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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 27 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Lucy Gillmore

Edinburgh is the epicentre of Scotland’s vibrant food and drink scene. Once the butt of gastronomic jokes, for years now it has been celebrated instead for the bounty of its natural larder.

The capital’s restaurant scene is geared less towards Michelin star counts – although it has a smattering of these – and more towards field-to-plate and communal dining experiences, driven by chefs specialising in culinary acrobatics and pushing the boundaries, such as Aizle’s Stuart Ralston and Fhior’s Scott Smith.

There are more and more speciality food stores and delis springing up (stock up on local venison charcuterie), artisan bakers (tuck into smoked salmon bagels) and cheesemongers on every corner. Once there was one farmers’ market in the shadow of the cathedral – now there are five.

Local ingredients & flavours

It’s all about small plates, grazing menus and ingredients so seasonal, local and fresh you have to brush the soil from your plate.

Carnivores can tuck into wild venison, seaweed-grazed lamb and prime Aberdeen Angus beef. For fish-eaters there are hand-dived scallops from the west coast, Loch Fyne oysters to shuck, plump rope-grown mussels from Shetland’s chilly waters and artisan smoked salmon. It’s the produce and its provenance that shines.

And of course, Scotland is the home of the best whisky in the world, produced in world-class distilleries all around the region.

What to try

Haggis, neeps and tatties (haggis, turnips and mashed potato) is the best-known Scottish dish, and is surprisingly tasty. Many restaurants serve a contemporary gourmet take on the dish. All washed down with an obligatory dram or two.

Also see Lucy’s round-up of traditional Scottish foods you must try in Scotland.

Aizle

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

Cooked salmon plated dish from restaurant Aizle

Chef Stuart Ralston’s innovative tasting menu is an exciting leap in the dark, simply a list of seasonal ‘harvest’ ingredients.

Best for ages 18+

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East Coast Cured

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

East Coast Cured

Near Leith’s revamped docklands, this tiny artisan charcuterie producer sells venison, sloe gin salami and rare breed smoked chorizo.

Best for ages 18+

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Edinburgh Farmers’ Market

Edinburgh , Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

market stalls on the street with blue and white striped awnings

In the shadow of the castle, the original farmer’s market has jauntily striped stalls stocked with sauerkraut, smoked salmon and Arbroath Smokies. Held every Saturday from 9am-2pm, 3 mins walk from Edinburgh Castle.

Best for ages 18+

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I.J. Mellis Cheesemonger

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

I.J. Mellis Cheesemonger

This artisan cheesemonger has been a stalwart on the Edinburgh food scene for almost 30 years. They’ve now opened a ‘Cheese Lounge’ at the back of the Morningside store where you can sample the signature cheeseboard and other cheesy dishes.

Best for ages 13+

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Scotch Whisky Experience

Edinburgh , Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

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Bucket List Experience
The Scotch Whisky shop on the Royal Mile highlights one of Scotland's chief attractions.

Disneyland-style mock distillery tour, with a glimpse of the world’s largest Scotch whisky collection.

Adult price: £17

Min age 18

Best for ages 18+

Stockbridge Market

Edinburgh , Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

Stockbridge Market

Every Sunday, a pretty corner of this Edinburgh neighbourhood is home to a weekly artisan producer market of around 50 stalls, selling hot food, local produce and hand-made treats. Stockbridge is worth a visit too, with vintage shops and quirky cafes.

Best for ages 13+

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The Chocolatarium

Edinburgh , Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

The Chocolatarium

This micro-chocolate factory in the city centre offers 90-minute introduction tours to all aspects of chocolate-making, and you get you create your own bar to take away. There are also truffle-making masterclasses, and a unique chocolate and Scottish whisky experience that pairs artisan chocolates with single malts.

Adult price: £20

Best for ages 6+

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The Gardener’s Cottage

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

Looking down on a plate of colourful vegetable slices

This pretty 19th-century gardener’s cottage, with its carefully tended kitchen garden, is chef Dale Mailley’s earthy field-to-fork, rustic communal dining spot.

Adult price: £35

Best for ages 18+

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White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)

White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar

At the bottom of the Royal Mile, in what was once the oldest inn in Edinburgh, this cosy seafood restaurant dishes up succulent seafood platters and small dishes – think crab Scotch Eggs with wasabi mayo, charred octopus, monkfish satay along with three types of oyster (Caledonian, Loch Fyne and Carlingford) freshly shucked at the bar.

Best for ages 13+

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Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: Any

Getting there & doing it

The gentrified docklands down in Leith are a real foodie enclave with no fewer than four Michelin-starred restaurants, along with gastropubs, seafood restaurants and bars lining the shore.

The chic neighbourhood ‘villages’ of Stockbridge and Bruntsfield, meanwhile, have plenty of cute eateries and bars away from the crowds.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Beer Tasting Session @ The Lost Close

Edinburgh

Beer Tasting Session @ The Lost Close
Small beer tasting session in an secret underground close, where you'll learn more about the history of Edinburgh through beer. What's not to like?!

