Reviews of Cafe Marlayne. (Restaurant) in Edinburgh (Edinburgh).

Cafe Marlayne

281 Reviews

195 Comments

Restaurant

French restaurant

76 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1EN, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Cafe Marlayne, Restaurant in Edinburgh (Edinburgh)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Cafe Marlayne

Popular times

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Reviews of Cafe Marlayne

J. W.

Buzzing little gem with an excellent value lunch menu. Very friendly service. Full on a midweek lunchtime but we got last table. Probably best to book. Food was excellent and wines by the glass or bottle.

P. M.

We have literally just come from the Restaurant and we both agree that our meal was the best food we have eaten in Edinburgh in the past 5 days - and we have eaten out every day. Anna had the parsnip soup(delicious) and the duck (divine, best ever) with passionfruit and meringue for dessert (fantastic). I had the chicken terrine - lovely, and the pan - fried cod with dauphinois potatoes and broccoli- perfect. Lemon cheesecake (obviously in-house) absolutely delicious. Two courses £24.50. Good selection of wines, spirits and beers, all reasonably priced. Cosy family owned restaurant (21 years). Do yourself a favour. Hope I didn't overdo things a bit with this review - I see it's had 10, 000 views on my Google maps page. Sorry.

C. R.

Fabulous lunch today! Great food, wine and atmosphere. Cheesecake (made with condensed milk and with a fruit coulis) was new on the menu and absolutely to die for! We will be return and thank you again👏

M. H.

Delightful service, cosy atmosphere and a superbly judged bistro menu with inventive takes on classics, perfectly executed. Fantastic value also. I can't post a photo because I ate it all too fast.

J. D.

Had a fantastic lunch here. Food was amazing and the waitress couldn't have been more helpful. Highly recommend. Booking would be wise as this is a small restaurant.

J. B.

Delicious food in a very friendly atmosphere - the place is very atmospheric! Definitely worth yvisit.

E.

Lovely food and drink in a very popular cafe. Booking essential and you can tell why. All dishes well presented, beautifully cooked. Will definitely go back.

l. h.

Great cosy restaurant. The food and wine was tasty and the service was really warm and welcoming. I asked for one of my dishes without one of the components and they kindly brought my dish with extra of the other things I had ordered. Highly recommend for catching up as it has a lovely atmosphere.

B. A.

I treated my Husband to a birthday celebration dinner back in August. We were overjoyed with the quality of food! We had a 3 course meal and the portion sizes were absolutely enough for us both. 😀 This restaurant is a cosy wee place - you feel as if you are sitting in someone’s home. The staff are so friendly and make you feel so welcome. We cannot wait to come back once lockdown is over - it’s first on our list!!

S. D.

This is a great small French restaurant. Popular so busy. A small set menu had enough variety and the food was delicious. Best pannacota I have ever had. Wine good too as you would expect. When booking ask for a table near the kitchen or window ( more polite than asking for one away from the toilet——it’s a very small restaurant. )

P. W.

Simply gorgeous sandwiches with really generous fillings on fresh bread and lovely flavour. We took ours up to the gardens and ate overlooking the castle. Fantastic!

E. K.

Love Cafe Marylane! Fabulous lunchtime menu, food is very tasty, well presented & great value. Service is friendly & efficient. Best to book in advance as always busy!

G. W.

A great find. Lovely food, good wine choice, good value, great ambience, great service - we will continue to return to Cafe Marlayne - C'est Magnifique!

T. C.

TASTY DESSERTS AND GREAT ATMOSPHERE Came here for coffee and desserts at around 2:30 on a Saturday and the place was packed. There was luckily a table available for us. I got the sticky toffee pudding and it was amazing! The cake was soft and had a nice bite. The sauce was sweet and worked so well together with everything. I need to go back for an actual meal cause if it was anything like dessert then its going to be awesome!

S. S.

Lovely restaurant. Service was great, I’m lactose intolerant and they were very attentive and accommodating, which felt really nice x food was amazing, will definitely be back !

