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Reviewing in Edinburgh & beyond since 2003
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Edinburgh does lunch properly — from neighbourhood cafés turning out sharp, seasonal plates to counter-service spots where you can be fed well in under an hour. Bite’s Lunch section gathers the city’s most reliable midday options, whether you’re after a quick bowl of something comforting, a glass-and-a-plate at a wine bar, or a longer, quietly indulgent break in the middle of the day. These are the places we return to, the ones that respect your time and your appetite, and the ones worth planning your afternoon around.
Where a Leither Eats
After two decades living on the Walk, Tracy Griffen has learnt that Leith’s best food isn’t always found in the newest openings. In this article, she identifies the long‑standing, weekday‑reliable spots that keep the neighbourhood fed. Leith is a hotbed of culinary talent. It’s tempting to rush around and try all the new openings, which means many established eateries get ignored. I’ve been living in Leith for over 20 years , and here are my favourite places for reliable, af
Tracy Griffen
Feb 233 min read
Umi: A Taste of Tokyo in Edinburgh’s West End
Minimalist, warm and quietly confident, Umi delivers a lunchtime escape where precision, comfort and serious flavour meet—at prices that feel almost implausible for the West End. We tumble into Umi on a chilly February lunchtime. With its minimalist wooden décor and cosy booths, it feels like a neighbourhood eatery you’d find down a side alley in Tokyo. The light wood, soft lighting and gentle buzz of conversation set the tone: this is somewhere you can happily linger over
Lea Harris
Feb 222 min read
The Grouse & Claret - old school cooking and country comfort done properly
Between Kinross and Balado, tucked just off the M90 along a potholed private road, sits The Grouse & Claret . Opened in 1992 by Vicky and David FuTong , it’s a restaurant that has held its ground for more than three decades by serving classic dishes with the occasional Asian flourish. Set among meadows and lochans, the place feels almost suspended in time. We arrive on the first crisp, sunny day after what feels like weeks of relentless rain; snow still clings to the distant
Sharon Wilson
Feb 142 min read
Schiacciata Superpower in Stockbridge
Edinburgh is deep into its sandwich renaissance — a city happily obsessed with bread engineering and filling integrity. We have seen Wahaca team up with local dough deities Twelve Triangles for a Dusty Knuckle special; The Alby roll into The Spence with a bespoke breakfast sanger; and Mootz rocked up in Stocky late summer circa 2023, after research in Florence and Brooklyn ready to hand you a sandwich so gigantic you briefly reassess your life priorities. Mootz, co‑owned by A
Sharon Wilson
Feb 122 min read
Sunday Market Lunch at Bistro Du Vin + Live Jazz
Typically hungover and feeling utterly wretched, these impeccably dressed reprobates drag themselves to Bistro Du Vin’s Jazz Sunday Lunch—only to be resurrected by pâté, pét-nat, and the dangerously charming Alexi. Typically hungover, and feeling UTTERLY wretched, these Bitches have risen from the dead. Despite the pain, odd dizzy spell, and inability to focus, we somehow find ourselves impeccably dressed, and seeking solace at Bistro Du Vin’s Jazz Sunday Lunch . Ding Dong!
The Social Bitches
Feb 62 min read
Bargain Bento at Harajuku Kitchen
For those of us who work full time and not in the centre of town, a weekday lunch out is a rare treat, and this is often where the best deals can be found. Though a well-known name to me, my only previous experience of Harajuku Kitchen was the excellent gyoza stall at Stockbridge Market, and I learn that this is where the company started out originally, before opening their award-winning restaurant in Bruntsfield in 2013. Authenticity is very important in the growing world
Diana Turner
Jan 272 min read
Lunch at Hawksmoor + a January deal
Cold outside? Get your skates on to Hawksmoor Edinburgh to catch their January meal deal! They’re offering their steak‑and‑side deal from as little as £16, and Bite is in there quick to sample Hawksmoor’s specials. The basic deal includes a 35‑day dry‑aged Scottish rump steak with a choice from four sides. Add on a second course and the total of £19.50 still keeps it keen. So much so that my dining companion feels a celebratory Cava is a suitable aperitif, and it’s a delici
Elizabeth Bowman
Jan 142 min read
Celestia launches New Lunch Menu showcasing modern Indian cooking for Edinburgh’s midday crowd
Celestia raises the bar for Edinburgh’s midday dining, pairing sharp technique and contemporary Indian flavour with a lunch menu that’s both polished and properly priced. Celestia , Edinburgh’s contemporary Indian dining destination on Eyre Place, has unveiled a new lunch menu designed to deliver bold flavour, refined technique, and exceptional value — and early visits suggest it succeeds. Priced at £15.95 for vegetarian and £19.95 for non‑vegetarian, the menu invites gue
Sharon Wilson
Jan 122 min read
The Frugal Foodie - Noto Edinburgh lunch review - at a steal
Thistle Street Vinette is the latest restaurant to be opened by chef Stuart Ralston's Aizle Hospitality Group: a Parisian-style restaurant with a speakeasy cocktail bar in the basement. Following the closure of Aizle, the group also includes Michelin-starred Lyla , Italian restaurant Tipo, and Asian-inspired eatery Noto – each with their own unique charm. Review of Tipo on its opening Despite falling into the ‘high-end’ category in terms of cost, each venue offers a lower-p
Diana Turner
Nov 3, 20252 min read
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