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Edinburgh Live

National

Gary Armstrong

Brand new Edinburgh restaurant, bars and cafe openings to enjoy this spring

SHOUT Tom Kitchin Harvey Nichols Toast

We're well into spring and summer is just around the corner.

The nights are lighter, the temperature is warming up a little bit and thankfully with lockdowns seemingly a thing of the past, we can get out and about and fully embrace what the capital has to offer again - and, as ever, there's plenty on offer in Edinburgh's food and drink scene.

Our winter round-up of new openings included Scotland's first Jollibee, burger joints, bagel spots, pizza places and this latest edition serves up plenty more.

We've got the arrival of two exciting and highly-anticipated Asian eateries, while new whisky and wine bars will soon be joined by cocktail pop-ups and African dining.

We've reported on a number of upcoming additions to an already excellent menu of dining and drinking options in recent weeks and here's where we think you should start adding to your must-try list.

New openings

Ocelot

A new Stockbridge cafe promising a mouthwatering combination of exclusive chocolate and organic wines opened at the end of March.

Ocelot boasts an eye-catching menu comprising stunning chocolate creations infused with everything from blood orange to sea salt alongside organic hot cocoa and an impressive range of “biodynamic” wine.

The Raeburn Place cafe, which also sells its deliciously tempting fayre online, has already gained a cult following for their spectacularly designed packaging and innovative flavour combinations.

Ka Pao

One of Edinburgh's most highly-anticipated new restaurants opened at the end of March, with the arrival of Ka Pao.

The Asian-inspired restaurant has achieved massive success in Glasgow after opening on the west coast at the start of 2020 - earlier this year, it earned a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand.

The capital Ka Pao menu is very similar, with chefs serving up a range of sharing plates and other dishes inspired by south east Asian cuisine.

Tipsy Midgie

Tipsy Midgie has opened in the Pleasance area of Edinburgh, a stone's throw from Arthur's Seat and the Holyrood Distillery.

The bar is the latest project from The Whisky Forager, who previously owned award winning seafood restaurant, the Kilted Lobster and whisky and food pairing restaurant, Whisky Forager.

Whisky aficionados will find hundreds of different bottles behind the bar, including a vast selection of old and rare, unicorn and distillery exclusives.

ITSU

Itsu has opened its first Scottish venue at Edinburgh's St James Quarter Shopping Centre.

The restaurant is located in the Lifestyle District and includes a budget-friendly menu that boasts healthy East Asian dishes.

With prices starting at under £7 a dish, fans can try out a range of Asian-inspired dishes for less, including sushi, dumplings, bao, hot noodles & rice bowls.

Bittersweet Leith

A new dining and drinking spot has been welcoming in new customers this spring with the arrival of Bittersweet Leith.

The venue replaces the former home of Steel Coulson Tap on Henderson Street. Bittersweet have taken over the lease to launch their new cocktail bar and restaurant, with the former pub business moving to a new premies elsewhere in the city.

As well as cocktails and a range of Italian wines, the bar is also be serving up speciality coffees throughout the day.

WotaCow @ the Bier Hoose

A popular Leith bar is serving the ‘best burgers in town’ after its kitchen was taken over by a new eatery.

Wotacow have teamed up with the Bier Hoose to bring their mouthwatering menu of massive meat to the German-themed pub on Leith Walk.

Carnivores can chow down on wagyu patties boasting a selection of toppings including the likes of “mounds of bacon,” haggis and peppercorn sauce.

Shout! The Scottish Music Experience

Edinburgh has welcomed a brand new music venue with the arrival of Shout!

Gig-goers will no doubt be familiar with Shout! The Scottish Music Experience, who had a significant stint on the rooftop at the Waverley Mall.

They've now found a more permanent home in Holyrood, a 150-200 capacity venue hosting concerts most nights of the week.

And beyond the music, Shout! will serve as a bar and food spot, with the excellent Exile Cooks taking up residency in the new kitchen.

Camile Thai

A popular Thai healthy takeaway chain has opened its first Scottish franchise - at an Edinburgh ghost kitchen.

Camile Thai, currently found at 46 restaurants across Britain and Ireland, will be run out of Tribe Kitchen in the city centre.

Camile is now the largest and fastest growing Thai restaurant chain in the UK and Ireland and plans to open a further 20 outlets during 2022, across Scotland and Britain.

Coming soon

KORA

Edinburgh chef Tom Kitchin, and his wife Michaela, are set to open a brand-new venue within a busy area of the city later this Spring.

'KORA by Tom Kitchin' is set to open in the Bruntsfield area and will be the chef's fourth Edinburgh and the Lothians venue, alongside The Scran & Scallie, The Kitchin, and The Bonnie Badger, located within in the coastal town of Gullane, in East Lothian.

