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exterior - Skua, Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Skua

4.8
4.8
31 Reviews
£26 to £40
Scottish
49 St Stephen St, Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 5AH

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
Skua is a small basement restaurant and bar located on St Stephen street in Stockbridge. The food menu, led by Head Chef James Aikman, is seasonal, refined, well balanced and innovative. Drawing from a large library of pickled and fermented produce year round the kitchen team offers dishes that punch well above their weight and are produced in an exceptionally small space, visible to guests as they enter the restaurant. The cocktail programme, spearheaded by Jacob Thunder is equally innovative and playful with a regularly rotating selection of house favourites as well as the classics available on request. Skua has been listed in the Michelin Guide and The Good Food Guide since its opening year in 2023.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Scottish, Contemporary British, Modern European
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    0131 202 7834
  • Website
    http://www.skua.scot/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress

Experiences

  • Drinks and Bar Snacks Only

    Multiple dates available
    After 10pm we remain open as a bar, with a small selection of snacks available until we close. The main kitchen will not be able to prepare dishes from the main menu during tis time.
    Drinks and Bar Snacks Only photo

Menu

Skua's menu was last updated 2024-10-28.

Snacks

  • Bread | Katy Rodger's Cultured Butter (V)£2.50

    • Large£5.00

  • Nocellara | Guindilla (V)£4.00

    • Coppa£10.00

      • Oyster | Beach Rose | Green Strawberry£4.50

        • Chickpea Panisse | Fennel | Summer Herbs (V)£5.00

          • Kimchi (V)£3.00

            • Skua Fried Chicken 1.0 | Hot Sauce£5.00

              Plates

              • I.O.W Tomatoes | Gooseberries | Sorrel (V)£14.00

                • Braised Shallot | Plum | Pancetta | Spruce£14.00

                  • Free Co Beef Tartar | Anchovy | Spelt | Fermented Leek£15.00

                    • Scallop | Delica Pumpkin | Blackcurrant Leaf£15.00

                      • Pink Fir | Walnut | Cheddar | Fermented Ramson (V)£15.00

                        • Sea Trout | Sweet Potato | Cucumber | Aji Amarillo£14.00

                          • Skua Fried Chicken 2.0 | Scotch Bonnet | Hung Yoghurt£22.00

                            • Market Fish | Taramasalata | Sea Plantain£28.00

                              • Sirloin | Girolle | Variegated Kale | Pedro Ximenez£30.00

                                Dessert

                                • Woodruff Set Cream | Green Pine | Fig£8.00

                                  House Cocktails

                                  • Stockbridge Sour£10.00

                                    Single Malt | Symphony 6 | Douglas Fir | Red Wine

                                    • Paulie Walnuts£10.00

                                      Toasted Walnut Brandy | Maraschino | House Vermouth

                                      • Not Another Gin Fizz£11.00

                                        Purple Carrot Vodka | Kwai Feh | Rose Vermouth | Ginger

                                        • Sour Grapes£10.00

                                          Midori | Suze | Verjus | Tequila

                                          • Kim’s Chi£10.00

                                            Mezcal | Ancho Reyes | Sherry | Kimchi

                                            • Red Hackle£9.00

                                              Lind & Lime Gin | Tawny Port | Campari

                                              • Creme Brulee£11.00

                                                White Chocolate | Licor 43 | Olorosso

                                                • Blood Orange Fizz 0%£7.00

                                                  Lyres Italian Blood Orange | Ginger | Soda

                                                  Uncategorised

                                                  • Bread | Butter

                                                    • Oyster | Blackcurrant Leaf | Olive Oil

                                                      • Beetroot Tart | Apple

                                                        • Smoked Cheese Donut | Guanciale | Chive

                                                          • Toasted Oat | Leek | Balck Pepper

                                                            • Grilled Seabass | Cauliflower | Leek | Jersey Royals

                                                              • Free Co Lamb | Tenderstem | Yoghurt | Bordelaise

                                                                • Hen of the Woods | Alexanders | Spruce

                                                                  • Ricotta | Blood Orange

                                                                    Last updated: 28 October 2024

                                                                    What 31 people are saying

                                                                    Skua reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

                                                                    Overall ratings and reviews

                                                                    Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                                    4.8
                                                                    4.8 based on recent ratings
                                                                    • 4.7Food
                                                                    • 4.9Service
                                                                    • 4.8Ambience
                                                                    • 4.6Value

