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Number One
Number One is the stylish and sophisticated chatelaine of Edinburgh's city-centre restaurants, all gold-and-velvet elegance with a Michelin star sparkling on her crown. The food is top-notch modern Scottish - choose from a three-course dinner for around £58 , or a six-course tasting menu for around £69 - and the service is just on the right side of fawning.
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Oloroso
Oloroso is one of Edinburgh's sexiest restaurants, perched on a glass-encased New Town rooftop with views across a Mary Poppins chimneyscape to the Firth of Forth. Swathed in cream linen and charcoal upholstery enlivened with splashes of deep yellow, the dining room serves top-notch Scottish produce with Asian and Mediterranean touches. On a fine afternoon you can savour a snack and a drink on the outdoor roof terrace while soaking up the sun and a view of the castle.
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Omar Khayyam
The Omar Khayyam is an old-fashioned Punjabi restaurant with attentive, waistcoated waiters, plush decor and an ornate fountain trickling away in the middle of the dining room. The food is always fresh and flavourful, ranging from old favourites such as chicken tikka masala to more unusual dishes like Kabul chicken (with chick peas, cumin and coriander).
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Pancho Villa's
With homemade salsa and guacamole, plenty of Latin American staff, and bright colours inspired by the owner's home town of Valle de Bravo, it's not surprising that Pancho's is one of the most authentic-feeling Mexican restaurants in town. It's also great value, with a two-course set lunch for around £9 .
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Petit Paris
Like the name says, this is a little bit of Paris complete with gingham tablecloths in red, blue and green, French posters and ads on the walls, friendly (often French) staff and French music. The menu includes classics such as escargots in Pernod and garlic, coq au vin and bouillabaisse . There's a lunch and early evening special including a plat du jour and a coffee for around £7 . A second branch in Old Town has outdoor tables in summer.
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Point Restaurant
The Point Restaurant's lunch and dinner menus offer exceptional value - delicious Scottish/international cuisine served by attentive, smartly clad staff in an elegant room with dark-wood furniture, proper linen napkins and Art Deco chandeliers. With a three-course dinner at around £20 and house wine at around £13 a bottle, reservations are strongly recommended.
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Queen St Café
The ever-popular café in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery bakes its own range of tempting cakes and scones, and serves a lunch menu (noon- ) of hearty home-made soups (such as roast red pepper and sweet potato, or more traditional leek and potato), salads and sandwiches.
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Rainbow Arch
It's always a sign of a good Chinese restaurant when you see members of the local Chinese community eating there, and you'll see plenty of them at the Rainbow Arch. The menu is more adventurous than most - look out for deep-fried minced octopus cakes - and even the standard dishes, such as lemon chicken, are a cut above the average Chinese restaurant.
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Restaurant Martin Wishart
In 2001 this restaurant became the first in Edinburgh to win a Michelin star. The eponymous chef has worked with Albert Roux, Marco Pierre White and Nick Nairn, and brings a modern French approach to the best Scottish produce, from lobster and smoked haddock soufflé to braised saddle of lamb. A set three-course lunch costs around £23 .
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Rhubarb
Rhubarb is as much a feast for the eyes as for the taste buds. The over-the-top decor of rich reds set off with black and gold and the sensuous surfaces - damask, brocade, marble, gilded leather - is matched by the intense flavours and rich textures of the food. Take your postprandial coffee and brandy upstairs to the sumptuous fireside sofas in the Tapestry and Leather rooms. There's a two-course lunch menu for around £17 . No public transport.
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Roti
This is no ordinary Indian restaurant but an intimate, minimalist space with low lighting, colourful drapes and the hot pink of fresh fuchsia flowers. The menu is intriguing, offering dishes that lie well off the beaten curry trail, such as lamb and mint broth with herb dumplings and Goan fish curry (sour, salt and sweet all at the same time).
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Shore
The atmospheric dining room next door to the popular Shore pub is a haven of wood-panelled peace, with old photographs, nautical knick-knacks, fresh flowers and an open fire adding to the romantic theme. The menu changes daily and specialises in Scottish seafood and game.
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Songkran
Be prepared for a squeeze to get into this tiny basement restaurant! The reason for the crush is some of the best Thai food in Edinburgh - try the tender yang (marinated and barbecued beef, chicken or prawn), the crisp and tart orange chicken, or the chilli-loaded warm beef salad. There are two branches - choose here for lunch, Songkran II for dinner.
