An age-old tradition, a Sunday lunch sets the tone for the perfect end of the week. Luckily, the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh can be found scattered around the city. Whether you’re on the hunt for a family-friendly spot, a romantic hideaway, or a lively hangout for good times with pals, the top pubs and restaurants for Sunday lunches in Edinburgh dish up juicy meats, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes, and lashings of gravy for a Sunday meal to savour.
In central Edinburgh, experience the classic Sunday roast with a modern twist, with beef from native, grass-fed cattle. In New Town, there’s a restaurant where you can choose your cut of steak and add your own sides and sauces for the perfect plate. Or head to Westend for the finest cuts of Scottish meat cooked to perfection.
Make a reservation to enjoy one of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh on OpenTable ASAP and get your weekend sorted.
Head on out to these top restaurants and pubs for the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh
For the best of British beef aged in-house – don’t miss Chop House Market Street in Edinburgh
Chop House Market Street has a strong reputation for serving up the very best of British beef. All meats are aged in-house – the Sunday cut is aged for 35 days before being prepared and served. Add beef-fat roast potatoes, herb-buttered greens and carrots, a gigantic Yorkshire pudding and bone marrow gravy, and you have yourself the perfect Sunday lunch. Admire the brickwork arches as you dine in the split-level, dynamic bar and restaurant in Old Town. The vibe is always buzzing, with an extensive international wine list and cocktail menu to get your day started. The signature charcoal grill gives the meat that distinctive smoky flavour that cannot compare to anything else. And with one great price, which is currently only £23 for the full works, you can eat out on Sundays in style without breaking the bank.
For one of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh for a Galician-inspired lunch – head on over to The Spanish Butcher in New Town
Mediterranean and Spanish flavours influence the menu at The Spanish Butcher – Edinburgh in Edinburgh’s New Town, with only the finest premium grades of meat making it to your table. From Galician beef to Jamón ibérico, alongside prime seafood chosen with exactly the same care and attention to detail. Your Sunday roast is a build your own affair – start by choosing your cut of meat. Options range from sharing cuts such as the porterhouse and the chateaubriand, to individual prime cuts like the Scotch fillet and the Galician fillet. Next, choose your side – Manchego truffle fries or roast potatoes with garlic and paprika. Then add your sauce – perhaps a creamy peppercorn, a spicy mojo verde or a classic garlic butter. Add a steak topper and you’re done – grilled bone marrow of prawns with paprika and garlic.
For special occasions – pop into Hawksmoor in central Edinburgh
With a strong focus on bringing the best Scottish produce to the table, Hawksmoor Edinburgh deserves its place as one of the best hotspots for a Sunday roast in Edinburgh. The beef comes from native-breed, grass-fed cattle, while the sides include fresh seafood from the northern coasts. Its Sunday roasts have been rightly named as among the best in the whole of the UK by Observer Food Monthly. All meats are roasted on real charcoal and finished in the oven for that authentic open-fire taste. Single diners can get the slow roast rump with beef dripping potatoes, bone marrow and onion gravy and a plethora of garden vegetables. Or for two or more, try the chateaubriand or one of the weekly changing blackboard sharing cuts. Add a side of Hawksmoor stuffing with high-grade sausage meat and plenty of fresh herbs, or some creamy cauliflower cheese.
For one of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh sourced from local farms and butchers – book at Kyloe Gourmet Steak Restaurant in Westend
Scottish beef is renowned for being among the best in the world. At Kyloe Gourmet Steak Restaurant, you can sample some of the finest cuts from local farms and butchers, cooked to perfection by a team of expert chefs. And if you’re looking for the best Sunday roast in Edinburgh, you may just have found your winner. Remember to book your Sunday table before 4pm on Friday to secure your spot – you won’t be disappointed. This independent restaurant has a strong focus on working closely with local Scottish suppliers, ensuring your meal is crafted from the freshest ingredients, with a minimal carbon footprint. The award-winning Sunday roast is one of the highlights of the week, featuring 28-day dry-aged rump steak for two, four or six people. The set menu price includes unlimited sides, ranging from Yorkshire puddings and pan gravy to duck fat roast potatoes, creamed cabbage and organic roast root vegetables.
For prime Argentinian cuts – visit Gaucho in central Edinburgh
Proudly boasting the title of the first Argentinian steak restaurant in Edinburgh, Gaucho Edinburgh is a must-visit venue for any meat lovers in Edinburgh. And if you’re coming from further afield, the restaurant is only a 10-minute walk from Waverley Station, making it easy to get to, even for out-of-towners. The menu celebrates the best of Scottish produce combined with Argentinian cooking styles. The close partnership with Campbell’s Meats ensures you only get the finest Scottish beef on your plate. The Sunday roast is available from 12 pm until 5 pm and comes in a variety of formats – standard size, kids size and never-ending. Opt for the never-ending roast and you get unlimited veg, gravy and accompaniments alongside your choice of three perfectly roasted joints of meat. Top it all off with a signature cocktail from the bar and let your weekend end in style.
