Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Edinburgh/Midlothian

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Edinburgh/Midlothian? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Edinburgh - Bucks Bar Grindlay Street

4.8

4.8 (477)

£25 and under

American

Old Town

About the restaurant

Welcome to Bucks Bar Edinburgh Grindlay St. We look forward to welcoming you!

The best free range buttermilk fried chicken you've ever tasted! New to Edinburgh, Buck's is a rock’n’roll bar specialising in authentic buttermilk fried chicken, seriously addictive Nashville hot chicken, cocktails, beers and Bourbon.

Live music every Saturday night!

40% Off Selected Cocktails Monday - Wednesday weekly offers
www.bucksbar.co.uk

Top review

Aisling

Dined 2 days ago

The food was excellent, all the staff super friendly and the service was excellent. We had Sasha and she was great. The vibes in the restaurant were great too

Nor' Loft

4.7

4.7 (382)

£25 and under

Scottish

The Royal Mile

About the restaurant

For those looking to sip on a tall glass of champagne or call out Sláinte with a dram in hand, and not forgetting the foodies looking to graze on seasonal small plates and sharing platters, whether you're a regular or here for the first time, there's something for everyone, all in our rooftop champagne lounge.

Top review

Melanie

Dined 1 day ago

Lovely experience for our Anniversary! Service was excellent with a smile 😊 Thank you

Edinburgh - Bucks Bar Hanover Street

4.7

4.7 (188)

£25 and under

American

New Town

About the restaurant

Welcome to Bucks Bar Hanover St. We look forward to welcoming you! The best free range buttermilk fried chicken you've ever tasted! Buck's is a rock’n’roll bar specialising in authentic buttermilk fried chicken, seriously addictive Nashville hot chicken, cocktails, beers and Bourbon.

Live music every Saturday night!

40% Off Selected Cocktails Monday - Wednesday weekly offers
www.bucksbar.co.uk

Top review

Christopher

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

Retirement do, first time for a few guys and they absolutely loved it, think you’ll have a few new customers, never fails to disappoint this place, food is utter brilliant

Down the Hatch - South Queensferry

4.6

4.6 (2704)

£26 to £40

Canadian

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

North American influenced food, with quality locally sourced ingredients!

Note that last bookings for breakfast are 11am and first bookings for all day menu are 12pm. This gives a chance to reset and get ready for our all day menu.

There are now parking restrictions within the marina, we will validate your parking for you in order for you to get your parking for free. Please give us your registration plate when you arrive.

Please note that we are currently cashless, card payment only.

Please note that we do not have toilets on site but there are public toilets a 2min walk across the marina.

Our outside area is covered and heated in the colder months. There is the chance of some side wind/rain though if it's blowing a hoolie!

We are family friendly, when booking that a buggy/pram counts as a cover - let us know. :)

Full terms: https://www.downthehatchcafe

Top review

Alex

Dined 1 day ago

Amazingly high quality food, friendly and fast service.

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Society Bar & Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (245)

£25 and under

Mediterranean

New Town

About the restaurant

Welcome to Society, where you'll find a warm and inviting atmosphere paired with efficient and friendly service. Our staff takes pride in making your dining experience enjoyable and memorable. Our delicious menu features a variety of breakfast choices, including the highly recommended Breakfast Bun. For those seeking an evening meal, we offer a delectable range of pizzas, salads, and a comprehensive selection of wines, beers, and cocktails. With panoramic views of Princes Street and St James Shopping Centre, Society provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing and tasty brunch, lunch, or dinner in Edinburgh. Plus, we're conveniently located near iconic landmarks like Calton Hill and just steps away from Edinburgh Waverley railway station. Join us and discover why our customers return time and again, eager to share the joy of their dining experience with friends and family.

Top review

Bianca

Dined 5 days ago

Great service, great food, and great location! 10/10 recommend!

Cold Town House

4.5

4.5 (1779)

£25 and under

Brewery

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

Craft beer brewed on-site, delicious Neapolitan pizzas and one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle from our Rooftop Terrace. Cold Town House is where it’s happening.

Best Beer Bar Winner at the Scottish Beer Awards 2021 & National Pizza Awards Finalist 2021!

THREE DIFFERENT AREAS

* The Brewhouse - Our main restaurant and drinks area is a cool wooden interior with references to beer throughout. It's all about atmosphere! Dog-friendly.

