Martin Wishart's Michelin-starred restaurant on The Shore in Leith is one of Scotland's finest dining experiences. The elegant, intimate restaurant showcases exceptional French-influenced Scottish cuisine using locally sourced, seasonal produce. Known for impeccable service and a superb wine list.
Restaurant Martin Wishart occupies a discreet townhouse on The Shore in Leith, Edinburgh, and has held a Michelin star since 2001. Martin Wishart trained under Marco Pierre White, Albert Roux, and Alain Ducasse before opening his Leith restaurant in 1999, and the French classical backbone of that training permeates every plate. The cooking style is French-Scottish: impeccably sourced Scottish produce — Orkney lobster, Shetland halibut, Highland venison, aged Aberdeenshire beef — treated with the precision and respect of haute cuisine. The set lunch and tasting menus are the main formats, with an à la carte available at dinner. A signature dish of Orkney scallop with cauliflower and caviar has been a touchstone of the menu for years. The dining room is intimate and understated: pale tones, close-set tables with crisp linens, and a level of service that is formal without pretension. The wine programme is one of the most serious in Scotland, with a cellar of significant depth in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Rhône, and a knowledgeable sommelier team. The restaurant does not take walk-ins and is consistently in demand. Leith's waterfront neighbourhood gives guests the option to extend the evening along The Shore, a stretch well-supplied with bars and wine merchants. Restaurant Martin Wishart remains one of the benchmarks of fine dining in Scotland, where the discipline of classical French cookery meets the exceptional raw materials of the Scottish larder.
Location
54 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RA
Highlights
- Michelin star held continuously since 2001 under chef-proprietor Martin Wishart
- French-Scottish tasting menu spotlighting Orkney lobster, Shetland halibut, and Highland venison
- Intimate dining room on Leith's historic Shore waterfront
- One of Scotland's deepest wine cellars with exceptional Burgundy and Bordeaux depth
- Lunch menu offers three or four courses at a significantly lower price than dinner
Tips for visiting
- Lunch is one of Edinburgh's best fine-dining value propositions — book well ahead even for midday slots
- The tasting menu at dinner runs to seven or eight courses; consider the shorter set menu if a full tasting is too long
- Leith's Shore is walkable from central Edinburgh but a taxi is easier after dinner
- Inform the team of any dietary restrictions when booking — the kitchen adapts tasting menus with notice
- Reserve at least six to eight weeks ahead for weekend dinner
Accessibility
Restaurant Martin Wishart is on the ground floor with step-free access from street level. The dining room can accommodate guests with wheelchair or mobility requirements; contact the restaurant in advance to arrange.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the lunch and dinner menus?
Lunch offers a concise set menu at a considerably lower price than the evening tasting format. Both showcase Scottish produce with French technique, but dinner allows the full range of the kitchen's capabilities.
Is smart dress required?
Smart dress is expected. The room is formal in atmosphere; casual or sports attire would be out of place.
Can the tasting menu be adapted for vegetarians?
Yes, with advance notice the kitchen creates a vegetarian version of the tasting menu. Contact the restaurant when booking to arrange this.
Is the restaurant accessible from Edinburgh city centre?
Leith is approximately two miles north of Edinburgh city centre. Taxis take ten to fifteen minutes; the Water of Leith Walkway connects on foot in around thirty minutes.