Fine Dining In The Scottish Capital

Edinburgh, with its impressive array of architectural and artistic attractions, is the second most visited city in the whole of the United Kingdom. Now the Scottish capital has added exquisite fine dining to its list of offerings, presenting visitors with scores of world-class restaurants and outstanding culinary experiences.

Food lovers have long lauded the Scottish capital's ability to steer clear of the incredible explosion of gimmicky, tourist-trap restaurants and instead it's still possible to find plenty of authentic and eclectic fine dining options.

Along with Dublin, Edinburgh has the highest number of Michelin-starred eateries outside London. This year there are several Michelin-starred establishments on offer: Castle Terrace, Number One (at Balmoral Hotel), 21212, Kitchin, and Martin Wishart.

Castle Restaurant, the sister restaurant to Kitchin, offers a delicious surprise tasting menu and an option to eat at the chef's table, which overlooks Dominic Jack's kitchen. In contrast, Kweilin offers spectacular Chinese food including the incredible eight treasures duck, which is a breast of braised duck buried deep in various fish and meats.

Don't stop there though: the city also boasts more restaurants per head than any other city in Britain — from the waterfront to the historic heart of the city (Old Town) and the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, the fine dining excellence extends well throughout the city. Menus also boast many international influences, so look out for incredible flavors from across the world, from Europe, to China, and India.

Whether you're dining in a castle, a fort, on the waterfront, underground, or in café-style establishments in the Old Town, Edinburgh has countless options on offer. With such an abundance of good food and variety, Edinburgh proves once and for all that there's so much more to Scottish food than haggis.

Serusha Govender is The Daily Meal's Travel Editor. Follow her on Twitter @SerushaGovender