* Pizza & Prosecco Floor - A gorgeous interior on our first floor. Our microbrewery and pizza oven are on this floor, so you can watch our team in action as they cook and brew for you.

* Rooftop Terrace - Cocktails, beers and an exclusive food menu served under a glorious view of Edinburgh Castle. Our iconic rooftop is perfect for any outdoor occasion

Last bookings for food are at 8.45pm, later bookings will only be for drinks. Please note that our Terrace closes at 10pm daily.

Walk-ins welcome!

Top review

zoe

Dined 1 day ago

An amazing location, food was great and staff were really friendly.

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Experience

Brunch With Santa 2024

Experience

Hogmanay Roof Terrace Party 2024

Ragù Pasta

4.5

4.5 (9)

£25 and under

Italian

New Town

About the restaurant

Ragu Pasta is an authentic Italian restaurant located in Edinburgh specialising in fresh pasta, made daily in our kitchen. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with rustic decor and a cozy atmosphere. Our menu showcases 10 pasta dishes including our speciality, slow cooked ragus along side seasonal pasta specials, Italian classic side dishes and desserts. We believe in simplicity and showcasing our superior Italian ingredients and hand crafted pasta. We pride ourselves on providing a friendly and relaxed vibe making Ragu Pasta a great spot for casual meals from day to night. Conveniently located in the New Town of Edinburgh close to Princes Street, Rose Street and a short walk from Waverley train station.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 2 days ago

Small menu but everything was delicious and the staff were excellent, very helpful and friendly.

Hard Rock Cafe - Edinburgh

4.4

4.4 (4523)

£25 and under

American

New Town

About the restaurant

Hard Rock Cafe is a global phenomenon with 185 cafes that are visited by nearly 80 million guests each year. The first Hard Rock Cafe opened on June 14, 1971, in London, England, and from there the brand has expanded to major cities and exotic locations around the world.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

Good choice on the menu, every dish chosen- 5 of us- was good. Server, Lauren, Edinburgh, was absolutely charming.

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4.4

4.4 (3086)

£26 to £40

Steak

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

Every Wednesday, join us for ‘Steak Night Date Night’ and dig into an epic sharing steak for two with sides, sauces and a bottle of red or white wine chosen by our team of sommeliers from £70 per pair.

A short walk from Waverley station, just off St. Andrew Square, Gaucho Edinburgh is proudly our first Scottish restaurant serving Argentina’s best free-to-roam, grass-fed Aberdeen Angus beef, big Latin flavours alongside a premium wine list.

As you walk through the door of this contemporary, glass building you’ll be welcomed by sophisticated interiors, with textures and tones inspired by Argentina’s forests. Enjoy a drink in our cocktail bar or descend into our dining room for a relaxed working lunch or to entertain in our stunning private wine room. At the weekends, get a dose of social vitamins with our DJ hosted brunches and legendary Sundays roasts.

Please note: we currently do not accept OpenTable dining cheques.

Top review

Martinvip

Dined on Sep 12, 2024

The waitress was great. The restaurant is a little bit ton noisy for a conversation.

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Experience

Steak Night Date Night - £70/£80/£90 per couple

Boozy Cow

4.3

4.3 (634)

£25 and under

Burgers

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

We're all about big burgers, dirty fries, Milkshakes and cocktails that look as good as they taste.

We mainly use locally-sourced and fresh ingredients to create our food and know you'll love it as much as we do.
As you enter down the stairs into our crib, you'll be met with a punk and rock-inspired aesthetic (Good old 90's style dive bar). We don't take ourselves too seriously here at Boozy Cow, and our team is on hand to make sure you have a great time.

🚶 Walk-in only for Drinks Bookings
👦 No under 5s, 6-17 year olds welcome until 8pm
🐶 Dog-friendly
🚶 Walk-ins welcome
🍹 Bookings for food & drink and just drinks welcome
📅 Contact us directly for bookings of 8 or more

Top review

Kirsty

Dined on Sep 23, 2024

The food and service was all really great and there's a nice atmosphere in the restaurant. It feels nice and laid back with the features they have dotted about (burger challenge wall, graffiti on the walls, etc) but the waiting staff make sure you're taken care of 👌🏻

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