The best Edinburgh pre-theatre menu offers the chance to treat yourself before the main event.
We love the Edinburgh theatre scene, but no night at the theatre would be complete without a delicious pre-theatre supper. The ideal pre-theatre menu should be short, sweet, and stress free, leaving the performance for the stage. It’s also a good opportunity to treat yourself to a luxury meal for less, as restaurants compete to put bottoms on seats at this early stage of the evening.
Here are some of our favourite Edinburgh pre-theatre menu experiences.
Cafe St Honore
Tucked into a small corner of a cobbled lane just off George Street is this gem of a restaurant, overseen by award winning Scottish chef Neil Forbes. As the name suggests, the atmosphere is that of a Paris café, and the food more than lives up to the Gallic surroundings, as you can read in our full review. Theatre goers will love the ‘Café Classics’ as a pre-theatre option at a very reasonable £18 for two courses or £23.50 for three courses.
Address: 34 Northwest Thistle Street Lane, Edinburgh EH2 1EA
Tel: 0131 226 2211
Website: Cafe St Honore
City centre location, therefore handy for: The Assembly Rooms, New Town Theatre, Ross Open Air Theatre
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor
Harvey Nichols have partnered with The Edinburgh Playhouse to offer two courses from a set menu, together with a glass of Prosecco for just £20 per person. To avail yourself of the offer quote ‘Harvey Nichols Playhouse’ when making your booking. To read our full review at Forth Floor review.
Offer available Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm – 8.30pm, and Friday & Saturday 12pm – 9.30pm.
Address: Harvey Nichols, Multrees Walk, Edinburgh
Website: Harvey Nichols Forth Floor
Reservations: 0131 524 8350 or email forthfloor.reservations@harveynichols.com
Offer available for the Edinburgh Playhouse only.
Castle Terrace
The Castle Terrace is a firm favourite of ours, and with its pre theatre menu of three courses from just £35.00 offers the opportunity for fine dining at an incredibly reasonable price. The pre theatre supper is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 17:00 with last orders at 18:00 and a guarantee that the menu will be served within 90 minutes.
Address: 33-35 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2EL
Tel: 0131 229 1222
Website: Castle Terrace
Just off Lothian Road, therefore handy for: The Usher Hall, The Filmhouse, The Lyceum and The King’s Theatre
Field (Southside)
Established in 2013, Field is still somewhat of a new kid on the block on the Edinburgh restaurant scene, but being recommended in the Michelin guide three years running doesn’t happen by chance. Field’s pre-theatre menu is simple but full of finesse, with focus on Scottish ingredients like mackerel fillet, and is an utter steal at two courses for £13.95 or three Courses for £16.95.
Address: 41 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DB
Tel: 0131 667 7010
Website: Field (Southside)
Slightly west of the city centre, therefore handy for: Festival Theatre, Pleasance Theatre
The Dining Room
For a touch of whisky-infused elegance, you can’t beat The Dining Room at 28 Queen Street – the New Town HQ of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The Menu Du Jour makes an ideal pre-theatre supper option, with three courses at £21.95.
Naturally the cask-strength whisky for which the Society is famed is very much on the agenda, but with other drinks on offer, including an extensive wine list, you’ll love this place even if Scotland’s national drink isn’t for you.
Address: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JX
Tel: 0131 220 2044
Website: The Dining Room
In the city centre therefore handy for: The Playhouse
One Square
As you’ll see from our full review, we were bowled over by One Square. Because it’s placed part way up the Lothian Road this restaurant couldn’t be more perfectly situated for a pre-theatre supper – it overlooks the Usher Hall and is a stone’s throw from the Lyceum and Traverse theatres. The atmosphere is one of modern luxury, offering diners two courses at £15.50 and three courses at £19.95.
Address: 1 Festival Square Edinburgh EH3 9SR
Tel: 0131 221 6422
Website: One Square
Situated on Lothian Road, therefore handy for: Lyceum, Traverse, Usher Hall, Filmhouse
Fishers in the City
Set in a converted warehouse on Thistle Street, Fisher’s in the City has long been a firm favourite of ours. Although fish and shellfish obviously take centre stage, there are plenty of other choices. The set pre-theatre menu features home-cured chargrilled salmon gravadlax and Scottish crab, chilli & garlic linguine, and is a snip at just £18 for three courses.
Address: 58 Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1EN
Tel: 0131 225 5109
Website: Fishers in the City
City centre location, therefore handy for: The Assembly Rooms, New Town Theatre, Ross Open Air Theatre
Bia Bistrot
We would say that Bia Bistrot, run by husband and wife team Roisin & Matthias Llorente, is a hidden gem, but because of critical and public acclaim their fame has spread far beyond the restaurant’s Morningside location. A comfortable but simple atmosphere lets the outstanding food do the talking with the only mystery to us being how (and why?) the delicious locally sourced daily set menu is still priced at a bonkers £11 for three courses.
It may be a little out of town, but it’s a very simple route to the King’s theatre or Cameo cinema if you don’t mind a walk and just a stone’s throw from the Churchill Theatre.
Address: 19 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DP
Tel: 0131 452 8453
Website: Bia Bistrot
Situated to the south of the city centre therefore handy for: Churchill Theatre, King’s Theatre, Cameo Cinema
L’Escargot Blanc
Because of its authentic French dishes, this relaxed West End bistro has long been one of our favourites. The pre-theatre menu offers two courses for £14.90, either starter and main course or main course and dessert and their sample menus features favourites such as moules marinere and rabbit a la moutarde. As well as the main restaurant, Bar a Vin, on the ground floor, offers a selection of delicious sharing platters as an alternative to the standard Edinburgh pre-theatre menu.
Address: 17 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4QW
Phone: 0131 226 1890
Website: L’Escargot Blanc
Situated in the West End, therefore handy for: Lyceum, Traverse, Usher Hall, Filmhouse
Le Roi Fou
Award winning Le Roi Fou serves beautifully presented dishes using seasonal Scottish produce cooked in a modern French style.
The dining room is small with a warm friendly ambiance with a pre-theatre menu for just 2 courses £19.50 or 3 courses for £24.50 served until 18:30 Tuesday to Thursday 18:00 Friday to Saturday.
Address: 1 Forth Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JX
Phone: 0131 557 9346
Website: Le Roi Fou
Situated just off Broughton Street, therefore handy for: Edinburgh Playhouse
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