The UK’s restaurant scene is thriving. From Time Out’s top London resto, Korean eatery Miga, to Brighton's Salt Shed (which officially serves one of the best burgers in the world) Britain’s culinary creativity is undeniable. But if you needed proof, TripAdvisor's annual Travellers’ Choice Awards deliver it in spades.
The awards, which have crunched the numbers (or rather, reviews) over the past 12 months, highlight the top one percent of restaurants listed on the site globally. And, this year, Edinburgh’s very own The Witchery clinched a spot on the podium, coming third on the ‘best fine dining restaurants’ ranking.
On the cobbled Royal Mile just steps from Edinburgh Castle, The Witchery is an atmospheric masterclass in Scottish cooking. Its menu balances indulgence and tradition, with classics like beef ribeye steak and lobster thermidor. The setting – a gothic, candle-lit interior straight out of a Victorian fever dream – is as much of an attraction as the nosh.
The top two spots in TripAdvisor’s list went to Fogón Asado in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Izakaya High Japanese Cuisine in Majorca, Spain. The Witchery was also named the sixth all-time favourite in TripAdvisor's 25th anniversary award, which celebrates the best restaurants across the site’s 25-year lifespan.
The UK’s presence on TripAdvisor’s 2025 Travellers' Choice Restaurant Awards doesn’t stop there. Across the eight subcategories, the nation’s restaurants make regular appearances. London’s Barge East featured in ‘one-of-a-kind’ restaurants, Casa Brazilian Rodizio in York ranked seventh in ‘best casual dining’, while The Kings Head in Marsham landed sixth for ‘pet-friendly' restaurants.
So next time you want to dine at a globally recognised fine dining establishment, you might want to reconsider booking that flight to Copenhagen or Paris – and look a little closer to home instead.
Find TripAdvisor’s full 2025 list of the best fine dining restaurants in the world here.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.