City Of Edinburgh, Fish & Seafood Restaurant Guide

This “pretty little fish restaurant tucked away overlooking the expanse of the Meadows in south Edinburgh” has won widespread praise for its “deft and delicious cooking”. Chef-patron Phil White and his FOH partner Rachel Chisholm followed up by opening all-day spot Margot a few doors away in March 2024 – hailed by critic Chitra Ramaswamy of The Times as ‘the hippest café in the city’. Top Menu Tip – “the stand-out octopus”.

A “stylish” warehouse conversation sets the scene for some “good old-fashioned cooking” (based on “wonderfully fresh fish” that’s “good value” too) at this restaurant in the heart of the New Town. “Light years ahead of the restaurant offerings on St Andrew’s Square and in neighbouring hotels, reservations are needed as it’s mega-popular with locals” (if you can’t get in you can always head to the Leith original, or their spin-off Shore Bar and Restaurant, which also sits near Leith shore).

“Hidden behind scaffolding in a building just off the Royal Mile” on the George IV bridge, this well-established fixture is one of the most commented-on in the city in our annual diners’ poll and “a rare oasis of quality in Edinburgh‘s tourist centre”. The formula is a straightforward one: “a stylish modern interior and a buzzy bar compliment the professional service and serious cooking; ingredients are fresh and high-quality, and the wine list is sensibly priced”. The decor is “comfortable” if “slightly clinical” and “noisy” for some tastes, but the main take-away from reports is that this remains “a must-visit for seafood lovers”.

“The same quality of steaks that you always get with Hawksmoor, in a fabulous space in a great building” – feedback that suggests no dip in quality for this outpost of the well-known steakhouse chain (which most recently opened in Chicago). As with its London siblings, though, its middling ratings are a result of high prices and a slight sense of “hype”. Also “it’s a very big and striking room, but can easily feel a bit empty”.

With its imposing facade, stained glass, corniced ceilings, polished wood and brass, we maintain a listing for this busy Victorian institution (est. 1863 and nowadays run by the Metropolitan Pub Company) as much as a cultural experience as it is a culinary one. Seafood dishes and platters are the best choices here.

This two-year-old in the New Town from Dean Banks of the nearby Pompadour – “a chef who puts thought and local produce into the menu” – comprises a first-floor fish and seafood restaurant above a wine and cocktail bar. The “well-cooked and presented fish and seafood” would have attracted higher ratings but for one or two up-and-down experiences. Top Menu Tip – “the Arbroath smokie tart with seaweed crumpet was particularly good”.