For one of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh to share with a group – try McLarens on the Corner in central Edinburgh
If you like your food served up with a whole lot of love, then McLarens on the Corner is the ideal spot for your next night out. Warm, inviting and exceptionally friendly, the waitstaff are ready to ensure your evening goes off without a hitch. Both family and dog-friendly, you can take the whole gang out for Sunday dinner and know you’ll have a fantastic time. The seasonal cocktail list is something to sample while you peruse the Sunday roast menu – the house rhubarb cocktail makes the perfect aperitif. Your main Sunday roast starts at 12 pm and is served until it’s gone, so be sure to book and get there early. On the side, you can enjoy homemade haggis bonbons with chilli jam, or a sharing baked camembert with honey drizzle and sourdough bread sticks. Stick around for the smartphone quiz on Sunday evenings and test your general knowledge.
For a stellar lunch at one of the best pubs in Edinburgh – visit The Queens Arms in New Town
A real hidden jewel of a quality pub, just below the cobbles of Frederick Street, The Queens Arms – Edinburgh brings you one of the best Sunday Roasts in Edinburgh. The sell-out roasts really must be booked in advance to ensure your spot – where you can relax in a comfortable environment packed with Scottish memorabilia and a historic atmosphere. Served from 11:30 am on a first-come, first-served basis, The Queens Arms delivers the perfect roast every Sunday. While it could be available until as late as 10 pm, it is advised to get there earlier to ensure you get to sample the rich, meaty goodness. Choose from the sharing beef roast, Queen’s pie, single beef roast or a pumpkin and beetroot Wellington, all served with seasonal vegetables and the perfect gravy. Finish with a sticky chocolate brownie with cherry sorbet – if you have room.
For award-winning roasts – try Twenty Princes Street in New Town
Contemporary menus and visionary design characterise Twenty Princes Street, where you can sample some of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh. Only the finest seasonal ingredients make the grade here, sourced locally and with an eye for quality. While the Sunday roast is of course a highlight, there are multiple vegan and vegetarian options to tempt you as well. Each dish is complemented by a recommended pairing from the hand-selected wine list (although you can choose whatever you want), and there’s absolutely no compromise on flavour. Served from 12 pm until 4 pm, the Sunday menu starts with a choice of creamy mussels in white wine, braised wild mushrooms on polenta or classic haggis, neeps and tatties, appetizer-size. The main event could be the beef striploin roast, or alternatively, you could choose slow-roasted pork belly with mustard mash, battered coley bites or a grilled chicken shawarma with cauliflower couscous.
For a romantic lunch date – visit Badger & Co in Edinburgh
If you loved Wind in the Willows as a child – then you will love Badger & Co. Influenced by the children’s classic, this cocktail bar slash great food destination takes inspiration from the Wild Wood. The Sunday roast changes every week depending on the finest cuts of meat available. Served from noon until it’s gone, it will satisfy even the appetite of a hungry badger. On the side, you can enjoy dishes such as truffle fries with parmesan, tender stem broccoli with hazelnuts and sun-dried tomatoes, and a selection of house-made sourdough with compound butter, sun-dried tomato cream and kalamata olive tapenade. Finish with An Ode to Mr Toad – a cocktail featuring buffalo trace, Don Papa rum, white chocolate and banana. Dining al fresco is a must, with both a terrace space with views of Edinburgh Castle and a hidden sunken garden dining area.
For neighbourhood pub grub loved by locals – make Nobles Café Bar and Restaurant in Edinburgh
A unique destination for discerning gourmands, Nobles Cafe Bar & Restaurant brings you seasonal, refined pub classics with only the best local ingredients. And the chefs often add a modern twist to an old favourite, so you’ll always have something new to try. An extensive menu of exquisite house cocktails considered wines and carefully selected craft beers means you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied even before you look at the food menu. The award-winning cuisine at Nobles is worth checking out any day of the week, but if you have a free Sunday, then that’s the time to choose. The Sunday roast is served weekly from 3 pm. While the menu changes every week, there’s always a delectable meat dish such as slow-cooked roast lamb with red wine and rosemary jus, dauphinoise potatoes and braised cabbage stew, alongside a veggie option such as haggis nut roast with butternut stew and spicy tomato gravy.
The Sunday roast is a traditional British staple – juicy meat, Yorkshire puddings, stuffing and fresh roast vegetables smothered in gravy, there’s nothing better except, perhaps, all of that, but without having to do the washing up. Take a day off and enjoy the best Sunday roast Edinburgh restaurants are serving right now.
Book your next Sunday roast on OpenTable ASAP and kick off the best day of the week in style
Hungry for more? Check out some of these guides to find the best restaurants in Edinburgh for any day of the week:
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- The best romantic restaurants in Edinburgh for a stellar date night
- The best brunch restaurants in Edinburgh to try right now
- The best French restaurants in Edinburgh to book ASAP
- 5 of the best independent restaurants in Edinburgh
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