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Songkran II
Songkran II dishes up the same menu of excellent Thai food as the West End branch, but in the more romantic atmosphere of a 17th-century town house, decorated with Thai paintings, statues and wood-carvings.
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Stac Polly
Named after a mountain in northwestern Scotland, Stac Polly's kitchen adds sophisticated twists to fresh Highland produce. The dining room, a cosy maze of stone-walled cellars, is formal but intimate, and dishes such as loin of venison with redcurrant and rosemary jus, or baked halibut with sorrel and asparagus, keep the punters coming back for more.
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Suruchi
A laid-back Indian eatery with handmade turquoise tiles, lazy ceiling fans and chilled-out jazz guitar, Suruchi offers a range of exotic dishes as well as the traditional tandoori standards, many with a Scottish twist. An amusing touch is added by menu descriptions translated into broad Scots ('a beezer o' a curry this...gey nippie oan the tongue').
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Sushiya
The neat, geometric decor in this smart little sushi bar - square hardwood tables with square black-leather stools and square light fittings, set against white walls, wasabi-green doors and brushed steel - is mirrored in the neat, geometric portions of market-fresh tuna, salmon, scallop and octopus prepared to order by the smiling Mr Yuen. Other options include teriyaki beef and chicken, udon noodles and ramen soup.
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Susie's Wholefood Diner
Susie's is a down-to-earth self-service vegetarian cafeteria with scrubbed wooden tables, rickety chairs and a friendly atmosphere. The menu changes daily but includes things such as tofu, stuffed roast tomatoes, cashew pie and Susie's famous falafel plates. BYOB, or try a bottle of organic wine.
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Sweet Melindas
With ingredients sourced from the fishmonger nextdoor and the vegetable market around the corner, and everything from the bread to the chocolate truffles handmade in the kitchen, Sweet Melindas offers a true taste of Scottish home cooking. The ambience is chilled and the menu concentrates on seafood, with at least one vegetarian starter and main.
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Thai Lemongrass
From the waiter's prayerlike gesture of greeting to the gold Buddha gazing down on the diners, everything about this restaurant feels authentically Thai. The rustic decor of terracotta tiles, yellow walls and cane tablemats makes for a relaxing atmosphere, while the rich and varied flavours of the food - fiery chilli, fragrant lemongrass, tangy lime leaves and sweet coconut - will keep you coming back for more.
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The Restaurant
It's worth heading west that extra mile to visit this laid-back little bistro. The decor mixes bare brick, wood and contemporary art while the menu takes Scottish produce and gives it a French, Mediterranean or Asian twist with dishes such as hot-smoked salmon with cucumber relish, and the signature dish of seared scallops with black pudding and sweet chilli sauce.
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Tower
Decked out in black leather, purple suede and brushed steel, and perched atop the Museum of Scotland building, this sleek, chic restaurant has hosted countless celebrities, from Joanna Lumley to Catherine Zeta-Jones. Grand views of the castle are accompanied by a menu of top-quality Scottish produce, simply prepared - try half a dozen Scottish oysters followed by a char-grilled Aberdeen Angus fillet steak.
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Urban Angel
A wholesome deli that puts the emphasis on Fairtrade, organic and locally sourced produce, Urban Angel also has a delightfully informal café-bistro that serves all-day brunch (porridge with honey, French toast, eggs Benedict), tapas, and a wide range of light, snacky meals including an original and unusual Scottish combination of smoked salmon and tattie scone.
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Valvona & Crolla
The menu at this bright and cheerful café, tucked away at the back of the famous deli, is based on family recipes from central and southern Italy such as penne alla puttanesca (pasta with anchovy, caper, olive and tomato) and sogliola con parmigiano al forno (lemon sole baked with Parmigiano Reggiano and cream). Fancy some wine with that? Choose a bottle from the deli on your way in and have it served at your table (around £6 corkage).
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Vincaffè
Foodie colours dominate at this delightful Italian bistro - bottle-green pillars and banquettes, chocolate- and cream-coloured walls, espresso-black tables. The food is straightforward but made with the finest-quality ingredients, ranging from superb antipasto to a fritatta di funghi (omelette made with Cremini mushrooms and dried porcini, Parmigiano Reggiano and parsley).
