Le Bistrot in Edinburgh, City of

Really good four and friendly service

another lovely visit to this restaurant.... food quality excellent and table service great - big jug of water and bread for the table (free) without having to ask. lamb shank with potatoes very filling. will definitely be back.

Excellent dinner. Pleasant staff. Great location. Thank you.

Great food, great service! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a really delicious meal.

Love this place, if your ever kicking around the royal mile its definitely worth a visit! The food is always so fresh and very reasonably priced

Excessive price, fairly long service. Good cocktails. The tart for dessert was very small and the chocolate cake served very cold or even frozen. Damage

Enjoyed a meal for two on Tuesday evening, a very relaxed affair with delicious food and warm, friendly attentive staff.

This french restaurant is located at the end off the royal mile and easy to find. It was small but cozy and intimate atmosphere. The service was excellent—the staff welcomed us with warm smiles and were more than happy to answer any questions we had in detail. We used a coupon for this meal. The French onion soup was another highlight. It was flavorful, generously portioned, and quite filling—after finishing it, I was already about 70% full. We also ordered a potato dish, which was well-prepared and delicious. For the main courses, we had beef and sea bream fillet. The beef was very tender, though I personally found it a bit too soft. However, the flavor was rich and well-seasoned. The sea bream, on the other hand, was perfectly pan-seared—crispy on the outside and tender inside, with a wonderfully fragrant aroma. For dessert, The fruit tart was beautifully presented and not overly sweet, making it a delightful way to end the meal. Overall, it was a satisfying dining experience with great service and well-executed dishes.

This is my favourite restaurant in edinburgh. Great menu, great staff and j just a great night, every time.

Cosy, cute little place. Service is always on point and the food made to a high standard

A warm little piece of France. The beef fillet and salmon were delicious. To discover without hesitation.

Good food, the beef ragout was delicious as was the vegetarian risotto and the salmon. Starters of gambas very nice indeed as was the charcuterie board. I cannot praise it too much. The service was just right. The atmosphere busy but unhurried. Very French

We walked in at 11:45 for a coffee, the bistro was almost empty, yet, we were refused a table as they apparently only serve coffee before 11am.

The meat of this beef is very bad. It is the worst beef I have ever eaten.

Very good restaurant. We had dinner there for New Year's Eve, the prices were not excessive compared to other restaurants in the center, even if a little high. Very good and fast service. Wide choice of French cuisine. A little disappointed with the fish dish but the starters were very good.

Amazing experience, and incredible food

Very bad service. We waited about 40 minutes to place our order. Upon entering, we were immediately informed that we needed to order 2-3 dishes per person. This seems to be a way to ensure a minimum bill. However, I believe that if you want to increase the average spend per person, you should focus on making the atmosphere more pleasant. Right now, it feels like a place where you'd want to leave after just 5 minutes. However, food was good

1 star for the front of house service who were lovely, and the ambience 0 stars for the food… served a raw steak when ordering medium rare. They didn’t make a fresh steak and instead recooked the same one it came back bone dry.

The drinks were absolutely divine.!!!

Had a great lunch here after visiting the castle on a windy afternoon. The staff were lovely and the atmosphere was very comforting. Highly recommend the beef ragout.

The host was super attentive and friendly, we received a complimentary welcome drink and bread bowl. The food was really delicious, I strongly recommend the Ratatouille and Terrine de Campagne. Set lunch menu was well priced and the service felt top notch. Will definitely be visiting here again.

Good without being brilliant. Pricey - min main course is £19 up to £43. Starters all over £10. A couple of wines not available on menu (inc house red). Service v good, however asked for window table (4 seater - we were 2) and assured they were booked - when we left 2 hours later, 2 of the 4 tables still didnt have any diners. Flat atmosphere.

Delicious! We opted for the menu with two services - impeccable quality, cozy atmosphere and attentive service.

