Edinburgh is an ideal city for foodies, with dozens of unique cafes and restaurants waiting to be discovered by locals and tourists roaming the history-filled streets.
However, with so many tempting places to choose from, finding the perfect one might become a challenge. That's when the popular travel platform TripAdvisor comes to light, telling which gourmet places are amongst the most loved.
According to the trusted platform, a French cafe serving fresh crepes and galettes just up Haymarket train station has made it to the top of the best restaurants in the whole of Edinburgh, ranking second.
Having opened in October 2020, Le Petit Cafe quickly became people's favourite spot to go for a delicious meal and heart-warming atmosphere, despite challenging Covid pandemic times.
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Our reporter Iuliia Vlasova became a regular at the beautiful cafe at 32 Morrison Street long before TripAdvisor acknowledged it, and tells what makes her want to come back to the place over and over again.
I first went to Le Petit Cafe back in August 2021 after seeing it from a car window when passing by several days earlier - it caught my attention straight away with its modest yet stylish exterior and a bright poster of a pistachio milkshake.
On our first visit, my partner and I were warmly greeted by the French couple who run the place - Marion and Mathias - and right then, even before opening the menu, I felt that this was the place to come back to.
Marion, who worked in a perfume shop back in France, and Mathias, who used to run his own restaurant for ten years before moving to Scotland, radiate charm and benevolence. They are extremely good at making every guest feel like they are the most special person - and that is a very precious thing to feel in the hustle and constant rush of the capital city we live in.
Marion and Mathias said: "When we were setting up Le Petit Cafe, we were doing it with our hearts. We wanted a place that looked like us. We wanted to bring a small bit of France into Edinburgh.
"It is not unusual that people come two or three times in a row when they stay in Edinburgh only for four days - they feel very welcomed, and we always do our best to provide a good service."
Sitting there in Le Petit Cafe, marvelling at the chic and stylish interior with a true French vibe about it, you start to feel like this little cafe was transformed into the Scottish capital straight from the heart of Paris.
The food, of course, is a grand part of any cafe experience, and the Le Petit Cafe menu bursts with delicious items to try. Their crepes and galettes (savoury gluten-free crepes) come in a wide variety of flavours and are highly tempting. You can also try freshly baked pastries or go for one of the authentic French desserts on offer.
For the regulars always on the lookout for new dishes to try, the cafe has crepes and galettes of the month that change regularly and also seasonal treats. If you are local, make sure to grab a loyalty card at the till, which will help you to a free traditional crepe after several visits.
A visit to Le Petit Cafe doesn't end with you leaving the place, though - you can ask for a touch of authentic French perfume on your way out to have the unique scent remind you of the amazing little cafe and stay with you throughout the day.
Reflecting on the fantastic journey they had since moving to Edinburgh in 2019 to follow their love for the historic city, Marion and Mathias said: "We are very proud to be rated amongst the best restaurants in Edinburgh - we couldn't have imagined such a great award.
"We have worked every day since the opening and try to provide the best quality of service and food - and our customers love what we do even if our crepes are very unusual for Scotland.
"We love what we do, and we love to meet people from all around the world."
You can find out more and book a table here.
