‘Scran’ is the old Scots word for ‘food’. Historically, it was used to refer to food of ‘an inferior quality’, but these days, we’d argue that’s no longer the case. In fact, we can bet you’ll find all sorts of delicious scran to get your teeth stuck into when visiting the Scottish capital – you probably won’t know where to start.
Edinburgh’s food and drinks offering is well respected, with a buzzing hospitality scene that attracts some of the best chefs in the country. What’s more, many new, exciting ventures have popped up since the pandemic, offering everything from super-fresh seafood and gorgeous local produce to daring twists on international flavours and innovative plant-based dining.
So whether you want to go all-out with an elaborate Michelin-starred meal or would rather fill up with some loaded focaccia at a mouth-wateringly good sandwich shop, the city has you sorted. Here’s our pick of the top restaurants in Edinburgh, which are all well worth your attention (and bellies) if you’re on a trip up here.
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This guide was last updated by Time Out’s features editor Chiara Wilkinson, who is originally from Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.