Where to Eat in Edinburgh – 7 Best Edinburgh Foodie Hotspots

Edinburgh is blessed with many great places to eat and drink as well as delicious local Scottish produce. If you’re wondering where to eat in Edinburgh, here’s a selection of the best cafes, delicatessens, bars and food shops as well as restaurants.

Where to Eat in Edinburgh

Welcome to one of the most historic and exciting cities in Europe – Edinburgh, Scotland! The city is renowned for its stunning architecture, vibrant culture and fascinating history.

But it’s also home to some of the best food experiences in all of Europe. From Michelin-star restaurants serving up traditional Scottish fare to innovative street food vendors dishing out a variety of global flavors, there’s something special waiting around every corner.

Whether you’re traveling to this majestic city for business or pleasure, you’ll be delighted by what’s on offer from Edinburgh’s culinary scene. Our Edinburgh food guide features foraged food, quirky cafes and some great Scottish fine dining restaurants. Here’s our pick of the best places to eat in Edinburgh. So pull up a seat – let’s eat!

1. Forage and Chatter

Forage & Chatter is without doubt one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh. It’s tucked away in the West End in the basement of a handsome Georgian townhouse. They focus on locally sourced Scottish cuisine, with much of the menu having been sourced by an expert licensed forager.

Owner and manager Cameron McNeil called on his family to assist with the restaurant, and his mother has overseen the interior design. There are cosy booths decorated with Balmoral tweed and an airy conservatory to the rear with tables designed by Cameron’s brother, Nicholas.

They’re consistently one of the top ranked Edinburgh restaurants on TripAdvisor. We can certainly see why they’re so popular – this is the first time that we’ve been asked if the temperature suited us in a restaurant, and that’s just one example of their attentiveness.

As for the food, it comes from within a 25 mile radius with some ingredients having been foraged, such as the mushrooms in this mouthwatering carpaccio of goats cheese and herbs.

A starter of BBQ pork shoulder with crispy squid, radish and cauliflower was equally good, as was a main course of West Coast hake with onion, dill, courgettes and wild leeks. We enjoyed it with a tasty side of garlic and ginger broccoli.

The wine list is made up of interesting wines that tell a story. They’re great value, like the set lunches at 2 courses for £14.95 and 3 courses for £17.95. For dessert, we recommend the Vahlrona Chocolate with malt and peanuts or the local Scottish cheese platter.

2. Dishoom

For Indian dining with a contemporary twist, you can’t beat Dishoom, one of our favourite places to eat in Edinburgh. Located in a handsome stone building on St Andrew Square, the restaurant is an homage to Sir Patrick Geddes, a Scottish botanist and town planner born in 1854.

After improving living conditions in the Old Town in Edinburgh, he travelled to Bombay where he became a confidant of Gandhi and helped to plan many Indian cities.

Dishoom are known for their succulent vegetable, fish and meat dishes. The atmosphere in their Edinburgh restaurant is vibrant with knowledgeable staff who will talk you through the many specialties on offer.

Try a lassi to go with your meal – these yoghurt based drinks are truly refreshing. Finish with kulfi on a stick, this Indian ice cream makes a perfect dessert. It’s definitely one of the best Indian restaurants in Edinburgh.

3. Valvona and Crolla

Valvona & Crolla is well known as the oldest deli and Italian wine merchant in Scotland. From their foodhall situated on Elm Row to their café on Multrees Walk and their outposts in Jenners department store and online delivery, they’ve been serving the UK since 1934.

A family run business, they’re a great source for freshly baked bread, cheese, wine and much more. There’s even a book store that becomes a theatre during the Fringe Festival. 

We had the chance to sample their delicious produce, thanks to an innovative agreement with The Old Town Chambers. Our home from home in Edinburgh was a great base from which to explore the city. Take a tour of the apartments as well as many attractions in Edinburgh like the Castle, Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill.

Guests staying at these luxury serviced apartments can choose to receive a fantastic breakfast box with a lovely selection of food. The gold box decorated with green ribbon is a work of art in itself.

Inside you’ll find an array of cold meats, specialty cheeses, fresh fruit, bread, pastries and organic fruit juice. A great way to start your day in style.

4. Contini

You can’t help but be impressed by the beautiful exterior of Contini George Street. Formerly a bank, it’s now a cool restaurant that successfully combines Italian flare with the very best Scottish ingredients.

Victor and Carina Contini run several popular eateries, including Cannonball near Edinburgh Castle and The Scottish Café and Restaurant within The Scottish National Gallery.

