Best Diners in The Glasshouses

"The lunch menu at Bell’s Diner has barely changed in 40 years, but why change a winning formula?. This cute little diner on the corner of St Stephen Street has been serving up gourmet burgers long before the likes of Byron got in on the act. Its steaks are also excellent and come with a choice of five sauces (go for the garlic butter), while the large hot fudge sundae pancakes are legendary in these parts."

"Housed in a converted warehouse and serving a menu that’s about as far removed from stereotypical Scottish cooking as imaginable, Tapa has earned itself a loyal following among in-the-know residents in Leith. Its take on Spanish tapas dishes provides a break from the norm: there are melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and the chef’s mother offers her own recipe for venison stew that’s not to be missed."

"Covid-19 alert: Currently closed and focussing on cookies and cake to order. Opening a new café in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was always going to be a risky gambit, but the folks behind Grams seemed to have pulled it off with their latest venture: Plant Bae. With Grams now moving to Stockbridge, Plant Bae has settled into its big brother’s old digs opposite Haymarket Station."

"Black Medicine Coffee Co has been serving up amazing coffee in Edinburgh since the last millennium – no, really, its been nearly 20 years. Starting with an idea for a café that became a coffee shop, so-named because of the notion that the native peoples of America once called coffee Black Medicine. Over the years It's identity and character as one of the best coffee shops in Edinburgh is a cumulative product of beautiful humans who have been on either side of the machine, without whom they wouldn’t of solidified themselves as one of the best places to grab a coffee in Edinburgh."

"Named after the Native American’s medicinal use of java, Black Medicine Co. is one of the most fun and vibrant hang-outs in the city, boasting lots of space and a range of interesting seating areas. Staying true to the theme, there’s plenty of quirky wooden carvings and Native American décor inside and there’s a more relaxed vibe in here that’s perfect for meet-ups and brunches with large groups of friends. As well as their signature coffees, locals also go wild for their cold brew recipe, home-made lemonade and an always mouth-watering selection of cakes, soups and sarnies."

"In this Old Town cafe, you will find everything you need for a good brunch without spending too much. Do not expect to find a place with hyper-sophisticated decoration, but very good quality products and great staff. In addition, they have excellent options both vegan and vegetarian, as well as gluten-free."

"One of my favourite lunch spot in Edinburgh is The City Restaurant on Nicolson Street. I visited this place several times when I lived in Edinburgh, mainly because they serve some of the best seafood dishes in the city, including fish and chips, scampi and tempura prawns. The City Restaurant has a very sleek and colourful interior, with comfortable seats and large windows overlooking the bustling street."

"Our final day involved trips to the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle, so we concentrated our café search on the Old Town. As we vaguely hunted for souvenirs/bribes-for-the-grandparents-so-they-agree-to-look-after-the-children-for-a-week-again, we wandered past Deacon’s House. The site was established in 1788 as a workshop for the Brodie family, one of whom – “Deacon Brodie” – ended up being hung for housebreaking, crimes he often committed using the tools from his workshop."