If you’re going to see some shows in Edinburgh but aren’t sure where to eat or drink, here are some suggestions from our resident Foodie Explorers that explore the main areas around some of the main festival venues. From fine French cuisine, to authentic Italian, to homely Korean, to fish and chips, we have you covered – and there’s coffee, cocktails, and real ale along the way. Whether it’s a proper sit down or a quick pit stop along the way, make the most of your festival experience by visiting some of the best Edinburgh has to offer.
NEW TOWN
Eating suggestions near the Assembly Rooms, The Stand and Hill Street Theatre, among others.
Cafe St Honorė
34 North West Thistle Street Lane EH2 1EA
Cafe St Honoré transports diners to Paris with its Belle Époque interior, featuring elegant bentwood chairs and a classic chequerboard floor. Led by Neil Forbes, the bistro is dedicated to sustainable, local, and seasonal cooking. The daily-changing menus, crafted from organic ingredients and including rare breeds and fresh produce, celebrate traditional Scottish recipes with a contemporary twist.
The cosy, Parisian-inspired ambience perfectly complements the culinary delights, making for a memorable dining experience. Open for lunch and dinner, Thursday through to Monday.
Contini
103 George Street, EH2 3ES
Contini, which recently celebrated twenty years in business, is the first restaurant in Scotland to be officially recognised as an ‘Authentic Italian Restaurant’ by Accademia della Cucina.
They source produce directly from Italy and update their menus on a daily/regular basis, reflecting what’s in season in Italy and what local produce is available. Open all week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
TOP OF THE WALK
For food and drinks near the Edinburgh Playhouse, The Stand Comedy Club, or venues around Picardy Place.
Bonnie & Wild
415–417 St James Square, EH1 3AE
The upstairs food court at the St James Quarter recently celebrated its third birthday. It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years already, as it still looks brand new and is full of different food vendors, covering burgers, seafood, pizzas, Sri Lankan cuisine, Hong Kong street food, and more. Recent additions to the court are Italian coffee company Illy, who have opened a cafe at the entrance, and Chulo’s, who have a pop-up selling huge stuffed cookies. Open every day from 9am till late.
Jackson the Tailor
5–11 Leith Street, EH1 3AT
This hidden-away, dark and classy speakeasy is beneath The Newsroom bar and part of the same business – so the food menu upstairs is also available below, but the focus here is clearly on cocktails.
References to the building’s former use are dotted around: mannequins, measuring tape, and Singer sewing machines. There are old black-and-white photos of the junction at Leith Street on the walls, so you can see what this area of the city looked like before the arrival of the St James Quarter and the St James Centre before that. Open 4pm till 1am Monday to Thursday, and from 12pm till 1am Friday to Sunday.
OLD TOWN
For tea, coffee and daytime food near Assembly Roxy, Festival Theatre, Pleasance Courtyard, Underbelly Cowgate and The Hub.
Dovecot Studios Cafe
10 Infirmary Street, EH1 1LT
This bright, modern cafe with locally roasted coffee (from Machina in Marchmont), speciality drinks, soups, sandwiches, salads, and cakes and pastries is located within Dovecot Studios. Vegan options are always available and they have events and exhibitions throughout August. It’s also well worth browsing the shop during your visit, as it’s full of gift ideas for the arty people in your life. Open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am till 4pm.
Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips
9 Victoria Street, EH1 2HE
If you’re looking for no-nonsense food and you don’t have a booking, try Bertie’s. They can seat up to 300 people across two floors, or if you prefer to eat on the go, they have a takeaway at ground level. Both fish and chips are fried in beef dripping as standard but you can ask to have chips cooked in vegetable oil. A selection of gluten-free items is also available. Open daily from 10am till 10pm.
Cold Town House
4 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU
This is a brewery pub with seating at street level, inside and on the roof terrace. The terrace, just underneath Edinburgh Castle, is the ideal place to sit, but don’t panic if it rains – there’s a retractable roof and two ski-lift gondolas for sitting inside. A selection of cocktails and shots made using Magnum cream liqueur is available during the festivals, and food such as Neapolitan-style pizza, burgers, wings, and loaded fries can be ordered. Open 11am till 1pm on weekdays, and from 10am till 1pm at weekends.
WEST END
For eating and drinking near the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, The Lyceum, Traverse Theatre, and The Usher Hall.
The Huxley
1–3 Rutland Street, EH1 2AE
The ground floor of the Rutland Hotel is open all day to non-residents as a place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a drink. The breakfast menu features chia seed pudding and filled croissants, while the lunch and dinner menu is meat-heavy but with some veggie and vegan options available. There’s an extensive cocktail list and they have a worldly selection of wines by the glass. Opens at 8am every day until 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, with last food orders at 9.30pm.
thehuxley.co.uk
The Palmerston
1 Palmerston Place, EH12 5AF
This classic-looking restaurant and bakery has garnered praise from both the Good Food Guide and the Michelin Guide. Pastries are served in the mornings, with seasonal dishes available for lunch and dinner, such as grilled asparagus, garlic and potato soup, and slow-roasted cockerel. Given the bakery element, a larger than usual selection of desserts is available, including rum baba.
Open from 9am with dinner served until 9.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
UNIVERSITY
For food and drinks near the Festival Theatre, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance Dome, The Studio, Underbelly Bristo Square and George Square, and Assembly George Square Studios.
‘Coop’ at Fettle
Marshall Street, EH8 9BJ
During festival time, Fettle cafe will close at 5pm and re-open at 6 as the ‘Coop’ pop-up, providing food from the teams behind the Skua bar in Stockbridge and fine-dining restaurant Cardinal. The small menu focuses on fried chicken, nabulsi cheese flatbreads, Maneesh zaatar, lobster rolls, roast lamb, and seasoned fries, with Newbarns beer, Vinca canned wine, and negronis to wash down the food. Open 6pm–1am every day until Saturday 31st August.
Electric X Origin Negroni Bar
6–8 South College Street, EH8 9AA
Throughout August, Origin Coffee will transform into a negroni bar at night, in a partnership with Edinburgh distillery Electric Spirit Co. Their speciality will be the ‘Kegroni’, which is negroni served from tap and made using Electric Spirit Co’s award-winning Achroous gin, Bitter Fusetti and Valentian Vermouth. Beer from local breweries and espresso soft-serve ice cream will also be available in the evenings during festival time. The cafe is open from 8am to 5pm daily, while the espresso bar is open 6pm until 11pm until Saturday 31st August.
electricspirit.co and origincoffee.co.uk
NEWINGTON
For venues such as Summerhall, The Queen’s Hall, and The King’s Hall, here are some suggestions for food and drink.
Kim’s Mini Meals
5 Buccleuch Street, Newington EH8 9JN
Established in 2010, this small, friendly Korean restaurant serves authentic home-style cuisine that is so good that it caught the attention of the Michelin guide, so Michelin certificates adorn the room. Prices are good but they are cash only and don’t take reservations, so you will likely need to wait for a table unless you get there fast. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday to Friday from 12pm with last orders at 2.30pm, and then for dinner from 5.30pm with last orders at 8.30pm Monday to Saturday.
The Dagda Bar
93–95 Buccleuch Street, Newington EH8 9NG
This single-room local boozer is not somewhere tourists usually venture. It has a regular rotation of real ales and a selection of strong continental beers in the fridge. Time Out recently listed it as the ninth-best pub in the UK, the highest listing for Edinburgh. As with previous years, they should have extended opening hours from 1pm until 1am during August.
Main Photo Credit: James Porteous
