Skua — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Skua in Stockbridge is a refined neighbourhood favourite that shines with creative small plates, seasonal Scottish ingredients, and a relaxed yet polished vibe. With a Michelin Bib Gourmand under its belt, this isn’t your average local haunt, it’s where you go to treat yourself, not fill up fast.

Dishes are beautifully crafted and ideal for sharing, but portions are petite and thoughtful rather than hearty. If you're feeling famished or on a tighter budget, it's worth knowing that a meal here can easily tip over £100 for two without drinks. Skua leans into experience, flavour, and finesse, so come when you’re ready to savour, not scoff. A perfect pick for birthdays, date nights, or when you're craving elevated dining with a side of Stockbridge charm. We had a most enjoyable evening and dined on Sourdough & Coppa - Soft, chewy, buttery perfection with melt-in-the-mouth cured meat. A dreamy start. Panisse + Cheddar + Pickled Walnut - Delectable little rectangles of savoury heaven. Comfort food, but make it posh. Beef Tartare Brilliance - Delicate, precise, and packed with flavour. A minimalist beauty. Lamb - Pink, juicy, wild garlic-kissed. Dish of the night. No contest. Two Desserts, No Regrets - Sweet: light and floral. Savoury: big on flavour, could do with a visual glow-up.

Service? Utterly charming. There’s a laid-back, attentive vibe that suits the setting knowledgeable without being stiff, chatty without overstaying the welcome. Dishes arrive as and when they’re ready, keeping the flow relaxed and the pacing refreshingly unfussy.

My top tip? Share everything. Order a few dishes to kick things off, maybe a snack or two and one of the larger plates then take stock, chat, sip something delightful (the cocktails are properly impressive, by the way), and order more if you fancy. It keeps things flexible and avoids that awkward “do we all eat or...

What is there to say about Skua? Let me tell you. An unassuming place easily missed if you're looking at street level, or in my case, the wrong direction. But let that not deter you. Once found your invited into a dark, blacked out venue yet warm and inviting. The fixtures are of wood and give you a sense of the natural feel that the team seems to be aiming for.

My Girlfriend and I opted for the tasting menu. And I'm so glad we did. The menu for December 30, 2023 was exquisite. Each dish tasted so natural, if the "farm to table" wasn't so cliché, this was it! To start, one of my favorites was the oysters and sourdough bread. The oysters alone, with the vinegar and olive oil was splendid. So much so, I tried to order another serving on its own. The sourdough was just like a warm blanket wrapped up in silky-smooth butter. Another favorite was the mullet fish dish. I didn't even know what mullet was, but how Skua prepared their fish dish made me not care what mullet was. The dish was standout for me, primarily a beef person. It just tasted so good. Another standout was the maitake mushroom dish. If you love the fungus, you'll love every last drop of this one!

What really made the evening a great experience was the service of Katie and Sinead. These teammates made the dining experience so wonderful. They work hard to provide a really personal dining experience and tended to our questions and conversation without hesitation and took their time to do so, even though they were busy.

Overall, Skua is worth every bit of consideration when looking for a really good dining experience in Edinburgh. If Michelin Guide is anything to you, the Michelin guide got it right!

Bravo to the team at Skua for a great...

Amazing food and cocktails! This place is great even for special occasions. It offers small plates menu which is good for sharing. They recommend ordering around 5-6 dishes for two people. They have a small selection of house cocktails and some wines, too. Given the good quality of cocktails and a pretty small selection of wines I’d recommend going with the cocktails - they are not just basic twists on the classics but go beyond that. Luchadoras cocktail was amazing, one of the best ones I’ve tried in a while. The Damn Fine Cherrypie was very good too, although it had a bit less sophisticated taste. Red Hackle was probably the next on the stack ranked list - it was nice as well. The Quincy was a bit below my expectations - the balance in that one was a bit off even though I am a fan of Mezcal. The brioche for the start was great - it was soft and warm and buttery - just what you want. The beef short rib was just amazing and probably my favourite dish of the night. Super balanced, tender and juicy. The leek with hazelnut and anchovy was a nice discovery as well. It was super balanced too, nothing was shouting in that dish and overall was delicious. The venison was fine and cooked properly although I expected more. The beef tartare was a probably an unfortunate hiccup since it was clearly too salty but the staff were able to correct the hiccup and excluded it from the bill and it did not affect the overall experience. They only had one dessert - ginger/clementine mousse/sorbet and it was pretty average to me. Overall, it’s a great place and well deserves to be on the Michelin guide. I’d love to be...