Edinburgh, Scotland, is a foodie heaven. The city is compact and very walkable, so it would be easy to go out and explore all the bakeries, cafes, and restaurants the city has to offer.
A quick Google Maps search for restaurants will show that most have 4.5 stars or higher rankings. So how do you choose?
This list of must-try places to eat in Edinburgh will give you ideas and inspiration. It covers a variety of price ranges and criteria, so there should be something to satisfy everyone’s preferences.
Oink – for a quick snack
For a quick and affordable snack, go with Oink. They are famous for their pulled pork hog roast rolls. Oink is an institution in Edinburgh, and I have fond memories of trying their roll, along with Irn Bru, during my first visit in 2017.
My partner and I went to the original Oink location on Victoria Street. They have two other locations: Hanover street in the New Town and Canongate at the bottom of the Royal Mile.
We had dinner reservations later that night, so we just wanted something small to share. So we ordered the Grunter size with white bread, sage and onion stuffing, and apple sauce costing £7.70. They have two smaller size options starting at just £4.95.
There wasn’t much seating inside the restaurant, so we got takeaway and found a table in front of Tolbooth Kirk on the Royal Mile. I think the tables were meant to be for the coffee truck that was parked out front. However, since the food truck was already closed, nobody seemed to mind us using them.
TIP: Since we visited later in the day, they had run out of some menu items like the homemade BBQ sauce and the Piglet size bread. I suggest going earlier in the day to ensure you can order what you want. They also didn’t have any more pork rind left.
The Piper’s Rest – for a cozy pub atmosphere with live folk music
One of the things I love most about Scotland is its rich culture. There is no better way to immerse yourself in it than eating scran (Scottish slang for food) in a traditional pub while listening to live Scottish folk music. So this is precisely what we did for our first night in Edinburgh at The Piper’s Rest. It was the perfect way to set the tone for the rest of our stay.
The Piper’s Rest is centrally located right off the Royal Mile High Street. They serve traditional pub food, but what sets them apart is their nightly live folk music performances. They have resident musicians performing on certain nights of the week.
We ate there on a Monday, and the performers were Ciaran McGhee on the guitar and Grant Simpson on the fiddle. Both are well-known folk musicians who happened to be in town at the same time, so we lucked out!
Now, on to the food. They had such a charming menu, and it even came with a glossary of common Scottish words! From their wee plates menu, we ordered Cullen Skink and Haggis Tower. From their big dishes menu, we got Oor Famous Steak Pie.
They also had terrific swally (Scottish slang for drinks), and I ordered the French Martini. I know, I know, it’s not very Scottish. But I’m very picky with my cocktails, and of course, I had to go with a sweet one that included Voddy, Créme de Cassis, and pineapple.
The Cullen Skink is similar to clam chowder but with fish instead of clams. The Haggis Tower is a unique take on the traditional Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties dish. It was very flavourful, and my partner thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of the Scottish delicacy. The steak pie was hearty and delicious. Unfortunately, we were so full that we didn’t have enough room to try their afters menu. Their Whisky Cheesecake is apparently to die for!
TIP: Live music starts daily at 930pm. I recommend booking a dinner reservation for 9 pm on their website to guarantee a table. Otherwise, it’s like other pubs in the UK where you order drinks at the bar and stand around or wait for a table to become vacant.
Snax Cafe – for affordable Scottish breakfast
For a cheap, quick, and satisfying Scottish breakfast, head to Snax Cafe. They have two locations: one at the Meadows close to Edinburgh University and the other on West Register Street behind the Apple Store in the New Town.
We visited the latter before we joined our Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. I’m not sure if it’s due to the pandemic, but they still didn’t have a dine-in option. We knew it had to be good though, because there was a steady stream of locals walking up to place an order.
Their menu offers breakfast items, burgers, toasties, and chips. For £7, we ordered the Biggest Breakfast to share, including haggis and black pudding. Their smaller All Day Breakfast only cost £5.
We walked to nearby St. Andrew’s Square and sat on a bench to eat our meal. This worked out perfectly since our bus tour departed from the same park.
Nok’s Kitchen – for authentic Thai food
Craving some rice and authentic Thai food? Then Nok’s Kitchen is the spot for you.
They have two locations: on Johnson Terrace, close to the castle, and on Stockbridge.
We visited the location closer to the castle. We didn’t have a reservation, but the hostess kindly accommodated us for dinner. Their menu was authentic, and the staff was just lovely.
We ordered their signature dish, Nok Nutty Curry, Pad Thai, and a side of rice. The food arrived quickly, and we were greeted with a fragrant aroma. The curry especially was marvelous. It had a hint of peanut butter and was unlike any curry we had tried.
Krema Bakehouse – for satisfying a sweet tooth
Krema Bakehouse is the perfect little bakery for you if you are in the mood for something sweet. Located on Leith Walk, it’s not too far from the main city centre. Trust me, it’s well worth the extra steps.
They have a wide range of cakes, pastries, and desserts, but they are known for their brioche creations. In addition, they have unique decadent flavours like Bueno, Biscoff, Ferrero, and more. For a chocoholic like myself, this bakery was heaven!
I had difficulty deciding what to get, but the lass working there recommended their best-selling Bueno brioche. I honestly wanted to try everything, but I settled for just an additional Malteser brownie.
Both pastries were rich and sweet as I had hoped. The brioche was especially good with its creamy Bueno-flavoured filling.
Bertie’s Proper Fish and Chips – for tasty fish and chips
Do you even count yourself having visited the UK if you didn’t have fish and chips?
Bertie’s Proper Fish and Chips is conveniently located on picturesque Victoria Street. You can order takeaway on their main level or dine in on the second and third floors.
Their freshly fried haddock and twice-cooked chips were perfectly crispy on the outside but deliciously soft inside. For an added local flair, go with their Haggis Spring Rolls and Black Pudding Scotch Egg. Both were surprisingly tasty. These dishes will be the perfect introduction if you’ve been intimidated by haggis and black pudding.
The Kitchin – for Michelin star fine dining
As a huge Outlander fan, I watched Men In Kilts, a tv series hosted by two of the show’s actors: Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. They go on a road trip and take the viewers along as they explore Scotland’s rich heritage.
The first episode showed them dining at The Kitchin, a Michelin star-rated contemporary Scottish restaurant. The served dishes looked like works of art, and the actors seemed to enjoy it all. I told myself that I would have to eat there the next time I travel to Edinburgh.
Fast forward a little over a year later, I found myself in the beautifully decorated restaurant in Leith. It was my first time dining at a Michelin star restaurant, and it truly was a memorable experience.
My partner and I went with the three-course set lunch menu. Unfortunately, I don’t recall exactly what was included. Their menu changes often and depends on seasonal produce and ingredient availability.
The server would describe each dish as they were brought to our table. Every single one was beautifully presented, and our plates were licked clean (okay, not literally licked)! Even my veggie sides were devoured entirely. In case you didn’t know, I’m not the biggest fan of veggies and consider myself a meatatarian.
The ambiance, service, presentation, and taste were excellent! Definitely some of the tastiest food I’ve ever tried!
If price isn’t an issue, and you can only go to one place on this list, I think The Kitchin is absolutely THE must-try place to eat in Edinburgh.
TIP: You can sit at the bar and order drinks if you arrive early for your reservation. The decor is lovely, and you get a view of the outside, so it’s perfect for people-watching.
I hope this post gave you some ideas and inspiration on the must-try places to eat in Edinburgh. If you’ve been to the city before, what were your favourite bakeries, cafes, and restaurants?
For more ideas on things to do in Edinburgh, check out this four-day itinerary.
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