Edinburgh’s best food & drink

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On our Secret Food Tour: Edinburgh, you will not just eat delicious treats but also learn about the history of the food so you can understand Edinburgh's thriving culinary scene. You'll see Edinburgh's Old Town on a personal level and taste the dishes beloved by the locals. At the end of your tour, you'll have sampled some of Edinburgh's most delicious dishes and gained a better understanding of our culture and history.

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.

The Edinburgh Food and drink tour explores the West End and the elegant Georgian New Town. This tour has a lower step count and avoids hills. There are three food stops en route to enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner accompanied by three drinks. All of the stops have been carefully chosen not only to highlight Scotland’s iconic food and drink but also because the venues are much loved by local residents. This food tour takes you off the tourist trail. As well as delving deep into Scotland’s natural larder, the tour illustrates Edinburgh’s past and present; its history and the day-to-day reality of 21st century living in such a historical city.

The 2 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.

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