Fresh, well-prepared fish is an unbeatable delicacy. As well as being tasty, it is also rich in nutrients, including the essential omega-3 fatty acids that so many diets lack. Finding the best restaurants in which to enjoy fish can sometimes be a challenge but, fortunately, this is not the case in Edinburgh. Here are five of the best places to east fish in the Scottish capital.
White Horse Oyster Bar
Superbly located on the Royal Mile, the White Horse is heir to an illustrious culinary history. Occupying premises on the site that was once the Royal Mile’s oldest inn, it prides itself on welcoming locals and tourists alike to its small and friendly bar & restaurant. Its seafood is individually sourced from small suppliers throughout the country and diners can enjoy sharing platters as well as individual plates. Oysters are a given but the menu also includes treats such as Scotch bonnet cured salmon and hand-dived clams. Food aside, this bar is a lovely place to watch the world go by while lingering over a beer or glass of wine from its carefully curated drinks’ list.
Read our review of White Horse Oyster Bar
Address: 266 Canongate, Royal Mile
Web: www.whitehorseoysterbar.co.uk
Ondine
Ondine is a fish restaurant that has really embraced Edinburgh’s fishing history. Its windows offer far-reaching views across the city’s Old Town while its dishes provide a taste of real Scottish seafood. While much of its produce is sourced directly from East Coast Scottish fishermen, when it comes to cooking, its chefs take inspiration from world cuisine. Diners in this elegant restaurant can choose anything from fish and chips to a seafood platter. The attention to detail in both cooking and presentation is second to none, the waiting staff attentive and knowledgeable and as much of the food as possible comes from sustainable sources.
Address: 2 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1AD
Web: www.ondinerestaurant.co.uk
Loch Fyne
A familiar name to many diners, this Edinburgh Loch Fyne restaurant lives up to expectations. Housed in a beautiful old fish market on Newhaven harbour, patrons can enjoy the fact that they are eating in an area where there is still a small but thriving fishing industry. When the weather permits, there is an outdoor eating area, offering spectacular harbour views. The fish is fresh and seasonal and the restaurant makes a real effort to cater for as many differing tastes and needs as possible. For example, there is a children’s menu and also a gluten-free one. Although perhaps best known for its famous Loch Fyne oysters, this is also a place to enjoy treats such as line-caught cod or a hearty fisherman’s stew.
Address: 25 Pier Pl, Edinburgh EH6 4LP
Web: www.lochfyneseafoodandgrill.co.uk
Kilted Lobster
Neatly marrying Scotland and seafood in its name, the Kilted Lobster is situated in the popular residential district of Stockbridge. As such, its clientele is mainly locals and only a few tourists “in the know”. As well as championing Scottish seafood produce, such as scallops from the Isle of Mull and, of course, Scottish lobster, the restaurant also includes some more unusual and very tasty vegetarian options. It holds regular a regular champagne Sunday brunch and is also heavily involved with local food-related community projects.
Address: 112 St Stephen St, Edinburgh EH3 5AD
Web: www.kiltedlobster.com
The Ship On The Shore
Another excellent local restaurant, the Ship On The Shore is something of a Leith institution. Its shoreside terrace overlooks the Water of Leith, which is the main river flowing through Edinburgh out to the Firth of Forth. The seafood served comes from sustainable stocks and is turned into a variety of dishes, ranging from an incredible Fruits de Mer ‘Royale’, a double-tiered array of shellfish and crustaceans that’s perfect for sharing, to a simpler but no less delicious lemon sole. There is also an extensive champagne and cocktail menu.
Address: 24-26 Shore, Edinburgh EH6 6QN
Web: www.theshipontheshore.co.uk
