Fringe and Food Fun.

With festival season upon us once again I decided to get a list together of my favourite restaurants in Edinburgh to remind myself which are worth a visit (and to make sure I don’t miss out this August!) Now, i’m no food critic but I know what I like and the restaurants below all offer charm, value for money and good food. Suggestions are welcome so leave a comment if you know of anywhere that can’t be missed.

Before I begin, if you’re wondering what show to see in the Festival have a look at Newsrevue for a hilrious (and slightly un-PC) take on, well, anything that’s in the news.

1) Thai Orchid
Excellent authentic Thai cooking from my no1 favourite edinburgh restaurant (and an award winning restaurant to-boot). Close to the castle for a nice walk before hand but tucked slightly out of the way so it’s not swarmed with crowds. “A restuarant near the Royal MIle but with parking near” I hear you cry but it’s true making it ideal post-festival when the weather turns to winter and we all stop walking anywhere!

2) Mamma’s Pizza
The best pizza around without a doubt. Also possibly the most adventurous…cactus or marshmallow pizza anyone? Right on the Grassmarket and with a load of outdoor seating it’s the perfect place to rest weary legs and partake in a little people-watching.

3) The Rutland Hotel
A night out in Edinburgh is ended perfectly with a stop at the Rutland hotel for macaroni before catching the train back to Glasgow! Being an upmarket restaurant/winebar/hotel, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t want to be thought of as a good place for macaroni but trust me, it’s the best.

4) The Elephant House
A unique (and always very busy) restaurant/cafe with views over the castle. Great if you can get it on a quieter day just to sit and read a book. A perfect place for wasting time. If you’re a literary fan then pay attention to who you’re sitting beside as according to the website J.K. Rowling, Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall-Smithhave all been previous visitors.

5) Laraz
Turn up on a Sat night and eat your meal with a live musical performace to accompany you. Food is excellent but the downside is you end up eating slightly more than you might anticipate…

6) Patisserie Florentine
Another good time-waster. Great location for a bit of rest after a hard days sightseeing up and down the Royal Mile. Hot chocolate’s not bad either, same can be said for the cakes, but if you’ve spent all day wandering the streets then you’ve already walked off a cake.

7) Gourmet Burger Kitchen
What can I say, massive burgers with inventive fillings and all about a foot high. Choose from the likes of Aubergine & Goat’s Cheese and Greek Lamb or if you don’t want to have a change there’s always a classic burger to opt for.

The Hawes Inn
A short drive north of Edinburgh but well worth the drive up there. Set in South Queensferry it benefits from not only excellent food but also a fantastic location.