From cobbled streets and tucked-away closes to historic castles and ancient volcanoes, Edinburgh is a city like no other. Whether you're a passionate foodie, a whisky enthusiast, or simply love to explore, this vibrant city offers endless possibilities. Cosy cafés invite you in for relaxed coffee breaks, world-class art galleries provide the perfect escape on a rainy day, and charming independent boutiques make shopping a delight. To help make the most of your visit, the Epitome team has curated a selection of our favourite food and drink spots across Edinburgh—tailored to inspire your itinerary.
COFFEE
Cafen, Dundas Street
https://www.instagram.com/cafenspecialitycoffee/
A specialty brew and multi-roast café located just across the road from us! Since opening, Cafēn has been a major hit, serving expertly crafted coffee in a stylish, cosy Scandinavian-inspired setting. It's the perfect spot to sit back and unwind, though takeaway is also available.
Cafe Milk, Sculpture Workshop, Hawthornvale
Serving an all-day brunch menu centered around creative and wholesome dishes, Cafe Milk offers a calming setting to begin or break up your day. Located inside an award-winning sculpture workshop, you can sip your morning coffee while observing artists at work. The menu features a range of vegan and vegetarian options, along with delicious baked treats perfect for takeaway or sitting in. While their Hawthornvale café is a hidden gem worth the trip, their West End location provides a more central alternative.
Fortitude, Abbey Mount
https://www.fortitudecoffee.com/
A specialty coffee shop serving its own freshly roasted beans, tucked away in a cosy corner near Holyrood Park. You can sit in or grab a takeaway, but it's well worth staying to savour a delicious cake alongside your hot drink. They also sell bags of their specialty coffee, perfect to take home or gift to someone special!
Lannan Bakery, Hamilton Place
Lannan is a MUST when visiting Edinburgh but with dedicated tourists (and locals) queuing early, you have to get down there quick before they sell out! This popular bakery offers an outstanding array of beautifully made Viennoiserie, cakes, and freshly baked bread. Pair your treat with high-quality coffee, and don’t miss their weekly menu featuring fresh sandwiches and focaccia. It’s the perfect way to kick off your day in Edinburgh!
Rotonda, Dundas Street
https://www.instagram.com/rotonda_edinburgh/
A cosy cafe just next door to Epitome. An excellent Italian coffee shop with an array of delicious cakes, freshly made soups and toasties as well as hand picked deli goods to choose from their shop. Ideal for a quick bite to eat or takeaway!
Food
BaBa, George Street
A rustic yet contemporary destination for delicious food and drink that combines Middle Eastern cuisine with Scottish influences. The perfect opportunity for a sharing menu with mezze style plates as well as beautifully flavoursome meat and fish dishes straight from the charcoal grill. This is one our favourites at Epitome and a must visit when in Edinburgh!
The Fishmarket, Newhaven
https://www.thefishmarketnewhaven.co.uk/
Still an active Fishmarket today, The Fishmarket Newhaven offers a great seaside eatery with deliciously fresh fish & chips (a Scottish staple) to sit in or takeaway. Weather permitting, sit outside and enjoy the impressive views looking out to the Firth of Forth. Attached to their well renowned fish monger next door, where you can buy freshly caught Scottish fish & seafood.
Mara’s Picklery, Strathearn Road
A top-rated but under the radar favourite for unique eats in Edinburgh, Mara’s Picklery features a menu of locally fermented and preserved seasonal ingredients. Try their homemade sodas or bring your own bottle to enjoy while sampling a pickle plate.
Margot, Barclay Terrace
https://www.margotedinburgh.co.uk/
Located just off the picturesque Bruntsfield Links, Margot is a café and brunch spot by day and a chic wine bar by night. Their menu varies by season and is full of inspired small plates and unique sips.
Max Bakes Gourmet Sausage Rolls, Meadow Walk
https://www.instagram.com/gourmetsausagerolls/
Arguably the best Sausage Rolls in Edinburgh, and located in a prime spot for walking them off, Max Bakes is served out of a refurbed airstream in the bustling Meadows and offers a rotating menu of traditional and exceptional fillings (including veggie options). Stop by their neighbours, Uplands Roast, for a superb coffee or hot chocolate.
Mellis Cheese Lounge, Morningside Road
https://mellischeese.net/cheese-lounge/
I.J. Mellis Cheesemongers are an Edinburgh institution with locations in hotspots like Stockbridge and Victoria St., but their location in Morningside is unique in its offering of a small 12-cover cheese lounge. Diners are treated to a range of cheeses served alongside charcuterie accompaniments and a selection of wines, whisky, and coffee.
Mirin, Albert Place
A relaxed, independent restaurant on Leith Walk serving Asian fusion small plates, dumplings, and noodles. It’s a great place to catch up with friends (though it’s small, so booking is recommended!) or settle in for the evening and watch the lively streets of Leith. With a regularly updated menu, it’s worth following their Instagram to stay in the loop. Their dumplings are a must-try, worth visiting for them alone!
Montrose, Montrose Terrace
https://www.montroserestaurant.co/
Montrose, a sister restaurant to Michelin-starred restaurant Timberyard, presents a cosy neighbourhood wine bar and restaurant in Edinburgh. With an extensive wine list and a choice of small plates, set menus, or fine dining (located upstairs), it offers something for everyone. The ambiance is relaxed, with a cool, calm atmosphere and candle-lit setting, making it ideal for intimate dinners and unwinding.
