Mentioned by Time Out Edinburgh
The absolute best restaurants in Edinburgh to book as lockdown lifts
"Not many food options are more Instagrammable than a tropical açaí bowl or a multicoloured poké bowl. At Hula Juice Bar you’ll have all the most photogenic options on the menu including an epic healthy drinks menu - fresh juices and smoothies, milkshakes, turmeric lattes, matcha lattes and more. Smoothie bowls, poke bowls and lunch bowls take up most of the menu because they’re that good!"
"We didn’t know much about Scottish cuisine, except for Haggis and whisky we couldn’t actually think of anything specific. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the plethora of vegetarian and vegan dining options Edinburgh has to offer!. It must be one of the most vegetarian/vegan friendly cities we’ve come across during our travels so far."
"A post shared by Susan (@susandoherty__) on Nov 16, 2016 at 4:13pm PST. Hula Juice Cafe has a lot more to offer than just juice. Here, you can get a selection of fantastic vegan food, including wraps, bagels, salads, and açaí bowls, to enjoy with your smoothie or nut milk latte."
"What: With two locations in the city, Loudon’s is a firm favourite amongst Edinburgh’s foodies. The restaurant serves a wide-ranging breakfast menu which features everything from poached eggs and avocado on homemade raisin soda bread, to American-style pancakes layered with bacon and baked banana, and drizzled with maple syrup. There are vegan options too, including a vegan take on eggs Benedict, all served alongside tea, coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.Where: 94B Fountainbridge, EH3 9QA; 2 Sibbald Walk, New Waverley, EH8 8FT"
"There are good reasons why Loudons is so decorated with awards. From its ethos of sourcing the best local produce to its attention to detail in everything from food presentation to decor, this independent Edinburgh brand devotes a lot of care into its work. For the full Loudons experience, pull up a chair at the original branch in Fountainbridge, the city’s financial district."
"If you find yourself in the Fountainbridge area be sure to pop into this light and bright cafe to enjoy brunch or lunch!. Another bonus is they serve up delicious fluffy pancakes. Choose from classic American Style Pancakes, Vegan Blackcurrant Pancakes, or if you’re looking for a healthy boost they also serve Superfood pancakes (pictured below)!"
"Located right in the heart of Edinburgh, Urban Angel is a fantastic meeting place for those looking for great food, fantastic coffee and filling breakfasts. Using locally soured ingredients, diners will be delighted with their classic Eggs Benedict, their freshly repaired smoothie bowls or their creative use of cannellini beans and avocado toast combinations. An institution for breakfast in the city, diners can enjoy their great breakfast and brunch menu all day long."
"The aim at Urban Angel is to provide the people of Edinburgh with seasonal, organic, local produce. They offer a range of sit-in or take away options and they have a tasty brunch menu. You can opt for healthy, with porridge or muesli, or you can get a decent fry up."
"Again, this restaurant knows how to capture an audience with their website photos. The menu looks amazing and it doesn’t appear to be very expensive. The breakfast and brunch menu is served all day and gluten-free options are available upon request."
"Modern and sleek, with a stylish boho ambience, Red Squirrel – in the West End of Edinburgh –is a fabulous, gastropub-esque experience. Open from 9 a.m., it’s the perfect spot for breakfast,brunch, lunch, afternoon tea or an evening meal. An all-day venue for craft beer and quitedelicious food!"
"This Lothian Road spot has long been a popular haunt for beer lovers. The bar boasts over 20 craft beers and ales on tap, including a great variety of bottled options. They showcase a wide range of Scottish brewers, including some local favourites such Edinburgh Beer Factory and Pilot."
"A post shared by Red Squirrel Edinburgh (@redsquirreledinburgh) on Aug 7, 2018 at 8:44am PDT. Located along Lothian road, Red Squirrel is among the oldest craft beer bars in Edinburgh. It offers more than 20 craft beers and boasts a wide selection of bottled beer too."
"Blue Bear Cafe is the ultimate destination for brunch in Edinburgh, they really do pride themselves on cooking up mouth-watering breakfast and brunch dishes to make most palates tingle!. They offer a wide variety of food on their brunch menu with all your usual suspects, but a true favourite is their ‘Build Your Own Bear’ where you get your standard two eggs and toast, and you can add whatever breakfast food you want on top for £1 each!. With an amazing selection of weekend specials and a wide range of gluten-free and vegan options available – this one has to be top of your list for when lockdown is over!"
"A short walk from both the east gate entrance of Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens and the Water of Leith walkway, Blue Bear Café is ideally located for a pre- or post-stroll brunch on a Sunday. Bring your appetite with you for the rip-roaring brunch served up here. Your eyes will be drawn straight to the classics list, where old favourites are given the Blue Bear treatment."
"Former street food stall Alplings has put down permanent roots in Leith (Photo: Alplings). After the success of their street food stall, Alplings have set up a more permanent home in Leith. The cafe offers Alplings’ signature hearty alpine cuisine (including dumplings, goulash, spätzle, potato rostis and schnitzel), all for £8 or under."
