Culinary cultural experiences in Edinburgh

“THE BEST RESTAURANT IN ALL OF Scotland THE HOSPITALITY FOOD TASTE AND AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS IN PAKISTAN OR INDIA There is real magic in the chefs hands I recommend everyone go to The Guru in Edinburgh Mention DJ Kaps and you will be served Royally but they do that anyways Can't wait to come up and try the food again Big shout out to Waz and Adeela who have kept the dream alive Much Love Kaps”

“Review is for the space menu, aperitif and surprise course for £35- For the price I highly recommend! It’s easy to spend £30-40 on dinner in downtown Edinburgh, so you might as well do it in style! It is not a Michelin experience, but they do a very good job at getting as close as possible for the price. Try to come with one of their special deals :) ambiance was great and felt very upscale. The servers were all very very friendly, the service was speedy, we got fun explanations for each wine pairing and each course. Wine pairings were great and good value, definitely recommend for £30. Overall so fun and many yummy dishes, and didn’t feel rushed. They really try to surprise and delight you. I read some recommendations which say the portions are too small, I disagree with this. I was very stuffed when the desert course came (in combo with wine pairings). Some more detailed review on food quality for the corporate head who decides the menus, guessing this has nothing to do with the chefs at this branch as the food looks exactly like the promos for their London branch and was executed technically very well: - Surprise course was soooo fun in concept but too much gel-ing agent was used (maybe agar?) a bit gummy and not enough flavor. Great presentation! - gorgeous oyster course, perfect! -terrine could have been thinner in my opinion but very fun and flavorful course - folks at my table loved the potato, sauce was great. Due to egg it wasn’t a stand out for me - risotto course was yum and wine paired well - flat iron for me was best savory course of the evening, every element was so delish! Truly impressive course. Perfectly cooked meat, sauces were varied and delish -dessert was hands down best course, soooo gorgeous, perfect wine, no notes. My only sadness was not having enough room to finish the whole thing”

“This was a fantastic hotel in a very great central location to the west end and the main highways. The service was exceptional from all staff, particularly Alexander, who made our visit special. The food, two breakfasts and a dinner, were amazing and the bar was quaint. The room amenities were above board, including drinks, snacks, cleanliness and service. We will definitely stay here again when we return. Five star all the way.”

“We stopped there at Sunday afternoon just for one beer because of historical value. However, Kamil, Craig, Martin, Harri, Archie were so amazing and helpful that we spend there alomst five hours. We had such a great time and experince. We also got a option to try historical skittle alley. It was such a fun. So we highly reccomend to vist this place. Thank you for everything Marika, Zuzana and Kateřina.”

“Absolutely lovely experience in an old fashioned Hong Kong style cafe. Food was very homely, the tomato, egg and beef was perfectly done. The French toast was also on point. The owner was very friendly and super attentive. Would definitely go back.”

“Very friendly shop. I found everything I need when I am cooking Chinese Japanese or Korean. Good value for money”

“I did both the Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes tours in Edinburgh with Marie, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guide! She was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and full of passion for both subjects. Her storytelling was captivating and brought each location to life, whether it was related to J.K. Rowling’s magical world or the life and inspiration behind Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective. Marie made the experience fun, informative, and truly memorable. I highly recommend her tours to anyone visiting Edinburgh — she’s a fantastic guide who clearly loves what she does!”

“Excellent and delicious food. Great customer service and value for money. Ended my trip to Edinburgh with delicious meal and warm hospitality. A must visit place”

“Had a wonderful experience at Khartoum Cafe. The owner was friendly, attentive and created a lovely atmosphere. The food itself was delicious: so flavourful and balanced. I especially loved the Salata Aswad. Been past this place so many times and kicking myself it’s taken me so long to go in but now I have, I will definitely be back.”

“Fantastic store with lovely staff, all extremely knowledjable and with amazing recomendations. My only problem is that since I moved flats I cannot visit as often as I would like to ”

“An absolutely unforgettable first day in Scotland! Our guide, Ruth, was simply spectacular: full of historical knowledge, interesting facts, and, above all, a great sense of humor. Every stop on the tour was spectacular: from the Hermitage Forest, Dunkeld, the imposing Stirling Castle, to the breathtaking landscapes of the Highlands, everything was perfectly organized and well explained. Ruth managed to captivate both adults and children with the stories, and her passion for Scotland is contagious. The whole family loved the tour. We definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see the best of Scotland in a single day. Thank you, Ruth, for such a special day!”

“We booked a 2-hour Harry Potter tour in French. Our guide was very friendly, spoke excellent language, and had many interesting things to share about Edinburgh, its history, and the connections between the city and J.K. Rowling/Harry Potter. Our daughter was thrilled, and so were her parents. We also appreciated the addresses the guide shared with us verbally and via text message after the tour. We didn't have enough time to try everything, but the hot chocolate recommendation was a real treat! Thank you.”