A. R.

Easy to give five stars! What a fantastic place! A little bit of France in Edinburgh. Food is brilliantly French. Perfectly executed too. And that's before you get to the value, which is also incredible. Totally enjoyed the whole thing. It's small, so make sure you book ahead, and if it's busy, persevere. It's worth the wait. 😋🇫🇷👍

a. a.

Great service and the food was lovely. Friends had mussels as a main course, I had rump of lamb. Cooked a tiny bit more than I asked for but didn't detract from the flavour. Gorgeous polenta and grilled little gem, lovely sauce.

S. C.

Outstanding restaurant! Excellent food with superb service in convivial surroundings. Highly recommended. Update on 31st October 2021: I have just dined at Cafe Marlayne, again, and had the most perfect meal. This place is my favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. Superb food, delightful service and a truly French ambiance at an unbeatable value for money price.

t. a.

Ordered the steak it was well prepared, lamb is fabulous too, nice staff small restaurant the chef put a lot initiative. Lovely

J. T.

Wow, what a gem. Food just excellent. Highly recommend

K.

A hidden treasure of exquisite beautiful food … a taste of heaven … beautiful menu and comfortable and relaxing dining .. friendly staff … you will not be disappointed 😎

L. F.

We had a delicious dinner here on our last night in Edinburgh. The food was incredible - would definitely recommend the duck. So reasonably priced for 2 courses. We wished we could have tried dessert but we were too full! Will be back to try soon. Also, the service was wonderful with such a friendly and attentive waitress. Thank you so much for a great night!

W. T.

A wee gem in Edinburgh, lovely food, good service, authentic looking French bistro, seating was a bit tight.

D. P.

The service could be a bit quicker but the wait really worths it! Fresh and simple ingredients make real tasty dishes! Loved the flashing lights around the restaurant. The place feels magical :)

M. L.

Really enjoyed this lovely french restaurant with great service and delicious food. It was also reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

F. R.

Excellent food and service as always...wonderful choice of wine...💖

J. T.

Authentic wee belter! My new fave French resto in Auld Reekie!

G. S.

Amazing, great atmosphere, intimate, attendant staff and great French cuisine. Definitely worth a visit.

X. F.

Thoughtfully prepared French dishes. Delicate presentation and tasty. Better than most French food I have had around the world. Quality service and reasonable price as well.

W. J.

Very nice ambiance inside with friendly staff and fantastic food well worth a visit.

A. M.

Stumbled across this restaurant Saturday evening. The lamb was splendid. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back again.

N. H.

Really delightful restaurant with delicious food. Very impressive quality and taste and good value lunch menu. Will definitely return.

d. c.

Oh how I loved Cafe Marlayne. For me it was like stepping into a little bit of France in the middle of Edinburgh: the ambiance, the decor, the art on the walls but most importantly, the food. I remember getting happily drunk on red wine at lunchtimes (often) and reminiscing with friends with all I loved about France. Today was ‘freedom day’ and it was the first time I had returned to Marlayne since the world turned upside down. But now dear reader, let me assure you that the food and service was as absolutely wonderful as I recalled but, oh dear, what has happened to the ambience? What in the past felt like an authentic little gem of a french bistro now feels like a bleached out seaside cafe in perhaps Portobello or maybe even North Berwick. What I loved most about Marlayne will now be committed to memory. I won’t be going back (until the magnolia goes).

H. Y.

Lovely atmosphere. Delicious food. Very friendly staff. They said they can cook vegan for us if we book in advance. They were very happy to adjust their menu on the spot and served us vegan starters, mains and deserts—all delicious. They also had vegan wine. We were very happy and will certainly go back.

Y. S.

Really tasty food and wine, valuable price and friendly service.Lamb is amazing.

S. G.

Great lunch offer and delicious food

H. v.

Fabulous authentic French food. Delightful staff. Great value for money.

a. b.

A little off the touristy areas this is a little gem. Fast food it ain't but the quality is excellent. If you want a quick meal stay away, but if have the time to sit back and enjoy excellent food at reasonable prices (£15.90 for a three course lunch) this is the place for you.

