Celestia — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

We kicked things off with the Kerala Chilli Garlic Prawns—a dish that sounded deceptively tame with its single chilli rating, but don’t be fooled. These beauties came rubbed in freshly ground spices, packed with roasted garlic and a tang of malt vinegar, bringing a full-on flavour punch straight out the gate. There’s a mouthfeel of Szechuan pepper there too, a numbing tingle!

The prawns were plump, juicy, and perfectly cooked, absolutely no complaints there. But the heat? Let’s just say it leaned far closer to “firecracker” than “gentle warmth.” For someone like me who’s not usually phased by a one-chilli warning, it came as a bit of a surprise—fiery from first bite to finish. Spice lovers will be in heaven, but if you're a little more cautious like I am, maybe have a cooling lassi at the ready.

Next up was the Joshilla Murg Tikka—touted as a one-chilli dish, and thankfully, it was a much calmer ride on the spice scale compared to the fiery prawns. The boneless chicken chunks were just the way I like them: succulent, tender, and infused with those deep aromatic Indian spices that linger pleasantly on the palate without blowing your head off.

For mains, we shared two dishes.

The Celestia Special Lamb Biryani arrived in a beautiful lid-topped bowl, and the moment it was opened, a wave of aromatic steam hit the table, promising something good. Inside, generous chunks of tender lamb nestled into perfectly spiced rice, every bite warm and comforting. Despite the heat levels being on the gentler side, it didn’t skimp on flavour—deep, fragrant, and completely satisfying. A great shout for those who want to sidestep the spice but still get that classic biryani richness.

Then came the Lamb Karahi—bubbling in a rich, tomato-based sauce, loaded with caramelised onions, bell peppers, ginger, and chilli. This one definitely upped the spice game, with the kind of slow-building heat that wraps around your taste buds and demands your attention.

And of course, we mopped up every last bit with a Peshwari naan.

To round things off, we cooled the spice with a couple of scoops of pistachio kulfi.

As for service, the team were warm, attentive, and full of genuine charm.

All in all, Celestia delivered a truly enjoyable dinner, with vibrant flavours and dishes that showcase a clear passion for Indian cuisine. But for me, fine dining is all about great food—it’s the whole experience. It’s that seamless blend of flawless service, immersive atmosphere, and a touch of theatrical flair that leaves a lasting impression long after the plates have been cleared and Celestia...

This was our second visit to celestia (deleted the old review to write this new one). During our first visit we had been a bit disappointed by where we were sat (in the downstairs room), but the food was great so we decided to come back.

We actually had the chance to discuss our first visit with the owner, who came out to say hello. It was great to see that the he took the feedback from our first visit onboard and you can now choose between upstairs and downstairs seating when you book on open table. I always appreciate places that really care and listen to the customer.

Everyone was extremely friendly and the food was incredible. The two paneer dishes we had (a starter and a main) really stood out but everything else was also delicious. Our desserts (the walnut chocolate balls and the gulab jamun) were also incredible.

Would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for nice indian food in a great setting...

We visited Celestia for a meal and were super impressed by what we found: stunning decor, incredible service and absolutely delicious food. We were so impressed to hear that all the chutneys that come with the popadoms that we had for our starter were made fresh in the kitchen and they truly were vastly different from the stuff that is served from jars! Our main courses were each very tasty. My Butter Chicken had tender chicken breasts and a sauce that had just the right spice level for me. My husband was equally impressed with his choice. We shared a yummy chocolate and walnut pudding which was beautifully presented. And enjoyed beers (hubby) and a couple of glasses of wine (me). There's a great attention to detail throughout and I would very much recommend Celestia as a destination curry...