Merchants Restaurant

We’re not sure about this but perhaps there is a time and a place for fashionable hickory-smoked cronuts served with raw beetroot noodles in an avocado-shaped bowl.

We are much more certain there is definitely a time and a place for tried and trusted, classic flavour combinations which have stood the test of time.

Today’s Big Deal is from Merchants, a Scottish restaurant in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Merchants has been going strong in Edinburgh’s Old Town for thirty years.

Find out why they have remained so popular for three decades with today’s Big Deal.

Situated just off Candlemaker Row, Merchants is as suitable for a romantic dinner as it is for a quick bite prior to catching a show at the nearby Festival Theatre.

A striking mix of red walls, white columns and curios, Merchants has a timeless atmosphere that echoes its historic surroundings.

Option one

Option one is for two people to have two courses from the dinner menu at Merchants along with a glass of house wine each.

It is available from 5pm to 8pm, Tuesday to Saturday, from 3rd October until 30th November, and then from 16th January until 28th February.

The menus change regularly but typical starters might be the breast of quail set on bed of mash served with a rich onion gravy or the Highland game terrine served with an onion and Sauternes chutney.

Popular main courses include the succulent medallions of Angus beef fillet topped with crumbed Stilton and a rich red wine sauce and the pan-seared fillet of sea bass served with a soya and spring onion glaze.



Option two

Option two is for two people to have two courses from the festive dinner menu at Merchants along with a glass of house wine each.

This option is also available from 5pm to 8pm, Tuesday to Saturday, from 2nd December to 23rd December.

Main courses on the festive dinner menu include sliced breast of Barbary duck served with a classic orange and Cointreau sauce; the pan-seared fillet of sea bass served with a soy, fresh ginger and spring onion sauce and the succulent fillet of Angus beef Stephanie topped with a Béarnaise sauce.

Of course, there is also the option of Lothian turkey served with seasonal accompaniments and a rich turkey jus.

Dessert might be the traditional Yule log; a rich chocolate and whisky mousse or the Christmas pudding served with a rich brandy custard.

Happy diners

Merchants has attracted plenty of enthusiastic reviews to its 5pm page:

‘Top quality at a reasonable price. A perfect meal: generous portions, delicious and beautifully presented. Welcoming, cheerful but unobtrusive service. Clean toilets. The 5pm deal is unbeatable value.’ Rating 5/5

TripAdvisor reviewers have been just as complimentary. We have edited this review for length:

‘A little gem of a restaurant… We booked for the early supper deal, which we couldn’t fault… we both had a superb steak… cooked to perfection, as were the vegetables. The staff were very friendly and attentive, without being intrusive. The restaurant was spotlessly clean, with a good atmosphere, and the supper was very good value…’

Winter warmer

Looking for a great dinner for two in Edinburgh’s Old Town?

Take up today’s Big Deal and enjoy an atmospheric meal at Merchants restaurant under George IV Bridge.

This is the perfect way to cheer up a chilly January or February.