S. “. A.

This is a beautiful little restaurant, serving fantastic food with a smile. The restaurant was very busy, with just one lady looking after everyone. She was very welcoming and provided excellent service. We were a party of four, all had starters and mains and every single dish was superb. I would highly recommend this gem of a restaurant.

N. M.

One of my favourite restaurants but I was disappointed last night. The pork belly starter was too warm and melted in with the rest of the dish. The rack of lamb was OK but nothing special. Service was relaxed and not very prompt. It was a nice evening with friends anyway, just could have done better myself in the kitchen.

S. C.

Cafe Marlayne has been and still is the most quintessential french bestro in edinburgh, it's so good even the French eat there, an absolute must for anyone whe enjoys food, remember to book it's very popular

N. A.

This place is phenomenal the food was perfectly cooked, great portions, amazing side vegetables( I could eat them on their own ). Service was very casual so made you feel like you weren't under pressure to act in a certain way. Although it took a while to get through I understood why as the main waiter does everything. The setting is very intimate and quaint. Great choice of wine as well. Simple and effective menu and a great selection of wines. I normally don't rate restaurants but I was tempted to rate this one, this is a new favorite of mine will come back soon.

S. W.

We enjoyed a lovely meal with family last night. We have visited previously and have always been impressed with the quality of the food and service. Last night the down side was definitely the staff. A smile and a friendly manner go a long way when serving your customers and that was noticeably missing last night. It will not deter us from visiting the restaurant again but we felt it was only right to highlight this.

R. C.

Simply the Best Dinner in Edinburgh. Superb food & service in an enjoyable environment.

T. M.

An excellent we find, tucked away on thistle street. If you're looking for a quick lunch with excellent food and very reasonable prices, look no further. The set menu lunch has an excellent choice of delicious french inspired dishes along with a decent wine list.

C. P.

Enjoyable experience with a helpful, charming server and enjoyable food. Definitely on the edge of 5 stars but overall I thought it was just a little pricey for what we got. It's also pretty tightly packed so do also check their other restaurant at Antigua Street (top of Leith Walk) which has a much more spacious atmosphere and just as good food.

g. m.

If ever I need a go to restaurant this is where I choose. Small and intimate with unfussy service and great food. The staff are unassuming and friendly. Fabulous starter salad with poached egg and lardons. Always hope that it's going to be on but never disappointed if not. Wine list small but well formed. Just does what a small bistro tucked away close to the main thoroughfares needs to do. Recommended.

M. P.

High quality and delicious food, honest (even cheap) price for the lunch menu. This place was a hidden Parisian gem, although well known among the locals it seems, judging by the crow on a Monday afternoon. Food was slow but well worth it.

S. C.

We ducked into here tired and grumpy and fairly sceptical but were won over by the brisk service and the lunch menu. It was a chilly day so we went for the Duck hash and the Toulouse sausage both of which were cooked really well and tasted excellent. The presentation of the dishes was certainly on the rustic side but the taste was great. Though portions looked small they were certainly filling. Next time we will go with a lot less trepidation!

n. M.

Intimate atmosphere and attentive waitress. The food was a bit variable, nearly raw duck but excellent lamb. Would give it another try.

A. M.

Has opened post-lockdown as a takeaway, for now. Beautiful sandwiches and melts, freshly prepared to your order. I had a baguette with aubergine and mozzarella and it was absolutely delicious!

J. W.

Great menu, 6 of us with differing tastes and choices but all thought food and service were excellent. No rush to clear the table for another booking, a very French experience in the heart of the city. Brilliant!

G. S.

What a lovely little restaurant! Food was excellent. Service was quick and friendly. A real gem. Steak was well cooked and great quality. Cheese cake to die for. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

J. I.

Food amazing and staff really pleasant and very attentive. This was our 2nd time here and we will be back 👍

G. M.

Wonderful considered food, fantastic wine. Exceptional unobtrusive personal and friendly service. Everywhere should try and attain this standard.

G. B.

Excellent quality food, great service, wonderful atmosphere and very reasonably priced.

