14 Best Brunch Spots in Edinburgh (2026)
14 best brunch spots in Edinburgh: Full Scottishes, breakfast bao buns, vegan benedict, Bombay naan rolls, and the queues that prove they're worth it.
Best Brunch in Edinburgh
Edinburgh takes brunch seriously. Not in the overpriced-bottomless-prosecco way that some cities do, but in a “we’re going to source the haggis from a specific farm and poach the eggs properly” way. The city has a brunch culture that runs from traditional Full Scottishes (think: haggis, black pudding, tattie scones, and eggs done right) through to breakfast bao buns, Bombay-style naan rolls, and plant-based cafes where even committed carnivores forget they’re eating vegan.
The tricky part is that Edinburgh’s best brunch spots are small. Many seat fewer than 30 people. Some don’t take bookings. Weekend queues at the popular places start before opening time and stretch down the pavement. This isn’t a city where you can roll up at 11am on a Saturday and expect to sit down immediately. The locals know this, which is why the queues exist in the first place.
This guide covers 14 places, from the big names that appear on every Edinburgh brunch list (Loudons, Dishoom, Greenwoods) to the smaller neighbourhood spots where the food is just as good and the wait is half as long. If you’re after a proper sit-down cafe for coffee rather than a full meal, see our best cafes guide.
1. Loudons Fountainbridge
The brunch institution. Loudons has been Edinburgh’s go-to breakfast spot for years, and the Fountainbridge location (the original) is where the reputation was built. The space is bright, airy, and loud in the way that good brunch restaurants are. The menu is long. The eggs benedict section alone has five or six variations, and the smart money is on the Mac Daddy (pulled pork, mac and cheese, hollandaise on a muffin) or the Fair Fa (spicy haggis, caramelised onion, cheddar). Both are excessive and both are the point.
The overnight oats are genuinely some of the best in Edinburgh. The gluten-free pancakes are properly good, not the sad, dense kind you get at places that treat dietary requirements as an afterthought. The apple juice is homemade. The coffee is better than brunch-restaurant coffee usually is. Weekends get very busy, and “busy” here means a queue out the door by 10am. Weekday mornings are the move. They also have a second location at New Waverley, near the Royal Mile, which is newer, bigger, and slightly easier to get a table at.
Loudons Fountainbridge
- Edinburgh's most popular brunch spot with queues to prove it
- Creative eggs benedict variations including haggis and pulled pork
- Outstanding gluten-free pancakes and overnight oats
The Mac Daddy benedict (pulled pork, mac and cheese) is the signature order. Go weekdays to skip the queue.
"Loudons Fountainbridge is a highly recommended spot in Edinburgh known for its exceptional breakfast and brunch offerings. Reviewers praise the wild mushroom toast, Scottish salmon toast, homemade apple juice, and creative benedict variations."
2. Greenwoods Edinburgh
A Dutch-run brunch restaurant on Frederick Street in the New Town. The Netherlands has a strong brunch culture (the Dutch invented the concept of “uitgebreid ontbijt,” or extended breakfast), and Greenwoods brings that sensibility to Edinburgh with excellent results. The Full Scottish here is the star: expertly poached eggs, haggis that reviewers consistently rate 5 out of 5, crispy bacon, and black pudding from a local supplier. It’s recently been voted into the top 100 restaurants in the UK by OpenTable users, which is a strong result for a brunch-only spot.
The veggie and vegan options are better than most Edinburgh brunch places manage. Scrambled tofu, grilled paneer, avocado on sourdough. The banana bread tumble and pancake stack are the sweet-tooth picks. The space is stylish but not huge, and it can feel cramped and noisy when full. Book ahead and ask for a window seat. There’s a one-hour time limit at peak times, which feels a bit rushed but is understandable given the demand.
Greenwoods Edinburgh
- Full Scottish breakfast rated 5/5 with haggis, expertly poached eggs, and local ingredients
- Dutch-influenced brunch culture with exceptional veggie and vegan options
- Recently voted top 100 restaurants in the UK by OpenTable users
Book ahead and ask for a window seat. There's a one-hour time limit at peak times.
"Reviewers consistently praise Greenwoods for its amazing breakfast and brunch, highlighting the excellent quality of products and warm, friendly service."
3. Dishoom Edinburgh
Bombay-style breakfast in a converted banking hall on St Andrew Square. Dishoom is a chain (London, Manchester, Birmingham), but the Edinburgh location is gorgeous: high ceilings, dark wood, ceiling fans, and the kind of detailed interior design that makes you want to eat slowly and look at the walls. The breakfast menu is short and entirely different from anything else on this list. The bacon naan roll, made with meat from local butcher Ramsay of Carluke, is the dish that most people come for. The Parsi omelette, keema per eedu (spiced lamb mince with fried eggs), and chai are all excellent.
