6 top spots for food and drink in Edinburgh

As both the capital city of Scotland and home to the Queen's official Scottish residence, Edinburgh is steeped in rich culture and history. Nowadays, it's also home to a range of high quality restaurants, offering everything from afternoon tea to traditional Sunday roasts.

The Balmoral

Edinburgh

Take afternoon tea at The Balmoral, and enjoy a unique atmosphere in Palm Court with Venetian chandeliers and a glass-domed ceiling, topped off by the subtle accompaniment of a live harpist. This is a great place to treat yourself to some freshly baked scones and trolleys full of sumptuous cake!

The Balmoral

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Take afternoon tea like royalty at the Queen’s official Scottish residence – the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Drink and dine in regal style on a tower of homemade cakes, pastries and sandwiches, with loose-leaf tea and the option to add champagne. Closely entwined with Scotland's rich history, there’s even the chance look around the palace’s Royal Apartments, too!

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Royal Yacht Britannia

Enjoy a delicious bite to eat in another place with royal importance, on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen’s former floating royal residence for 40 years, it is now berthed permanently in Edinburgh. You can tour the ship and enjoy traditional afternoon tea at the Royal Deck Tea Room. No doubt Her Majesty would have enjoyed many cups of tea while sailing all over the world in this spectacular yacht!

Royal Yacht Britannia

The Scran & Scallie

One of Edinburgh’s leading gastropubs, The Scran & Scallie is the more relaxed offering from the Michelin-starred chefs behind 2 of the city’s top restaurants. The menu is a tryst of modern dishes and much-loved traditional mains, in addition to delicious Sunday roasts.

The Scran & Scallie

The Kitchin

In a striking, converted whisky bonded warehouse in Leith, Edinburgh’s old dock area, you'll find Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin's acclaimed project, The Kitchin. Previously named 'Best restaurant in Scotland', this award-winning venue has a highly seasonal ‘nature to plate’ philosophy and works closely with carefully selected local suppliers to produce top notch scran.

Kitchin

Carberry Tower

How about a Scottish castle for tea? Carberry Tower (seven miles outside Edinburgh) serves amuse bouches, crustless sandwiches and macaroons in a cosy, log-fire lounge overlooking lush parkland. They also offer a ‘Vintage Afternoon Tea’, which comes with vintage champagne and a selection of delicate sweet treats.

Carberry Tower
12 May 2020(last updated)