The Broughton

A Michelin-recognised pub on Broughton Street that earns its place on any Edinburgh food itinerary

If you want a relaxed weekend lunch or a low-fuss dinner that still delivers on the plate, The Broughton is the pub dining room to book. Located on Broughton Street in Edinburgh's New Town, it sits within easy walking distance of Calton Hill and Princes Street, making it a practical choice before or after sightseeing. The format is a smart dining pub: you can come in for a drink at the bar, or settle in for a full meal. The Michelin Guide has awarded it a Plate in both 2024 and 2025, which in plain terms means inspectors consider the food worth seeking out. At the ££ price range, this is one of the more accessible Michelin-recognised venues in Edinburgh.

What the food delivers

The Broughton's cooking sits in the Modern British pub register, but it's executing that format at a level above most of its competitors. The Michelin Guide specifically calls out duck confit terrine and vanilla panna cotta as dishes that hit the mark, and frames the kitchen's output as flavoursome and good-value rather than merely competent. The wine list is described as strong, which matters in a pub context where wine is often an afterthought. If you're coming for weekend lunch or a brunch-adjacent afternoon, this is a venue that has clearly put thought into what ends up on the table, not just into the beer taps.

The atmosphere is warm and genial from the moment you walk in. That's the Michelin Guide's language, and it's a useful signal: this is not a gastro-pub performing approachability while quietly prioritising destination-dining theatre. It reads as a neighbourhood room that takes its food seriously without making you feel underdressed or outgunned by the menu. For a solo diner, a couple, or a small group looking for a weekend lunch with a good bottle, the format works well across different party sizes.

Booking and logistics

Booking here is rated Easy, and given the ££ price point and the pub-dining format, you're unlikely to need more than a few days' notice for most sittings. The venue is on Broughton Street (46-48a, EH1 3SA), a walkable address from the city centre, which also means it works as a meal around a broader Edinburgh day rather than a standalone destination trip. If you're planning a weekend visit specifically around the food, booking ahead is still advisable — Michelin recognition at this price tier generates demand — but this is not the kind of room where you need to plan weeks out. Walk-in possibilities exist for a drink at the bar, and the pub format means you're not locked into a rigid reservation-only structure.

For groups, the pub dining context generally accommodates small parties comfortably, though for larger gatherings you'd want to call ahead to confirm what the room can arrange. Dress code is relaxed: this is a smart dining pub, not a fine-dining room. Come as you are, within the range of what you'd wear to a good neighbourhood restaurant on a Saturday afternoon.

How The Broughton fits into Edinburgh's wider scene

Edinburgh has a strong roster of independent restaurants across different price tiers. For context, venues like eleanore, eòrna, Skua, Spry, and The Little Chartroom represent the city's mid-range and independent dining confidence. The Broughton occupies a slightly different position: it is first and foremost a pub, which means it offers flexibility that a restaurant cannot. You can eat a full meal, share a few plates, or just drink. That format versatility, combined with the Michelin Plate recognition and a Google rating of 4.6 from 484 reviews, makes it one of the more reliably rewarding stops in the city at this price level.

For food and travel enthusiasts who have already worked through Edinburgh's fine-dining tier, or who want a meal that doesn't require the commitment of a £££-££££ booking, The Broughton is a strong answer. It also functions well as a reference point when comparing Edinburgh's pub dining offer against its counterparts elsewhere in the UK. The Michelin-recognised dining pub format has produced serious venues nationally, from Hand and Flowers in Marlow to hide and fox in Saltwood. The Broughton is operating in that spirit, even if at a more accessible price tier.

If your Edinburgh trip is pulling you toward higher-end Modern British cooking, the city's full restaurant guide covers the complete spectrum. But if you want Michelin-noted quality without the occasion-dining overhead, The Broughton makes a clear case for itself. Pair it with Edinburgh's bar scene or plan it around a walk up to Calton Hill, and it earns its place in a well-planned visit. For those building a fuller city itinerary, the Edinburgh hotels guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide are worth having alongside it.