Dining Around Edinburgh in Six Courses

A Dickins property is a perfect ‘home away from home’, but if you don’t fancy cooking one evening, there are an abundance of Edinburgh restaurants to choose from. From Michelin Star restaurants to Scottish cafes, from restaurants with views of the castle to waterfront terraces, the Edinburgh food scene has it all.

Six Courses, Six Restaurants…

In order to highlight some of our favourites, we have decided to take you on a virtual tour, course by course, through some of our favourite Edinburgh restaurants.

Where do we start?

Course One – Soup

Eat: The Devil’s Advocate in the Heart of the Old Town, housed in a 16th Century building, is atmospheric and welcoming. With a list of Scotch whiskies that seem never ending, it’s certainly an ideal place to go to sample some of Scotland’s national tipples. The Cullen Skink, the classic Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, packed with mature Cheddar & sprinkled with a chive crumb is as rich as it is flavoursome. This traditional Scottish soup is the perfect antidote to a chilly day in Scotland’s Capital, particularly when accompanied by a ‘wee dram’. Stay: 457/(2) Lawnmarket Bright, spacious and overlooking the world famous Royal Mile, this two bedroom apartment is steeped in history and located just around the corner from The Devil’s Advocate.

Lawnmarket

Course Two – Starter

Eat: Set high above ground level in Edinburgh’s Old Town on the historic Victoria Street, The Grain Store focuses on traditional, Scottish ingredients. The restaurant itself, split into rooms separated by original stone built walls, is unpretentious and welcoming. Our chosen starter is one which is symbolic of Scottish cuisine….Stornoway black pudding served alongside apple and watercress. For those of you who are yet to experience the joys of black pudding, this traditional Scottish delicacy hails from the Western Isles of Scotland. The delicacy has been given protected status, putting it amongst the likes of Champagne (France), Scotch whisky (Scotland), Kobe Beef (Japan) and Prosciutto di Parma (Italy). Now, if they are not good company to be in, we don’t know what is! Stay: 12 St Mary’s Street Civilised and charming, this one bedroom flat is an Old Town gem. Sitting on the first floor, this apartment feels special as soon as you open the front door and continues to surprise.

Course Three – Fish Course

Eat: With oysters being sold on the Royal Mile for 200 years, it will come as no surprise that Ondine‘s Oyster Bar found a place on our menu. This glamorous restaurant is the place to see and been seen in Edinburgh, and with a dedicated ‘Oyster Hour’ Monday to Friday from 5.30-6.30 in which all oysters are £1 a shuck, there is no better place to experience some of Scotland’s finest shellfish.

Photo Credit: Ondine

Stay: 15a Buccleuch Place This unique and special two-bedroom Southside jewel has a south-facing private walled garden and is just a ten-minute walk from the historic George IV Bridge.

Course Four – Main Course

Eat: Mark Greenaway’s New Town restaurant has continued to gain critical acclaim since it’s opening in 2011. With a passion for Scottish ingredients, Mark uses only the very best local, seasonal produce, transforming them with modern techniques. This 11 Hour Slow Roasted Belly Pork served with Toffee Apple Jus and Pomme Purée is certainly an indulgent addition to our list, but this modern take on a classic is a sure-fire winner.

Photo Credit: Paul Johnston – Copper Mango

Stay: 65 Thistle Street A bright, charming one-bedroom apartment you will be happy to call home during your Edinburgh stay. Situated on a quiet street in the heart of the New Town, just a short walk away from George Street and Princes Street, this flat is ideal for a city break.

Course Five – Dessert

Eat: Situated in Leith, The Kitchin is owned by world-renowned Scottish chef, Tom Kitchin. His cooking focuses on the seasonal variety and quality in the ‘Scotland’s larder’ in a most innovative manner. Light, delicate and (unsurprisingly) perfectly risen, The Kitchin’s Apple Crumble Soufflé was served alongside a quenelle of vanilla ice cream – a sure winner. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Photo Credit: OH! Taste

Stay: 13 York Place Enjoy the splendour of this magnificent and luxurious one-bedroom apartment in Edinburgh’s New Town. A short taxi ride away, this property is perfectly placed to make the most of both the New Town and the Leith area of Edinburgh.

Course Six – Cheese

Eat: Nestled below the hustle and bustle of Broughton Street, Pickles offers an utterly charming escape from the city. With a small patio area on offer or an atmospheric wine bar inside, this venue is the ideal place for a platter of handpicked Scottish cheeses. Port and cheese boards are aplenty and sure to satisfy the most peckish of customers. Oh, and a tip from a regular, they don’t take bookings so try and head over early to get a spot on one of the extremely comfortable sofas. Stay: 7 Forth Street This rooftop hideaway is situated off the lively Broughton Street, and although in a bustling part of the city, simply oozes comfort and a sense of calm. An ideal location for a city break.

Forth Street, Edinburgh

If you liked our Dining Around Edinburgh in Six Courses article and would like to find out more, there are lots of blog articles that might tickle your fancy…

If you decide to give any of these restaurants or properties a try, we would love to hear all about your experiences. Find us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and don’t forget to tag your pictures with #livelikealocal.