The chef previously co-owned the Castle Terrace as well as the three aforementioned venues, but the announcement was made two years ago that the restaurant would not re-open.

Toast, Marchmont

Work has started on the transformation of a former wine shop into a brand new restaurant in Marchmont.

Work is underway at the unit on Warrender Park Road (Instagram @splintrdesign)

The premises is the location for an exciting food and drink spot with the team behind the much-loved Toast Leith expanding their offering to a second location in the city.

Toast has served up a fine selection of wines, speciality coffees and delicious all-day food since opening at The Shore in the summer of 2017, earning a series of rave reviews over the last five years.

Banh Mi Bar, Bruntsfield

A popular Vietnamese cafe recently announced it will soon open at a second location in the Capital.

The much-loved Banh Mi Bar currently operates from a unit at the East Market Street Arches, by Waverley Station. The Asian-inspired eatery has announced they're coming to a second location, in Bruntsfield.

They'll take over the former home of Meltmongers on Bruntsfield Place, which was famed for its mouthwatering cheese toasties before closing during the covid lockdown.

Smith & Gertrude, Portobello

Work is well underway for the opening of a new wine and cheese bar in Portobello.

The company already operates from Hamilton Place in Stockbridge but are now branching out and opening their second premises.

Pictures shared by splintrdesign this week show progress at the new venue, which will hopefully be ready to open in time for the summer sunshine in just a few weeks.

Farin Road

A new eatery specialising in bringing the best pan-African cuisine to the capital has secured a permanent residence in a popular Edinburgh cafe.

Farin Road promises a “bold leap into an uncharted world” of cuisine when head chef Tunde Abifarin takes over the kitchen at Tani Modi on Hanover Street next month.

The menu, which brings together dishes “rooted in Sub-Saharan Africa,” takes inspiration from the continent, Brazil and the Caribbean for a “unique flavour experience”.

The Cocktail Mafia @ Harvey Nichols

One of Edinburgh's newest and most popular cocktail bars will continue their success into the summer, announcing a new pop-up at the top floor of Harvey Nichols.

The Cocktail Mafia opened their brand-new venue at the end of last year on Charlotte Lane, offering customers a slightly different take on everyone's favourite boozy classics.

With spectacular-shaped glasses and an unforgettable atmosphere, The Cocktail Mafia will be adding to their portfolio when their new pop-up bar opens at the city's huge department store, taking over from Hendricks on the top floor.

Bon

A delectable new Edinburgh takeaway promising eye-catching hot chocolates and ‘neon’ lattes is set to open in one of the capital’s best loved green spaces.

Bon plans to serve up tempting sweet treats featuring ‘stuffed’ cookies and ‘loaded’ brownies alongside its distinctive drinks when it begins serving customers on the West Meadows in April.

Owner Paul Connolly has already teased capital foodies with a number of mouthwatering creations on Instagram - including Biscoff smores hot chocolate and raspberry ripple latte.

63rd + 1st

Set to open this Spring, 63rd+1st will show off its take on Manhattan nightlife on Frederick Street.

Named after a specific street in New York, the cocktail bar and restaurant will be serving both drinks and 'New York' street food for locals to enjoy.

The venue will also have a spacious lounge adjacent to the main restaurant, as well as a heated outdoor terrace with enough room for a further 26 covers.

Boom Battle Bar

Boom: Battle Bar have revealed they are close to opening at their new Omni Centre base.

There they'll host battle activities like axe-throwing, augmented darts, shuffleboard and crazier golf among many on offer.

Combined with that, punters in Edinburgh will be offered theatrical cocktails, like Ping Pong Colada and Hole in One, with a frozen golf ball inside, and a massive variety of street foods, as they compete with friends in the high energy environment.

MrBeast Burgers

Youtube sensation MrBeast Burgers restaurant is set to land in Scotland’s capital after the success of its London store.

The chain was founded by 23-year-old YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson who goes by the online handle, MrBeast.

With over 1000 branches in North America, Canada, and Europe, the expansion over the UK is welcomed with open arms by many major cities.

Patisserie, St James Quarter

Edinburgh St James Quarter could see a new patisserie opening if plans are approved by the council.

Plans have now been submitted for a new eatery, with Edinburgh Patisserie Ltd hoping to launch on the quarter's third floor.

Currently a vacant unit, proposals have suggested allowing the cake shop and cafe occupy the space, with the new design to include its very own cake counter and seating area.

New pizza place, Northfield Broadway

A proposed independent pizza shop is scheduled to open in Northfield, taking the place of a currently closed florist.

The new takeaway is set to open on Northfield Broadway with space for some seating in the building but primarily focusing on providing takeaway food for people in the nearby area.

There is no currently proposed opening date for the new shop but it is expected that it should be open sometime soon.

Is there anywhere we haven't added to our list you'd like to shout about? Let us know in the comments!

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