You only have until Sunday to make the most of the current Dine Out Edinburgh promotion. Until then, you can enjoy some of Edinburgh’s best restaurants for just £15.95.
Dine Out Edinburgh is a celebration of Edinburgh’s fantastic restaurant scene.
Over 30 restaurants are taking part in the promotion and offering two or three courses, sometimes with a drink, for only £15.95.
You can book online using 5pm Dining and search through menus and user reviews to find the dining experience that best suits you.
Enjoy the capital with Dine Out Edinburgh
Below we have listed five restaurants that are quintessentially Edinburgh.
It’s a wee bit tongue in cheek and yes, we know that calling a restaurant list ‘quintessential Edinburgh’ is a very Edinburgh thing to do.
Don’t hate us.
Britannia Spice
Edinburgh attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists so what could be more Edinburgh than an Indian restaurant named after one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions?
Named after the Royal Yacht Britannia which is berthed nearby, Britannia Spice is located in a former whisky warehouse on Commercial Street in the old port of Leith. The restaurant itself is in ship-shape condition with rope ladders and ships’ helms carefully chosen to accentuate the maritime theme.
Britannia Spice serves multi-ethnic cuisine with dishes from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand. An AA Rosette for culinary excellence is the latest in a long line of awards.
As part of the Dine Out Edinburgh promotion, Britannia Spice is offering two courses from the a la carte menu plus a sundry dish and glass of wine for £15.95.
The tom kar gai soup followed by the harrey masaley ka gosht would be our preference. The latter is made with cubes of lamb cooked with mint and coriander plus other selected spices and garnished with green chillies and spring onion.
You can book into Britannia Spice via 5pm Dining.
MP’s Bistro
Obviously, Edinburgh hosts the seat of the Scottish government and, in the run up to the election, we can think of only one place where you might want to chew over constitutional matters: MP’s Bistro, part of the Parliament House Hotel.
A blend of two Jacobean and Georgian buildings, the hotel has many period features as well as an EH1 location which makes it very convenient for The Playhouse, Waverley, Multrees Walk and Calton Hill.
The team of chefs make everything in house from the oatcakes to the desserts. The menus change regularly but typical dishes on the a la carte might include the haggis and quail Scotch egg; oak-smoked salmon or the roast belly of Scottish lamb served with glazed shallots, carrots and a rosemary jus.
This visitor was keen to tell of her experiences on the bistro’s 5pm Dining page:
‘Excellent as always. Great menu with lots of choice and good sized portions. Well presented plates and very good house wine. Good service and pleasant staff.’ Rating 5/5
The Dine Out Edinburgh offer is £15.95 for two courses from the seasonal dinner menu. Book in via 5pm.
Le Monde
Edinburgh has its traditional howfs and it also has the rather more glam night spots of George Street. One very prominent George Street venue is Le Monde, a boutique hotel with rooms themed around eighteen different global cities.
Their restaurant offers a stylish setting for a casual bite. It also has a number of bars to enjoy a pre or post meal drink as well as the Shanghai nightclub where you can boogie away the sins of dinner, if you so wish.
The menus at Le Monde have a great selection of dishes which include Scottish and popular international dishes, all freshly made from local produce. Typical examples from the starters would be the crayfish cocktail and the heritage tomatoes with whipped goat’s cheese. Sample main courses include the pork belly and crackling with celeriac mash and the chicken, bacon and leek pie.
Their Dine Out Edinburgh offer is £15.95 for two courses on main menu plus tea or coffee. Le Monde can be booked via 5pm Dining.
Agua Restaurant – Apex
otland’s natural larder is at the heart of Agua Restaurant and the kitchen uses local produce to create Scottish dishes as well as choices which have a more international flavour.
the haggis bonbon with red onion jam and a whisky dipping sauce or the deep-fried brie with a cranberry glaze and herb salad.
The menus change regularly but typical starters might be
Main courses might feature pan-fried chicken fillet with potato and Swede mash, grilled spring onion and jus or the char-grilled sea bream with Puy lentils.
This guest enjoyed Sunday lunch at Agua:
‘Sunday lunch in the Grassmarket with a tremendous view of the Castle and looking on to a busy fair and vintage car show. Food was excellent , tasty, very well presented and served with an excellent bottle of house wine. Staff friendly and helpful . Very good value.’
The Dine Out Edinburgh offer at Agua Restaurant is £15.95 for two courses from the fixed price menu plus a glass of wine.
The Whistle Stop Barber Shop
Students are an integral part of Edinburgh and this American-style bar diner, located opposite the Old College quad, is a happy home for many of them.
Don’t look for a haircut at the Whistle Stop Barber Shop, but cocktails and classic American cuisine are served up in style at this inviting bar and diner.
Cinematic American touches distinguish the playful décor, with its scissor motifs, barber’s chairs and comfortable retro-style booths and banquettes. It’s the ideal spot for a little daytime laptop surfing or a relaxed post-work cocktail and meal.
The menu is packed with East Coast American classics, ranging from a wide selection of burgers, pizzas and sandwiches to all those intriguing Stateside dishes you’ve heard about from the movies. This is the place to encounter Philly Cheese Steak, a New England lobster roll, clam chowder and chicken fried in buttermilk batter.
The cocktail list also abounds with American pop culture references, with creations including a Coney Island Coaster and Superfly Mai Tai. Don’t be too surprised if you leave the Whistle Stop with a Brooklyn accent.
The Dine Out Edinburgh offer is £15.95 for any burger with fries plus a starter or dessert and a drink.
You can book into The Whistle Stop Barber Shop here.