Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Edinburgh/Midlothian

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants 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!

La Garrigue

4.8

4.8 (2705)

£26 to £40

French

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

Opened in 2001 La Garrigue is a 2 AA Rosettes French restaurant located just a stones throw away from Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile and minutes away from Waverley train station with stunning views of Calton Hill.
The restaurant is themed around the culinary specialities of the southern regions of France offering hearty dishes such as Roquefort Cheese Soufflé, Fish Soup, Traditional Cassoulet and using the best of local produces as well as French ones. The wine list is extensive and is suitably representative of Languedoc, the largest of France's wine producing regions and has been awarded AA Notable Wine List for years.
Be ready to be transported to France as you come in, friendly and relaxed atmosphere mixed with chic yet casual surroundings.

Top review

Marjory

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Excellent food and service. Recommend it to everyone! The only (slight) problem was a noisy table adjacent to our one, making conversation difficult for one member of our group.

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4.8

4.8 (2149)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

Located on the top floor of the Main Stand at Edinburgh's iconic Tynecastle Park Stadium.

Sit back and relax as our team proudly present a celebration of seasonal ingredients and flavours in our recently renovated premises. From starters to desserts, every dish has been carefully crafted to showcase excellent local produce.

We’re a family-friendly restaurant with children’s menus available.

Since opening in 2020, we’ve become a favourite to locals and visitors alike - recently claiming a place in OpenTable's UK Top 100 Restaurants for 2023 and winning Best Restaurant in the 2023 Radio Forth Awards.

Our restaurant is open for breakfast seven days a week, and open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and dinner (last seating at 5pm on Sunday). Booking is essential.

Top review

Robert

Dined 7 days ago

We had a very good lunch. Service friendly and helpful and very good value food. In fact food was excellent

Merchants

4.7

4.7 (141)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Old Town

About the restaurant

Merchants serves Scottish cuisine in one of the most bustling areas of Edinburgh. Braised shin of beef, haggis and seared seabass are some of the dishes on an ever-changing menu, and the restaurant is happy to try and cater for any specific dietary requirements. Situated at 17 Merchant Street, Merchants Restaurant is proud to use fresh, locally sourced produce in its dishes. Historic Edinburgh Castle is a nine-minute journey on foot and Greyfriars Kirkyard a mere two minutes walk. Most importantly, we are dog friendly.

Top review

Anthony

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent meal from start to finish... don't usually do dessert, but the starter and main were so good that we wanted more. A hidden gem... that we would never have found without the app.

The Cavaliere

4.7

4.7 (745)

£26 to £40

Italian

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

A family fan restaurant for nearly 50 years, the Cavaliere is famous for our daily fish specials, home-made fresh pasta, our log-fired pizzas, with our tasty Italian style bread, you’ll be spoiled for choice.We have an extensive wine list all personally selected from the vineyards of Italy. We are a second generation family run business – with a strong ethos at heart, to provide excellent food and wines with service to match.
We are proud to provide an authentic Italian dining experience.

Top review

Julie

Dined 7 days ago

Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Service was quick and efficient and the staff were more than attentive. The decor is really stylish and seats comfortable. Will definitely be back.

Cardinal

4.7

4.7 (46)

£41 and over

Scottish

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

Cardinal is a relaxed fine dining restaurant from chef Tomás Gormley. Located in Edinburghs historic New Town Cardinal offers a modern approach to Scottish cooking.

With a wide range of local and sustainable suppliers at our doorstep, from our Lobsters and Crabs at Belhaven Lobsters in Dunbar to our vegetables and Native breed meats at Free Company Farm in Balerno we’re lucky to be taking advantage of Scotlands unique and unrivalled natural larder.

Cooking over coals helps add an extra layer of flavour to whatever we’re cooking on them, it’s more intuitive and engaging as cooks and we feel like that comes through on the plate.

Tasting menus are our bread and butter but we also offer a pre fixe three course.

