Town guide
Edinburgh food & drink
Scotland's food and drink capital, with the largest weekly market in the country
Edinburgh is Scotland's most food-and-drink-rich city by some margin. The weekly Castle Terrace farmers market is the largest in the country. The Stockbridge Sunday market is one of the city's quiet pleasures. The Edinburgh Food Festival in July and the Christmas Market in November–January draw serious crowds. Within an hour's drive: Glenkinchie distillery to the east, Auchentoshan to the west (just outside Glasgow but reachable), and a substantial cluster of craft breweries and gin distilleries inside the city itself — Edinburgh Gin, Holyrood Distillery, and Pickering's, plus brewery taprooms like Pilot and Vault City. The Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens runs from mid-November to early January and is one of the largest in Scotland.
Full Edinburgh & Lothians food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
- Edinburgh Farmers' Market (Castle Terrace) — Scotland's biggest weekly market
- Pilot Brewery and Vault City Brewing taprooms
- Edinburgh Gin and Holyrood Distillery within the city
- Edinburgh Food Festival (July) and Christmas Market (Nov–Jan)
Where to eat & drink in Edinburgh
Places our published guides actually recommend — every entry links back to the article that covers it.
Bertie's
Fish & chipsVictoria Street, Old Town
Tourist area but genuinely good — the haddock and the black pudding are both excellent.
L'Alba D'Oro
Fish & chipsHenderson Row, New Town
Multiple-award-winning and going since the 1970s. Queue at peak times.
The Fishmarket
Fish & chipsNewhaven harbour
Harbour-side, fresh off the boats, slightly premium pricing.
Blue Blazer
PubSpittal Street, West End
Dark, cosy, and unpretentious, with rotating Scottish cask ales.
Cloisters
PubBrougham Street, Tollcross
A former parsonage with six to eight hand-pulls and good value — the £3.50 cask ales during quiet periods are a steal.
Sandy Bell's
PubForrest Road, Old Town
Famous for live folk music — sessions every evening and most afternoons — but the cask ale is quietly excellent too. Small, busy, no reservations.
Teuchters Landing
PubThe Shore, Leith
A converted barge and warehouse on the Shore with a good cask selection and outdoor seating by the water.
The Athletic Arms (Diggers)
PubAngle Park Terrace, Gorgie
Legendary locals' pub near the cemetery — outstanding ales, no pretension.
The Bow Bar
PubVictoria Street, Old Town
The best cask ale pub in Scotland and one of the best in the UK — eight hand-pulls, flawless cellar management, and 300+ whiskies. Small, fills up fast.
The Halfway House
PubFleshmarket Close, Old Town
A tiny pub on the steps between Waverley and the Royal Mile, with always-interesting Scottish ales on.
The Oxford Bar
PubYoung Street, New Town
No music, no food, just well-kept beer in an honest local — the Rebus pub, and one of the most honest pub experiences in Scotland.
Ghillie Dhu
BarRutland Place, West End
The obvious starting point for an Edinburgh ceilidh — regular ceilidh nights year-round, always with a Burns Night programme.
Eddie's Seafood Market
FishmongerRoseneath Street, Marchmont
Good live and fresh selection — one of the fishmongers we trust for Scottish-landed fish and live langoustines in season.
Welch Fishmongers
FishmongerNewhaven
Stocks Scottish-landed fish and shellfish — ask where the fish is from and when it was landed; a good fishmonger will tell you.
I.J. Mellis
CheesemongerVictoria Street (also Stockbridge & Morningside)
The best cheesemonger in Scotland — they mature many cheeses in their own cellars and the staff know everything. If you're buying one Scottish cheese, buy it here.
Farmers markets in & near Edinburgh
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Next: 4 JulStockbridge Market
Next: 5 JulLeith Market
Next: 4 JulKirkcaldy Farmers’ Market
Next: 25 JulDunfermline Farmers’ Market
Haddington Farmers’ Market
Next: 25 JulWhisky distilleries near Edinburgh
Breweries near Edinburgh
Scottish gin makers near Edinburgh
Food & drink festivals in Edinburgh & nearby
Crail Food Festival
Crail, Fife · 12 June
foodRoyal Highland Show
Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh · 17 June
foodEdinburgh Food Festival
George Square Gardens, Edinburgh · 15 July
foodEdinburgh Christmas Market
East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh · 20 November
foodThe Leith Food Festival
Leith Links, Edinburgh · 29 May
Coming up in the next 14 days
See all →Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Edinburgh
Leith Market
Edinburgh
St Andrews Farmers’ Market
St Andrews
Stockbridge Market
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Edinburgh
Leith Market
Edinburgh
Whisky regions within reach of Edinburgh
Edinburgh sits within day-trip distance of several of Scotland's whisky regions. Each region has its own flavour profile and a full TasteSCOT guide.
Edinburgh food & drink FAQ
+What's the best farmers market in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market on Edinburgh (typically saturday). Next confirmed date: Saturday, 4 July 2026. We list every market within 50 km of Edinburgh on this page.
+Where can I taste whisky near Edinburgh?
6 distilleries within 50 km of Edinburgh are open to visitors. Holyrood, Port of Leith Distillery, Glenkinchie are the closest. Each has a full tour and tasting guide on its TasteSCOT page.
+When is the next food or drink festival in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh Food Festival runs 15 July – 19 July at George Square Gardens, Edinburgh.
+Where should I stay in Edinburgh for a food and drink trip?
Use the accommodation map below to find hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of central Edinburgh. For multi-day Scottish food and drink trips, Edinburgh is a sensible base if you want access to 8 distilleries and 6 breweries we cover in the surrounding 50 km.
+What is Edinburgh known for in Scottish food and drink?
Edinburgh Farmers' Market (Castle Terrace) — Scotland's biggest weekly market. Pilot Brewery and Vault City Brewing taprooms. Edinburgh Gin and Holyrood Distillery within the city. Edinburgh Food Festival (July) and Christmas Market (Nov–Jan).
Where to stay near Edinburgh
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of central Edinburgh.
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