Edinburgh has a thriving year-round theatre scene, and no evening away from the telly is complete without a pre-show meal near the theatre. Whichever of the city's main venues you're heading to, your pre-theatre dinner is hereby taken care of.
The Tollcross area is a thriving hub for eating and drinking, and your choices are plentiful. If you're heading to a classic drama, The Blackbird's menu includes staples such as mussels or beer-battered haddock and chips, with intriguing alternative options like grilled red mullet with asparagus. The cocktail menu is extensive, and if the weather's decent there's a decked beer garden to the rear where you can catch a few rays before trundling off to the theatre. If it's world drama you're into, check out Frontier, with American-inspired offerings like burgers and ribs as well as catfish and nachos, or Harajuku Kitchen, which offers a great range of Japanese dishes combining authentic taste with original presentations.
Traverse Theatre, Royal Lyceum Theatre and Usher Hall
Nestled within yards of each other off Lothian Road, you may be in the mood for a different menu depending on which of these three venues you're attending. The Lyceum and Traverse have eateries either attached to the building or run internally - Zucca is an independent Italian restaurant with direct access to the Lyceum's auditorium, whilst the Traverse's Bar Cafe offers variety of dishes including burgers, mac and cheese and tapas options. For something less familiar - perhaps to accompany an evening of contemporary drama - try Shebeen's heady array of South African inspired dishes, including steaks big enough to share, platters of ribs, potjie kos (beef stew) and bunny chow (curry served in a hollowed out bread bowl).
The Spirit of Thai, directly opposite the Lyceum, offers a refreshing selection of Thai staples for those whose cultural tastes may be a little more exotic, while an evening of classical music might be best paired with a meal from Castle Terrace, which boasts a fine dining menu bursting with regionally-sourced ingredients like Dunsyre Blue cheese, North Sea monkfish and Ayrshire ham.
If you're in the area for a ballet or an opera, serious dining may be required. A short walk away on George IV bridge you'll find The Outsider, with an intriguing menu of local produce cooked to perfection. You could also try Blackfriars, a small bistro nestled between the Royal Mile and the Cowgate, for a slightly off-the-beaten-track local favourite.
Before a night of big-name comedy you may prefer something casual and fun, in which case Kebab Mahal is a low-key purveyor of the city's finest curries, just around the corner in Nicolson Square. And while it may be hard to match a dining experience to an evening showcasing contemporary dance, you will find a fine array of spicy and delicious offerings at Ginger Restaurant or a Middle Eastern inspired menu at Nawroz on Potterrow.
Let your appetite might be influenced by your entertainment at this, the largest theatre in Scotland. Steak on Picardy Place does what it says on the tin, with a fine selection of rib eyes, fillets and sirloins on offer for those headed to a night of drama. Directly across from the Playhouse is Giuliano's, a vibrant and well-established Italian restaurant popular with groups en route to a West End or Broadway style musical. For something less familiar, try sampling a range of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine at Pomegranate before heading to the theatre.
Still hungry? See Time Out's guide to Edinburgh's best restaurants.