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Home - City Guide - Edinburgh - Food and Drink | ||
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Food and Drink Most people will have heard of haggis (chopped oatmeal and offal cooked in the stomach of a sheep). Other, less well-known specialities include cullen skink (fish soup), smoked haddock or salmon, and partan bree (crab with rice and cream). Baked goodies such as flat pancake-style scones, oatcakes and black bun (a fruitcake on a pastry base) are also recommended. World-famous Scotch whisky is the national drink - a visit to Edinburgh is not complete without sampling at least a dram of one of the country's single malts. Alternatives include the many locally brewed beers and lagers. In general, Edinburgh is a bon viveur's paradise, with more restaurants per head than any other city in Britain. The result is a wide variety of British and international cuisines available at a full range of prices. The main foodie areas include Leith, New Town (George Street) and the West End. Restaurants For a business lunch, try Chisholms, 10 Princes Street (tel: (0131) 459 9988), which serves fresh straightforward food with an international feel, and uses the highest quality Scottish produce. The atmosphere is relaxed, the surroundings are elegant and the cost is around £20 for three courses. An alternative is The Rock, 78 Commercial Street (tel: (0131) 555 2225), an award-winning restaurant based in Leith that prides itself on its Scottish-French menu. The grill section is particularly popular. Three-course meals cost £25-£35. For a first-class meal, try Duck's at Le Marché Noir, 2-4 Eyre Place (tel: (0131) 558 1608), which serves up classic dishes with an innovative twist in a warm, candlelit environment, for £25. It also has one of the best wine cellars in Edinburgh and an extensive range of digestives. The Tower, Chamber Street (tel: (0131) 225 3003), occupies the rooftop area of the Museum of Scotland and enjoys spectacular views of the city skyline. High-quality Scottish food costing about £25 for three courses, a stunning collection of wines, and a Seafood and Champagne Bar are among the delights on offer. The Atrium, 10 Cambridge Street (tel: (0131) 228 8882), is one of Edinburgh's most stylish restaurants and only one of two restaurants in the city to have earned a Michelin 'red M' for its cooking. The style is a mix of Scottish and French, traditional and contemporary. The average price for three courses is £20. Viva Mexico, 41 Cockburn Street (tel: (0131) 226 5145), is a cheap and cheerful alternative, with a meal costing from £15. Mexican food (generally regarded as the best in Scotland), Latin music and a lively atmosphere ensure a good time. Dial, 44-46 George IV Bridge (tel: (0131) 225 7179), is a popular, reasonably priced restaurant with a bold interior and friendly service. The Scottish food costs £6.95 for lunch or £10.95 for dinner. For really traditional cooking, try one of the three Howie restaurants at 208 Bruntsfield Place (tel: (0131) 221 1777), 63 Dalry Road (tel: (0131) 313 3334) and 75 St Leonard's Street (tel: (0131) 668 2917). Small and intimate, they serve the freshest of local foods in relaxed atmospheric surroundings. Dinner costs £16.95. Cafés Edinburgh has yet to develop the kind of café society that exists elsewhere in Europe, but many relaxed restaurants and bars are happy to accommodate customers who just want a coffee. Clarinda's, 69 Canongate, near the foot of the Royal Mile, is a very traditional café serving home-baked treats; as does the flagstoned Laigh Bake House, 117a Hanover Street. In stark contrast are Common Grounds, 2-3 North Bank Street, an American-style coffee house selling a wide range of coffees and croissants, and Catwalk Café, 2 Picardy Place, a trendy spot to see and be seen in. A popular student haunt is Elephant House, 21 George IV Bridge, with great views of the Castle and various board games (if the weather turns sour). Patisserie Florentin, 8-10 St Giles Street (with a smaller sister café at 5 North West Circus Place), is a typical French pâtisserie. Another favourite is Valvona and Crolla, 19 Elm Row, which combines a first-class deli with a café. The Filmhouse Café Bar, 88 Lothian Road, is the perfect place for a snack before a matinee film. |