The service and the atmosphere of this cosy little place is excellent however I was very disappointed in the food, the chicken supreme was just plain grilled chicken on a potato froth (which should have been mash) and the menu stated 'with button mushrooms and cherry tomatoes' there was only 2 little slices of a button mushroom and HALF of a cherry tomato! I know French cuisine is supposed to be delicate.....but I was still quite hungry when I left 😔

Very good restaurant. I had a beer stew and it was very good The cocktails are also good, pleasant welcome. I recommend

Quite a quiet lunch. Food was very good but a bit disappointed as the sea bream was what I'd call half a fillet. However the cheese and biscuits was substantial withe only issue being not enough oatcakes for the generous amount of cheese.

Stopped in because it looked like a nice place from walking by, but disappointed with this place. It's advertised as a Cafe, Bar, Restaurant, so I came in with my family to have a cup of coffee, but was told that you have to order dinner, they don't service drinks during dinning hours. Their were only 3 tables being used for dining the restaurants was empty, so why would you turn away customers trying to spend money? DONT advertise as a cafe or learn to make MONEY!

Was walking by and thought French Bistro in the French Institute so worth a try and the reviews here were good. But disappointed with the food. I had the duck but although cooked well it was tasteless and swimming in a very watery although nice tasting orange sauce. Has everything going for it but the food!

Second time in Edinburgh, second time here. Fantastic food at fantastic prices with fantastic service. Ordered the mussels. Don't come with fries, but that was just right for me as I'd overestimated how hungry I was. Good stuff and will be back.

The entrance is unintuitive, it's inside the Consulate General of France. The closed door says "wait here to be seated", which doesn't make much sense. Being met with complementary bread and water was a nice touch. Service was good. The food was enjoyable, well cooked and came out quickly. The salmon fillet was sizeable, had crispy skin and was moist and tender. I didn't love the lemon and butter emulsion which came separately but happy to put that down to personal preference. In conclusion, the food was quite good but not excellent. Price point is as expected.

Take french recipes and Scotish ingredients, especially the meat, and you have perfection. Tasty food in a beautiful building and lively atmosphere.

Our Favourite Restaurant in Edinburgh.

The restaurant charged me 10% service fee but there is absolutely no service. We asked for water and waited for 10 minutes to get the water. When I tried to figure out the ice cream flavor, a young lady told me they only have strawberry. However, I saw other clients ordered mango and lemon. Maybe I got treat differently because I’m an Asian. I had a horrible experience. The food is good though. The tarte and chocolate cake is TOO sweet.

My in-laws favourite restaurant, I now invite them to come and stay. Need i say more!

Beautiful food, stunning restaurant and fantastic service - what more could you ask for ❤️

Fantastic dinner in old town! The food was excellent and the atmosphere was a peaceful retreat from the touristy din of the streets. The staff was first rate and worked well as a team to provide us a wonderful dinner experience. An outstanding place to duck out of the carnival like atmosphere of old town and enjoy a nice meal.

Cant sit in and have coffee and cake? Turning custom away as you want more money out of people. Wheb there was only 1 other table in at 3.30pm on a weekday. Poor!

What a fantastic French restaurant! We visited yesterday for dinner, and had the Beef Stew mains and Lamb Shank, followed by the Millifeuille dessert. The main courses were exquisitely tasty, the meat tender and the Lyonnaise potato and mixed Veg side orders were a great accompaniment. The Millifeuille was a lovely dessert. I must add that the service was so friendly, and the restaurant had a lovely atmosphere. I wish the restaurant was closer to where we live because we would be regulars. A lovely experience.

I had the cod and it was the best meal I have had in a long time, on any continent! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. I highly recommend it.

No entrance found. Looks good though.

Location, in the heart of the center. Service is fine. Personal, friendly. Dogs are welcome 👍

We came in to eat here by chance, and we were right. We ate the menu from which you can choose 2 dishes and dessert, or just two dishes. Well-prepared homemade food with fresh, good quality products. The service is very friendly, helpful and friendly. 100% recommended. They speak French and a little Spanish and English.

A first class find for us in Edinburgh. Even during the busy Fringe it was a lovely atmosphere with great food and first class service. Thanks for a lovely experience- we’ll definitely return.

