If you love trying new foods and getting to know other countries traditions and culture through food, Edinburgh has a newly opened restaurant with your name on it. Meyhane is Scotland’s first wine and meze bar. The word Meyhane translates to drinking house. These drinking houses are made for long conversations and connection. You can share plates of mezes and grilled meats. Additionally, you can sip on great Turkish wines and let the night flow with your friends and family.
Meyhane is situated in the Old Town of Edinburgh about a five minute walk from Waverley Station. They opened on August 3rd. Meyhane serves a range of different foods from small snacks to mezes from grilled meats to side salads. There is also a good amount of options to choose from in case you are gluten free or vegan. This is not the only Turkish restaurant in Edinburgh by any means. However, those restaurants usually go by being mediterranean this restaurant is solely going by Turkish cuisine and tastes. Addionaly, the chefs use all local produce from around Scotland. What also created a lot of buzz for the new restaurant is that the owners showcased their renovation of their space on social media.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was just amazing to say the least. The low lighting and the red accents about the place made it feel super warm. They were playing some Turkish classics and the meal was very relaxing. Furthermore, the lights and the atmosphere adds a romantic feel to the restaurant. Making Meyhane an ideal date spot for those special days. Everything looked intentional the photos of passed Turkish icons on the walls and the permanently reserved table that they have for Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was lovely way to show their respects.
The food was amazing and tasted super fresh. personally the sigara borek was the show stopper. One of the owners and waiting staff explained the tweaks they had made to some of the recipes and were eager to hear feedback. The mercimek kofte reminded me of home and I didn’t realise how much I had missed it. Personally not the biggest fan of shrimp however, the tomato sauce it came with was divine and the flat bread covered in lamb fat soaked it all up. Meanwhile, my sister tried the red wine Yakut and immediately loved it.
All the staff and owners were very welcoming and all had smiles on their faces. You could see how excited and proud they were about Meyhane being open. The waiter we had was a great talk I love it when waiting staff aren’t shy to share their stories.
Overall, Meyhane offers a new light on Turkish cuisine in Edinburgh. Delicious food, the welcoming staff and the romantic ambience makes it a great choice for date night or a casual evening with friends and family. Although the restaurant is still new, it has already made a strong impression in Edinburghs food scene. Therefore I would definitely recommend giving Meyhane a try.
Featured Image Credit: Adara Kulug.