108 Accessible Edinburgh: A Festival Guide Eating 109
ham hock terrine and steak pie. There’s also quality versions of
classic pub grub like burgers, seafood pie, and fish and chips,
and veggie options that include a spelt and lentil burger. It’s fully
wheelchair-accessible via a lift or from the gardens. There is an
accessible toilet.
Terrace Cafe
0131-552 0606; Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Row; mains
£5-8; 10am-5.30pm
The Terrace Cafe, in the middle of the Royal Botanic Garden, has
outdoor tables with a superb view of the city skyline. The cafe is
wheelchair-accessible and has an accessible toilet. Two tables
outside on the terrace are wheelchair-priority tables. Although
it’s a self-service outlet, staff are happy to assist and serve at the
table if necessary.
West End & Dean Village
The choice of eating places in the West End does not disappoint,
with some of Edinburgh’s best restaurants (including Michelin-
starred Castle Terrace) clustered in and around the Theatre
District on Lothian Rd.
Cafe Modern One
75 Belford Rd; mains £4-8; 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4.30pm
Sat & Sun; bus 13
Modern design is to be expected in the cafe at the Scottish Na-
tional Gallery of Modern Art, but more of a surprise is the lovely
outdoor seating area, a lunchtime sun trap complete with lawn
for the kids to run around on. The menu is hearty comfort food,
from parsnip and sage soup to sweet potato bake. For access
8 Scottish National Gallery of 35 Regent.......................................................H
Modern Art (p81).
Cafe Modern Two
72 Belford Rd; mains £6-8; 10am-4.30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-
4.30pm Sun; bus 13
This elegant cafe is dominated by a gleaming Victoria Arduino
espresso machine and a plaster model of Eduardo Paolozzi’s
statue of Isaac Newton. As well as tempting coffee and cake, the
lunch menu (noon to 2.30pm) offers tasty homemade soups and
platters of antipasti, focaccia filled with smoked chicken, roast
peppers etc. For access information, see the review of the Scot-
tish National Gallery of Modern Art (p81).Castle Terrace
0131-229 1222; http://www.castleterracerestaurant.com; 33-35 Castle
Tce; 3-course lunch/dinner £29.50/65; noon-2.15pm & 6.30-
10pm Tue-Sat; bus 2It was little more than a year after opening in 2010 that Castle Ter-
race was awarded a Michelin star under chef-patron Dominic Jack.
The menu is seasonal and applies sharply whetted Parisian skills to
the finest of local produce, be it Ayrshire pork, Aberdeenshire lamb
or Newhaven crab – even the cheese in the sauces is Scottish.
There’s plenty of Blue Badge parking and taxis can park
outside. Kerbs are relatively low, pavements are wide and the
roads cobble-free. Although there are two sets of heavy doors at
entrance, attentive staff are on hand to hold them open. Access
is step-free, but there’s a slight bump at the threshold. There’s
enough space for a wheelchair to manoeuvre comfortably and
an accessible toilet on the premises.Kanpai Sushi
0131-228 1602; http://www.kanpaisushi.co.uk; 8-10 Grindlay St; mains
£9-15, sushi per piece £4-10; noon-2.30pm & 5-10.30pm Tue-
Sun; all Lothian Rd busesWhat is probably Edinburgh’s best sushi restaurant impresses
with its minimalist interior, top-quality fish and elegantly present-
ed dishes – the squid tempura comes in a delicate woven basket,
while the sashimi combo is presented as a flower arrangement
in an ice-filled stoneware bowl. Although there’s an accessible
parking bay and other parking is available nearby, only the first
level of this restaurant is accessible, with just a handful of tables
that are wheelchair-friendly. The toilets are up two steps, so inac-
cessible to wheelchair users.Timberyard
0131-221 1222; http://www.timberyard.co; 10 Lady Lawson St; 4-course
lunch or dinner £55; noon-2pm & 5.30-9.30pm Tue-Sat; buses
2, 35Ancient worn floorboards, cast-iron pillars, exposed joists and
tables made from slabs of old mahogany create a rustic, retro
atmosphere in this slow-food restaurant where the accent is
on locally sourced produce from artisan growers and foragers.