In this small neighborhood with a lot of nightlife, you can choose from a wide range of foods, from fresh seafood to classic pizza. Are you looking for a place to dine in the center of Edinburgh? Finding the top Edinburgh Old Town restaurants might be difficult with so many options. This city neighborhood has everything from fine dining Scottish food to hanger-curing pub fare! To minimize disappointment, it is generally preferable to book ahead of time for evening dinners. Are you looking for a place to drink as well as eat? That covers our guide to the top 10 Grassmarket restaurants in Edinburgh.
Grassmarket Restaurants – Top 10 Food Places in Edinburgh
1. The Mussel and Steak Bar
The Mussel and Steak Bar has been serving locally sourced shellfish and steaks from its Grassmarket location for over a decade and is the place to go for great surf and turf.
Begin with fresh oysters on ice, followed by Scottish mussels cooked in white wine and shallots or a succulent sirloin steak. A high-quality seafood brasserie greets you on the cobblestone Grassmarket in the heart of the old town! The Mussel & Steak Bar provides freshly cooked shellfish and locally sourced Scottish steak every day.
2. Aizle
Chef Stuart Ralston and front-of-house queen Krystal Goff launched Aizle in 2014, exploring the notion of ‘bistronomy’: fresh local cuisine and casual environs, but with the type of tasting menu you’d expect in a far swankier setting.
The crew has recently relocated to The Kimpton Charlotte Square’s Garden Room. But their tried-and-true premise continues, with a board listing the newest items Ralston will utilise to whip up your six-course extravaganza.
3. Petit Paris
On a beautiful day or a rare mild evening, eat al fresco at the French restaurant Petit Paris and imagine yourself on the cobblestone streets of the city of love. On the menu, you’ll find classics like French onion soup, coq au vin, and crème brûlée.
This tiny French restaurant in Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket has delighted Scottish Francophiles with its Gallic sweetness for almost a decade. Petit Paris should be in every local’s little black book, from the grilled snails with garlic, parsley, and Pernod butter to the checkered tablecloths, whitewashed walls, bright alfresco patio, and international crowd.
4. Oliviero
Our Italian restaurant in Edinburgh welcomes visitors with a classically classy dining space ideal for an intimate dinner date and a family supper.
Oliviero is a tiny piece of Italy in the heart of Scotland’s capital city, serving everything from pizza and pasta to antipasti and classic Italian meat meals. Please choose a quality Italian wine to wash it all down, and leave space for a dessert-like tiramisu or panna cotta.
5. Agua
Located in the Apex Hotel near the Grassmarket, the contemporary Agua Restaurant and cocktail bar features an all-day menu of comfort cuisine and small plates.
A bistro-style cuisine including lots of Scottish products, such as haggis bonbons, beer-battered haddock, and Scottish steak, is on the menu. Their sleek and modern steak restaurant, tucked away in the busy Grassmarket, provides a tranquil location to eat beautiful meals in the capital. Eat and drink in luxury and comfort.
6. 52 Canoes Tiki Den
52 Canoes, located only a few feet away from the Grassmarket, is a maestro of unique rum-based drinks and delectable pub fares like nachos and burgers.
If you like rum-based beverages, you’ll almost surely want to say ‘Aloha!’ at this Melville Place tiki-themed basement pub. Aside from the oddly titled cocktails, 52 Canoes serves various ‘Polymexican’ cuisine. Consider Indonesian curries, breakfast burritos with meat and haggis, nachos, burgers, ribs, and fajitas.
7. Mamma’s American Pizza
Mamma’s, which first opened its doors in 1985, has been serving homemade, stone-baked pizzas for three decades. Diners may choose from more than 40 pizza toppings, and those following a gluten-free diet are not excluded.
They’ve been serving fresh, hand-rolled pizza in the heart of Edinburgh for over 30 years, so they know a thing or two about tasty cuisine! Their all-inclusive buffet has delectable selections for any diet.
8. Under The Stairs
They provide wines and beverages with a seasonal emphasis, a small but well-formed menu showcasing unique ingredients, and they try to promote local or small producers as much as possible.
Under The Stairs is a cozy and pleasant relaxing restaurant and bar located just east of the Grassmarket. They provide a contemporary, broad, and intriguing cuisine with many delicious vegetarian alternatives.
9. El Toro Loco
El Toro Loco is an independent family-run Mexican restaurant on Edinburgh’s scenic Grassmarket. El Toro Loco, authentic Mexican cuisine with various alternatives, is an excellent place to go for something casual yet great.
Breakfast burritos, quesadillas, and chili chocolate mousse are all available, all created by the same food-obsessed couple who manage Mamma’s Pizza.
10. The Grain Store
Gourmet food and fine wine have been served at The Grain Store on Victoria Street in Edinburgh for more than two decades. The beautiful and rustic restaurant offers a fantastic ambiance, and their inventive cuisine displays fresh Scottish products.
For 30 years, they have been one of Edinburgh’s best restaurants, delivering outstanding cuisine and excellent wine. One of Edinburgh’s most romantic restaurants, with soothing candlelight and ancient stone walls, this is the ideal setting to spend an evening with a loved one. The view heightens the distinctive mood over the gorgeous sweep of Victoria Street and the ancient West Bow, which is only a stone’s throw away from the castle.
Conclusion
Edinburgh is famed for its numerous great Grassmarket Restaurants, which blend in well with the city’s history, culture, and natural beauty. You can anticipate the finest and freshest local food, foreign ingredients and flavors, and creations from the top chefs in the area. There are so many opportunities to enjoy the finest of the city’s food scene, from top-quality meat and shellfish from around Scotland to imaginative plant-based meals that provide variations on the conventional. See which restaurants on the above list of Grassmarket restaurants in Edinburgh we think are deserving of your business if you’re ever in the neighborhood.