Places to eat and drink near Brown's Of Leith and Leith Shore
Feeling hungry during festival season? Here are our top food and drink picks
Bars
Diggers Leith
7 Bernard Street
An offshoot of the long-established Gorgie original (The Athletic Arms, known as The Diggers), this traditional pub is excellent for cold pints and single malts. It’s a small space but does a well-priced pint with beers on tap from local breweries and an impressive wall of whiskies to choose from. They also sell proper pub pies.
The King’s Wark
36 The Shore
The King’s Wark’s history spans smugglers and royalty. Dating back to the 14th century, the building was originally designed as a storehouse and armoury for James I before taking a turn as a plague house and then wine merchant. Now, the pub is all about real ales and fresh seafood in a laid-back, casual atmosphere.
Nobles By Bellfield
44a Constitution Street
Good pub, good beer, good food: it’s surprisingly rare to find all three done well so all hail this reboot of a well-loved bar by local brewery Bellfield. A chalkboard lists a rotating line-up of Bellfield beers and chef Hugh Brown (formerly of The Palmerston) delivers a menu driven by local produce. Dishes are simple and hearty yet full of flavour and interest.
Port Of Leith Distillery Bar
11 Whisky Quay
You don’t have to book the fascinating distillery tour to have a drink in this smart skyline bar which makes the ideal spot for a pre or post-dinner dram. The views of the city and docks are outstanding, as are the whiskies and cocktails; try a flight to experience the best of modern Scottish distilling.
Roseleaf
23–24 Sandport Street
A strong contender for Leith’s friendliest pub, this brilliant all-day hangout has a tasty and pun-tastic bar food menu. Think big burgers, truffled macaroni cheese or steak frîtes with skin-on chips. The Sunday roast is a highlight: purists might be disappointed that the beef comes fully cooked in the middle, but there's no denying that the trimmings are exactly as they should be.
The Ship On The Shore
24–26 The Shore
This excellent seafood restaurant also hosts a gorgeous bar that’s just fancy enough to scratch the elegance itch. Get there early on sunny days to bag a spot on the terrace, where oysters, fizz and a range of creative spritzes flow. Good old-fashioned hospitality and a slice of Leith history in one.
Teuchters Landing
1a Dock Place
This unpretentious, good-looking bar has local beers on tap including Paolozzi lager and Moonwake IPA, brewed just a few yards away. Outside is a generous riverside beer garden and heat lamps, with warming mugs of stovies and a particularly fine whisky range to keep you nice and snug if the weather turns.
Three Marys
63–65 Henderson Street
With dark floral décor, stained-glass windows and plush velvet seating, Three Marys is a lot lovelier than your average boozer. Better still, the cocktails are cracking, the local beer selection is strong and there’s frequent live music by local jazz bands. Charcuterie and cheese platters are an ideal accompaniment to an evening in this neighbourhood favourite.
Cafés & Quick Bites
Ardfern
10–12 Bonnington Road
A wee bit off the beaten track (and right next door to sister restaurant The Little Chartroom), Ardfern is worth seeking out at any time of day. That’s thanks to a thoughtful all-day-into-evening menu that hits all the spots all the time, including an oyster happy hour and brunch until 5.30pm on Sunday.
Browns Of Leith
4–6 Shore
An achingly cool, flexible space in an old metalworking building, housing three great places to eat: Haze for morning coffee and pastries then tinned fish and natural wines later; Civerinos for New Haven-style thin, crisp pizza; and Shuck Bar by ShrimpWreck for oysters and local seafood.
Café Domenico
30 Sandport Street
Domenico’s has a sandwich bar at the front and a traditional Italian restaurant at the back. Pick up loaded focaccia to go or pull up a chair for a menu of Italian favourites, including chicken saltimbocca, venison ragù with tagliatelle, and gnocchi with burrata and basil pesto.
Razzo Pizza Napoletana
59 Great Junction Street
Don’t ask for pineapple: the pizza toppings at Razzo are straight outta Napoli. The small restaurant is dominated by a huge copper pizza oven and the sourdough pizzas are among the best in the city. The Napoletana is hard to beat: simply crushed San Marzano tomatoes with anchovies, capers, basil and oregano. Delivery drivers buzz in and out, but you won’t care.
San Ciro’s
148 Leith Walk
Napoli rules at this spot which has quickly moved up the hotly contested pizza rankings in Leith. On the menu are delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas with classic toppings and a few more out-there specials (like smoked mozzarella, bacon, pineapple and chilli jam). Share hot arancini or crisp calamari while you wait. Service is chatty and fun, and the takeaway and restaurant space are divided so it’s easier to settle in for the evening.
Toast
65 Shore
With sunny window seats and outdoor tables, Toast makes Leith feel almost Mediterranean. The brunch menu helps too, with avocado toast, halloumi focaccia and generous plates of huevos rancheros and shakshuka. Later in the day, explore the wine list with the last of the rays.
Williams & Johnson
1 Customs Wharf
Delicious Williams & Johnson coffee is available across Edinburgh, but it’s best enjoyed at the source in this contemporary roastery and café. The airy room leads into the vibrant Custom Lane exhibition space or take a sunny table by the river. Don’t miss the homemade sourdough pastries.
Restaurants
Barry Fish
62 The Shore
From the cheery welcoming wave from the eponymous Barry as you enter to the very last bite, this stylish green-hued restaurant gets everything right. Unapologetically fish-forward, ‘big snacks’ serve as sharing plates or starters and always include their take on trout pastrami, or head straight to mains for the likes of lobster agnolotti in a rich brown butter sauce.
Cutting Chaii
18–20 Salamander Street
It’s slightly off Leith’s main drag, but Cutting Chaii is worth seeking out for a for a low-key Indian feast inspired by the traditional Iranian cafés and food carts of old Bombay. Designed to share, the street chaats are a speciality. Try chickpeas steeped in Darjeeling tea or fried fish and crushed samosas with chaat masala, yoghurt and chutney.
Dùthchas
187 Great Junction Street
Entering Dùthchas from bustling Great Junction Street is like entering another world, one dedicated to foraged ingredients and Scottish game. If the six-course tasting menu doesn’t work with your show schedule, their ‘wee’ (three-course) alternative or precision à la carte lunch is worth the diversion. The little space is packed with plant life, a fitting backdrop to picture-perfect plating.
Fishers Leith
1 The Shore
This handsome and historic building is home to some of the best seafood around, served without fuss or pretension. Whether you’re pushing the boat out with a whole lobster or bass, or want to keep it simple with the classic ‘Fishers Favourites’ (fishcakes, soup, mussels and the like), this is a spot for all seasons.
The Lighthouse
Fingal, Alexandra Dock
Evoking the old-world glamour of an ocean liner, you don’t need to come in a tux to eat here. Fingal is Edinburgh’s floating hotel with accompanying restaurant and bar. The hammered-metal ceiling reflects light around this beautiful space and makes everyone look, and feel, a bit more special. Afternoon tea is particularly recommended.
Nami
63 Shore
From the sisters behind Mimi’s Bakehouse, this friendly Asian-inspired restaurant is bringing something fresh and fun to Leith diners. At Nami, share dishes of miso-grilled fish, shiitake dan dan noodles and very moreish Korean fried chicken. Reasonably priced and family friendly, Nami fills a hungry gap on the Shore.
Tapa
9 Shore Place
A spacious tapas bar that has been keeping diners happy with piled plates of patatas bravas, pimientos de padrón and hot gooey croquetas for years. Lunch deals are good value and it’s a fun place to go with a big group.