“I have a lot to say - so if you have the time please take what I mention to heart. First, the greeting. A warm welcoming and very down to earth beauty took my coat and escorted me to the waiting area before the main dining area opened. Their wide selection of adult beverages was apparent by their wall of whisky and pamphlet of wine selection. After receiving my old fashioned, my beverage and I were escorted to the table where I had full view of the kitchen operations as well as the majority of the establishment. I opted to order the premier tasting, coupled with the abundantly knowledgeable barman who is going to school for distilling and brewing. Over the course of the night he chose pairings that would make the average whisky enjoyer cry tears of joy. The food spoke for itself. Each dish was incredibly unique with contrasting flavors and textures. I've lived all over the pacific but have never had fish as good as I did tonight. The veal roux that went with it was heavenly beyond belief. Lastly - I want to mention how great the staff was. Since I dined alone I had a lot of time to gander and watch their workings. Its almost incomprehensible how they manage their attention to detail when it comes to the diners, the communication between each other, and the overall timing for each table. I never felt too rushed, or that I was in need of anything. This experience was one I'll remember forever. Tom, thank you for hosting such a wonderful night.”

“A few weeks before our trip to Scotland, I started researching the best seafood spots in Edinburgh, and Locanda Di Gusti kept popping up as a top recommendation. I’m so glad I followed the reviews and made a reservation—it was hands down one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had. Located about a mile and a half from our hotel on the Royal Mile, the walk itself was charming, offering peaceful views of the less touristy side of Edinburgh and even the backside of the castle. But let’s talk about the real star: the food. We arrived hungry and started with a pasta dish to share, followed by the seafood bowl for two. This platter was a dream—octopus, clams, prawns, langoustines, calamari, and mussels—each bite incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavor. Truly the finest seafood we’ve ever tasted, and not even a hint of that overly “fishy” taste you sometimes get elsewhere. We finished with a couple of desserts and two lattes, which capped the meal beautifully. While the bill was on the higher side, every penny felt well spent for the quality, flavor, and experience we received. No regrets whatsoever—Locanda Di Gusti is a gem and absolutely worth the visit. Don’t miss it!”

“Outstanding food! - food is just perfect. Very tasty and it feels home made. - prices are very ok. Portions are very big. Recommend - suitable for a first date and also families or after work - toilets available, street parking only”

“Lovely cafe with reasonable prices. Good coffee and fresh breakfast. Thank you”

“stopped in here 45 minutes before close on a monday night. a few pastas were sold out but still had options to choose from. we ended up with delicious salmon stracciatella pasta dish and a toasted focaccia panini. both hit just the right spot for a quick bite to eat before more adventures in edinburgh. filled us up without feeling overfull. boys behind the counter were extremely nice. for dessert we had a delicious cannoli to top it off, absolutely would come back here again. great quality at an unbeatable price. p.s. get the chinotto, a delicious refreshing italian soda”

“Best meal I had in Edinburgh. The menu was so tempting I had to have three courses — at lunch. The server was wonderful too, with her excellent recommendations and general welcoming vibe.”

“We had the most exquisite meal here; family friendly too! They catered for our six year old son by frying a fillet of cod and serving with triple cooked chips. He absolutely loved it. Somehow they manage to be extremely warm, friendly, professional and formal at the same time. We would honestly come back every night if we could.”

“Absolutely delicious food and excellent service. Ingredients were fresh and of great quality. Amazing value for money, really filling and nutritious. Was nice to get a takeaway wrap to eat in the nearby park as there wasn't much space inside.”

“After travelling for 4 months, we were hanging for some good Japanese food. This place was everything we wanted. Fresh sashimi, great sushi rolls everything was excellent. The restaurant has beautiful decor and the service was attentive. Would highly recommend.”

“We really enjoyed our dinner at Pho Viet. The stir-fried vegetable noodles were delicious, and the ambience felt authentically Vietnamese with lanterns and soft, dim lighting. Friendly prices, great flavour—excellent value and a must-visit.”

“Honestly I loved this place. Taco Tuesday is half price tacos and for that I’ll be back. I had the halloumi tacos and thought they were delicious, crispy and tangy. My friend had the sweet potato with added beef, and the beef tacos and they were also very flavourful.”

“A superb place to hike; you can find many highland cows there in their wild, natural habitat. Be prepared to walk there off-road as the tracks finish as you go higher and higher. Would recommend taking hiking shoes as you have to walk on slippery or muddy surfaces. A coat is also highly recommended as it is very windy at the top.”

“Really exceptionally good food in a unique style. Each tapas dish was very different but all amazingly tasty. Great veggie options too”

“A great selection of small plates with Asian inspired flavours. The wild boar and bacon dumplings, pigeon with haggis and hot chicken were our standout dishes. Make sure you make a reservation, we watched them turn away a few walk-ins.”

“The risotto was delicious and everything else we ordered was very tasty! Can really recommend.”

“Great value for money (for Edinburgh standards unbelievable!!) Tasty, reliable wraps! Amazing place for a quick, easy lunch. Would recommend 10/10”

“Syriana made this fantastic buffet for our family gathering of 16. The food was superb, Every pallet was catered for. The most popular was the humous & mixed shawarma humous. Highly recommend if wanting excellent service and price.”

“Authentic Neapolitan pizza place in the heart of Leith (Edinburgh). Really good choice of sides and appetizers. Quality ingredients and scrumptious Neapolitan pizzas. A must for any pizza lover.”