White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar

A tranquil seafood oasis amid the bustle of the Old Town for just a snack and a glass of fizz or something more substantial.

The 2019 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

For those that remember it under its former guise, the transformation from the oldest bar on Edinburgh’s High Street to cool, stylish seafood restaurant has been nothing short of astonishing. The front section with its bar stools, high tables and window seat is more suited to a casual experience while the rear accommodates those after more conventional dining. As the name suggests, oyster fans are particularly well-catered for with both natural and dressed options, but the bulk of the menu is made up of sharing plates. Sesame tuna with grapefruit is excellent, the outer edges just barely paled and the centre a raw, dark pink. Octopus and merguez sausage with pine nut, mint and basil is a beautifully balanced dish that has you pondering if it’s indecent to order a second portion straight away. Likewise, oily smoked mackerel works superbly with the sharpness of its accompanying pickled beetroot. There’s a short dessert list and a good range of Mellis-supplied cheeses, too. Drink options favour bubbles and cocktails but there should be enough to please all but the pickiest. Look out for their ‘buck a shuck’ oyster happy hours and BYOB deals.