As of 2026, this Edinburgh food guide covers 12 restaurants by category — including The Witchery (1979 heritage), Howies Restaurant (Scottish classics), The Kitchin (1-Michelin). See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Edinburgh is Edinburgh's food culture is Scottish heritage + whisky + Scottish breakfast — Scotch whisky distillery experiences at Scotch Whisky Experience (Royal Mile canonical) + Speyside + Islay tastings. Haggis (Scotland's national dish, sheep offal + oats + onion + spices) with neeps & tatties at The Witchery (1979 heritage, Castle adjacent atmospheric). Scottish breakfast (haggis + black pudding + tattie scone + Scottish bacon) at Urban Angel. Whisky cocktails + Scottish ales at Bow Bar. The Kitchin ★ Michelin Scottish-French + Number One ★ Michelin at Balmoral. Scott's View Scottish-French. Fine dining tier rivals London for less. We've organized 12 restaurants across 4 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
EdinburghFood Map
Click pins to see restaurant info · 12 restaurants
Premium tour with 5-region whisky tasting + barrel ride + Diageo Claive Vidiz collection (3,500+ whiskies)
Scotch Whisky Experience — most-popular Edinburgh whisky tasting. Barrel ride + 5 Scotch regions covered + world's largest whisky collection.
$25-130 with dinner
(£20-100)
10:00-18:00 daily
Local tip: Card + cash. Pre-book online to skip queue. Platinum Tour £100 (5-region + 8-year-old single malt). Standard Tour £20 (4 whiskies). Combined with dinner £80.
The Witchery heritage Scottish + Scotch Whisky Experience tour + Scottish ales + Royal Mile pub dinner.
Luxury
$300+/day
The Kitchin ★ Michelin (Tom Kitchin) + Number One ★ Michelin at Balmoral + private whisky distillery tour Speyside/Islay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Edinburgh.
Where to eat the canonical haggis?
The Witchery (1979 heritage, Royal Mile, £25-40 haggis + neeps + tatties) for atmospheric dining at Castle entrance. Howies Restaurant (multiple branches, £20-25 Scottish classics) for value option. Pair with Scotch whisky + Scottish ale. Don't ask what's in haggis — just eat it.
Best Scotch whisky bars in Edinburgh?
Cask + Still (200+ whiskies premium tasting flights £30-50). Bow Bar (most-historic + no music + traditional atmosphere). Sandy Bell's Folk Club (whisky + live folk music). Devil's Advocate (modern + cocktails). Whiski Rooms (300+ Scotch + restaurant). Tasting flights educational.
Where to eat Full Scottish breakfast?
Mums Comfort Foods (£10-15 hearty + haggis upgrade) for canonical Full Scottish. Howies Restaurant (£15-20 Scottish breakfast). Most hotels include in rate. Scottish breakfast heartier than English — includes black pudding + tattie scone + haggis.
Is haggis really sheep offal?
Yes — traditional haggis is sheep heart + liver + lungs + oatmeal + onion + spices + suet stuffed in sheep stomach. Now often artificial casing. Sounds gross but tastes nutty + savory + delicious. Vegetarian haggis available everywhere. Robert Burns' Address to a Haggis poem read every January 25 (Burns Night).
Where do locals eat?
Bow Bar (whisky no-music traditional). Sandy Bell's Folk Club (live folk + whisky). Greyfriars Bobby Bar (touristy but iconic). Mums Comfort Foods (Scottish breakfast). Oink (pulled pork sandwich). Avoid Royal Mile sit-down tourist restaurants — walk 2 streets up.
What's the food cost?
Pulled pork sandwich £6-12. Haggis £20-40. Scottish breakfast £8-15. Sit-down dinner £25-50. The Kitchin 1-Michelin £100-180. Whisky dram £6-25. Pub pint £5-7. Wine £5-8/glass. Café Royal Oyster Bar £15-25 oysters + champagne.
Is Scottish whisky better than Irish whiskey?
Friendly rivalry — Scottish = whisky (no 'e'); Irish = whiskey. Scotch must be aged minimum 3 years in oak. 5 regions: Highland (Glenmorangie), Lowland (Auchentoshan), Speyside (Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich), Islay (Laphroaig, Lagavulin smoky), Campbeltown (Springbank). Both excellent — try both to decide.
Vegetarian options?
Yes — Howies has vegetarian Scottish + vegetarian haggis. Mums Comfort Foods vegetarian Full Scottish. Henderson's (Edinburgh's first vegetarian restaurant 1962) for full vegetarian menu. Most modern Edinburgh restaurants have 2-3 vegetarian options + vegan.
More on Edinburgh
Cost guide, itineraries, hotel picks — plan the rest of your trip.
Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
8+ years analyzing travel data
30+ countries visited
Live exchange rate verified
United Kingdom