Howies Victoria Street

Howies Victoria Street is a modern Scottish bistro at 10-14 Victoria Street in Edinburgh's Old Town, on the curving, colourful street that links the Royal Mile area with the Grassmarket in Scotland. Victoria Street is one of the most photographed streets in the city, with a raised terrace of shops above and a lower roadway beneath, and the restaurant sits among the independent shops that line it. The kitchen offers a reliable menu of Scottish dishes, with haggis, neeps and tatties at roughly £14 to £18 and cullen skink, the smoked haddock soup, at about £8 to £10. Mains and set menus generally fall in the £15 to £28 range, and set-menu deals at lunch and early evening are a main attraction for visitors who want a traditional meal at a fair price. The dining room is warm and informal, with a traditional bistro feel, moderate noise levels and no dress code. A wine list with a short selection of Scottish and international bottles is available, and the staff are used to guiding visitors through unfamiliar Scottish dishes. Howies serves lunch and dinner daily, and current hours should be checked on the website at howies.uk.com. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, in the evenings and during the August festival and Hogmanay periods, when the Old Town is at its busiest. Walk-in tables are sometimes possible at quieter times. The restaurant is only a few minutes' walk from the Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, so it works well as a stop before or after sightseeing in the Old Town. Visitors with dietary requirements should mention them when booking, as vegetarian options are typically offered alongside the Scottish classics.