Our carnivorous love affair with great steak is well-documented.

After all, Scotland is home to the Aberdeen Angus, a cut of beef loved the world over.

The capital is home to some of the best places to enjoy meat in the country, with beautifully prepared beef from all over the world creating a meat-lover's heaven.

Here are 12 of our favourite places to go for a steak fix.

Kyloe

(1-3 Rutland Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AE, 0131 229 3402)

Describing itself as “Edinburgh’s first gourmet steak restaurant,” Kyloe only serves the best Scottish beef dry aged for a minimum of 28 days.

Located on the first floor of the Rutland Hotel and with excellent views of Edinburgh castle, diners can sit back in cowhide-upholstered booths and tuck into some of the finest cuts of beef the capital has to offer.

Sharers including an enormous 28oz porterhouse are on the menu, but the individual cuts of rump, sirloin and a 60-day aged ribeye are just as good if you're wanting to go solo. 

Chop House

(102 Constitution Street, Edinburgh EH6 6AW, 0131 629 1919)

The meteoric rise of the Chop House’s popularity led to it opening a second eatery inside the Arches on Market Street, however as the Constitution Street version is the original, that’s what we’re going with.

Here, all steaks come from three specially selected, artisan suppliers and are dry aged for a minimum of 35 days before they reach the restaurant.

Once they enter the kitchen, they’re cooked over an open-flamed charcoal grill for that extra bit of flavour.

Diners can customise their cut with a range of decadent sauces, but the sides are what make the Chop House really stand out.

Choose from everything including kimchi, mac and cheese cabbage and bacon or baked beans with smoked pork belly for that extra piece of meaty goodness.

Los Argentinos

(28-30 W Preston Street, Edinburgh EH8 9PZ, 0131 668 3111)

Taking inspiration from the Gauchos – cattle farmers – of South America, Los Argentinos brings a little bit of Latin American flair to the capital’s steakhouse offering.

In Argentina, steak is a religion, and that is abundantly clear here with little attention paid to anything else – a cowhide plastered on the wall is as far as the decoration goes

Table-sized portions of rump, sirloin, ribeye and fillet are served up with small pots of the ubiquitous chimichurri on every table to whichever cut you go for that authentic taste of Argentina. 

Shebeen

(8 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8BJ, 0131 629 0261)

From Latin America to South Africa with Shebeen, which has three popular restaurants dotted around the capital, all of which are well worth visiting.

Shebeen offer steaks in two sizes; Cheetah – a leaner, lighter option for those with a more delicate appetite – and Lion – which, as the South African meat specialists claim, is “enough to fill you to bursting point.”

Tender cuts of rump, sirloin, ribeye and t-bone - seasoned with their signature steak rub - are served up from locally sourced farms, with most expertly prepared on the bone.

Diners can also plump for a serving of traditional monkey gland sauce – sadly containing an absence of actual monkey gland – or the spicy chakalaka relish.

For those with an appetite as big as an African buffalo, we recommend starting with the Fanagalo - a mixed grill sharing platter which is described as being "literally a bucket of meat".

Wildfire

(192 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AZ, 0131 225 3636)

The intimate Wildfire on Rose Street isn’t just a simple a grill house – with a focus on Scottish fare, they also have a very good seafood menu - but the cuts of meat here are good enough for it to warrant being on the list. 

Succulent 21-day aged cuts of Aberdeen Angus sirloin, ribeye and fillet are served up with either a mouthwatering blue cheese or peppercorn sauce and a healthy portion of thick, steak-cut fries.

It pays to book ahead here though as it is on the more petite side - and immensely popular with the locals.

STEAK

(14 Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT, 0131 556 1289)

Has there ever been a more appropriately named restaurant than STEAK?

Probably not, and although there are a few non-meat options on the menu, cuts of beef are very much a way of life here, with a range of 21-35 day aged cuts of sirloin, fillet, ribeye or t-bone there to satisfy diners carnivorous cravings.

What sets Steak apart from the rest however is their innovative lava stone serving solution which allows diners to cook their steak to sizzling perfection before topping them off with inventive sides including duck eggs or king prawns.