Good French restaurant with good food. Excellent service.

We had some starters and desserts. The starters were delicious, especially the smoked salmon. The chocolate cake and the fruit tart were rather mediocre and overpriced. Otherwise the atmosphere was pleasant and the staff were helpful, friendly and professional

Took the Family for Dinner last night, elder daughter’s 25th Birthday. Absolutely amazing, staff were helpful and lovely. The meal was fantastic, wine excellent and coupled with a surprise of a ‘ Happy Birthday’ rendition and cake for my daughter. Well worth a visit. Will definitely go again! Thank you so much. Best regards

It wasn’t a good experience, not recommended First of all, the service wasn’t friendly at all, when we asked for simple customization in the dish, the waiter said this is it, just like that in the menu! Secondly, i came home after dinner with very upset stomach, i had food poisoning from this restaurant which was the only thing i ate that day. When it comes to cost, high price, doesn’t worth it. Overall, I wouldn’t go again

Had a superb meal here. Food and service was excellent exemplary - will definitely be back.

Could have been great - interesting menu, decent wine selection and not too expensive. I felt processed. Incorrect appetizer served, no wine refill offered. But, they're very good at bread and water. Chairs not very comfortable. Inside the entrance to the French Consulate/Trade Commission. Might be better when Fringe Festival not on?

Very nice place just off the Royal Mile.

Best food and atmosphere we experienced in Edinborough. A late afternoon delight. Fish perfect, stayed flakey and warm throughout meal. Beef stew ... none better.

A nicely decorated place, nice atmosphere, friendly service... but that's all, the food is very poor 😕 ordered the Pâté de campagne which was actually a mousse, not particularly tasty, then a coq au vin, which was served in a bowl of ready made sauce, with some mash potato which tasted like the instant mashed potatoes... far from a French coq au vin! nothing better to say about the fish or the nicoise salad. Won't be back unfortunately

Good food, reasonable price, royal portion, lovely service. Food is on the richer side, quite filling.

Everything is wonderful here. The food is really fulfilling, the bread is good, the main course dishes were definitely worth it.

This place was solid, but of all the places I went on my uk trip not particularly memorable.

Update: Wow! That was fast. Now they all of a sudden want to talk after ghosting for a week. Perhaps because I posted a negative review. They indicated they tried to help me by requesting my banking information. Like no. You think I trust you with my banking information after all this????? It was a credit card payment, just void it. They claim that’s impossible. Anyway, I just disputed it in my credit card. I hope they do better for others. Initial Review: I don't write bad reviews. I usually just don't say anything if I don't have something nice to say. However, the people need to know about this restaurant. I had dinner during my visit to Edinburgh. My bill was 65 pounds. They charged me 650 pounds. I've given them a week to refund my money. They have not and have now resorted to not responding to me. Be very careful here. My job is not to play bank for a restaurant.

Excellent meal best we had in two weeks in UK. Beet salad was to die for. Beef stew and risotto both excellent. The ambiance in restaurant was top notch and service was perfect. Thank you for a great experience.

Great food and friendly service

Wonderful atmosphere, great food, amazing value - would highly recommend! We got a two course meal for $20 each, and it was a really great value. We were stuffed, the mushroom soup was fantastic. Also received fresh bread and butter for the table. The service was amazing as well, very helpful. Rick Steves recommends this restaurant when visiting Edinburgh and I’m so glad we followed his recommendation!

Delicious food and the service was great. Absolutely recommended in a top location. Très bien!

Excellent service and venue for a private event. Close to the Royal mile. Niki went the extra mile to help things run smoothly. He was very responsive, communicative and helpful. Many thanks to Niki and the rest of the team for their hard work.

The food was absolutely amazing. I ordered the mussels and oh my god, those were sooo good. The prices were pretty good (19,95 at lunch for two courses). Would love to visit this place again.

Fresh Seafoods, Beef Stew yummy

Hidden gem in the French embassy building. Good and fair price French restaurant with lunch specials 3 courses with starter, mains and dessert for only 29 pounds. Highly recommended

We had a late Sunday lunch and were pleasantly surprised to have the room at the back all to ourselves......it was like a private dining experience. The food was amazing and excellent value for money. I particularly enjoyed my Coq au Vin. Service very attentive without being intrusive. If you are on the Royal Mile, avoid the other tourist traps and head for the Bistro at the French Institute!

Very nice place with good quality food!

Great place highly recommended and very good food and excellent service and adequate price.

Really great find in city centre! Friendly service and delicious food at very reasonable price. Would definitely recommend

The best France restaurant Excellent food and service 🙏

A very quiet and calming restaurant where we didn't feel rushed throughout our meal. Service was pleasant and the food came out within decent time. Our issue was with the food. Saw many going for the mussels but it smelt horrid/stank when it came out. We didn't think much of it cause the lady beside us who ordered the same mussels didn't seem bothered by it (it was our first time trying mussels). However now we suspect that it wasn't fresh. Also had the pasta with prawn which now looking through the previous reviews, someone once got food poisoning from it. Which was what we had once we left the restaurant. What a pity, the pleasant service was ruined by the food.

My family and I had dinner at the bistrot celebrating my sister’s 18th birthday. Honestly we couldn’t have hone to a better place for this special occasion. The food was exquisite and every dish we ordered was 10/10. The staff, Niki and Costas, were the nicest people, helping us with everything and being so nice and approachable. I recommend this restaurant that is a 10/10 and couldn’t have had a better time there. Thank you very much for it, we will be back! :)

Lovely place to spend an evening with a friend. The food was good, service was friendly and the atmosphere was great. À bientôt.

This place was so lovely! I had been siteseeing at the Castle all morning. When I came out it was cold and drizzly, and I was hungry. I spotted Le Bistrot in the building of The French Institute. The atmosphere was quite cozy and comfortable, and a welcome respite to the busy, chilly streets. I warmed up with some cafe au lait and then had a lovely lunch of quiche, salad, mussels, and bread--with their prix fixed menu it was also quite affordable. I highly recommend it!

My father, who does not usually eat French food, was in heaven.

Had a great meal here last night. Staff super friendly. Lovely menu. Great portion sizes. Would highly recommend.

Service was perfect; wine was excellent with a very good selection. Dinner was prompt, cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. Save room for dessert… very yummy. First time here but not the last…!!!!!!!!!!!

Wish we would have had a better experience here. The restaurant itself is ok. Food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the steak, scallops, and chicken. The steak was under seasoned and over cooked. Scallops were over cooked to the point I couldn’t eat a couple pieces of them. The chicken was delicious and the sauce it came with was very delicious. Portions are on the smaller side. I would not return or recommend this place as a dining option.

Excellent location, beautiful location, everything perfect, only flaw: entrance that is not understandable if you enter a hotel, office building or... For the rest everything perfect. Very approachable waiters despite the high professionalism.

Delicious food and great service.

From the moment you walk into the doors of this lovely restaurant, you are treated like old friends. We are in Edinburgh for our honeymoon and this is the first evening meal we have been out for as married couple. We chose a french restaurant as we had wanted originally to go to Paris, but couldn't afford the Eurostar fare during school holidays. The Scottish weather continues to be absolutely predictable for April (freezing and raining), but the welcome we got from this restaurant warmed us up (as has the welcome we have had everywhere. We definitely didn't choose to come to Scotland for the weather, but the friendliness and scenic beauty speak for themselves). The food was absolutely delicious, the wine, absolutely lovely and the service was so kind and friendly from being seated to the end of the evening (they also make a stunning negroni). The lady on the embassy front desk even gave us some tips on where to visit during our Edinburgh stay. Highly recommend this restaurant.

