Edinburgh has always attracted admirers. The poet John Betjeman thought that ‘Edinburgh is the most beautiful city in Europe’ while Charlotte Bronte waxed lyrical about the place calling it ‘a lyric, brief, bright, clear and vital as a flash of lightning’.

There is also something rather romantic about Edinburgh. Perhaps it is all the little secret courtyards and hidden vennels that give it an air of mystery. A number of its restaurants have some of that mystique about them. If you are looking for an intimate dining venue then the following all have an ambience which is conducive to dining a deux.

Cafe St Honoré

Tucked away on a cobbled lane off Thistle Street, Cafe St Honoré would not look out of place in Paris. Chequered floors, wine boxes and a marble topped bar all give it the air of a Montmartre bistro. While the looks may be sultry and Gallic, the food produced by Head Chef Neil Forbes is steadfastly Scottish and sourced as locally and sustainably as possible. This blogger would happily be seduced by a dish of ruby veal breast served with gremolata, Arran mustard cabbage and buttered mash.

£18 for 2 courses on cafe classic menu – more offers & menus here

L’Escargot Bleu

L’Escargot Bleu on Broughton Street is another restaurant with a certain je ne sais quoi. With a little Piaf in the background and vintage French drink ads on the walls, Fred Berkmiller’s restaurant has a definite French accent. The menus are packed with dishes such as duck confit, snails en croute and pike quenelles. Although the food is a proud demonstration of Fred’s culinary roots in Tours, the restaurant has strong ties with respected local producers such as Gartmorn and Sunnyside Farms.

£12.90 for 2 courses on daily specials board – more offers & menus here

Restaurant Mark Greenaway

If Fred’s dishes are often classic in conception then the food at Restaurant Mark Greenaway is more playful. Mark is a chef who enjoys creating dishes that tweak his diners’ expectations. An example might be his contemporary take on cock-a-leekie soup served in an all glass vacuum filtration coffee maker.

Since appearing on two series of the Great British Menu, the chef has a burgeoning media profile. However, this doesn’t stop him from being in the kitchen each day to prepare dishes like his Bourguignon style monkfish served with carrot purée, crispy pancetta and braised octopus in red wine butter sauce.

£17 for 2 courses on market menu – menus & offers here

Rafael’s

Over the years, many diners have enjoyed the cosy atmosphere at Rafael’s. The basement restaurant is not huge but the tables are carefully spaced out and it feels intimate rather than cramped. Chef patron Rafael Torrubia serves a menu of Mediterranean dishes, often with a distinct Spanish flavour. It is a laid back, friendly operation and Rafael often emerges from the kitchen to chat with his customers.

The menu changes every day but typical dishes might be the duck, fig and pistachio nut paté or the pan-fried tenderloin of pork served with a delicate Calvados sauce.

£22.50 for 2 courses on dinner menu – menus & offers here