L. T.

Lovely food, atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff. Also good VFM.

B. G.

Here for Hogmanay, we stumbled upon the Marlayne on our first day. Tucked away off the main drag, we were attracted by the homely feel perhaps more than the menu which is slim by most standards, four choices of starter, four mains and three desserts. The thing is, that choosing was still fairly easy even though we don’t eat meat and each course was gorgeous. We had the haddock soup, the tuna steak, the gnocchi and the prune and calvados tart. Excellent value, superb flavours, everything hot, great atmosphere and friendly service.

a. s.

Very tasty lamb,waitress was rushed off her feet but so lovely with all the customers.

P. O. D.

Amazing stuff, good wine and delicious food. Would highly recommend the lamb

R. S.

Visited for the first time ever today and was delighted at the set lunch menu. Excellent value for money - delicious food at a reasonable price. Would recommend you visit next time you're in town and hungry.

A. M.

Service was first class & meal was excellent value.

P. J.

Had a great meal. Good service, tasty food and generous portions. Not ideal for vegetarians though, there was only one choice, but plenty of fish and meat options.

j. B.

Delicate French bistro style food. Great staff. Highly recommend.

P. D.

Great set menu. It was all so good that if they offered a fullenu I'd never be able to decide.

E. R.

Very lovely food very lovely people. Great experience

J. O.

Most beautiful dinner and the staff went above and beyond. I will be raving about this place for years to come

J. B.

Great food and charming service. A bit cramped, with tables a bit too close together. Recommend sitting away from the toilets due to strong deodorizer smell when the door is open.

A. C.

The most delicious meal had in a long time....the duck cooked to perfection

T. P.

Cracking seafood here, albeit not cheap. Around £5 for a starter, £15 for a main course and £5 for a desert. The portions are generally not huge, but very high quality. A crab and mango starter was delicious - light and full of flavour, and a very nice piece of halibut was a strong main course. Recommended.

M. L.

Fantastic and great value lunch. A real hidden gem.

S. G.

What a great find delicious food expertly prepared efficient friendly staff what's not to like! Well done complments to the chef from two very happy Yorkshire customers. We will return! 😋

M. M.

Once again lovely meal here with a bistro atmosphere. So good to be back.

K. S.

I love the sister place of this one. But, ahhh. this one is crammed full of tables and I just wasn't in the mood to sit nigh on next to the kitchen or with my back towards the door, the occasional icy blast. I didn't really enjoy the 'prix fixe' either. There was nothing wrong with the food, it just wasn't my to my taste. It's in places like this, I realise I am perhaps a slightly fussy eater.

F. L.

One of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh. Really tasty food, friendly service at a very decent price. The lunch time menu is a particularly good bargain.

C. M.

Had both lunch and dinner there and it was great on both occasions. Its nice and cozy so I would recommend calling beforehand to book a table.

A. P.

Delicious food, fantastic ambiance, delightful service and people. Looking forward to many more visits!

W. M.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Edinburgh. The food is amazing value and very tasty. There is a nice atmosphere, but the building might be too quirky for some!

J. B.

Fantastic place with amazing food and atmosphere!!! Love them ❤ Highly recommended for breakfast, lunch and dinner time

G. R.

Excellent food, great wine, charming service and great value for money. Nice ambiance also. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

S. F.

Simple super supper in a golden saffron basil almond risotto topped with rocket and parmesan. The candle lit atmosphere of flowers, paintings and hangings with meticulous attention of waiters made for a beautiful evening for solo dining.

G. W.

Great little French bistro. We had a two course lunch that was the perfect amount. The menu is set but the limited options are tasty.

M. S.

Exceptional food and great service at reasonable rate and a very fair price. Had dinner. Went back for lunch immediately the day after

R. B.

Excellent food. Super service.

J. w.

Superb brunch/breakfast and coffee (£2) for a reasonable price. French toast was very Good (£6.50) Good service

M. K.

Great food and nice atmosphere. I was positively surprised of the high quality of the food. Good lunch deals!

