Food and drink in Stockbridge

For its small size, Stockbridge is packed with an array of mouth-watering places to eat. This buzzing neighbourhood offers something for everyone and every occasion – from cosy cafes for a morning pick me up to Michelin-starred delights that are perfect for date nights, all of which are within walking distance of the city centre.

Breakfast and brunch

Set yourself up for the day with a filling breakfast or brunch from one of these tasty cafes and bakeries.

Breakfast is the hero of the day at The Pantry where you’ll find generous servings of all the favourite breakfast choices, with a mini menu for smaller mouths. With a number of outdoor tables, it’s also a great place for people watching. 

Swedish café, Söderberg now have seven bakeries across the city. Söderberg Stockbridge is on Deanhaugh Street and their range of eye catching cardamom buns, waffles, Swedish style open sandwiches make for a very tasty breakfast. 

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Casual eats and coffee shops

Perfect for a lazy lunch or catching up with friends over coffee and cake……

Firm favourites for great coffee, both Artisan Roast and Leo’s Beanery are popular local hang outs, Leo’s has a wide selection of gluten free food and a basement courtyard, which is perfect for al fresco dining.

Step inside La Barantine and be welcomed with a true taste of artisan French baking. Be sure to leave room for a slice of their delicious gâteaux – c’est magnifique! With their trendy stained glass windows and shabby chic interior, Cowan & Sons satisfy both the eyes and the appetite. Alongside locally roasted coffee, they serve a selection of light bite options, which can be enjoyed while admiring the art work on the walls, with limited edition prints available to buy.

If pizza is what you crave, one of the city’s newest offerings is bound to please. Located on Henderson Row, close to the centre of Stockbridge, Gordon Ramsay’s Street Pizza opened in October 2022. Available as takeaway or delivery through Deliveroo, feast on the classics, signature specials sides and sharers, or dare you try the Hotter Than Hell wings, in five fiery flavours!

Run by renowned local charity LifeCare, not only does the fully accessible and spacious CaféLife on Cheyne Street offer great value for money, but all cafe proceeds go towards supporting the delivery of the organisation’s vital care services for older people living across Edinburgh.

If you have a sweet tooth, Stockbridge certainly hits the spot. It takes a strong-willed person to walk past The Pastry Section without being tempted by their baked goodies, which include mouth-watering brownies, cinnamon buns, lemon meringue tarts and snickerdoodle cookies.

The motto at Mimi’s Bakehouse is “it’s all about the cake” and we couldn’t agree more! Step over the threshold of this award-winning bakery and you’ll be rewarded with the most tantalising selection of cupcakes, traybakes, scones and much more. And if you thought donuts were just about the jam and sugar, you need to pay a visit to The Kilted Donut. Taking the humble donut to a new high, their artisan donuts are made fresh daily and have six rotating flavours each week, which always include a vegan option. Can’t manage a whole one – don’t worry, mini versions are also available!

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Restaurants

From gastropubs serving the best in seasonal produce to family friendly eateries serving crowd pleasing favourites, have a look at our list of recommended Stockbridge restaurants.

Fresh seasonal Scottish produce are at the heart of the neighbourhood restaurants. The Scran & Scallie menu showcases great Scottish food – or ‘scran’ – in a warm and welcoming gastropub setting that is suitable for the whole family. The seasonal menu follows a “from Nature to Plate” philosophy and diners can expect pub classics such as fish and chips with a fresh, modern twist. Another local award-winner is Purslane Restaurant on St. Stephen Street. 80% of their suppliers are based in the Stockbridge area, from coffee to meat suppliers, so you can be assured that the menu contains fresh, local ingredients. As well as a lunch menu, they also offer a five and seven course tasting menu. Great beers and ales and a food menu that changes with the food seasons, as well as supporting local suppliers and delivering quality dishes, is also at the heart of Hamilton’s.

Dating back to 1832, The Raeburn is now an exquisite boutique hotel, with the bar and restaurant open to the public. A favourite place amongst locals for Sunday lunch, its two beer gardens are crowd pullers during the summer months.

Some things just go hand in hand, like good food and good wine. Experience both at Radicibus an Italian restaurant which serves traditional Italian dishes made with the best Scottish produce alongside paired wines. Winners of the TripAdvisor’s 2021 Traveller’s Choice award and Open Tables Diners’ Choice 2022, Whiskers Wine Bar & Bistro’s knowledgeable staff will guide you on choosing the best wine from their selection of 100 wines to go alongside their delicious menu of classic British dishes. 

For worldwide tastes and dishes, Stockbridge is packed with choice. The Asian tapas style dishes served at Wee Buddha are perfect for sharing while catching up with friends. Meanwhile, Nok’s Kitchen on Gloucester Street, now with two restaurants in the city, offer diners a range of traditional and beautifully presented Thai dishes, including takeaway and an excellent value for money two course lunch menu. There are a few seats available in Street Box, but you can also experience their stunning range of Thai street food in the comfort of home, with both takeout and home delivery available. Bringing the tastes and sounds of Latin American to Edinburgh, Sabor Criollo’s flavourful Venezuelan and Mexican dishes can be enjoyed whilst listening to the rhythmic sounds of traditional Latin music.

Pubs and bars

Traditional warm and welcoming bars – the perfect spot for a craft beer or a classic cocktail.

Into the evening, cocktails are the thing at The Last Word Saloon, a low lit bar offering unusual mixers such as chilli jam and thyme infused honey. They also sport a wide whisky selection – the perfect accompaniment to sip as you relax into their wing back chairs alongside the open fireplace. Classic, house and champagne cocktails are lovingly created by the knowledgeable staff at The Raeburn, and when the sun is out their two beer gardens are the perfect place to soak up the sunshine.

Describing itself as “a Stockbridge pub with a big heart”, Hector’s focus as much on food as they do on drink. Serving classic British dishes, this is a favourite amongst locals for brunch, lunch and dinner, all served in a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere. Check out their Tuesday Burger and Drink Deal for a midweek family treat.

A real hidden gem is Good Brothers Wine Bar. Tucked up a side street and easy to miss, this intimate bar has a superb selection of affordable wines and cheese boards.

For a great choice of cask and keg beers, The Stockbridge Tap is a popular choice. This small dog-friendly bar stocks an extensive range of local and international beer as well as options for gluten-free drinkers. Dogs are also welcome in St Bernard’s Bar and St Vincent, the latter of which also has a quaint courtyard and seating on one of Edinburgh’s prettiest streets.

For somewhere with history running through it, try The Bailie, the site of which has been a bar since the 1870’s. What started as a classic ‘spit and sawdust’ joint, has evolved to a well-loved locals bar, featuring ample seating at the bar and cosy outside tables. Keep an eye on their social pages for updates on their live music sets. Another popular local haunt is the snug cellar bar, The Antiquary. As well as a wide selection of beers, wines and spirits, entertainment can be found in the form of regular quiz and folk music nights.

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