Empires

"Small, round and perfectly formed" is a description that can be applied in many areas, but I do not recall seeing it in association with a restaurant before. That was until Empires came along.

Located in the Old Town, always a plus point for many, this tiny Turkish café's main stock in trade is the sort of cooking that one identifies with hearth and home. From an incredibly low-priced menu, it is possible to choose old favourites like lamb pilaf to less well-known items like rice-stuffed peppers, aubergine, cabbage and vine leaves. The bread, from a Turkish bakery in London, is to die for.

Much of the food at Empires centres around the Turkish tradition of meze, a selection of small dishes similar to Spanish tapas, many of them are vegetarian and vegan, but they also include a range of meat and seafood ones.

Enough has been said, I hope, for you to imagine the quality of the coffee, the Turkish Delight and the rest. Empires must offer some of the best quality and value for money in Edinburgh - provided you can manage to get a table. Booking is advisable - especially at weekends. It's also worth noting also that they are not licensed, however, a big plus point is you can bring your own, though they make a small corkage charge!

The authentic, bohemian atmosphere of Empires is unique in Edinburgh and at weekends they have live performances from a host of progressive and very talented local musicians. The music ranges from traditional Greek and Turkish through to classic flamenco and experimental folk and acoustic.