The best international cuisine in Edinburgh

This sophisticated wine bar on Broughton Street has a very grown-up feel. Enjoy handpicked beverages and tapas-style small plates from around the world. Brazilian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Canarian, French, Greek and traditional British influences are all clearly discernible in the menu. And you can sip on vinos from Austria, Chile and Romania, amongst others. Meanwhile, the cocktail list has been created by a local artist.

This is junk food that’s good for you. Here you can enjoy plenty of comfort food that’s cooked freshly, using top ingredients. It evolved following a lockdown project from owners Cam and Jade, who began a recipe website calling on the knowledge garnered in their fine dining backgrounds. This was followed by several pop-ups and later, this restaurant in Newington. If you’re after a quick grab-and-go in between shopping or pre-show, you can also find Junk at the new Edinburgh Street Food at the Omni Centre.

Whether you’re craving a bowl of steaming gumbo, a crispy tostada, sticky aubergine or a gyro, do check out Junk’s offering. And there’s a Dealer’s Choice on the table, where the team will bring you and your fellow diners a surprise selection at lunch or dinner, for a set fee.

The menu here takes us from Africa, to Asia, the US and across the Mediterranean, with dishes such as Moroccan spiced cod; rose harissa and basil hummus; Thai green curry with sticky coconut rice; pistachio and feta dip with corn chips; corn chowder; tempura king prawns; gnocchi (for the kids); and affogato.

The drinks menu is equally well-travelled, with wines from Australia, South Africa, Hungary, Argentina and New York. And the entire menu is 99% gluten-free, with dishes easily adapted to suit any allergies. Three Birds has an intimate, neighbourhood feel with simple contemporary decor. You’ll find it on Viewforth, just a sidestep from the Bruntsfield buzz.

Whether you’re at the Abbeyhill or Goldencare end of the city, you’ll have a Herringbone near you. The Edinburgh restaurant has spread its wings of late (including to North Berwick in East Lothian), with its classy on-trend interiors and versatile approach to cooking. Braised brisket, Laska, ras-el-hanout seitan, Gochujang crispy coley and calamari show Middle Eastern, Asian and European influences, while some dishes (like halloumi and smashed avocado salad

With sweet pickled kohlrabi, miso dressing and crostini) mix up several different cultures’ flavours on one plate. The cocktails are a highlight at Herringbone too, with concoctions reminiscent of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Italy, Mexico and more.

After a big feed? Load almost every imaginable world cuisine onto one single plate (if you like) at Mr Basrai’s. Offering great value, this is also a hit with fussy kids and teens who can take their pick from hundreds of different items. Sushi, lasagna, stir-fries, roast chicken, fajitas and curries… It’s all up for grabs with no limit on quantities.

Then there’s the desserts; all beautifully presented, with an ice cream bar and chocolate fountain. Mr Basrai’s is within the Fountain Park complex, so you’ll get four hours of free parking as a patron and can make an afternoon or evening of it, by adding in a convenient trip to the cinema a few doors down.

So the caveat here is that you’ll need to make repeat visits to experience multiple nationalities of food. But with tasting menus at Six by Nico so affordable and so exciting, that’s no hardship as we can’t get enough. Every six weeks the talented Scottish chef takes his diners on a journey somewhere different.

Sometimes these menus are based on concepts or books, but they are often geographical places. So you can experience each nationality, region or city in immersive gastronomic detail. Catalonia, New York, Tokyo, Sicily, Lisbon, Marrakech, Greece, Hanoi, Hollywood, Rome, Paris, Shanghai, the Alps, Ibiza to Miami and Route 66 have all featured in the past. Keep an eye on the brand’s website to see what they’ll come up with next.