The Edinburgh Blog

It’s that time of the year again when The List bundles its Eating and Drinking Guide alongside the regular edition of The List Magazine. It’s the de facto standard for measuring restaurants in Edinburgh and Glasgow and is an essential purchase for Edinburgh foodies.

Predictably The List Readers’ award has gone to Urban Angel for the second year running. The newcomer of the year for fine dining has gone to Castle Terrace, which occupies the former premises of Abstract. Bia Bistrot located in Edinburgh’s Southside wins the local newcomer of the year - the Edinburgh Blog will be sure to check out this eaterie in due course.

The Hitlist picks out the best restaurants in a set range of categories e.g. bistros, Italian and Scottish. It’s good to see blog favourites such as The Roseleaf, Sushiya, Cafe Fish and Dusit making their respective Hitlists. Although I was very surprised to find the excellent Tapa in Leith did not make the Spanish hitlist (the review justifies this by stating the recently opened Hanover St branch isn’t up to the standards of the original Leith restaurant) and likewise La Favorita does not make the Italian hitlist (because the non pizza dishes are apparently not up to the standards of the pizzas; though I recently had an excellent saltimbocca dish there).

The write-ups by The List certainly provoke debate, but its main strength is the inspiration it provides. For £3.50 the magazine and bundled Eating and Drinking guide is great value - get yours from all reputable magazine retailers.