The word 'gastropub' is so overused these days but this establishment certainly deserves that tag.
Have been here many times before and as usual it did not disappoint. Good food, friendly service and great value. There is a wide choice on the menu (and on specials board).
My wife had lentil soup as well as mackerel pate with oatcakes while I had the homemade burger. Portion sizes were big and together with two drinks only set us back £22.
This place never seems to be in various restaurant listing publications but it is well known to people from the Leith area as a place to be treasured.
Kitchen open 10 am - 10pm.

44 Queen Charlotte street, EH6 7EX Edinburgh
+44(0)131 554 1979
www.facebook.com/thecompassleith
Google map: bit.ly/z5Zxmi

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Good location for food and drink. The menu while on the face of it looks like a typical bar menu is inventive. You'll find things like rabbit burgers and pheasant on the menu that you wouldn't normally find in a bar. The food is very much moving towards 'gastropub' territory.
On Saturday nights the bar is packed as they have live music. Even when it is quieter it is nice to sit down with a nice pint.
Family friendly.

www.noblesbarleith.co.uk/
44a Constitution street, Edinburgh EH6 6RS
+44(0)131 629 7215
Google map: bit.ly/z8TeR1

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Right in the heart of the shopping district, the ‘Place to Eat’ at John Lewis in the St James Centre, is a great place for a bite to eat. It might be in the middle of a department store, but the food is good and the restaurant has stunning views out across the city if you can elbow your way to a window seat.

www.johnlewis.com
St James Centre, Edinburgh EH1 3SP
+44(0)131 556 9121
Google map: bit.ly/ux1yCS

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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If you’re near to the Royal Mile you could try the little Turkish treasure Café Truva. The hot chocolate is to die for, and the place just charming. The danger is you’ll make yourself so comfortable you’ll forget all about the Christmas shopping.

www.cafetruva.com/
251-253 Canongate Eh8 8BQ
+44(0)131 556 9524
Google map: bit.ly/rM6LCm

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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Henderson’s Vegetarian Restaurant at 94 Hanover Street provides anything from light snacks to a full meal – and with its location just minutes away from the charming George Street, it’s a great place to rest your feet and tuck into a hearty healthy lunch. There is a gorgeous deli and shop too – the perfect place to stock up on gifts for foodie friends.

www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/
94 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DR
+44(0)131 225 2131
Google map: bit.ly/tPQ6vi

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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They say drinking tea is a British obsession. Well, it certainly is an obsession of mine.

As autumn weather blows into the city, I can think of nothing better than taking shelter in a teashop and lovingly wrapping myhands around a good old mug of tea. And I’ve found a new tea-shop, and what a cracker it is too.
Eteaket is hidden just minutes from the busy Princes Street but provides a welcome relief from the chains that dominate the high street.
This ‘tea boutique’ is quirky and charming - and there’s not a teabag in sight. Hand-picked tea leaves and more types of tea than you could ever dream up – this quaint yet funky tea room also does a fine range in accompanying cakes.
The etiquette here is to sit back and enjoy your cuppa, so why not give a try. The earl grey comes highly recommended. As does the scone and jam now you come to mention it.

www.eteaket.co.uk/
41 Frederick St, Edinburgh EH2 1EP
+44(0)1312262982
Google map: bit.ly/mUQ6Ot

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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Sometimes a fry up is exactly what the doctor ordered. This is a super little no frills, no fuss, ‘clean as your Grannie’s kitchen,’ café on Leven Street. Large mugs of builder’s tea for less than the cost of your bus ticket. Try a ‘tattie scone’ for the full Scottish breakfast experience.

