Mussel Inn

Enduringly popular city centre restaurant serving up affordable, carefully sourced seafood, and mussels in particular.

The 2018 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £7.95 (+p&p).

It takes a canny business to survive in Edinburgh’s Rose Street for 20 years, outliving countless other restaurants in that time and also staving off competition from the increasingly dominating chains. That the Mussel Inn will celebrate its 20th year in 2018 and is still going strong is testament to its popularity with both locals and visitors and its policy of serving affordable, carefully sourced seafood in a relaxed and homely atmosphere. No gimmicks, nothing too fancy, just honest cooking in a light and friendly space. Somewhat obviously, mussels are the main event here, all sourced from Scottish waters and served in variety of sauces, from simple white wine, garlic and cream, to Moroccan spices or even blue cheese with bacon and cream. They come in kilo or half-kilo pots with chips on the side – or try a platter of 18 mussels grilled in garlic butter for something a bit different. The shellfish pasta is an unexpected delight – mussels, tiger prawns and queen scallops with linguine coated in a luscious shellfish bisque sauce; it’s delicious and moreish but a manageable portion at the same time. The dessert selection seems slightly perfunctory, but after such a seafood feast it’s unlikely you’ll have much room left. That said, the rocky road parfait is an inventive and indulgent treat.