(1-3 York Place in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

9 CELLARS in the heart of the city is ideally placed for that discreet Business lunch or a break fro...m office Chef Thakur?s quality Indian cuisine gives you a flavor from all corners of India. Opening hours: 9 Cellars restaurant is open Mon-Sat from 12am to 2pm and from 5.30pm to 11pm. [moreless]

(1-3 York Place in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

Whatever you do at the 9 Cellars Indian restaurant in the heart of Edinburgh, do not, repeat, do not... attempt to order naan bread. Or balti. None of them is Authentic. And 9 Cellars takes huge pride in the authenticity of its Southern Indian cuisine – the star-studded chef PC Thakur has a wall full of honours for his skill in creating true Indian fare. There really are nine cellars here, as well as an almost ground-level dining room, all bright and cheery, with light woods and turquoise details to see off any suggestion of dankness. What can you order? Well, the starters include familiar samosas and kebabs and fascinating stuff like subz pakor, or veggie fritters with tamarind and date chutney. Mains include classic chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh, and also babli handi, or lamb cooked with veg and flavoured with rum. Don’t skip the dosas, with four fillings to choose from. The deep-fried okra is a wow, too, and there is a raft of vegetarian dishes to please every palate.The chef for 9 Cellars Restaurant & Bar, PC Thakur, recently won the 2007 International Indian Chef of the Year competition. Opening hours: Lunch: Mon - Sat 12pm - 2:30pmDinner: Mn - Sun 5:30pm - 11:30pm [moreless]

(33 - 35 Castle Terra in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

Riding confidently on the success of its Inverness sibling who rose to fame in Channel 4’s Gordon Ra...msay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Abstract serves a slice of ritz on Edinburgh’s Castle Terrace. A striking piano bar leads to a monochrome dining room where you can almost smell the money spent on - and in -the place. Head Chef Sean Kelly, puts out genuinely exciting French food, best sampled from the eight-course tasting menu of tantalizing Heston Blumenthal-ish creations. Slick service from a glamourous, predominantly French staff. Sure, Abstract is expensive. And worth every penny. Opening hours: Tues - Sat: 12pm - 2pm & 6pm - 10pm The service charge is included in the price of the food. [moreless]

(61 Grassmarket in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

A modern stylish restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of the historic Grassmarket providing a fu...sion of traditional Scottish quality ingredients. Healthy cooking with influences from around the world, it has been awarded 2 rosettes by Hotel Review Scotland. Opening hours: Daily: Lunch: 12pm - 4.30pm Dinner: 5pm - 10pm Sample Dinner menu: Starters (£) Agua Soup 3.95 Agua Soup of the Day (v) (gf) (h) Shetland Mussels 4.95 Shetland Mussels, Prawn and Corn Chowder (h) Beetroot Carpaccio 4.95 Carpaccio of Beetroot, Organic Leaves and Horseradish (h) Arbroath Smokie 6.50 Arbroath Smokie and Tarragon Tart Asparagus Spears 6.95 Salad of Asparagus Spears and Salt Beef with Balsamic and Black Pepper Smoked Duck 6.95 Smoked Duck, Avocado and Golden Sultana Salad, Plum and Sesame Dressing (h) Main Courses (£) Angus Beef (h) 17.95 Char-Grilled Sirloin of Aberdeen Angus Beef, Horseradish Gratin Potato and Woodland Mushrooms Pork Fillet (h) 13.95 Arran Mustard Crusted Pan-Seared Pork Fillet, Stilton Crushed Potato, Poached Pear and a Somerset Cider Sauce Rosemary Chicken 12.50 Rosemary Roasted Free-Range Chicken and Asparagus Spears, Braised Rice and Vine Tomato Sauce (h) Orkney Salmon 12.50 Lemon Peppered Orkney Salmon, Squid and Scallion Risotto, Saffron Dressing and Crispy Seaweed (h) Baked Sea Bass 14.95 Basil Baked Sea Bass, Citrus Rice, Red Chard and Red Pepper Relish (h) Chickpeas 9.95 Spring Roll of Chickpeas, Peppers and Potato, Organic Summer Leaves and Chilli Dressing (h) Side Orders £2.95 each Seasoned Thick Cut Chips New Potatoes (h) Rocket and Parmesan Salad Fine Green Beans (h) Mixed Marinated Olives (h) Cheese of Britain 9.95 Iain. J Mellis `Artisan Cheesemonger` Platter served with Quince Jelly and Oatcakes Blue Stilton (English) Colston Basset, the Rolls Royce of Blue Stilton Ardrahan (Irish) Smoked Semi Soft Cheese from County Cork Staffordshire Organic (English) Intense, Fills the Nose with Delight Isle of Mull Cheddar (Scottish) the Perennial Favourite Truckle Cheddar Desserts £5.95 each Cheesecake Rum and Raisin Cheesecake Lemon Tart Caramelised Lemon Tart Strawberry Brulée Summer Strawberry Brulée, Spiced Strawberry Salsa Chocolate Terrine Milk Chocolate and Bubble Gum Cream Terrine Ice ? Cream Vanilla Pod, Strawberry and Chocolate Ice-Creams Coffee and Fudge £3.00 Speciality Coffee and Fudge £3.50 Tea or Herbal Tea and Fudge £2.75 (v) vegetarian option (n) contains nuts/nut oil (h) healthyliving option [moreless]

