8 restaurants with great lunch deals in Edinburgh
With soups, steaks and Scottish produce, here are the best spots to grab lunch without having to splurge
Chez Jules Bistro
109 Hanover Street
French and fun, this lively city centre bistro has had a recent moment of online fame for its bargain lunch deal. That’s more than fair, particularly when you realise they add a perfectly dressed salad and a bread basket to the likes of French onion soup and skirt steak, all for well under £15.
Nobles By Bellfield
44a Constitution Street
Bellfield Brewery took over this Leith bar in early 2026, transforming both ethos and menu. A chalkboard now lists a rotating line-up of Bellfield beers and chef Hugh Brown (formerly of The Palmerston) delivers delicious food driven by local produce. Their workers’ lunch (Friday only) offers a main and a half pint for £14; a brilliant way to try it all out.
The Outsider
15–16 George IV Bridge
When a flat iron steak and glass of wine is what you need, this is where you want to be. There are few occasions that The Outsider is not equal to, thanks to an ingredient-led menu, a witty and well-priced wine list and cracking castle views. The lunch menu’s outstanding value is the cherry on the cake.
The Palmerston
1 Palmerston Place
The Palmerston has become a byword for meticulous sourcing and kitchen skills, all delivered with easy-going charm in a beautiful former bank. That you can sample all of this at lunchtime for under £25 for two courses is a bonus. Expect seasonal, nose-to-tail eating you’ll be talking about long past dinner time.
Stockbridge Eating House
7 St Stephen Street
Dale Mailley (of Gardener’s Cottage and The Lookout pedigree) goes casual and hits the bullseye in this tiny space. The daily-changing menu (think roasted grouse with girolles, grilled half lobster and chips) is first-rate, the vibe intimate (just 28 seats) and the set lunch is both generous and super-affordable.
Under The Table
341 Dundas Street
A tasting menu at The Table will set you back £110 per person, but their next-door basement bistro offers the same level of finery for a much more accessible prix-fixe affair, especially at lunch. Each dish, like buttermilk game fritters and chicken thighs with ratte potatoes, is packed with flavour and a delicious ode to Scottish produce.
Also try… Eleanore, for a laid-back prix-fixe lunch that’s also available for pre-theatre and Hawksmoor for a spenny lunchtime steak at a savvy price.
This TipList is taken from Eat & Drink 365, our sister mag recommending the best in restaurants, bars, cafés and more across Edinburgh. Want a copy? It’s available online or across all good stockists in Scotland’s capital.