Top review

Annie

Dined 2 days ago

We had the tasting menu and all courses were delicious. The ingredients were impressive and, from what I can remember, entirely locally sourced. Every dish was presented beautifully and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Standouts for us were: Oyster with Guinness and caper berries, the monk fish, lamb and lemon mousse pudding. The amount of skill that must go into crafting those dishes! Felt like good value for money.

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Experience

Tasting Menu

Experience

Seasonal Three-Course

Monteiths

4.6

4.6 (1989)

£26 to £40

Scottish

The Royal Mile

About the restaurant

Monteiths bar & restaurant is nestled in a fairy-lit close in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The award winning venue is located on the historic Royal Mile and combines chic cocktail bar with intimate restaurant. A favourite of locals and visitors alike, Monteiths is a must for relaxed dining and innovative cocktails.

Monteiths is by the team behind the White Horse Oyster Bar, and Chop House

Due to licensing restrictions Monteiths cannot accept children under the age of 5 at any time. Children aged 15 & under can be admitted until 10pm. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Top review

Alan

Dined 5 days ago

A great meal, as usual, at Monteiths. Made use of a voucher for 2. Menu was great. Starters of scallops and smoked haddock were excellent. Venison loin was incredibly tasty and finished with orange sponge with sauce and ice cream. Delicious. All washed down with a glass of red. Service was great although we did have to ask for the music to be turned down a little (not really a gripe though) A very good menu and a great place to eat.

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4.6

4.6 (3179)

£26 to £40

Steak

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

The Legacy Menu | 31 years | 3 courses | £31

You asked, we listened. We’re overjoyed to welcome back the unmissable Legacy Menu for the entirety of July. To pay homage to our rich history, we will be relaunching a special nostalgic menu featuring iconic dishes that have defined Gaucho’s journey. The menu includes highly requested plates from across our history, all in celebration of our 31st anniversary.

Just a short stroll from Waverley Station and steps from St. Andrew Square, Gaucho Edinburgh is our first restaurant in Scotland, bringing the finest free-range, grass-fed Aberdeen Angus beef from Argentina to the heart of the city.

We proudly celebrate Scottish produce, working with Campbell’s Meats, the world-renowned IJ Mellis cheesemonger and Mark Murphy fruit and vegetables. Of course, we have a cocktail using Irn Bru and are pleased to serve Stewart’s Craft Lager, brewed out of Loanhead.

Top review

Bill

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

Great service and food, only bottled beer no draught beer. Also 12.5 % service charge but overall great experience if a bit pricy.

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Luci's Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

4.6

4.6 (521)

£25 and under

Italian

Dalkeith

About the restaurant

AT LUCIS WE STRIVE TO KEEP OUR MENUS DIVERSE AND FRESH FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

Top review

Kerry-Anne

Dined 1 day ago

Food was good and the service was good. I would go here more, but I think it is quite over priced, especially their cocktails which are at town prices.

Commons Club Bar & Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (112)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Old Town

About the restaurant

The Commons Club Restaurant offers the best bites in Scotland. Where every plate is a culinary journey – from the cobbled streets of Edinburgh to the wild heart of the Highlands. Here, everyone ends their meal with an empty plate and a full heart.

Top review

TimVIP

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

The server was very knowledgeable and pleasant. It was a great dining experience in a wonderful location. Will come back if ever in Edinburgh again.

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Experience

Afternoon Tea

Celestia

4.6

4.6 (20)

£25 and under

Indian

Edinburgh

About the restaurant

At Celestia Edinburgh, we believe great food is more than just ingredients. It’s a story of tradition, innovation, and connection. Founded by a passionate restaurateur with deep roots in Edinburgh’s dining scene, our luxury Indian restaurant brings the rich flavours of India to your table, blending authentic recipes with modern culinary techniques. Every dish we create at Celestia Restaurant is a celebration of our commitment to exceptional Indian dining and warm Scottish hospitality in the heart of Edinburgh.

Top review

Sandra

Dined 7 days ago

Good food and such helpful staff. Curry heat adjusted to suit our taste and sauces excellent.

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