Though they lie more on the fine dining side - making them perfect for date nights or larger parties - they have just launched a new brasserie next door offering a more relaxed vibe for those looking for great steak without the fuss.

Rancho

(244 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH3 8DT, 0131 228 5091)

A smaller and slightly more intimate alternative to Los Argentinos, South American grill Rancho is excellent value for money compared to some of the more central options.

The frequently-praised and knowledgeable staff will hand cut fillets of steak in front of customers to ensure perfect personalisation before serving them up for less than £20.

Cuts are topped with a mouthwatering combination of grilled or fried mushrooms and sauteed onions for that extra kick, in what might be one of the city’s best kept restaurant secrets.

McKirdy’s Steakhouse

(155 Morrison St, Edinburgh EH3 8AG, 0131 229 6660)

McKirdy’s is a steak restaurant for those who are serious about their meat, largely because those behind the counter fall into the same category.

The steakhouse is owned and run by the same family who own McKirdy’s butchers, which has been serving the city some of the finest cuts of beef since 1895.

Here, that knowledge goes a long way, as the award winning butchers plate up their favourite cuts, from the butcher’s special pounded rump to the fillet medallions layered with haggis and doused in a whisky sauce.

Buffalo

(12-14 Chapel St, Edinburgh EH8 9AY, 0131 667 7427)

The understated texan steakhouse may have dropped ‘grill’ from its name, but there has been no reduction in quality since the rebrand.

As expected by the name, fresh cuts of buffalo, know for being a leaner alternative to beef, are served up for carnivores to get their teeth into.

Steaks are aged for 21 days before being cut to each diner’s specific liking, with teriyaki marinated versions an inventive alternative to the usual.

Marsala and wild mushroom and tarragon sauces are an excellent accompaniment to the beautifully prepared beef, while the surf ‘n’ turf also comes highly recommended.

Smoke Stack

(53-55 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3RJ, 0131 556 6032)

The exposed stone and retro styling inside Smoke Stack are a refreshing no-frills, no gimmicks alternative to other eateries.

In fact they proudly boast on their website, “Smoke Stack is not the place for food that looks like a work of art,” instead preferring to concentrate on serving only the finest cuts from the Scotch Beef Club, of which the are members.

All 21 day aged steaks come from the Club’s registered butchers and the knowledgeable staff are trained to advise on which cut to go for based on the customer’s individual tastes.

Miller & Carter

(29-31 Frederick Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2ND)

Picture: Miller & Carter

The arrival of the successful steakhouse chain in the capital was met with great optimism from Edinburgh's meat lovers and their city centre venue has been busy since its opening.

Choosing specific breeds for their flavour, texture, succulence and size with the cattle being fed on both grass and grain for a fuller flavour.

With no less than 13 steaks, M & C offer one of the fullest steak experiences in the city with all of the classics on offer alongside more special cuts like their cuts on the bone and their mammoth 30oz Tomahawk - which you might need a friend or two to tackle.

If you are feeling adventurous and are sharing, then we recommend the Butcher's Block for two - a variety of steak flavours and cuts including their 30 day aged Fillet 8oz, 50 day aged grain fed Ribeye 8oz, 30 day aged Rump 8oz and brisket stuffed marrow bone.

Gaucho

(4A St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2BD)

Picture: Gaucho

Excitement for this new arrival has been building since it was announced that renowned Argentinian steak restaurant chain Gaucho were to be the latest big brand to be heading to the city's St Andrew Square.

We've yet to see the menu for the new eatery that lands in November, but if it's anything like those found in their other sites around the UK, the capital's meat lovers are in for a treat.

Choose from the classic Argentinian cuts of the specially selected Aberdeen Angus beef - ranging in size from 225g to 500g - or splash out on Gaucho's specials including the Entrana Fina - succulent marbled skirt - or the media luna de vacio -  tender flank.

Don't worry if you are with a friend and looking for a challenge, Gaucho provides with their sharing section with the classic Chateubriand (450g or 700g) and the popular beef sampler which consists of 1.2kg of four different cuts.