N. B.

Lovely little restaurant. Excellent value lunch. Food was delicious and service excellent Will definitely return.

J. K.

Absolutely wonderful. Great food and fantastic service, will be back very soon. X

S. B.

I wholeheartedly recommend café Marlayne to all. It's an oasis of tranquility and quality. A rare combination. It is the antithesis of fast food and fast commerce.

J. M.

Small, cozy, delicious delightful. Highly recommended! The perfect place to pop into between Tattoo performances.

R. W.

Lovely French restaurant with great menu choices. Attentive staff and good wine and beer selection. Recommended.

C. B.

Had a few lunches here and never been disappointed. Set menu is good value for money and location is very central.

R. K.

Came here years ago and was so impressed I looked it up again, so pleased I did! Gorgeous food, cosy ambience and attentive staff!

E. R.

Lovely place, great food and service. A proper French bistro experience in the heart of Scotland. Thank you... Ca nous manquait.

S. O.

Small intimate French restaurant, cosy and very friendly. Good service but the menue is abit limited.

D. S.

Delightful, intimate French restaurant run by French people. 3 courses, coffee a bottle of wine and coffee for 4 people for just less than £80. Can't be wrong.

D. K.

Great food in a fantastic atmosphere with terrific staff.

J. D.

Fantastic wee resteraunt. Food is amazing and fab staff too

F. S.

Great food. Tasted fantastic.

G. “. G.

Pleasant little restaurant serving decent freshly cooked food in mostly French style. Some may find it a little too small and cramped

c. d.

Fantastic food. Excellent service and great ambience. Would definitely recommend

N. S.

Cosy and relaxed, best meal we've had in ages, duck was perfectly cooked and seasoned.

S. F.

First class food at a very reasonable price

D. R.

Great food great staff bit can and is very noisy at lunchtime with tables quite close together and everybody competing to get their story told.

o. e.

Great food fab value... Highly recommended book early!!!

S. P.

Great cosy atmosphere. Really good food. Lamb recommended

M. Z.

Very nice food

A. P.

Hidden gem in Thistlet street. Food is superb, service is really kind and you need to try their cheesecake!

P. W.

Great little hidden gem and the food will not disappoint!

B. M.

Excellent food, friendly staff very good value. Will be back

J. T.

Amazing food and superb service, our dinner there was the best one we had in Edinburgh

J. H.

Better than ever and excellent vfm. We need to support places like this (small, independent) at these difficult times...

J. B.

Cozy cafe with simple but delicious food. Wasn't the fastest but worth the wait.

C. C.

Everything about this place is special. Fantastic food. Great service. Who needs more?!?!

h. d.

The venison carpaccio and the cod were fabulous, original ingredients associations that worked very well!

V. C.

My fav spot for Saturday lunch in Edinburgh...tasty food bustling without being stressed not too pricey and great service

J. D.

Fabulous Food , value for money, attentive staff

S. R.

Superb food, small intimate restaurant. Lovely staff

F. M.

Small, friendly, excellent food, that is a little different with a nod to french cusine

I. H.

Favourite restaurant food fantastic and staff brilliant and great atmosphere xx

d. c.

Small, rustic eatery with excellent food and service.

H. V.

Amazing staff and very helpful. Lunch deal is amzing value for money

D. P.

Excellent little French place, great value lunch (3 course for £14)

K. S.

Great place. Quick efficient service, lovely set menu.

P. G.

Great food, good value well worth a visit

V. W.

Great little bistro. Reservations recommended, especially during the festival.

D. G.

Happened upon here with no reservation, but welcomed with great service and great food.

A. G.

Good food, good wine, good service,see you soon

C. K.

Lovely place, good food and drinks and a friendly atmosphere.

j. p.

Everything excellent! Lovely lazy lunch! Almost forgot I was in Edinburgh instead of somewhere in France!

G. W.

Excellent little cafe, great food, service and intimate atmosphere.

L. R.

Excellent food and service with reasonable prices.

M. M.

Lovely little french cafe for lazy lunch. Great food and cozy atmosphere.

