TWO restaurants in Edinburgh have received Michelin stars just a week after the city was named the Good Food Guide’s most exciting food destination of 2025.
Restaurants Avery and Lyla were awarded Michelin stars at last night’s Guide Ceremony at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, alongside 24 other eateries in Great Britain and Ireland.
The stars are both Avery and Lyla’s first, as the Scottish capital’s food scene is said to be evolving at a “glorious pace”.
Avery, situated on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge, offers chef Rodney Wages’s Californian take on Scottish produce, having moved from San Francisco to Scotland last year.
Mr. Wages already held a Michelin Star in San Francisco and, according to the Michelin Guide, his “supremely skilful cooking and heartening embrace of the Scottish larder” has earned him a star here too.
Lyla, on New Town’s Royal Terrace, focuses on fish and seafood sourced from the Scottish Isles, and last year was awarded three titles including Best New Restaurant by Conde Nast and Restaurant Newcomer of the Year by Food and Travel Magazine.
Of Lyla, the Michelin Guide state: “At the helm is seasoned chef and restaurateur Stuart Ralston, who ensures the ingredients are handled with great skill and care.
“His technical expertise and subtle accompaniments really allowing the magnificent natural flavours to shine.
“It’s a beautiful restaurant too, housed inside the kind of Georgian townhouse that Edinburgh is famous for.”
Two other Edinburgh restaurants were awarded the Bib Gourmand distinction which recognises restaurants that offer value for money.
The guide says that: “While all Bib Gourmands are unique in style and approach, they share the same spirit of generosity and a commitment to quality cooking.
“This year, no less than 36 restaurants have been newly awarded a Bib Gourmand, showing the wealth of restaurants around the UK and Ireland that are committed to offering affordable, high-quality cooking.”
One of these restaurants was Ardfern in Leith, which is the third venue from chef Roberta Hall-McCarron and the team behind The Little Chartroom and Eleanore, also in Leith.
The cafe, bar, and bottle shop offers brunch, evening small plates, and an extensive wine list, and even serves a full sunday roast consisting of beef rumpcap and sides for £28.
The intimate Skua in Stockbridge keeps its menu small to match the basement restaurant but nonetheless provides delicious cooking using British ingredients alongside a selection of natural wines.
Last week, the Good Food Guide named Edinburgh as the most exciting food destination of 2025, again spotlighting Ardfern and Lyla alongside smaller locations such as Alby’s, Matto Pizza, Lovecrumbs, and Modern Standard Coffee.
They state: “Since our last Local Guide to Edinburgh, the city’s food scene has evolved at glorious pace.
“From casual to fine dining, the city’s options have never felt bolder or better travelled.”