Price: £10

Min age: 18

Rating 4.78 / 5 [33 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Whisky and Folklore in Edinburgh Including Four Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

Edinburgh

Whisky and Folklore in Edinburgh Including Four Single Malt Scotch Whiskies
Our Whisky and Folklore tour is unlike any other experience in Edinburgh.  We take you to our personal, custom designed, whisky venue where you will be served four classic Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and immerse ourselves in the great cultural importance of whisky and storytelling in Scotland. The ticket price includes the cost of the whiskies. 4 great single malt Scotch whiskies will be served over the tour. Drink alternatives are available upon request for those who do not drink whisky.

Price: £19

Min age: 18

Rating 4.92 / 5 [516 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Whisky Tour and Tasting

Edinburgh

Whisky Tour and Tasting
Enjoy an expert-led guided tour through our whisky distillery. You’ll learn about the heritage and traditions of scotch whisky production, as well as Holyrood’s innovative approach in creating new and unique whiskies. The tour includes a guided tasting of 4 delicious drams of our whisky new make spirit.

Price: £25

Min age: 18

Rating 4.69 / 5 [43 ratings]

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The Edinburgh Cheese Crawl

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Cheese Crawl
The 2-3 hour crawl will be packed full of the finest of Edinburgh's brie-liant cheeses, with very mature fun facts, and the chance to heckle your quizmaster with your favourite cheese puns that will have your group crumbling faster than a Wensleydale. You have not truly explored Edinburgh until you tour Edinburgh as a turophile. Get involved in Edinburgh’s first and grate-est cheese crawl! The crawl is 2.5 hours of non stop in-curd-edible action. There will be a cheese whizz quiz and of course a little bit of fizz. The crawl will start at Saint Stephen's Comely Bank Church, and you will be taken on a journey packed full of the finest of Edinburgh's brie-liant cheeses. During the crawl there will be very mature fun facts, and the chance to heckle your quizmaster with your favourite cheese puns that will have your group crumbling faster than a Wensleydale. You will finish the crawl right by Leith walk.

Price: £35

Min age: 0

Rating 4.67 / 5 [143 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
We are Edinburgers who are wildly passionate about all the delicious food found around our world-famous and historical city. By booking on our Edinburgh tour, you will have the opportunity to experience our passion by eating traditional Scottish food (such as authentic Haggis, award winning Lowland Single Malt Whisky), sample tasty Scottish treats, desserts and sample our flavorful cheeses. Enjoy the enriching combination of tea and Scottish scones. Additionally all our tours, there is our Secret Dish, which you can only find out about on the day.

Price: £77

Min age: 3

Rating 4.87 / 5 [418 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours
Explore Edinburgh through food and drink. On this walking tour, your local guide will share the story of the city and you'll enjoy stops along the way our favourite local restaurants to sample Scottish food and drinks.

Price: £105

Min age: 0

Rating 4.85 / 5 [221 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Edinburgh Food Safari - we do the hunting, you do the eating

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Food Safari - we do the hunting, you do the eating
I was born and brought up in Edinburgh and am passionate about locally produced food - I made a 16-series TV programme about eating and cycling in Scotland, called The Woman Who Ate Scotland. I want the tour to be like a food-loving friend is taking you to their favourite places. This a new international food tour

Price: £140

Min age: 0

Rating 4.89 / 5 [129 ratings]

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The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour

Edinburgh

The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour
Eat your way through Edinburgh's culinary scene on a private food tour. Go on a delicious journey as you try 10 of the best food items beloved by the locals: from savory to sweet and local drinks; this tour will leave every foodie satisfied! Enjoy tastings typical of the local cuisine and hand-picked by a local guide passionate about food like Haggis and Whiskey. But that's not it! This tour is more than just food; it's a cultural experience! In between food stops, you'll also find city highlights making this experience a well-rounded tour that will satisfy every foodie. Withlocals The 10 Tastings Private Food Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

Price: €142

Min age: 0

Rating 4.32 / 5 [25 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Edinburgh Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
We are Edinburgers who are wildly passionate about all the delicious food found around our world-famous and historical city. By booking on our Edinburgh tour, you will have the opportunity to experience our passion by eating traditional Scottish food (such as authentic Haggis, award winning Lowland Single Malt Whisky), sample tasty Scottish treats, desserts and sample our flavorful cheeses. Enjoy the enriching combination of tea and Scottish scones. Additionally all our tours, there is our Secret Dish, which you can only find out about on the day. As a private tour, everything works around you! Our start times are much more easy going, dates can open up. It's a much more intimate and cozy experience. No need to shout over other tourists, you will have every question answered, and leave feeling like a native yourself!

Price: £173

Min age: 18

Rating 4.8 / 5 [25 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Region, United Kingdom (UK)

An overview of Old town Edinburgh and Edinburgh castle in Scotland. thousands of buildings covering the ground with on a blue sunny day with a scatter of white clouds

Capital treats abound, from mighty castles and royal palaces to gourmet restaurants and arguably the world’s best performing arts festival.