Boozy Cow
17 Frederick Street
This unassuming basement entrance opens into a cavernous space with plenty of room for groups. The menu is crowd-pleasing too, but the smash burgers are the undoubted stars. Confidently seasoned with a hit of black pepper that lingers, they more than hold their own against sides like the (utterly filthy) loaded fries.

El Perro Negro
Bonnie & Wild, Level 4, St James Quarter
All sorts of awards and accolades have been thrown at this Glasgow-born cult favourite, now dishing up the goods in Edinburgh’s Bonnie & Wild food hall. The pick of the menu is a smashed patty, luxuriating in bone marrow and roquefort butter with black truffle mayo, called the Top Dog. Probably because it is. 

Fat Patty’s
Edinburgh Street Food, Leith Street
The buzzing Edinburgh Street Food venture has proved a big hit. Among its traders, Fat Patty’s brings thin Cali smash-style burgers to the table, with lovely nubbins of caramelised and charred meat, topped with pickles and addictive house sauce. Guaranteed to trigger finger lickin’.

The Lioness Of Leith
21–25 Duke Street
Burger Mama has ruled the roost at this Leith corner bar since 2018. With patties made from flank and skirt steak sourced from Findlay’s Of Portobello, their 6oz burger hits the sweet spot, served with cheddar, dill pickles and tangy mayo, all sandwiched in a brioche bun. 

Portobello Tap
87 Portobello High Street
The Tap draws a loyal Porty crowd with its Cross Borders brews, cool beer garden and top-notch burgers in a basket. No cutlery here; just grab it with both hands and bite into a nicely charred classic patty, oozing with mustard and ketchup, American cheese and sweet, fried onions.

Salt Horse
57–61 Blackfriars Street
With 14 draught lines and more than 200 cans and bottles, Salt Horse is beer nirvana for hopheads. While the drink options dazzle, don’t miss out on their banging burgers: 5oz smash patties, jazzed up with tangy burger sauce, monterey jack cheese and bourbon pickles. A winning combo.

Also try... upmarket chain Fat Hippo, tasty 7oz beef patties at The Black Fox or juicy old-school burgers at The Cambridge

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; main picture: Jo Laidlaw.