Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, a compact city of about half a million people built across a chain of extinct volcanic hills. Its Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Edinburgh Castle on its rock at one end of the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other. Visitors come for the medieval closes, the Georgian crescents, free national museums, Arthur's Seat, Scottish seafood and whisky, and the festivals that fill the city every August.
Edinburgh combines traditional Scottish cooking with a modern dining scene that includes seven Michelin one-star restaurants (LYLA, Timberyard, AVERY, Condita, Heron, Martin Wishart and The Kitchin) and five Bib Gourmand restaurants (tipo, Noto, Skua, The Scran & Scallie and Ardfern) in the current Michelin Guide. Classic dishes include haggis with neeps and tatties, cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), Scotch broth, Aberdeen Angus beef, Scottish salmon, langoustines and oysters, and cranachan (whisky, raspberries, oats and cream). Fine dining clusters in Leith around The Shore and Commercial Quay, while the Old Town offers pubs and casual rolls and the New Town and Stockbridge hold most mid-range restaurants. Prices are in pounds sterling; values here use 1 GBP = 1.34 USD.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Edinburgh.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Bombay Cafe Cooking
Fish And Chips
Folk
Gelato And Hot Chocolate
Hog Roast Rolls
Italian
Modern Scottish
Pizza By The Slice
Scottish Comfort Food
Scottish Gastropub
Seafood
Specialty Coffee
Thai
Traditional Pub
Traditional Scottish Pub
Vegetarian
Food tours & tastings in Edinburgh
Eat your way through Edinburgh with a guide.
Browse food experiences in EdinburghWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Edinburgh Farmers' Market
Weekly producers' market below Edinburgh Castle with Scottish meat, fish, cheese, baked goods and hot street food. Cash is useful at some stalls.
Hours: Saturdays 09:00-14:00; stalls sell out early; verify on edinburghfarmersmarket.co.uk
Stockbridge Market
Sunday street food and craft market with hot food stalls, coffee, baked goods and local produce in the Stockbridge area.
Hours: Sundays 10:00-17:00 in summer, 10:00-16:00 in winter; verify on stockbridgemarket.com
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Book Michelin-starred restaurants weeks ahead through their websites; Condita has only six tables and takes no walk-ins.
August (Festival and Fringe) is the busiest month; reserve any popular restaurant well in advance.
A service charge of 10-12.5% is often added for groups; if not, 10% is customary for table service. Tipping in pubs at the bar is not expected.
Many restaurants offer set lunch or early-evening menus at lower prices than dinner.
Pubs take food orders at the bar and many stop serving kitchen food around 21:00.
Always confirm hours on the venue website before travelling, as days of opening change seasonally.
Photo ID is requested at many venues from anyone who looks under 25 when buying alcohol; the legal age is 18.
Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available; Hendersons on Hanover Street is a long-established vegetarian restaurant, and vegetarian haggis is common. Gluten-free and allergy menus are standard at most mid-range restaurants; mention allergies when booking. Halal and kosher options are limited in the centre and more common along Leith Walk and in Newington.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £8-£20 per meal (~$11-$27): hog roast roll £6-£9, pizza slice £4-£5, pub lunch £12-£16, gelato £4-£6 | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | £25-£60 per person (~$34-$80): bistros such as Howies, Dishoom, The Scran & Scallie, Noto and tipo with a drink | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |