The best restaurants in City Centre Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh and Lothian

Educated Flea now Bistro Coco - same horse, different jockey! Educated Flea has been taken over by the former Head Chef and is now known as 'Bistro Coco'. From the same premises with a similar style of cuisine, Bistro Coco continues to serve high quality food and is already building on its renewed 5* review rating via TripAdvisor. The King is Dead; Long Live The King!

Lovely place and staff really nice food.

Una experiencia fantástica. La pizza fue la mejor que he probado y nada como esa basura “nappy” de Nápoles que se hace tan rápido porque los chefs italianos necesitan hacer más pausas para fumar. La salsa Mutti es la mejor pero no tan buena como el guapo embajador de la marca escocesa Neill y su PA Catherine, que han creado un recuerdo que pone el nacimiento de mis hijos en segundo lugar con el sentimiento de amor que sentí después de mi comida. ¿Cómo lo hacen todavía en 2024 es la octava maravilla del mundo. Si puedes entrar te sorprenderás. ¡Vete!

I really liked the place. Very cosy and extremely helpful staff. I could easily use the restroom, pump milk for my baby and ask for water bottle refills. The haggis I bought was vegan one and it was quite yum. They have merchandise of hagis as well which was quite fun to see 😄

Gran comida, gran servicio. Disfruté viniendo aquí con mi familia antes de un espectáculo en la carretera. Tenía el cordero de la vieja escuela y estaba delicioso

The nicest BD in Edinburgh, I think. Service was awesome in the top bar on Sat 8th March

Ottimo tutto: penne all’arrabbiata, caponata e bruschetta. Servizio impeccabile: gentili e veloci. Ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo

What a cracking little bar. Friendly staff and locals.

Increíble noche para celebrar nuestro 25 aniversario de boda! La comida era increíble y el personal era atento, educado y conocedor tanto de la comida como de las bebidas para acompañar la comida. Gracias especiales a Nitin, Caitlin y Michael que nos cuidaron e hicieron nuestra celebración especial. También gracias a los chefs y el equipo detrás de escena!

Solid lunch spot. No bean burgers, actual vegan food 🖤

Fantastic restaurant for small sharing plates. Highly recommend the roasted aubergine with miso glaze!

What a gem! Market Street hotel is located right across the street from Waverley train station. We stayed in Great Britain for 21 days and the bed here at Market Street Hotel is ranked the highest. So COMFY. The room was well-appointed, the mini bar was stocked with drinks and snacks, the staff was so helpful/friendly, the room was spotless, and a fantastic shower. The location is perfect. It is so close to everything we wanted to do on this trip. Market Street hotel had everything we needed to enjoy our 3 days in Edinburgh. What a way to start our travels in Scotland. We would definitely stay here anytime we're in Edinburgh. Highest recommendations for this place ❤️

Great place with interesting events including those in Scottish Gaelic.

We ate here after a show at the Playhouse on a recommendation from a family member that lives in Edinburgh. The restaurant is spacious and light and the service is superb. Our waiter Gabriella was so patient with us (5 chatty females who hadn't seen one and other for a while) The menu had lots to choose from and on the whole the food was good, although the calamari wasn't great and although we ordered the tortilla medium it was a wee bit dry. The pork cheeks though were outstanding as was the paella. All of the portions were a really good size and great value for money, as was the wine. This restaurant could really cash in on its locality to the theatre but it absolutely doesn't. It also doesn't include the service charge as standard which is another absolute bonus in my eyes and the service was outstanding! This is an absolute gem of a restaurant in the current climate of excessive overcharging by most other restaurants. A definite worthwhile visit ✨️

Aizle – Seasonal Simplicity and Culinary Precision in the Heart of Edinburgh Among Edinburgh’s top-tier gastronomic destinations, Aizle confidently carves its own space—not by opulence, but through a focused, seasonal, and quietly ambitious approach to fine dining. Set within the elegant Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, this restaurant delivers a consistently inspired experience that speaks to both locals and discerning travelers alike. Location & Atmosphere: A Refined Retreat in the Heart of the City Perfectly located within the Kimpton Hotel, Aizle blends seamlessly into its luxurious surroundings, offering a retreat of calm, minimal elegance. The space is understated and contemporary, allowing diners to focus on what truly matters: the food and the experience. Whether you're seated in the sleek main room or, as we were, at the bar, the ambiance is intimate and thoughtful. Watching cocktails being crafted just a few feet away only adds to the immersive quality of the experience. Lunch Menu: Accessible, Creative, and Exceptionally Well-Priced Although we didn’t get a chance to sample the full dinner tasting menu, our lunch experience was more than enough to appreciate the culinary philosophy at play. Aizle’s lunch format is a clever offering: refined yet relaxed, creative but not overwrought—perfect for breaking up the routine of a day in the city. Dishes were both visually appealing and flavor-forward, combining seasonal ingredients with flair. The combinations were simple yet original, showing restraint in all the right ways. The format delivered an exceptional experience at a very reasonable price point, making it one of the best lunch options for anyone wanting a taste of high-end dining without committing to a full tasting journey. Cuisine: Seasonal, Scottish, and Exceptionally Balanced The name "Aizle" (a Scots word for a glowing ember) captures the restaurant’s identity well—there’s a slow-burning, thoughtful intensity to what they do here. Chef Stuart Ralston’s kitchen revolves around a harvest menu that adapts constantly to the rhythm of Scottish produce. Even within the shorter lunch format, the dishes were deeply satisfying. From the perfectly balanced small plates to the final course, the ingredients were allowed to shine—each combination clean, seasonal, and memorable. Service: Professional, Warm, and Attuned Service at Aizle was at the level one would expect from a Michelin-caliber establishment: polished yet personal, informative without pretension. Staff offered insightful guidance and warm conversation, enhancing the experience without ever interrupting its flow. Final Verdict: Elevated Simplicity in Every Sense Aizle is more than a restaurant—it’s a philosophy built around seasonality, minimalism, and precision. Whether you're stopping in for a spontaneous lunch or planning an indulgent evening tasting, the experience is one of understated excellence. If you're in Edinburgh and looking to experience something modern, seasonal, and genuinely distinctive, Aizle should be at the top of your list. It’s not just a meal—it’s a quiet revelation of what Scottish produce can become in the right hands.