The interior is equally impressive, with an elegant bar where you can enjoy an aperitivo. They have a an excellent aperitivo menu with any 3 dishes of your choice served with a glass of Prosecco for £15 from Monday to Friday between 3 and 7 pm.

There’s a good a la carte menu, with a lovely selection of dishes. Highlights included crispy risotto balls with mozzarella di bufala, stracchino cow’s milk cheese and wild garlic pesto, as well as the raw fennel salad with Tarocco orange, green olives and acacia honey.

The pasta here is cooked al dente to retain flavor. The fresh recchiette with Italian piccante sausage, cremini and dried porcini mushrooms with rocket, fresh cream and Parmigiano Reggiano is a real treat.

5. Roseleaf Cafe

Roseleaf Café is located in Leith near the port and Royal Yacht Britannia, so handy if you’re planning a visit there. Established in 2007, they’re family run and a cross between a gastro pub, cafe and bistro.

Decorated with vintage furniture, hats from around the world and other quirky finds, they’re open from 10 am to 10 pm every day. Everything is cooked from scratch, using the best sustainable and seasonal produce.

Try a burger with Scottish mature cheddar and tomato relish, served in a homemade toasted sesame seed bun. This could well be the best burger in Edinburgh.

The hand cut double dipped chips are pretty tasty too. Wash it down with a real ale or a Pot-Tail aka a cocktail in a teapot.

For dessert, the triple chocolate cake with Scottish raspberries and ice cream is a good pick, and their cakes are available to take home too. By the way, if you happen to be visiting Royal Yacht Britannia, make sure to try some of their delicious fudge which is made onboard.

6. Panda and Sons

For a taste of secret Edinburgh, head to Queen Street, where you’ll find Panda & Sons speakeasy. Many locals consider it to be one of the best cocktail bars in Edinburgh.

This Edinburgh speakeasy is disguised as a barber shop, but if you head down the stairs you’ll find a bookcase that’s a secret entrance to the bar behind. There are many eccentric touches inside, like hairdressing chairs, a vintage phone booth and cocktails served up in unusual containers.

They also do a good line in craft beers and wine.

7. Eteaket

Eteaket is making a name for itself as one of Scotland’s most successful food producers. Their high quality teas are in demand with restaurants and hotels worldwide.

Members of the public can sample them in their Tea Room on Frederick Street and Concept Store on Rose Street. In the award winning Tea Room you’ll find a charming cafe open seven days a week as well as a range of eteaket teas to take away.

Depending on the time of day, you might prefer a lunch dish like this succulent burger served on vintage crockery, or their renowned afternoon tea.

The friendly staff bring you a timer with your cuppa, so that your tea is infused for just the right duration. If you fancy something different, there are tea cocktails, iced teas and tea lattes.

Watch as the tea is brewed before your eyes in a Syphon machine and enjoy the innovative flavours of eteaket’s loose leaf teas and chocolate.

Eteaket’s Concept Store has a fantastic array of tea ware and gifts. We recommend the Tea Flight, a pairing of 5 different teas and tea-infused chocolate – it’s a real eye opener.

Founder Erica Moore or one of her friendly colleagues will take you on a journey through the world of tea, starting with the tea plant itself. They adapt the tea tasting to your preferences and there are some interesting creations to try such as their Isle of Harris Gin Tea. Rest assured that it’s non-alcoholic and caffeine free!

Other Places to Eat in Edinburgh

These top Edinburgh restaurants are also highly recommended by locals:

• The Kitchin – Tom Kitchin’s canalside restaurant in Leith

• Le Roi Fou – Jerome Henry’s French restaurant on Forth Street

• Martin Wishart – Michelin starred dining in Leith

• The Wee Restaurant – Scottish cuisine on Frederick Street

• Timberyard – locally sourced food in a warehouse space

We’d love to hear your recommendations of where to eat in Edinburgh, as the city has so many great places to dine.

If you have time for a day trip from Edinburgh, head to Fife and St. Andrew’s for more fantastic restaurants and to visit the gin distilleries there.

Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Edinburgh Scotland

Edinburgh hosts a unique and wide-range of eateries for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for traditional Scottish eats or something different, Edinburgh has it all!

We hope this article has given you the lowdown on some of the city’s top dining spots – from fine dining to kid-friendly grub. You can’t go wrong no matter where you choose to eat in Edinburgh.

Don’t forget to check out our other travel articles too, we’ve got tons of great ideas on where to stay, what to see and do in Scotland’s capital as well as other beautiful places in Scotland. Bon appetit and safe travels Edinburgh-bound travelers!

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