Edinburgh is getting ready for its annual Fringe Festival. Throughout the entire month of August, the streets of the Scottish capital will be packed with art, music and culture. But all that entertainment is guaranteed to work up an appetite. So where to go for a bite in between events? From Michelin-star lunches to delicious Scottish beef: we have made a list of the best eateries.
At the top Edinburgh‘s spectacular culinary tree is 21212, the restaurant of chef Paul Kitching. Housed in a historic Georgian building on the lovely Royal Terrace, the restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2010. In addition to eating delicious meals you can also spend the night in one of the four royal hotel suites.
We are here to sample the five-course lunch menu. Kitching’s gourmet creations are colourful, playful and visually stunning: “You start feasting with your eyes,” our waiter explains. When the first course arrives we see he wasn't exaggerating. Five types of colourful merengue with flavours such as curry, plum and black olive are served alongside a soup of mixed vegetables topped with a red pepper foam. Next we are treated to a parade of culinary highlights. Kitching loves to play with textures, flavours and colour: soft versus crunchy, sweet versus savoury and many contrasting colours. The stunner is the magnificent dessert accompanied by a gigantic decorative mushroom.
Finding good festival accommodations is key and the Rutland Hotel more than fits the bill. The location couldn't be more perfect: in the heart of downtown, at the end of the Princess Street Gardens. The hotel features 12 boutique rooms and eight luxury apartments. There is no need to wander far for good food. The Rutland building is home to two renowned restaurants: Kyloe and The Huxley.
Get your day off to a good start at The Huxley. The comprehensive breakfast menu includes homemade pancakes with fruit, yoghurt with granola or a full Scottish breakfast with haggis, black pudding and sausages. Later in the day, the Huxley transforms into a lively bar that serves delicious burgers.
For the best steak in Edinburgh head to Kyloe, located above the Rutland Hotel. Kyloe is an old Scottish word for cattle from the Scottish Highlands. Here, guests don't order from the menu. Instead, your server will bring over a plank displaying all the steak options, followed by a passionate explanation of the different meats on offer. The selection will range from Wagyu beef to rump steak, all homegrown, right in Scotland. Following our server's recommendation, we order a bottle of Kyloe’s signature wine, Angus the Bull, a South Australian Cabernet Sauvignon that pairs fabulously with the steak. Indeed a delectable combination.
We are greeted with an enthusiastic “Bonjour!” as we enter l’escargot blanc, a twenty-year institution in Edinburgh. Chef Fred Berkmiller combines classic French cuisine with a Scottish twist. Mellow French chansons play in the background as our waiter explains that the restaurant only uses local products: “We only work with seasonal local ingredients”. L’escargot blanc boasts a loyal clientele that has been coming here for twenty years and it's easy to see why. The mushroom soup with lentils and truffle cream is delicious and the cod fish with mussels in a saffron sauce is finger-licking good. Bon appétit!
Cannonball is located right across from the Edinburgh Castle, at the end of the historic Royal Mile. You would think that this prime location spells tourist trap, but we can assure you that it's not! In fact, Cannonball is one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh and has for generations been in the competent hands of the Contini family. Their Italian roots have left a firm mark on the menu. In addition to amazing food, the eatery also boasts a drink list with more than 120 whiskies. We sat down to the five-course tasting menu with wine pairings and two different whisky's. In the evening the illuminated Edinburgh Castle in the background provides the most picturesque location.
Edinburgh's historic city centre is a famous for its closes, narrow laneways that run off the Royal Mile. One of the loveliest is Advocate's Close.
We were told that one of the best whisky bars in Edinburgh is tucked away in this alley. The interior is a mixture of exposed brick, unfinished wood and metal. The wall behind the bar is lined with shelves of whisky, more than 300 in fact! Guests may a sip a glass of pure whisky or try a whisky cocktail, whipped up by the best bartenders in town.
Our last culinary recommendation is the Stockbridge market. On Sunday mornings, this is the place in town for a gourmet breakfast, brunch or lunch. Local merchants line up their food stalls along a small square near the bridge across the Leith. This part of the city has its own unique ambiance. Soak up the rural, small-town feel along the water and its many bridges. After breakfast, stroll through the boutique-lined streets to The Dean Village, a former watermill town. Only a five-minute walk separates this quiet and peaceful spot from bustling Princes Street in the heart of Edinburgh. Get ready for a new culinary adventure!
