Reviews Newhaven Harbour Bistro, Edinburgh

A lovely 3 course lunch, beautifully cooked. Alfonso was excellent and the chef clearly talented.

Incredible place. Wonderful service, fantastic food, lovely relaxed atmosphere. The lunch set menu is incredible value too. Couldn't recommend enough

I've been to Newhaven's Harbour Bistro several times, and not just because the menu has changed several times. I'm not a fast mover, but the lovely little restaurant still feels new to me and each trip back is a treat of discovery. On my last visit to the Bistro overlooking Newhaven's charming harbour, I brought the most awkward, stern, and demanding food audience in the world—my family. My family loved the Bistro. As I prefer, I've always booked online. You get a confirmation ahead of time, and once, when I booked a birthday meal so far in advance that I was sure we'd fallen off the system, Michael Neave himself responded. My parents remembered Michael Neave from Young Chef of the Year competitions, popular Edinburgh restaurants, and his name recognition (though the Bristo doesn't mention it!) was a big lure. I recommend the fish since this is a nautical-themed restaurant overlooking a fishing harbour. I've not always followed my advice but I'm never had a dish that was less than amazing. I've taken vegetarians here, and they've always found something to eat (the menu isn't huge but robust) and liked it. The food is surprisingly affordable! The two- or three-course options are very reasonable, and we've mixed and matched with some tables with all three courses, some with a starter and main, and others with a main and dessert. I'm a volume eater and hard to fill up, but despite using the word "smaller" I'll admit I've never left the Harbour Bistro feeling cheated or unsatisfied. It's just quality over quantity. I can't imagine a table of sportsball fans or rowdy businesspeople trying to outdrink each other here, and Newhaven's Harbour Bistro can quietly impress guests. Harbour Bistro succeeds by being the best of both posh/classy and friendly/cozy. It's fancy food without the pretentiousness. Cafe? No. Small Bistro. The word "bistro" fits the tiny nook, and I think tables of four to six are large here, so you and a date about to be wowed by your tastes are ideal. The atmosphere is relaxed, and there's a window seat with a diorama of sand and pebbles to simulate a beach. I recommend the friendly atmosphere, trip to Edinburgh's waterfront, and charming restaurant.

Had the absolute pleasure of dining here, definitely the best restaurant I have been in with unbelievable food. Best pork belly I've ever had. The little touches like homemade bread, and fudge with your bill only added to the pleasure. Small intimate with fresh pleasant decor and professional pleasant staff. I can't praise this restaurant enough.

This little restaurant at the Leith waterfront doesn’t look like much from the outside; however, the inside is cozy, the staff very friendly and the food is outstanding. We tried two starters (one based on salmon, the other on asparagus) and loved both the presentation and the interplay of flavors. The mains we picked, were both fish dishes (hake and haddock). Both came with a good variety of ingredients and flavors. My only slight criticism is that I would have liked the hake to be a little less salted, as the overall flavors were so rich and varied that they did not need any amplification. In brief: if you look for an interesting food experience and like seafood, give this place a try!