Leith, International Restaurant Guide

2022 Review: Launched in July 2021, Scotland’s largest food hall (and Edinburgh’s first) features a range of chef-led food stalls and restaurants. These include The Gannet East, Creel Caught, Erpingham House, El Perro Negro, east PIZZAS, Broken Clock, Joelato, Salt & Chilli Oriental and CHIX. Also houses Inverarity Morton’s boutique bottleshop.

“A six-course themed taster menu, that changes every six weeks!” is the “playful idea” at Nico Simeone’s national chain, whose two London branches (in Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf) are “great for special occasions, but also affordable for a regular monthly meal out to experience the different cuisines”. At such keen prices, it’s unreasonable to expect perfection and most diners acknowledge this: it’s “a clever, and obviously very popular, concept, albeit one where the experience can seem a bit manufactured”; “although it doesn’t always live up to expectations, when you get the right menu everything clicks into place”; so while inevitably it’s “hit and miss, it’s also great value”, and “for a fun evening it does the job well”.

2021 Review: “Get the best seats in the place” (at the back, which offers “beautiful views” of the castle) to make the most of a visit to this city-centre staple, also turning out “enjoyable” cuisine of a modern European bent.

Edinburgh’s only permanent street food market is entering its second year of operation and – with 700 seats near the Omni Centre – its 10 concessions promise a ‘casual global eating experience’ with rotating guest traders, live music and events. One visiting reporter from Bristol feels it’s “Really fun! Looks like a food court but the food standard is higher. Order by QR code, food is brought quickly by staff who keep the chaos in order. Brilliant idea, well-executed”.

Cam & Jude Laidlaw’s street-food business turned permanent on Edinburgh’s Southside continues to win a good rep: “really wacky, fun dishes. Asian fusion, but without the baggage. Great pricing and good drinks... It’s the perfect neighbourhood joint”.