27 Leven Street, West End , Edinburgh EH3 9LH
Google map: bit.ly/nWMZYO

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If a fine and inexpensive cup of coffee is the potion that you require, then head up to Nicholson Street and pull up a pew in this little café, alongside the totem poles and pot plants.
Free wi-fi means you can stay in touch with the outside world as you hibernate in a warm corner.

www.blackmed.co.uk
2 Nicolson Street, Southside, Edinburgh, EH8 9DH
+44(0)131 557 6269
Google map: bit.ly/r6PRM9

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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This little gem defies the scourge of the Royal Mile and is actually good. Genuinely friendly staff delight in serving you their latest fresh offerings.
Feel your hangover disappear with their delicious bacon roll, or enjoy a Scottish breakfast of smoked salmon and bagels.
Plenty of suitably de-toxing teas to go around.
Watch the crowds rush by along the Royal Mile from your own spot in the window. You really will wish it was always Sunday.

www.alwayssunday.co.uk
170 High Street, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh EH1 1QS
+44(0)131 622 0667
Google map: bit.ly/oiHPDJ

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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Wonderful authentic Vietnamese restaurant in the centre of Edinburgh.
Though small, the food is superb and great value.
Run by a young woman from Saigon so you can be sure of its authenticity.
No drink licence yet but its BYOB with only £1.50 corkage fee.

3 Grove Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8AF
+44(0)131 228 3383
www.vietnamhousescotland.com
Google map: bit.ly/gDo6ov

Just off Morrison Street, a stone's throw away from Haymarket Railway station.

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Honest food at honest prices. "Real" beef or chicken or bacon burgers, traditionally with bun or healthily with salad, with thick shakes...or Fentimans Ginger beer, and on the Roral Mile,too. Rightly poular with families, locals and tourists.

217 High Street, Edinburgh
Google map: tinyurl.com/3y697ea

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There are many pubs with great music in Edinburgh and the first I visited was the "Sandy Bell's" on Forest Rd: really nice atmosphere thanks to the good traditional music played by anyone who would an instrument! But the best thing about this pub is that you just need to cross the road to find the fantastic "Monster Mash" where you can enjoy traditional dishes like haggis, neeps and tatties, at least four different kinds of mash and much more. Large choice for vegetarian as well! All served in huge portions for a low price. If you want to treat yourself and you love fish, you really have to go to the "Fishers in the city": located in 58 Thistle Street, this restaurant is perfect to appreciate the fresh local fish served by friendly and polite staff. A bit pricy but worth it: main course, dessert and a bottle of wine for £60 (for 2people). I consider it my best experience at eating fish in the UK. At the Kalpna (2/3 St Patrick Square, 0131 6679890) you can enjoy a totally different taste of Indian food: believe me, nothing to do with what we are use to! The prices are reasonable but the place is always packed so I suggest you to book in advance. I went for lunch in a lovely canteen, “Susie’s Wholefood Diner”(51-53 West Nicolson Street), where you can have the best vegetarian food; perfect to feel better after a few days of greasy food! Most of the customers are students/teachers so I would suggest you to go a bit earlier to avoid a huge queue. At last the “Bow Bar”, 80 West Bow: this is what I consider a REAL pub. Very friendly staff (it was the only time I didn’t feel myself a tourist),good choice of real ales, well kept, and a selection of 150 Scotch whiskies.
Enjoy!!!!!!

Google map: tinyurl.com/37xex7j

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The Blind Poet is a small cosy pub with comfy, sink-into sofas and a friendly atmosphere. A great place to watch the footy, listen to Wednesday night’s regular live band or test your brain in the Sunday night pub quiz, its walls are scattered with famous quotes while the gents is famously adorned with clippings from certain popular men’s mags.

Below is Khushis Diner, a local institution, which produces fine and original curries at reasonable prices . Bright and buzzing, it’s a perfect place for a good catch up or a pre-show bite to eat and the open kitchen just adds to the atmosphere. There’s a huge selection of homemade curries on offer but it’s hard to resist the temptation of old favourites cooked to perfection such as their sweet, coconutty lamb korma.

Khushi’s BYOB policy means you can bring your own wine, or better still a cold pint from the Blind Poet upstairs. A perfect combination before heading next door to sample some free festival comedy in the Counting House.