                                                                    Noise • Energetic

                                                                    Loved For

                                                                    • Edinburgh/Midlothian

                                                                      Best Overall

                                                                    • Edinburgh/Midlothian

                                                                      Best Ambience

                                                                    • Edinburgh/Midlothian

                                                                      Innovative

                                                                    • Edinburgh/Midlothian

                                                                      Neighbourhood gem

                                                                    • Edinburgh/Midlothian

                                                                      Scottish

                                                                    • Edinburgh

                                                                      Best Overall

                                                                    • Edinburgh

                                                                      Best Ambience

                                                                    • Edinburgh

                                                                      Innovative

                                                                    • Edinburgh

                                                                      Neighbourhood gem

                                                                    • Edinburgh

                                                                      Scottish

                                                                    Review summary

                                                                    AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                    Skua stands out as a "hidden gem" with "brilliant food" and a "cool vibe." Guests rave about its "exceptional" dishes, with adventurous flavors and beautifully presented plates. The intimate atmosphere is complemented by "friendly" staff and "magnificent cocktails." Perfect for a cozy dining experience in Edinburgh.

                                                                    31 Reviews

                                                                    1. Will

                                                                      Edinburgh1 review

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 2 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Great service and amazing food. Highly recommend!

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                                                                    2. Anton

                                                                      Atlanta1 review

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 5 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Very nice little restaurant, great service, brilliant food! Definitely a must go when you’re in Edinburgh.

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                                                                    3. William VIP

                                                                      Seattle13 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 16 April 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      All I can say is WOW! What an incredible experience. We split 6 dishes (plus bread and butter) between the two of us and it was the perfect amount of food. The vibe of the place felt warm and modern for a small basement restaurant. The drinks came out quickly as did the bread and butter, then the kitchen of 2 chefs sent dish after dish out to our table until we had enough. Wish I lived near here because I would be back again and again.

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                                                                    4. Niels

                                                                      Edinburgh1 review

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 12 April 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Excellent food, fantastic staff, magnificent cocktails, and cool vibe. A great experience!

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                                                                    5. Ian

                                                                      London9 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 28 March 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Every dish was lovely with special mention to the Venison and doughnuts. Prices were a revelation compared to London so value for money was excellent.

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                                                                    6. Emma

                                                                      London1 review

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 22 March 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      An absolute hidden gem - from the decor to the food and service it was outstanding. The kind of place you don’t want to tell people about because you want to keep it as a special secret!

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                                                                    7. diane VIP

                                                                      London34 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 21 March 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Food was exceptional and service was great. Really beautifully presented dishes and wonderful setting and ambience

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                                                                    8. Miranda VIP

                                                                      Los Angeles12 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 11 March 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Really delicious food with complex & adventurous flavours delivered on point. Skua is a really special hidden gem with a great considered vibe which presents as both chilled & authentic. Cosy, dark, intimate & stylish with the best tunes ! The small ish menu is ambitious and exciting- we could have ordered almost everything. Stand out dish was oysters, served at the perfect temperature and tasted like the sea air blowing through grassy sand dunes. 🩷 Great wine list and cocktails selection.

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                                                                    9. OpenTable Diner VIP

                                                                      Washington DC3 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 1 March 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 4
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Very nice place for dinner and drinks! The flavor combinations were interesting and different but tasty. The staff were all very knowledgable and the cocktails were innovative. Love the vibe of the place.

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                                                                    10. Justice VIP

                                                                      Los Angeles23 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on 21 February 2025

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Outstanding food and incredible atmosphere. Chef whipped up a veggie dish for our vegetarian friend on the fly and we loved it! Staff were friendly.

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                                                                    FAQs

                                                                    Skua is rated 4.8 stars by 31 OpenTable diners.

                                                                    Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                                    1. Home
                                                                    2. United Kingdom
                                                                    3. Edinburgh/Midlothian
                                                                    4. Edinburgh
                                                                    5. Edinburgh

                                                                    Make a booking

                                                                    2 people
                                                                    19:00
                                                                    Experiences are available.
                                                                    Google Map for Skua

                                                                    49 St Stephen St, Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 5AH

                                                                    Additional information

                                                                    • Area
                                                                      Edinburgh
                                                                    • Hours of Operation
                                                                      Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
                                                                    • Price
                                                                      £26 to £40
                                                                    • Cuisines
                                                                      Scottish, Contemporary British, Modern European
                                                                    • Dining style
                                                                      Fine Dining
                                                                    • Dress code
                                                                      Casual Dress
                                                                    • Parking details
                                                                      None
                                                                    • Payment Options
                                                                      AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                    • Additional
                                                                      Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wine
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