s going to be good.
Civerinos - on the up, with a new branch in Portobello, www.civerinosslice.com
Contini George Street – always there to console us with pasta, www.contini.com
Creel Caught - opening in St James Quarter, with Gary Maclean at the helm, www.stjamesquarter.com
D
Dean Banks at The Pompadour - this MasterChef has set up in Edinburgh’s prettiest dining room, deanbanks.co.uk
Dishoom - everyone loves the bacon naans, www.dishoom.com
E
East PIZZAS - at Morningside and opening in St James Quarter’s Bonnie & Wild Food Hall, www.eastpizzas.com
L’Escargot Bleu - Owner Fred Berkmiller will put hairs on your chest with his Gallic menu, www.lescargotbleu.co.uk
F
Fhior - gorgeous food with Japanese and Scandinavian influence and produce grown at the Secret Herb Garden, www.fhior.com
Fin & Grape – seafood and vino, www.finandgrape.com
G
Gardener’s Cottage - charming venue, with a summer menu that includes duck, asparagus, rhubarb and wild garlic, www.thegardenerscottage.co
Greenwoods - they’ve just arrived, direct from Amsterdam, and we’re loving the pancakes and banana bread, www.greenwoods.eu
H
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor Brasserie (reliable lunch), Harajuku Kitchen (lovely sushi), Hawksmoor (iron deficiency fix), The High Dive (ace pizza with bright interiors)
Heron - it hasn’t opened yet, but this contemporary venue at the Shore is destined for greatness, www.heron.scot/
I
Ikigai - it’s pocket sized, but you’ll have lovely ramen if you bag a table, though they also do takeaway, www.ikigairamen.co.uk
J
Jupiter Artland Cafe - we were struggling with J, and this place isn’t officially in Edinburgh, but Wilkieston, www.jupiteratland.org
If that doesn't count, does Chez Jules work instead?
K
Kanpai Restaurant - We love the dragon rolls, www.kanpaisushiedinburgh.co.uk
The Kitchin - No food list can miss out this place, with chef Tom Kitchin’s influential nature to plate ethos, www.thekitchin.com
L
Leftfield - seafood platters and a bucolic view, www.leftfieldedinburgh.co.uk
The Little Chartroom - this place, headed by Roberta Hall-McCarron and Shaun McCarron, just turned three. Serving dishes like braised mutton pie, summer veggies and pickled onion ketchup, www.thelittlechartroom.com (also with pop-up Little Chartroom on the Prom, Portobello).
Little Fitzroy - lovely coffee and cakes served from a hatch on Easter Road, www.littlefitzroy.coffee.co
The Lookout - get an aerial view of the capital at this Calton Hill restaurant, currently serving cocktails on the terrace, www.thelookoutedinburgh.co
Lovecrumbs - If you like your icing three inches high, this is your cafe www.lovecrumbs.co.uk
M
Mary’s Milk Bar - gelato in all of the flavours, from goat’s cheese and quince to Earl Grey and lemon sorbet, www.marysmilkbar.com
Mimi’s - every type of decadent traybake, with six branches, including a new one at Comely Bank, www.mimisbakehouse.com
Mother India - the best king prawn achari, www.motherindia.co.uk
N
Number One at The Balmoral - plush and luxurious, with new chef Matthew Sherry cooking up a storm, www.roccofortehotels.com
Noto - Aizle’s little sister, with small plates to die for, www.notoedinburgh.co.uk
O
Ondine - recently refurbished and looking ship shape, www.ondinerestaurant.co.uk
Ostara - how do you like your eggs? In this cafe, for brunch, www.ostaralarder.co.uk
P
The Palmerston - due to open in early August. Can’t wait, www.thepalmerstonedinburgh.co.uk
Q
It’s tenuous, but new Leith cocktail bar The Three Marys is named after three Queens, including Mary, Queen of Scots.
R
Restaurant Martin Wishart - the best, www.restaurantmartinwishart.co.uk
Restaurant Mark Greenaway – bag a two course Sunday lunch for £29pp www.markgreenaway.com
S
Sabzi - Punjabi pop-up to become permanent on July 1,
Salt - heavenly brunch, www.salt.scot
Sen – beautiful food in a dining room full of lanterns, www.senrestaurant.co.uk
Scran & Scallie - pub grub, Tom Kitchin style, www.scranandscallie.com
Soderberg - unpronounceable Scandinavian cakeage, and wonderful coffee, www.soderberg.co.uk
T
Taisteal (recently moved to Forth Street), Tasty Buns,beautiful Timberyard, Ting Thai Caravan, Twelve Triangles. Does 21212 count as a “t”?
U
Umi - Stockbridge has two good sushi restaurants, this place and Kenji, www.umiedinburgh.com
V
Valvona & Crolla Caffe Bar - lovely for lunch, and you have to walk through the most beautiful shop in the capital, www.valvolacrolla.co.uk
W
The Walnut - Recently made-over and looking lovely, www.thewalnutedinburgh.co.uk
Wedgwood - beautiful food on the Royal Mile since 2007, www.wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk
X
Xiangbala Hot Pot – we think this Fountainbridge Chinese hot pot restaurant may have closed down, but since this is the only X we can find, it’s still going in.
Y
Yamato - perfect tempura and a chic interior, www.yamatosushiedinburgh.co.uk
Z
The only one with a Z we could find is Zucca, which has been beside the Usher Hall for aeons. Let us know if it’s any good.