We have been twice, for lunch and dinner. Superb plates, excellent service. Highly reccomended

My goat’s cheese and tomato quiche comes in a rich, collapsing, eggy slice. Thin with a meltingly short pastry crust. Requires no knife. Parfait. Ragoût de boeuf à la bière is the best I’ve encountered in Scotland. This is generous, hearty, homely food, everything cut chunky and holding itself together beautifully: big hunks of beef braised in beer, thick carrot coins, soft fudgy potato halves, earthy slabs of swede, plenty of not overly reduced tomatoey gravy, and a thin ring of oil around the edge to let you know it’s been puttering on a stove for many hours.

Cosy restaurant, quiet ambience for the location in the middle of the city. Very Delicious dishes, good prices and relaxed, super friendly staff!

Amazing experience, excellent service from the manager and the rest of the staff. Hats off to the chef, beautifully presented dishes full of rich flavours!

Wow…What a night. The service was amazing and they were really kind with everything. The food was delicious. Chapeau 🇫🇷definitely recommended 🇫🇷🇫🇷

French at the French consulate building...? How can I not go? Lunch 2 courses (starter + main or main + dessert) Starter recommendation - Calamari (fried squid) + soup (I was expecting onion soup, but...) Main recommendation - Ratatouille + Mussels

Excellent value for money for this establishment located in the heart of the Royal Mile, the city's main artery. Quality French cuisine. Smiling and efficient service. To discover without hesitation.

We enjoyed the beef stew, salad and soup of the day (potato soup). Service was great!

A small French restaurant. We enjoyed the mussels very very much, the scallop starters and salmon were also really really good. The Beef stew was spot on as well. Very convenient location to the touristy spots on royal mile. Quite small and cozy so booking is recommended.

On a repéré ce restaurant qui semblait intéressant, juste à côté du consulat français. Le soir on ce décidé d'y aller moi et mon pote, car sur Google Map c'était ouvert, une fois sur place on s'aperçoit que de la lumière et des clients sont a intérieur , donc on cherche ou est la porte d'entrée, 5minutes, 10 minutes, 15m après je décide de toque sur la vitre a extérieur la serveuse me fait comprendre que le restaurant est fermée. Donc blasé et frustré, on ce dit que c'est pas normal de mettre des informations d'ouverture quand le restaurant est fermé, car nous on a cherché comme des c** dans le froid, c'est pas respectueux...

The food was great, we went to dinner and were served by a Spanish waitress, Alejandra, who was wonderful. At all times explaining the entire menu and the dishes that we did not understand. He advised us very well, I definitely recommend repeating. We had the onion soup, hummus and beef ragout. Everything was delicious and the ragout meat was super tender. Price quality very good. The coffee was also very good, they had vegetable milk. Without a doubt 100% recommended

Me equivoqué con la elección de un plato y me sorprendió muy positivamente el trato del personal, que no nos lo cobró. Muy amables, serviciales y atentos. Todo muy bien presentado y carta amplia. Lo recomiendo!

Superb good and service on what seemed a quiet night which did not help the atmosphere

This was a great find on our recent trip to Edinburgh in the run up to Christmas. Staff were welcoming and most attentive. Menu choices were extensive and food was of the highest quality. Atmosphere in the restaurant was conducive to an enjoyable and indeed romantic meal! We hope to return. Highly recommended.

I have tried many french restaurants in my time but this is by far my fave and probably one of the cheapest also. I left a £20 tip for the staff who wouldn't accept as they said it was too much - after i insisted that the restaurant deserved it they gave me some free pastries to take home as a thank you

Pleasant service but food bland and tbh pretty mediocre, especially for around £20 main course average. House red tasted like the last of a two day old opened bottle. Left both.

Booked a table in advance for a Saturday a busy Christmas weekend in Edinburgh, they called up the afternoon before and cancelled it. No apology, no alternative given, the excuse was it's not our fault, it was the system. Poor attitude and behaviour

This is a gem of a restaurant. Lovely food at a great price.

After a long day travelling to Edinburgh, we went looking for a good restaurant and struck gold with le Bistrot. The food was flawless, and the service was very good. It was the best meal out I have had I in a very long time.

Authentically French food, served by friendly French waiting staff. A beautiful building and bistro-style dining room. Recommended.