Edinburgh’s best locally sourced menus

Starting off strong with one of Edinburgh’s most entrancing dining establishments, Purslane on St Stephen Street takes you straight to the upper end of locally sourced menus. Dubbing it ‘casual fine dining’, Purslane set out with a dedication to creating an entirely new dining experience with no dress codes or formalities, but with fine dining elements being dished up. All are welcome at Purslane.

The venue feels passionately about the importance of incorporating as much locally sourced produce as possible, and who could blame them when you have the entirety of Scottish agriculture at your fingertips? Better yet, around 80% of Purslane’s menu has been sourced from the immediate Stockbridge area, bringing a real sense of community to the restaurant while also helping fellow small businesses.

On the menu, you’ll find the likes of monkfish, venison, scallops, a selection of cheese from I.J.Mellis, pork fillet, artichoke gratin, salmon escabeche, and stuffed sea bream to name a few.

As contemporary as they come, Borough is a gorgeous little bistro tucked away in Leith. The warmly-lit, sun-soaked eatery is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city, allowing for a moment of serenity as you dig into each delicate plate.

Like most seasonal spots, the menu is often changing, keeping each visit as exciting as the very first. As a taster, expect to find the likes of focaccia and rosemary butter, cured Loch Etive trout with golden beetroot, smoked haddock, Cumbrae oyster, and Scottish cheese with pear. Borough also flaunts an impressive line up of wines to complement your meal.

On the bank of what was once Edinburgh’s most vital waterway, the Water of Leith at Canonmills, sits The Tollhouse, one of the latest additions to the multi-award winning Dine Family. Spacious and bright, The Tollhouse offers a relaxed brasserie-style of dining, sourcing quality sustainable produce and fresh ingredients from local butchers, fishmongers, grocers and foragers.

Opt to dine in the upstairs traditional dining hall or the terrace (which makes the perfect spot for plenty of nature-spotting). On the menu, you’ll find heritage tomatoes and mozzarella, cured smoked duck breast, venison loin with Madeira jus, and bresaola. Just make sure to save room in your second stomach for dessert, you won’t want to miss out on their pistachio cremeux or caramel parfait.

Born by the idea of creating an environment where dining is often informal and casual, yet of a very high standard, The Bon Vivant opened in 2008 and has soared in popularity ever since. The mantra is to eat as the Europeans do – eat small but mindfully, so expect flavours from across the continent to shine in the dishes.

The menu changes often, with dishes such as mushroom truffle roll, spiced onion bhaji, pork and chorizo pie, picanha steak, and slow roast lamb shoulder. The Bon Vivant is also the place for a Sunday roast, with options like roast cod, Scottish pork belly, and Scotch rump cap with all the traditional trimmings, you can’t go wrong.

A spot for the seafood lovers, Fin and Grape is all about sustainably and locally caught seafood served up to in its purest form. The restaurant strives for all their food to be sourced from within Scotland wherever possible, using independent, responsible producers and suppliers, with seasonality and sustainability always in mind.

The neighbourhood bistro is cosy and intimate, offering an interesting wine selection to pair with any dish. Familiar dishes on the ever-changing menu include salt cod mousse, citrus cured coley, bluefin tuna, whole grilled lemon sole, and a wide range of accompanying sides to enjoy your seafood with.