Restaurant
The Witchery by the Castle
Candlelit historic dining rooms at the gates of Edinburgh Castle, serving classic dishes built on Scottish produce, with nine suites to stay in.
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.
At a glance
- Type
- Michelin-starred modern Scottish
- Area
- Leith, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- thekitchin.com
Good to know
- Wheelchair access
- Free evening car park
- Private dining
- Kitchen view
Why we recommend it
The Kitchin opened in 2006 in a converted whisky bonded warehouse on Commercial Quay in Leith. It is owned by the husband-and-wife team of chef Tom Kitchin and Michaela Kitchin. The restaurant won its first Michelin star in 2007, which made Tom Kitchin, then aged 29, Scotland's youngest Michelin-starred chef-proprietor, and it has kept its star since. It has also held five AA Rosettes since 2015.
The kitchen's philosophy is summed up by its motto, From Nature to Plate. The cooking is modern British with French technique, built around Scottish seasonal produce delivered daily, and all meat and fish arrive whole to be butchered and filleted in-house. That approach means the menus follow the Scottish seasons closely. Alongside the food menu, the restaurant publishes separate whisky, wine and bar menus, which suits the building's past as a whisky warehouse.
The dining room keeps the original stone and wood of the warehouse and retains the building's character. A glass window lets diners watch the chef and his team at work in the kitchen, which adds a sense of theatre to the meal. The restaurant is best suited to long, unhurried special-occasion meals.
Booking well ahead is essential, particularly for weekend dinners and during the festival season, and reservations are made through the restaurant's website. Opening days and current menus are published there too. The restaurant is on one level with wheelchair access. A large car park in front of the restaurant is free for diners from 6pm, which is useful if you are driving from elsewhere in the city. The restaurant also offers private dining and sells gift vouchers and cookbooks.
The Kitchin suits couples celebrating an occasion, food lovers and anyone wanting to experience Scottish produce at its most refined. It is opposite the Scottish Government building in Leith's old dock area, a short walk from the Shore, and the same area has several other well-regarded restaurants and bars for drinks before or after. The Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal is close by, so lunch here can be combined with a visit to the ship. The Kitchin team also runs The Scran & Scallie, a more casual gastropub in Stockbridge.
The Kitchin FAQs
Does The Kitchin have a Michelin star?
Yes. It won its first Michelin star in 2007 and has kept it since.
Who runs The Kitchin?
It is owned by chef Tom Kitchin and his wife Michaela Kitchin.
What kind of food does The Kitchin serve?
Modern British cooking with French influences, based on fresh Scottish seasonal produce under the philosophy From Nature to Plate.
Do you need to book?
Yes. Booking well ahead is strongly recommended, especially for weekend dinners and in August.
Is there parking?
A large car park in front of the restaurant is free for diners from 18:00.
Is The Kitchin wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The restaurant is on one level with wheelchair access.
Where is The Kitchin?
It is at 78 Commercial Quay, Leith, EH6 6LX, opposite the Scottish Government building.
When did The Kitchin open?
It opened in 2006 in a converted whisky bonded warehouse.