Summertime in Edinburgh: Eat & Drink Guide

Summertime in Edinburgh: Eat & Drink Guide

There’s no more glorious time to be visiting Edinburgh than in the Summer. Our stunning city is the backdrop for a joyful explosion of music, dance, art, films, books and theatre. Along with our awe-inspiring architecture and world-famous hospitality, the city’s food and drink scene is currently on fire!  In this, our third in the series of what to do in Edinburgh over the Summer, we’ll share our insider tips of where to find all the best and most exciting food & drink spots. We hope you’ll enjoy reading our Summertime in Edinburgh: Eat & Drink Guide here.

(Photo: Edinburgh Food Festival)

Edinburgh Food Festival

Edinburgh packs a punch with its wonderful foodie scene and somehow, eating outside always tastes better!

Is there anything better than street food on the beach? Head to the promenade at Portobello for very cool, fresh-from-the-sea, streetfood from Shrimpwreck  (as featured on Million Pound Menu). This is one of our favourites so head for Edinburgh’s beach and grab one of their famous shrimp buns. Warning: it may get messy!

If you’re in the city over the Edinburgh Festival, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Make your way to Bristo Square and George Square Gardens, up near the university, where exciting street food stalls are located.

Shrimpwreck (Photo: Shrimpwreck)

One of life’s simple pleasures is sitting outside at a cafe on a sunny day with a really good coffee. Try and secure a spot at one of our favourites in the city:

If you’re in luck, you can grab a seat at one of the two iconic Milkman coffee shops in bustling Cockburn Street for an iced coffee. Another one of our favourites is the very friendly Ante in Haddington Place. Here you can watch the world go by with a delicious seasonal special and one of their pastries made with local and foraged fruits. For an all-time Edinburgh classic, head to the outdoor basement at Wellington in the city centre. Or walk down to peaceful New Town, where you’ll find the very aesthetic Cafen in Dundas Street, which has a few street-side tables.

And we can’t fail to mention Edinburgh’s recent opening Kul Coffee which really does live up to its hype. It has a beautiful pared-back aesthetic, lovely service and what may very well be the best coffee in the city. Or pick up one of their delicious matcha cloud lattes, you need to try it out!

Kul Coffee (Photo: @thisedinburghcitygirl)

Restaurants

Edinburgh is blessed with so many stunning eateries so here are just a very few amongst our current favourites!

Brunch:

We’re big fans of Greenwoods where you’ll get one of Edinburgh’s finest brunches in a busy but light, airy space in the city centre. Hop on the tram and head towards Leith for one of our very favourite brunch spots. Ardfern is a real treat and has exceptional quality of food. You’ll get a top-end full Scottish breakfast here with heavenly hash browns. Or head for the Meadows where the Bruntsfield neighbourhood cafe Margot serves a delicious brunch from its lovely, fresh green shopfront with equally fresh locally sourced food.

Margot (Photo: Margot)

Lunch:

When short on time and only a fully-loaded, flavoursome sandwich will satisfy, we have two brilliant neighbourhood options for you. Alby’s in Leith or Southside is a local legend for its big, hot sandwiches. And we also hugely rate Mootz in Stockbridge for its huge, beautiful sandwiches. If you have plenty more time on your hands and are prepared to queue, then take the tram down to Newhaven and head for The Fishmarket for Edinburgh’s best fish & chips. Sit out and enjoy with a beer.

Dinner:

Edinburgh has so many choices of outstanding eateries, but here are just a few for you to try out. You’ll have an exceptional dining experience at Lyla on Royal Terrace with its fresh, authentic flavours of Scotland. For authentic, zesty and punchy Korean flavours try out Bibimbap on Hanover Street. When only a seriously good steak will do, then The Spanish Butcher on North Castle Street is for you. Or for a wonderful Italian meal head towards Stockbridge for the relaxed Little Capo or enjoy a delicious meal at trattoria Sotto. We can’t get enough of the delicious, local ingredients at the shared tables of Stockbridge Eating House. And finally, you will be in for an unforgettable experience when you share a big communal meal at The Free Company who serve beautiful, seasonal produce right from their own organic farm in Balerno.

The Free Company (Photo: The Free Company)

Markets

We love the bustling atmosphere of open-air Markets over Summer and our favourite is the Neighbourgood Market running Wednesdays-Sundays until 27th July. Located in Stockbridge, you’ll find street food & drink traders, live music, DJs and such a great vibe! It’s a brilliant place to gather with friends and family.

