Three Birds

Friendly neighbourhood bistros don't come much sweeter than Three Birds, a mere flutter of a wing from Edinburgh's popular and bustling Bruntsfield Place.

Tucked into the quieter Viewforth, you could be forgiven for missing this place. Stumbling upon it, however, could be quite the happy accident; if you're lucky enough to get a table, that is, for since the locals have caught on to its charms they might not be so willing to let it go.

There's something wonderfully endearing about the simple decor – light, creamy walls, chunky wooden tables, handwritten chalkboards. The menu is anything but simple however, with a wonderful marriage between Scottish ingredients and punchy global flavours. This is the type of place where handmade falafels sit alongside chicken and haggis terrine, tempura pulled lamb and spicy Caribbean catfish. It's the sort of joint where mains come in the form of firecracker cauliflower florets or pork loin, served with lashings of caramelised apple and blue cheese veloute. Diners can take it slow with a range of colourful side plates, cosy up over a plate for two to share or tuck into a hearty solo curry.

Wash these down with a delicate wine or craft beer from their neatly-crafted drinks list and there's a lot to love about this cosy wee nook. Better still, they have branches across town, with additional restaurants like Apiary and Educated Flea also proving equally popular among the capital's residents.