Just minutes from Princes Street in the heart of the theatre district, Edinburgh’s West End is home to some of the city’s liveliest bars, many of which serve up top quality food. We’ve listed our picks of the best gourmet bar food in the area with not a pork scratching in sight.
The Westroom
][1]Chefs at The Westroom in Melville place cook traditional Scottish classics with a twist; mussels are served in a white wine, shallot and cream broth and haggis is stuffed in spring rolls and served with a plum and ginger jam. British classic fish and chips with pickled onion and tartar sauce is served in a bag, just like at the chippy.
20% main menu discount at The Westroom when booking on 5pm.
Sygn
][2]Tucked away down Charlotte Lane, Sygn is not the sort of place that shouts too loudly about its presence. However, as one of Edinburgh’s hipper bar and kitchens, it is well worth seeking out. As well as an inventive range of stone-baked pizza, including one with pulled lamb, peas, sweet onions and Parmesan; they have a mighty burger selection and a gourmet choice of cleverly named haute dogs. Chargrilled wraps and salads add to diners’ what-to-choose dilemma.
15% kitchen menu discount + cocktail at Sygn when booking on 5pm.
Ryan’s Cellar Restaurant
][3]Head downstairs at Hope Street’s Ryan’s Bar for Ryan’s Cellar Restaurant, considered by many to be one of Edinburgh’s best kept secrets. Enjoy the ambience of live piano music while you tuck into the restaurant’s Scottish influenced menu which includes their 35 day aged steaks from the Borders – served with chunky chips, the cuts available include the 8oz larder trimmed fillet to the 16oz T-bone. A must for the meat lovers.
£11 for main course on fixed price menu + craft beer or glass of wine from Ryan’s Cellar Restaurant when booking on 5pm.
Whigham’s Wine Cellars
][4]Seafood lovers are spoiled at Whigham’s Wine Cellars, a popular Hope Street wine bar. The seafood platter includes a selection of langoustine, oyster, clam, tiger prawn, shrimp, mussel, smoked mackerel and trout, and other seafood options include Cullen skink soup, smoked Scottish salmon and oysters, fresh from Loch Creran. If seafood doesn’t float your boat then Whighams has plenty of other options such as the Ayrshire baked honey and mustard ham salad or the ever popular rare roast beef salad made with silverside from the Buccleuch estate.
£15 for 2 courses on prix fixe menu + glass of wine at Whigham’s Wine Cellars when booking on 5pm.
Ghillie Dhu
][5]Located on Rutland Place in Edinburgh’s West End, Ghillie Dhu is set over three floors in spectacular surroundings. It boasts an auditorium for events such as their hugely popular ceilidh nights, a spacious bar with occasional live music and sports on big television screens, as well as a welcoming restaurant serving Scottish fare in hearty portions. The menu is Scottish focused, with dishes such as haggis neeps and tatties, baked fillet of Scottish salmon and Cullen skink.
2 for 1 main courses from Ghillie Dhu when booking on 5pm.
For more dining offers in Edinburgh’s West End, check out our Piece of my City Edinburgh West End page.