The Pantry, North West Circus Place
https://www.thepantryedinburgh.co.uk/
A fantastic place to kick off your day with a tasty breakfast or brunch! Located in Stockbridge, The Pantry offers a variety of fresh options for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. On a sunny day, you can enjoy your meal outdoors, while their charming and cosy interior makes dining inside just as delightful. Be sure to try their Eggs Benedict—it’s a dish they consistently perfect!
Paloma, Henderson Street
New to Leith and just a short walk from The Shore, Paloma is a charming taco spot offering hand-pressed corn tortillas, flavourful small plates, and delicious cocktails. It's the perfect place for a laid-back dinner or a catch-up with friends. As the name suggests, their signature Paloma Cocktail is a must-try, refreshing and the ideal pairing for their fresh tacos!
The Pitt, Granton
An open-air food market featuring a mouth-watering selection of global street food vendors, complemented by bars and coffee stalls. The Pitt is a vibrant, community-driven space that also hosts markets, live music, and a variety of events — including a recent addition: a wood-fired outdoor sauna by Soul Water Sauna. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed weekend with friends, family, and even dogs, all set against the scenic backdrop of the Firth of Forth.
Singapore Coffee House, Canonmills
https://www.singaporecoffeehouse.co.uk/
A cosy eatery with big flavours! This kopitiam operates on a first-come, first-served basis and has limited seating, but it's absolutely worth a visit. Drawing from Singapore’s diverse food culture, the menu blends Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Indonesian, and British influences to deliver dishes bursting with fresh ingredients and bold, unforgettable taste.
Sotto, Deanhaugh Street
https://www.sottoedinburgh.com/
Nestled in the heart of Stockbridge, Sotto presents a wide selection of Italian wines in a laid-back dining setting. Whether you're stopping by for a glass of wine and some olives or indulging in the full à la carte experience, you'll be well looked after. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared, showcasing fresh Italian flavours. The menu changes often, but if available, the fish of the day is well worth trying!
Timberyard, Lady Lawson Street
Housed in a renovated 19th-century warehouse, Timberyard is a family-run Michelin-starred restaurant, recently celebrating its third consecutive year of recognition. Focused on ingredient-driven cuisine, it highlights locally sourced, seasonal produce through a choice of lunch, five-course, or tasting menus. From start to finish, it’s a beautifully curated experience and well worth a visit.
Toast, Leith
A wine café nestled in The Shore, Leith, serving up casual coffee, wine, and food in a relaxed setting. It’s an ideal spot for informal meetups over coffee paired with tasty brunch options, or to unwind in the evening with a thoughtfully curated selection of natural wines. Located in one of Leith’s trendiest neighbourhoods, The Shore is packed with dining options and plenty to explore. Their avocado toast is a go-to favourite with a choice of toppings, but for something more unique, try the smoked haddock and pak choi on sourdough — it’s divine!
DRINKS
Bacco, Dundas St
A cosy, softly lit wine bar ideal for small gatherings or a spontaneous after-work drink, offering a selection of Italian wines. Unwind with a glass of wine (or Aperol) and enjoy a delicious plate of freshly made pasta from their neighbours at The Artisan Pasta Maker.
Bar Zero Zero, Clerk Street
A natural wine bar on the South side of the bustling Newington neighbourhood, Zero/Zero is a hidden gem with no shortage of ambiance. They offer wine by the glass or bottle as well as a nibbles board of local charcuterie specials and tinned fish options.
Bennetts Bar, Leven Street
https://kilderkingroup.co.uk/bennets/
For those in the mood for “just a really good pub,” Bennett’s is calling you. A watering hole since the 1830’s, Bennet’s historic and ornate wood and glass panelled front room is exactly what you’d hope to find on the other side of its stained-glass windows, and swing by on Tuesdays for their pub quiz in the backstage lounge.
Bramble
A hidden gem nestled in the centre of Edinburgh, offering an intimate evening of delicious cocktails! The layout offers small alcoves and tucked away tables, lending itself to the intimacy and relaxed feel. At the weekend you may find live DJ’s bringing a lively atmosphere making it an ideal place to celebrate and unwind.
Goodbrothers Wine, Dundas Street
https://www.goodbrothers.co.uk/
Another neighbour of ours, featuring a unique Wine Cafe. With an extensive selection of fine wines, Good Brothers has become a popular destination for locals. It's the ideal spot to relax in the evening or catch up with friends. A cosy nook for enjoying wine, cheese, and small bites – what's not to love?
Nightcap
An intimate bar in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town serving wine, beer and freshly mixed cocktails. The speak-easy style bar offers exquisitely crafted concoctions using premium ingredients in a unique and contemporary atmosphere. It truly is the perfect nightcap to end your evening.
SPRY, Haddington Place
A neighbourhood wine bar and shop, specialising in naturally made wines. Offering a selection of small plates or five course set menu using local and seasonal produce. A simple, stylish and cosy nook perfect for relaxing into the evening or a casual catch up with friends.
St. Bernard’s Bar, Raeburn Place
https://www.instagram.com/stbernardsbar/?hl=en
One of our go-to’s for staff night drinks, St. Bernard’s is a cosy, eclectic, pub with a vinyl-fuelled soundtrack and a drink list ranging from bar classics to seasonal concoctions. Take a peep upstairs as well to see if their speakeasy is open for a truly special treat.