(354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

Amber is a paragon of all that’s great about Scottish food and drink. Housed between the old stone w...alls of the Scottish Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh, it offers seriously sophisticated tribute to Scotland's culinary traditions. Just read these typical dishes: choux pastry with woodland mushrooms and sloe berry jelly, fillet of Buccleuch beef with rich wild mushroom and truffle sauce, honey-roasted courgette filled with Inverloch goats cheese and sun-dried tomatoes… it’s glorious stuff. Whisky complements rather than dominates the menu, even though there are 300 single malts, rare aged blends (and a few surprises) to choose from. A comprehensive wine and cocktail list appeases those who aren’t attracted by the tasting menu whereby the whisky sommelier recommends a malt for each course, explains the provenance of each, and why he’s chosen them. Please be aware the bar of Amber Restaurant is strictly 18 and over.Last orders for food is 8:30pm. Opening hours: Tues - Sat: 7pm - 9pm [moreless]

(10 Cambridge Street in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

Trendy Edinburgh eaterie popular for everything from business lunches, wedding receptions and film l...aunches to social dinners in the evenings. Housed in the same building as the Traverse theatre, the atmosphere is casual and relaxed but eminently stylish and service is friendly. Blue provides excellent value for money, great cocktails and an eclectic wine list. What's cooking: Lunch time diners might want to choose from lighter dishes such as crab and crayfish noodles; Toasted marinated crottin with onion jam or serrano ham with celeriac remoulade, or go for something more substantial such as pork, apple and sage sausages with pickled onions and mash or sea trout with jersey royals and Thai grass. The dinner menu features similar dishes with a selection of extra items such as calves livers with pancetta and shallot mash or escalope of chicken with mushroom and foie gras cream. Delicious puddings include a mixed nut and butterscotch tart with mascarpone or banana and chocolate souffle. Opening hours: Mon - Thu 12pm - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:30pmFri & Sat 12pm - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 11pmClosed Sundays [moreless]

(7 Old Fishmarket Close in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

An intimate French cafe just off the Royal Mile, near the Festival Fringe offices, Cafe Marlayne is ...the sister of another beloved restaurant in Thistle Street. This Cafe Marlayne has charming, contemporary decor and smiling service, and nearly identical menu prepared by a sibling of the first CF's chef. The menu here is unapologetically French, and impressive at that. Starters include boneless quail stuffed with boudin noir served with crispy pancetta and apple compote, mains include lamb loin with grilled polenta and fresh herb dressing, and desserts include lemon cheesecake. Mostly French wines. Opening hours: Tues - Sat: 12pm - 2:30pm & 6.30pm - 10pm [moreless]

(15 South Learmonth Gardens in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

2004’s Scottish Hotel of the Year, Channings, in its quiet West End location is a haven in the bustl...ing city of Edinburgh. The bistro-esque restaurant offers more of the same urban oasis feel with stripped pine floors, unfussy furniture and clean lines throughout giving a laid back atmosphere with just the right amount of buzz. A vibrantly modern menu brings bold flavour combinations with a sunny Mediterranean stamp to your table whether it’s a Roasted Rack of Borders Lamb served with Parmesan Polenta and Aubergine Caponata at dinner time or a lunchtime Pumpkin, Pine Kernal and Coriander Samosa. Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 10am, 12pm - 2:30pm & 6pm - 10pmSat & Sun: 7:30am - 10am, 12:30pm - 3pm & 6pm - 10pm The Channings building was once home to Sir Ernest Shackleton. [moreless]

(3 Atholl Place in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

This award-winning Cantonese restaurant on Atholl Place stands out on the Edinburgh restaurant scene... for its chic dining room and contemporary cuisine. China Town is renowned for its sleek interior – which features chocolate brown walls decorated with antique Chinese musical instruments, silk curtains and LED lights. Popular for stylish parties, formal family get-togethers and special celebrations, China Town has earned an excellent reputation for its innovative cuisine. Seafood dishes are the kitchen's specialty, and you can order scallops, sea bass and halibut steamed with garlic and spring onions or stir-fried with black bean sauce. Head Chef Thomas Chan is happy to create bespoke dishes on request, and his acclaimed menu is complimented by a diverse wine list. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 2pm & 5:30pm - 11:30pmSun 5:30pm - 11:30pm China Town has won multiple awards for its contemporary Cantonese cuisine. [moreless]

(88 Commerial St in Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

A busy oasis of foodie happiness, Daniel's is bright, light warehouse conversion on the lovely Leith... waterfront where a City crowd regular gathers to enjoy consistently high-quality food and friendly atmosphere. The Scottish/French menus features classic starters such as Alsace-born Daniel's very own fish soup – a constant favourite since the restaurant opened in 1997 and one of several excellent signature dishes. A very tempting range of mains include thin-based pizzas and bistro classics such as seafood casserole (with lots of fresh bread to mop it up) and long-standing house special – confit de canard a l'Ancienne. Desserts deserve a mention too, especially the rich chocolate terrine. Daniel's is the kind of place people always recommend. Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 10am - 9.30pm [moreless]