We’re so excited that Edinburgh Food Festival is back! It’s being held in George Square Gardens, from 18th-27th July and we’re already looking forward to the mouth-watering street food. This year they’re incorporating live folk music from Scotland and beyond as well, so it promises to be a great place to hang out for a while.

Another event we always love to attend is Foodies Festival. Its Edinburgh leg is taking place in Inverleith Park from 1st-3rd August and is a feast of food and drink, live music, & live demonstrations. This is always a lot of fun, so fingers crossed for a sunny weekend.

Edinburgh Farmers Market is a weekly outdoor market held every Saturday at Castle Terrace, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, with locally-sourced meat, cheese, vegetables & alcohol. We picked up a delicious bottle of Sky Garden Gin, made by Dark Art Distillery from there recently.

The Grassmarket Market is held every Saturday-don’t miss the paella stand! If you do miss The Grassmarket on Saturday, you can catch up with the traders at the Stockbridge Market at Saunders Street on Sundays. Leith Market in Dock Place is also held every Saturday. The first Saturday of the month plays host to Vegan Quarter as well as the usual traders.

(Photo: Edinburgh Food Festival)

Beer Gardens

The Cumberland Bar in is a great option for a sunny afternoon cider; it’s a traditional, friendly, old-school pub, nestled in a peaceful New Town street, with a secluded beer garden. Alternatively, head down to the Shore in Leith and settle in at Teuchters Landing. The pub is the former waiting room for the Leith to Aberdeen steamboat ferry and has a large beer garden and pontoon that is very popular on a hot day, so get there early to secure a table.

Cocktails

This is where you’ll find us!

A new and brilliant addition to Edinburgh’s  food and drink scene is Cafe Calton perfectly perched atop Calton Hill. With the most spectacular panoramic views across Edinburgh and beyond, it has always been the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the city. Now you can do it with a cocktail in hand on their terrace or inside the cafe. It has an all day and a takeout menu too, should you just want to lie back on Calton Hill and watch the stars! Next up is a change of style with the intimate neighbourhood bar Hey Palu. It celebrates the culture of the Italian aperitivo and offers beautifully crafted cocktails. We tried the White Strawberry Negroni and it was delicious. It’s currently listed at no 5 in the UK’s Top 50 cocktail bar list. Ruma in Broughton Street, is a neighbourhood, specialist rum bar, offering the country’s largest collection of rums. And when the sun’s shining what can be better than a delicious daquiri? And finally,  if you’re in the mood for going more decadent, The Spence at Gleneagles Townhouse housed in a former bank is stunning and always makes for a memorable evening.

Cafe Calton views (Photo: Cafe Calton)

Ice Cream

Ice cream dates? It’s got to be Mary’s Milk Bar, in the Grassmarket. Mary makes all the gelato each morning and every day you’ll find something deliciously different and surprising on the menu. Peaches with Cinnamon Cream anyone? Slightly newer on the block but equally delicious and hand-made is Joelato in Stockbridge, we can’t get enough of the Lemon Mascarpone.

Essence of Summer

What can be more British and summery than scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream? Why not push the boat out and enjoy a decadent, full Afternoon Tea? There’s no more special place for this than under the glass dome and Venetian chandelier at the palm-lined Palm Court in the iconic Balmoral Hotel.  As well as freshly baked scones you’ll be able to indulge in savouries, delightful sandwiches and hand-crafted pastries along with a glass of fizz or fragrant  loose leaf teas ceremonially poured for you at your table!

Picnics

Gather with friends and family for a picnic or BBQ in the Meadows. During the Edinburgh Festival you can pick up some street food from the stalls in Bristo Square and George Square Gardens. Or pick up a huge slice of pizza from Civerinos Slice in Forrest Road.  Alternatively enjoy a delicious fresh, sourdough sandwich from Soderberg at Simpson Loan or Lister Square. Arthurs Seat is another place we love to head to for a picnic, but with less choice of nearby eateries with food to go, you’ll need to pack your hamper before you leave.

Civerinos Slice (Photo: Civerinos)

We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this blog which has been a joy to write! What have we missed? Please leave us your favourite current spots in the comments-we always love to hear from you!

You can find the first two blogs in our series of what to do in Edinburgh over the Summer by heading to our Journal. Here you’ll find Summertime in Edinburgh: Explore Our Top Neighbourhoods and our Diary of What’s On in Edinburgh over Summer 2025. Enjoy!