Eat out or dine-in the sustainable way and taste the best of what Scotland’s capital has to offer.
When it comes to enjoying sustainable, fresh seasonal food and drink, in Edinburgh you’re spoilt for choice. Whether you choose to eat out or rustle up something tasty at home, these cafes, restaurants and shops are sure to satisfy.
1.
Café Modern One and Paolozzi’s Kitchen
75 Belford Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3DR
73 Belford Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3DR
Taking pride of place at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Café Modern One and Paolozzi’s Kitchen are stylish contemporary cafés offering delicious fare cooked from scratch.
A lot of their ingredients come from Modern One’s kitchen garden, which boasts an abundant seasonal harvest of apples, plums, pears, berries, rhubarb, asparagus, salad leaves, herbs and even edible flowers. The journey from plot to plate doesn’t get much shorter than that!
2.
Café Portrait
Located in the stunning gothic surrounds of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Café Portrait is the proud owner of the Gold Green Tourism Award.
Here you can expect their trademark ‘cooked from scratch’ soups, sandwiches and home baking, with lots of emphasis on freshness and an exciting blend of flavours and taste. This is a great spot for vegetarian food, as well as gluten-free and dairy-free dishes and bakes – so everyone can have a treat.
3.
The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant
National Galleries of Scotland, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
Located at the gardens entrance of the National Galleries of Scotland: National, the award-winning Scottish Cafe & Restaurant has a menu that changes with the seasons and celebrates over 70 artisan Scottish suppliers.
Sourcing the best locally produced ingredients whilst minimising water use and waste production, they are part of the Slow Food Movement, meaning they prioritise good, clean, affordable and healthy food which doesn’t harm the environment. On top of this, they have three beehives which are home to over 150,000 bees.
© The Scotch Whisky Experience
4.
Amber Restaurant
354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Located within The Scotch Whisky Experience at the top of the famous Royal Mile and next door to Edinburgh Castle, Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar is a perfect stop-off for lunch, dinner or light refreshment as you explore the city.
Creating delicious locally sourced dishes that have been garnering accolades for over 20 years, this is an ideal place to discover Scotland’s natural larder.
And, as you would expect, they also have a vast selection of Scotch whiskies available, the perfect way to end a sumptuous meal.
5.
Café St Honore
34 North West Thistle Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH2 1EA
Offering a delightful blend of French and Scottish cuisine, the ambience at Café St Honore is warm and inviting. From hearty stews to delicate pastries, they aim to create a memorable dining experience for every guest.
The restaurant is known for its commitment to using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. They are supporters of Slow Food Edinburgh, who work to cultivate a fair food culture in and around the city by supporting local producers and raising awareness of global food issues.
6.
Union of Genius
8 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QN
A favourite with locals, Union of Genius is Scotland’s first soup café. Their menu changes daily, offering over 80 recipes of handmade soup from butternut and bacon to coronation chicken. They put the same attention to quality, freshness, flavour and detail into every single serving of soup.
All of their food packaging (both sit-in and takeaway) is compostable. They also supply a number of cafés across Edinburgh with their soup and salads and keep delivery carbon neutral thanks to their cargo bikes.
7.
Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips
9 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2HE
Whether it’s a traditional fish supper, vegan fish and chips or vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips are a classic fish and chip restaurant, with a modern twist.
They only serve sustainably sourced fish with the blue MSC label, meaning it is wild, traceable and sustainable. The variety of potato constantly changes throughout the year to ensure they are serving the finest chips possible.
8.
The Gardener’s Cottage
1 Royal Terrace Gardens, London Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5DX
The Gardener’s Cottage is located in a charming cottage building, tucked away on London Road Gardens. They offer menus that change with the seasons, and only use high quality local and seasonal produce.
They grow what they can in their kitchen garden, such as strawberries, tomatoes, rhubarb, wild garlic for sauces and dressings.
9.
Real Foods
37 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU
8 Brougham Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9JH
With two stores in the city, Real Foods are the largest Scottish retailer of organic, Fairtrade and special diet foods. Customers can shop an extensive selection of vegan, plant-based, organic and free-from foods, as well as health, beauty and household items.
They are known for their commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing, whilst offering a diverse array of foods to accommodate various dietary preferences and requirements.
10.
The New Leaf Co-op
23 Argyle Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1JJ
Discover a diverse selection of ethically sourced and locally produced goods at a reasonable price at The New Leaf Co-op.
From organic groceries to eco-friendly household items, they offer 50 plus scoop-your-own ingredients, 100 loose herbs and spices as well as a variety of home and body refillable cleaning products. Their organic vegetables are sourced from four local suppliers and their bread is sourced from three local bakeries. Customers are encouraged to save money and waste by bringing their own packaging.
11.
Craigies Farm
West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9AR
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Edinburgh, Craigies Farm is a family-friendly destination that offers a blend of agriculture, dining and outdoor activities.
Visitors can pick their own fruit and vegetable and buy fresh produce grown on the farm, from berries in the summer to pumpkins in the autumn. The farm features a well-stocked shop with a variety of mostly local and home-grown products, including baked goods, cheese, meat and fresh fruit and vegetables.
12.
Dig-In Bruntsfield
119 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4EQ
Dig-In Bruntsfield is an independent community greengrocer. They work with local and regional producers and suppliers to stock a wide range of fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and eggs, all of which are sold individually, so there is less waste, and customers can buy exactly the amount they need.
13.
The Refillery
39 Newington Road, Edinburgh EH9 1QW
The Refillery stock a large selection of grocery items including over 70 different dried wholefoods, all of which are purchased according to the customer’s desired amount. They also sell household cleaners and personal care items made from naturally derived ingredients.
With a mission of plastic-free shopping, they package their loose goods in paper bags and offer refillable liquids. They make sure to support local businesses and since opening in 2019, have managed to save 1 million pieces of plastic from entering landfill.
Guide to Food and Drink
Whatever your tastes, Edinburgh is jam-packed with a mouth-watering range of places to eat.
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