"A post shared by Alplings (@alplings) on Sep 7, 2018 at 3:35pm PDT. From a city on the side of a mountain, why not sample some cooking from the Alps?. This unpretentious restaurant in Leith brings hearty mountain food to the Edinburgh clientele."
"A post shared by TasteOfItaly (@tasteofitalyedinburgh) on Jul 25, 2018 at 5:40am PDT. Another restaurant that draws on the Italian-Scottish connection, Taste of Italy is a casual dining establishment with a full traditional menu of the finest options Italy has to offer. Unsurprisingly there are some Scottish twists to be had - the Scozzese pizza comes topped with Aberdeen Angus steak strips - while there is an expansive pasta menu including creamy tagliatelle with pepperoni as well as a warming Mac'n'Cheese."
"If you’re looking for a cheap pre-theatre dining spot, or just fancy some delicious Italian food, head to Taste of Italy. With starters from £2, pasta from £5.50 and pizzas from £5.95, diners can indulge in a three course meal and a drink for under £15. Visit: 9 Baxters Place, EH1 3EF - vittoriagroup.co.uk/tasteofitaly"
"Address: 28 Manor Place / Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 225 6293 Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin is located on the western side of the city centre. Construction of the cathedral began in 1874 and whilst the nave was opened just five years later, the twin spires on its western side were not actually completed until 1917. Highlights include impressive neo-Gothic architecture, well-preserved stained-glass windows, murals and an outstanding art collection, as well as daily choral services."
"St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is a short walk from Princes Street towards Haymarket. Its spires are visible from most places in Edinburgh, especially looking west from Princes Street. Not only does this cathedral offer a place of stillness in the bustling Scottish capital, there are also opportunities such as learning to be a stonemason in the Cathedral Workshop or a Cathedral Chorister at St Mary’s Music School."
"The neo-Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral is a striking building set in large grounds. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, it was consecrated in 1879. St. Mary's is the largest ecclesiastical building to be built in Scotland since the Reformation."
"Address: 61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 556 1798 This popular Roman Catholic church dates back to 1814, being designed by James Gillespie Graham. Each month on the third Tuesday, look out for the organ and choir recitals. The adjacent Cafe Camino provides a rather tempting menu, offering bacon sandwiches, freshly made soup, lunchboxes for children, a choice of beverages (including coffee, tea, wine, beer and cider) and tubs of locally produced ice cream."
"St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, originally called the Chapel of St Mary’s, held its first masses in August 1814. The Cathedral houses the National Shrine of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, and even has an underground passage leading to a priest’s house in York Place. It wasn’t until the 1970s that passers by could see the Cathedral in its full splendor when tenements in front of the building were demolished."
"Perhaps the most interesting of the Border abbeys, red-sandstone Melrose was repeatedly destroyed by the English in the 14th century. The remaining broken shell is pure Gothic and the ruins are famous for their decorative stonework – look out for the pig gargoyle playing the bagpipes. Though Melrose had a monastery way back in the 7th century, this abbey was founded by David I in 1136 for Cistercian monks, and later rebuilt by Robert the Bruce, whose heart is buried here."
"Located at the east end of Princes Street, you’ll find the newest edition to Edinburgh’s shopping centres – St James Quarter. From beauty to clothing, electronics to footwear, this 4-storey centre covers 1.7 million square feet and includes restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, public spaces and leisure venues. A Roomzzz aparthotel where guests can stay for one night, one week, or even up to a year, as well as Edinburgh’s first boutique Everyman cinema will open during future phases."
"Last but certainly not least we have Artisan Gelato Edinburgh in the Old Town, with their authentic Italian-looking store that is the perfect backdrop for a shot of your Instagrammable ice cream. Their hand crafted ice cream is to die for and some of their most popular flavours include pistachio bronte Sicily, chocolate orange and cheescake...we will take ten scoops please. One reviewer said it is the "best gelato outside of Italy" and, like their neighbours Over Langshaw Farm, they offer vegan, gluten free and dairy free options."
"Inspired by the traditional British milk bars of the 1920s and 60s, and located slap bang on Edinburgh’s busy buzzy Grassmarket, Mary’s Milk Bar is a local institution. Scoops are served depending on the weather outside. In the winter, expect gelato flavored with brandy mince pie, ricotta and baked figs and sage and chestnut (single scoops £2.50) and in the summer tea and jam, gooseberry sorbet and sweetcorn and black pepper."
"Mary’s Milk Bar is the best place for gelato and chocolate in Edinburgh. The gelato flavours are heavenly with different ones every day. What makes it worthy to be on this romantic Edinburgh list is not only the food but also the view of the castle."
"A post shared by Mary's Milk Bar (@marysmilkbar) on Feb 21, 2020 at 1:59am PST. Mary’s Milk Bar is as cute-as-a-button. This quirky parlour serves ice creams, sorbets and chocolates with daily changing flavours that are mixed up every morning."