S. B.

Loved the food. The price was good

T. M.

Lovely people, great food, great atmosphere

H. O.

Great food and service and wonderful vibe.

M. A.

Brilliant food, a little gem of a place!

J. S.

Nice meal good service enjoyed

C. B.

Great French lunches at very good prices

T. R.

Excellent lunches at very reasonable prices.

S. O.

Nice dinner . Good steak .

J. a.

Good quality food and great presentation

S. F.

Excellent food, reasonably priced, recommended.

K. M.

Lovely food and cosy setting.

E. C.

Fantastic food and great price

N. H.

Dependable, honest and simple food. Always enjoyable.

S. K.

Nice French, and not insanely expensive! Book in advance.

N. C.

Great food. Great value

S. L.

Just fine but nothing special

D. F.

Lovely food and service!!

K. S.

Great service fabulous food

J. F.

Good varied menu that changes daily.

M. G.

Perfect.

ث. ا.

I like the fish and their way to cook it, it is called Plaice Fish

I. S.

Good food good service

N. M.

Lovely little French bistrot...

G. E.

Great food and service

l. T.

Great food and service.

P. W.

Good food for a good price

I. C.

Great, as always

J. O.

Delicious & innovative.

S. M.

The best food!!!

B. S.

Lovely X x

K. M.

Loved it Thanks.

S. B.

Excellent as always

S. R.

Wonderful

S. B.

Excellent as always

E. M.

Perfect as ever

K. P.

Taste food!

S. R.

Wonderful

K. G.

Great!!!

A. B.

(Translated) I am in this place for the second time. As always, great food and desserts. Today I had a delicious steak sprinkled with good beer and for dessert a delicious cake with Irish coffee. In addition, very friendly service. I recommend it to everyone who wants to eat and sit in French atmosphere. (Original) Jestem w tym miejscu już drugi raz. Jak zawsze wspaniałe jedzenie i desery. Dzisiaj jadłem przepyszny stek zakrapiany dobrym piwem a na deser wyśmienite ciasto z kawą po irlandzku. Do tego wszystkiego bardzo miła obsługa. Wszystkim chcącym zjeść i posiedzieć we francuskich klimatach jak najbardziej polecam.

k. R.

(Translated) A bit of heat in this Scottish rain! Very good address, meals and wonderful service !!! (Original) Un brin de chaleur sous cette pluie écossaise ! Très bonne adresse, repas et service merveilleux !!!

M. J.

(Translated) Amazing restaurant, small and very pleasant. Service in Polish 😀 (Original) Przecudna restauracja , mała i bardzo przyjemna. Obsługa po polsku 😀

P. S.

(Translated) A simply beautiful place. With delicious food and excellent service. Super recommended (Original) Un lugar simplemente hermoso. Con comida deliciosa y excelente servicio. Súper recomendado

S. M.

(Translated) An address not to be missed if you are in Edimburg. Delicious from the beginning to the end of the meal! With a French touch;) (Original) Une adresse à ne pas manquer si vous êtes à Edimburg. Délicieux du début à la fin du repas! Avec une touche française ;)

C. G.

(Translated) Classic French bistro near Queenstreet in the heart of Edinburgh. Very good kitchen, friendly staff, interesting crowd. (Original) Klassisches Französisches Bistro nähe Queenstreet mitten in Edinburgh. Sehr gute Küche, freundliches Personal, interessantes Publikum.

H. L.

(Translated) The meals are plentiful and of good quality. I recommend (Original) Les repas sont copieux et de qualité. Je recommande

N. B.

(Translated) Delicious and unpretentious. Highly recommended! (Original) Délicieux et sans prétention. Hautement recommandé !

M. M.

(Translated) Home very nice good table (Original) Accueil très agréable bonne table

S. N.

(Translated) Very good (Original) Très bon

N. R.

Très bonne cuisine

R. K.

L. G.

j. g.

Sitio agradable

U. E.

(Translated) A cozy place! (Original) A cosy place!

S. H.

P. F. C. P.

M. S.

A. “. M.

m. l.

m. h.

L. O.

K. M.

S. D.

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