Restaurant
The Kitchin
Tom and Michaela Kitchin's Michelin-starred restaurant in a converted whisky warehouse in Leith, cooking Scottish seasonal produce under the motto From Nature to Plate.
The Gardener’s Cottage
Seasonal Scottish cooking in an 1836 Playfair-designed cottage below Calton Hill, with a six-course set dinner at long communal tables.
At a glance
- Type
- Seasonal Scottish, set menu
- Area
- Calton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- thegardenerscottage.co
Good to know
- Communal tables
- Weekend brunch
- Pre-theatre menu
Why we recommend it
The Gardener's Cottage occupies one of the more unusual buildings in Edinburgh: a small B-listed cottage designed by William Playfair and built in 1836 for the gardener of Royal Terrace Gardens, at the foot of Calton Hill. Playfair also planned the gardens around it. The building stood empty for several years before it was overhauled and opened as a restaurant in July 2012 by chefs Dale Mailley and Edward Murray, who had met while working together at The Atrium in Edinburgh.
The focus is seasonal cooking using local produce, with menus that change with the seasons and work with nearby suppliers and makers. In the evening, the restaurant serves a six-course set menu at long communal dining tables, which gives dinner a sociable, dinner-party feel; you may share a table with other guests. Lunch is à la carte and brunch is served at weekends. A pre-theatre menu is served early in the evening, which is handy if you are heading to a show at one of the theatres near the top of Leith Walk.
Opening hours change by season, so check the restaurant's website before you go. Bookings are recommended for dinner, especially at weekends. Access is from London Road only, through the gardens, so allow a minute or two to find the entrance if you are coming from Calton Hill or Leith Walk. The cottage is a small building, so booking ahead matters, particularly for Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Gardener's Cottage suits couples, friends and solo diners happy to sit at a shared table, and anyone who prefers relaxed, produce-led cooking to formal fine dining. Groups who want privacy may prefer to ask about options when booking. Dietary requirements are best raised in advance because of the set menu format.
Royal Terrace Gardens lie at the foot of Calton Hill, on its eastern side. Before dinner, walk up Calton Hill for sunset views over the city, then come down to the cottage. Leith Walk starts just to the west, and Princes Street is around a 15-minute walk. Weekend brunch here pairs well with a morning walk on Calton Hill or in Holyrood Park.
The Gardener’s Cottage FAQs
What is The Gardener's Cottage?
It is a restaurant in a cottage designed by William Playfair and built in 1836 for the gardener of Royal Terrace Gardens.
What is the menu style?
Dinner is a six-course seasonal set menu served at communal tables; lunch is à la carte and brunch is served at weekends.
Is there a pre-theatre menu?
Yes, an early pre-theatre menu is served in the evening.
How do you get in?
Access is via London Road only, through Royal Terrace Gardens.
Who founded the restaurant?
Chefs Dale Mailley and Edward Murray opened it in July 2012.
Are opening hours seasonal?
Yes. Hours change with the seasons, so check the website before visiting.
What is nearby?
Calton Hill and Leith Walk are both within a short walk.