Edinburgh Festival 2024 promises to be big, bold and busy, so we don’t want you growing hungry between all those fabulous shows. Here are 20 great places to top up your energy levels near the main venues – for a quick bite or a big breather.
This is a cosy Japanese eatery with wooden booths and an extensive menu of cold dishes, tempura, noodles and sashimi. The sushi rolls, grilled aubergine with miso, and spicy yasai ramen are particularly good. Sister venues Kenji Sushi in Stockbridge and Bentoya in Tollcross are excellent too.12-14 Chapel St. umiedinburgh.com
Paz
Late night tacos anyone? Open all day, with no reservations, it’s always worth seeing if you can get a table at Paz. The margaritas are iced, the tacos are hot and the vibes impeccable.
64 Thistle St, paztacos.com
Edinburgh Street Food
For any kind of food, any time of day, and crucially, in any weather, Edinburgh Street Food is the place to be. We love Bundits’ packed hirata bao buns and gourmet mac and cheese from Cheesin’. Order on the app and have dishes from different vendors brought straight to your table. There is loads of seating indoors and out, and it’s great for groups.
Leith St, edinburgh-street-food.com
Kalpna
Serving big portions of healthy Indian vegetarian food since 1975, Kalpna draws on Punjabi, Gujarati and South Indian cooking traditions. The £15 lunch buffet is excellent value or come in the evening to order a la carte.
2-3 St Patrick Square, kalpnarestaurant.com
Bowls
Poke bowls are perfect festival food: fast, filling and packed with flavour. Try the ocean poke bowl with Scottish salmon, king prawns, shallots, salad and sesame, with yuzu wasabi and spicy mayo.
13 Forrest Rd, bowls-eats.co.uk
Palmyra
Unchanged for decades, but why would you want to change perfection? Huge khobz wraps are wrapped around crunchy falafel, creamy hummus and garlicky baba ghanoush. The chicken and doner kebabs are highly rated (saviour of many a hungry student). There’s a handful of tables and it’s cash only. Open late.
22 Nicholson Street. palmyrapizza.co.uk
(Image: Brunswick Book Club)
Brunswick Book Club
A reimagining of one side of Vittoria restaurant, Brunswick Book Club offers all-day drinking and dining, with all-day breakfasts particularly appealing after a late night of shows. There’s lots of outdoor seating so it’s perfect on a warm day.
113 Brunswick St, brunswickbookclub.co.uk
Mary’s Milk Bar
Sometimes you just need a sweet hit, and Mary’s Milk Bar serves the best gelato. There’s often a queue but it moves pretty quickly and it’s always worth the wait. Mary’s inventive flavours change every day. Be sure to try peanut, cinnamon and caramel, or tea and jam (or just chocolate, if you want to keep it simple).
19 Grassmarket, marysmilkbar.com
Ikigai Ramen
With two branches near the heart of the festival, Ikigai Ramen is a useful one to know. Deep bowls of slow-cooked broth and bouncy noodles will fuel a long festival night. No reservations needed.
13 West Crosscauseway and 29-30 Southbridge, ikigairamen.co.uk
Don@Tokyo
A new casual Japanese restaurant on Lothian road with an open kitchen. The iPad menus are a little odd but the service, freshly made sushi rolls and ‘sushi tacos’ are all excellent.
165 Lothian Road, don-tokyo.com
(Image: Mother India Edinburgh)
Mother India’s Cafe
A popular family-run Indian restaurant with a menu that’s designed for sharing. Dishes appear fast and fresh and there are lots of vegetarian options. Go with a group, or a big appetite, to maximise your ordering.
3-5 Infirmary St. motherindia.co.uk/restaurant/mother-india-edinburgh
Noodles Home
In recent years there has been a huge increase in Chinese, Japanese and Korean restaurants around the university to the delight of homesick students and lovers of tasty food at reasonable prices. Noodles Home is one of the most popular with queues at busy times for steaming bowls of hand-pulled Lanzhou noodles.
14A Nicolson Street
Leftfield
One for when you need a break from the madness, Leftfield is a haven of a restaurant with gorgeous seafood dishes, an exciting wine list and beautiful views over Bruntsfield Links and the Meadows. Sister venue wine bar Margot on the same block is ideal for a speedier bite to eat and just as lovely.
12 Barclay Terrace, leftfieldedinburgh.co.uk
Alby’s
Did someone say sandwiches as big as your head? It has to be Alby’s. The sandwiches are enormous wedges of focaccia baked in house that will keep you going all afternoon. Try spiced roasted cauliflower, battered cauliflower leaves, tahini, sumac onions and rocket. Also in Leith.
94 Buccleuch Street, albysleith.co.uk
(Image: Junk Edinburgh)
Junk
Junk food meets fine dining at this buzzing restaurant. Junk takes the fuss out of small plates dining and makes it a lot of fun. To be very well fed opt for ‘dealer’s choice’ and see where the chef’s whims take you.
68 South Clerk Street,wearejunk.co.uk/restaurant
Pomelo
This eatery is big on flavour, small on space but well worth the table squeeze. Order as much of the exciting menu as you possibly can but don’t miss the hand-ripped noodles: chewy, spicy and singing with Sichuan peppercorns, and topped with braised pork or roast veg.
27 Sciennes Road, pomelocafe.co.uk
Ting Thai Caravan
Fast and fresh Thai food served in takeaway containers, Ting Thai is unfussy and fun. The Pad Thai is unfailingly excellent and the curries are aromatic and delicious. Don’t miss the beer battered prawns to start.
8-9 Teviot Place and 55-57 Lothian Road, tingthai.co.uk
Fruitmarket Gallery Cafe
Conveniently situated right beside Waverley Station, the Fruitmarket Gallery cafe is a superb place for a coffee or a bite to eat and, of course, leave time for a nosey around the gallery too. The café’s proceeds help keep the gallery free so your big slice of cake is for a good cause.
45 Market Street, fruitmarket.co.uk
SoftCore
First launched at Edinburgh Street Food, SoftCore makes delicious soft serve ice cream from Bonaly Farm dairy and eggs and without palm oil or additives. This lovely new shop sells freshly-baked gooey cookies, ice cream sundaes, and hot cookie dough topped with a swirl of soft serve.
32 Marchmont Road, softcoreedin.co.uk
