Your Edinburgh European restaurant guide

This Andalusian tapas restaurant will transport you straight to Southern Spain with its elegant Moorish interiors, authentic tapas selection and extensive wine list including a range of red, white and Cava-based Sangrias. Enjoy traditional paellas or tuck into a wide range of tapas perfect for sharing, including spicy king prawns, chorizo sautéed in red wine, pan-seared tender lamb chops, calamari, or grilled chicken skewers with chimichurri salsa. There’s also a fantastic vegetarian and vegan selection with flavourful choices such as baked aubergine with pomegranate dressing, grilled asparagus with a lemon Hollandaise, vegan Patatas Bravas and fully loaded salads. And if you’re off to see a show, Cafe Andaluz has a wonderful pre-theatre menu, which includes any three tapas for just £17.95!

Chez Jules has long been one of Edinburgh’s most popular restaurants – and with good reason! This French bistro in the heart of the city has an atmosphere of Parisian joie de vivre with parties of people chatting over flowing wine and great food. Perhaps the best thing about Chez Jules is its set lunch menu which includes three courses for just £12.90, with starter options such as French onion soup, goat cheese salad or terrine de campagne. Main options include steak frites with peppercorn sauce, white wine and garlic steamed mussels with fries and aioli, or a classic coq au vin with buttery mash. For dessert, choose from a rich chocolate mousse or a light and airy vanilla panna cotta served with raspberry coulis. On the à la carte menu, you can also choose from French classics such as whole lobster, oysters, frogs legs and snails!

If Italian food is your one true love, Pepe Nero is the place for you! This independent, family-run trattoria in trendy Stockbridge serves up a fine selection of hearty and traditional Italian dishes at great prices. There’s an extensive pasta menu with a range of much-loved classics including carbonara, lasagne and bolognese as well as a selection of signature dishes such as the ‘Pepe Nero’ which is with fresh Italian sausage, mixed mushrooms, cream, tomato and a touch of brandy. If pasta’s not your thing, there’s also plenty of pizzas, risottos, grilled meat and fish, as well as salads too. And if you’re blessed with a sunny Edinburgh day, Pepe Nero has a cute al fresco dining area that’s perfect for sipping on an Aperol Spritz and watching the world go by.

Fresh Scottish seafood, seasonal produce and hand-picked wines are at the heart of this quaint neighbourhood restaurant in Bruntsfield. The menu boasts a modern, European-inspired selection of small plates, with choices such as salt cod mousse with herb oil and grilled sourdough; shetland mussels with padron peppers, black bean and ginger; and venison tataki with beetroot, plum, Connage gouda and hazelnuts. To complement these beautifully presented sharing dishes is an artfully curated wine list, with a range of sparkling, white, red, rosè, orange and sweet wines from the continent, which the Fin & Grape staff are extremely knowledgeable about. Be sure to check what’s on offer ahead of going as seasonal dishes are subject to change!

Head chef and owner of Purslane, Paul Gunning has had a career working at prestigious establishments such as The Balmoral in Edinburgh and The Lowrie in Manchester – and is now bringing his culinary excellence to this modern European restaurant in Edinburgh’s New Town. Enjoy an intimate dinner setting by candlelight in this Georgian Stockbridge townhouse, which serves as the perfect backdrop for Purslane’s casual and rustic fine dining, allowing the food to truly shine and speak for itself. Featuring delectable tasting menus that combine Scottish heritage produce, Mediterranean flavours and modern cooking techniques which elevate dishes to create something rather spectacular, Purslane is a simply phenomenal dining experience that all Edinburgh foodies must try.