Blind Poet Pub,
32 West Nicholson Street,
Newington, Edinburgh
Khushi's Diner
32B West Nicholson Street
Newington, Edinburgh
0131 667 4871, khushisdiner.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/2vrrcrk

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An avid festival goer of many years and an Edinburger, my hot tip for the Festival has to be the Mussel Shack at the Spiegel Tent venue. It's an outdoor seafood bar, lit up with sparkly fairy lights, in picturesque Princes Street gardens at the foot of historic Edinburgh Castle. You really are amid the spirit and energy of the festival and Edinburgh itself.
Try mussels marinere with fresh homemade breads or with frites, hot-smoked salmon in a crusty roll and oysters on ice with fresh lemon or tabasco. All washed down with cider or chamagne! Or you can sit at what feel like impromptu candlelit tables, taking in the atmosphere in the heart of the festivals greatest venue.

This year at Assembly at Princes Street Gardens. A stone's throw from Waverly train station.
oysterboys.co.uk
google map: tinyurl.com/34sf96h

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A relatively new addition to Thistle Street in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town, the Bon Vivant is a relaxed and cosy restaurant and bar which serves very reasonably priced food. Starters and deserts come as regular portions for around £3 or ingeniously as 'bite' sized for £1 each. The menu changes daily and the staff are always friendly.
55 Thistle Street Edinburgh, EH2 1DY
0131 225 3275 bonvivantedinburgh.co.uk

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Toast is a small and friendly cafe in Marchmont, a pretty and largely studenty area away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. As well as dinner in the evenings there is breakfast and lunch, and on weekends they serve brunch, which is a real winner! It includes not only the breakfast options (full scottish breakfast, croissants, waffles etc), but also delicious sandwiches and french toast. Portions are generous (order something with goat's cheese and you won't be disappointed!) and prices are very reasonable - as a student it is my favourite local eatery, and not only when the parents are visiting! The walls are filled with various art works giving it a low-key warmth, and the walk to get there from the town centre is a very pleasant one across the Meadows. Booking is not essential if you don't mind a few minutes' wait for a table.
146 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1AQ
01314469873
edinstudent

146 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1AQ
0131 446 9873
google map: tinyurl.com/39r3ebf

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This small Turkish restaurant a few minutes' walk from The Pleasance is ideal for tucking into some pre or post-show food during the Festival. The atmosphere is friendly and lively, whilst the food - in the form of platters of mezze followed by Turkish coffee and baklava - is fantastic and very reasonably priced (its also BYOB which helps to keep the cost down). There is often live music later on in the evening and, if you're really lucky, the owner will entertain you with his own guitar-playing skills (albeit he's only learned a couple of chords so far!)

24 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SU
0131 466 0100
empirescafe.wordpress.com/
google map: tinyurl.com/34fc78y

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Chop Chop has to be the best Chinese restaurant ever! The dumplings are to die for at this family friendly, family run business. If you visit Edinburgh you have to visit Chop Chop. Right next to Haymarket Station. PS: they've just opened one in Leith.

248 Morrison Street Haymarket Edinburgh EH3 8DT, +44 (0)131 221 1155
www.chop-chop.co.uk
Google map: bit.ly/b1DPeu

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Since our grandson went to the university we have got to know Edinburgh better and he showed us this coffee house and restaurant. It is where JK Rowling wrote her early novels, sitting in the back and it was also frequented by Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith. So this should be enough inspiration for buddibng writers but the ambience is also great and the home made imaginative menu is even better.They serve home made lasagne, pannini's some with mexican flavours and even haggis, neaps and tatties. What more could you want?
It can be very busy so do not be in a rush but it is well worth the visit.It is clear that lots of the students spend their very precious grants in here.

21 GeorgeIV Bridge, Edinburgh.

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The Terrace Cafe is not only in one of the UK's most beautiful botanic gardens, but it also boasts one of the best views of Edinburgh. As you approach the terrace suddenly a panorama of the city appears in front of you. The cafe served the usual hot and cold, something-for-everyone fare. I had a memorable first date at the Terrace Cafe, escaping the bustle of the Edinburgh Fringe. Use the Arborteum Place entrance (West Gate) to the Botanic Gardens, which are about a mile from the city centre.

20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh
www.rbge.org.uk
tinyurl.com/2wquvg9

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