Places to eat and drink near Teviot
For bars, light bites or hearty meals, here are the top places to stop by between Fringe shows
Bars
The Bow Bar
80 West Bow
The Bow Bar has a sort of magical force-field around it that repels the Potterheads and TikTokkers that swarm Victoria Street on the daily. Inside, it’s the same as it’s always been: a quietly traditional bar with one of the best whisky collections in Edinburgh, the odd pie at lunchtime and not much else. Bliss, in other words.
The Devil’s Advocate
9 Advocate's Close
Plunging down or up Edinburgh’s closes is an exercise in travelling hopefully; thankfully the vast whisky collection which gleams amber and tawny behind a huge, steel bar is ample reward for the steps. The food’s along the lines of classic Scottish and the covered outdoor terrace has heaters for an al fresco dram even on a dreich night.
The Gilded Saloon
47 Lothian Street
Launched for Fringe last year, The Gilded Saloon has more than earned its stripes as an all-round venue thanks to an elevated pub grub menu that’s quite simply stonking value. The bar’s good looks are part of the draw, as well as the large outdoor terrace, but it’s the huge pies that are the talk of the town.
Paradise Palms
41 Lothian Street
This funky, friendly and inclusive bar has long been a List team haunt. Antojitos Cantina have recently taken over the kitchen, with a flavour-packed vegan Mexican menu making yet another reason to settle in for the night. The cocktails are good and if you fancy going retro, their French Martinis are the best.
The Royal Dick
1 Summerhall
Summerhall’s house bar is a Fringe hub, but its quirky vet-school curiosities and traffic-free courtyard attract locals and show-goers year-round. Dick's Scrannary dish up burgers and pizzas, with drinks from in-house brewer Barney’s Beer and distiller Pickering’s Gin. Try the frickles: dill pickles in an Irn-Bru and Barney’s Beer batter combo.
Sköll & Hati
3a Merchant Street
This new Norse-themed bar/café leans into the exposed brick and dark corners. From The Cocktail Geeks team, the immersive touches like axe heads plunged into the walls and the odd death mask are done with a light enough touch. Naturally, the cocktail game is strong with a refreshing focus on low and no-alc alternatives.
Zero Zero Wines
18 South Clerk Street
Natural wine and funky ferments are the order of the day here. The name is a nod to the amount of intervention, so it’s one for wine adventurers. Try something unusual while snacking on charcuterie, olives and prettily packaged tinned fish.
Cafés & Quick Bites
10 To 10 In Delhi
67 Nicolson Street
A (very) unassuming shopfront leads to a riot of colour on the walls and ceiling as well as on the plate. Super-reasonable, especially if you stick with the veggie options, this wee Indian café will send you on your way with a full belly and a sense of gratitude that quirky spots like this still exist.
Civerinos Slice
49 Forrest Road
With half a dozen branches in the city, Civs has become a byword for reliable pizza that doesn’t break the bank. Their nearby spot in Hunter Square does pasta, but Forrest Road is all about slices (great for a quick pit stop) and thin New Haven-style pies. Always fast and always fun.
Fruitmarket Café
45 Market Street
This stylish gallery café couldn’t be closer to the train station and it’s a lovely, peaceful spot to start your day. Breakfast handily runs until noon and lunches go beyond the run of the mill, with interesting toasties, good veggie and vegan choices, and creative soups. There’s a great bookshop too.
The Gruff Goat
19–20 Teviot Place
Is this the best shakshuka in the city? Maybe. The eggs are runny, it leaves a spicy tingle at the back of your throat and the tomatoes are fresh. Joining the shakshuka on the menu are other brunch classics and a selection of hot and cold mezze, leading into burgers, pasta and the like in the evening.
Sichuan House
37–39 George IV Bridge
Noodle dishes lean heavily towards thick, filling udon with intriguing ingredients like golden needle mushrooms. Focusing on flavour from northern China, so chilli heat and intense spice are a given. It’s a brisk, in and out place, popular with Edinburgh’s Chinese community which tells you everything you need to know about its authenticity.
Söderberg Pavilion
1 Lister Square
You’ll find a bunch of Söderberg bakeries around town, all of them worth a visit for a quick morning cardamom bun and strong Swedish coffee. The Pavilion is the one to head to if you want to linger though. Set in a quiet courtyard away from the traffic and open into the evening, they serve sourdough pizza and interesting salads.
Union Of Genius
8 Forrest Road
If you just need a speedy lunch to sustain you between shows, without too many choices and certainly without any faff, then this is the kind of place you need in your back pocket. This tiny soup café is a perfect spot to refuel: nice folks, soup, salads, coffee, in and out, quick bite, done right.
Restaurants
Beirut
24 Nicolson Square
This surprisingly commodious casual restaurant pioneered mezze-style dining in Edinburgh. Dips and starters are hearty and come with their excellent bread, while skewers of lamb and chicken are generous, smoky and well-seasoned. A simplified lunch menu translates to a choice of five platters, all with hummus and bread.
Divino Wine Bar & Restaurant
5 Merchant Street
This basement wine bar and restaurant serves dishes from across Italy, with an excellent wine list that you’ll want to linger over. Expect linguine pasta tossed with chilli, tomato and king prawns, and Puglian burrata with grilled peppers. A bottle-lined private dining room makes it a strong choice for groups.
Kim’s Mini Meals
5 Buccleuch Street
Kim’s has earned a bucketful of love from students and locals over the years, thanks to serving sizzling bowls of excellent bibimbap, topped with a traditional raw egg (and instructions in how to eat it, if necessary). No bookings, no takeaway; show up and queue to feel like you’re eating in someone’s living room.
Khushi's
61 Forrest Road
The Khushi name holds a lot of sway with Edinburgh’s diners, given they opened the city’s first Indian restaurant back in 1947. Still family-run, this new, shiny incarnation is a big and buzzy spot, with comfy booth seating ready for settling back in as you peruse a menu that hits all the classic notes.
The Outsider
15–16 George IV Bridge
Yes, their lunch menu remains among the best bargains in town (where else can you eat for under a tenner these days?) but it takes more than a lunchtime crowd to keep a place ticking over these days. The Outsider’s formula is simple: bistro classics, laid-back vibes, good-looking space, quirky wine list.
Satoru
45 St Patrick Square
Japanese cuisine as it should be: a select menu specialising in one delicacy. In Satoru’s case, it’s tempura and udon noodles. Light and crisp battered prawns and vegetables are the stars, topping warm bowls of thick noodles. Décor is simple yet effective, just like each perfectly presented dish.
Sen
41 West Nicolson Street
With deep-blue walls and glowing golden lanterns, everything about this place says ‘relax’. Sen specialises in Vietnamese dishes mainly from Nam Dinh province. Get hands-on and roll your own rice paper rolls (the grilled prawn mousse cooked on sugar cane is a must) or slurp down slippery turmeric rice noodles with chicken and prawns, bursting with lemongrass. Great veggie options too.
Uncle Tiger
3 Bristo Place
Cam Laidlaw (of the much-missed Junk) is on the pass in this new pan-Asian restaurant. It changes menu every six weeks, with each rotation taking inspiration from a specific country or style of eating. So, for example, you might find yourself tucking into Japanese izakaya, or a menu inspired by Hong Kong’s night markets.
Main picture: Skӧll & Hati.