The catch: no reservations for breakfast. Dishoom opens at 8am and the queue starts before that on weekends. If you arrive after 9:30am on a Saturday, expect a 30-to-45-minute wait. The food is worth it, but only if you know what you’re getting into. Weekday mornings are much calmer. The naan rolls are also available for lunch and dinner, so if the breakfast queue defeats you, come back later.
Dishoom Edinburgh
- Famous bacon naan roll with meat from local butcher Ramsay of Carluke
- Bombay-style breakfast menu unlike anything else in Edinburgh
- Stunning interiors in a converted banking hall on St Andrew Square
The bacon naan roll is the signature order. No reservations for brunch, so arrive before 10am on weekends.
"Most visitors rave about the spectacular food, highlighting the rich, authentic Indian flavors and the excellent breakfast menu."
4. Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao
A walk-up window near the east gate of the Royal Botanic Garden. Pablo serves giant breakfast bao buns stuffed with eggs, cheese, sausage, and a selection of toppings, all on fluffy steamed bao that are better than they have any right to be from a street food operation. The hash browns are exceptional. Multiple reviewers call them the best they’ve ever had, which sounds like hyperbole until you try them: crispy, salty, fresh, and sized generously. The vegan bao (with vegan eggs and sausage) is also good. Everything is about £6.
There’s no seating. You order from the window, wait a few minutes, and either eat standing up or walk into the Botanics (free entry) and find a bench. On a sunny Edinburgh morning, this might be the city’s best breakfast experience. On a rainy one, it’s standing in the drizzle eating a bao bun, which is still pretty good. They sell out daily, so arrive before noon. It’s gone viral on TikTok, which means the queues have got longer.
Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao
- Giant breakfast bao buns that have gone viral on TikTok
- Hash browns that reviewers call the best they've ever had
- Walk-up window near the Botanic Gardens, perfect for a park breakfast
Arrive early. They sell out daily. The hash browns are the best in Edinburgh.
"Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao is a charming spot known for its delicious breakfast bao buns and exceptional hash browns. Reviewers praise the friendly staff and high-quality ingredients."
5. The Edinburgh Larder
On Blackfriars Street, a quiet side street just off the Royal Mile, the Edinburgh Larder does a Full Scottish breakfast that has won awards and the kind of reviews where people use the phrase “best breakfast I’ve ever had” without irony. The haggis and black pudding are sourced from named local suppliers, which you can tell from the taste. The eggs are poached properly. The bread is from a good bakery. Every component is what it should be, and the cumulative effect is a breakfast that reminds you what all the individual ingredients are supposed to taste like.
The space is small and cozy, maybe 20 seats, with the kitchen visible from most tables. It books out for weekend brunch, so reserve ahead. If you can’t get a table, The Little Larder next door does the same menu on a walk-in basis. It’s not the cheapest breakfast in Edinburgh, but for a Full Scottish this good, this close to the Royal Mile, the price feels honest.
The Edinburgh Larder
- Award-winning Full Scottish breakfast with locally sourced haggis and black pudding
- Cozy hideaway just off the Royal Mile
- Scottish ingredients from named local suppliers
Book ahead. If full, try The Little Larder next door with the same menu and walk-in seating.
"Customers consistently rave about the best restaurant breakfast they've ever had, praising the fresh, flavourful, and beautifully served dishes like the Full Scottish."
6. The Pantry
Stockbridge’s brunch landmark. The Pantry sits on North West Circus Place, a quiet corner of one of Edinburgh’s most walkable neighbourhoods, and it has the kind of reputation that means the queue starts before opening. The eggs benedict is the signature dish and it’s earned that status: perfectly poached eggs, proper hollandaise, good bread. The “Sunshine on Stockbridge” plate, with roasted vegetables and poached eggs, is the lighter alternative. The menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and seasonal.
No bookings. They run a virtual queue system during busy periods, which is a polite way of saying you’ll put your name on a list and then wander around Stockbridge for 15 to 20 minutes looking at vintage shops and deli counters. The hash browns get mentioned in almost every review. The coffee is good. The staff are attentive without hovering. It’s the kind of brunch place that feels local even when half the tables are tourists, which is a hard thing to get right.
The Pantry
- Legendary eggs benedict that's been called a reason to visit Edinburgh
- Sunshine on Stockbridge plate with roasted veg and poached eggs
- Fresh, seasonal menu that changes daily
No bookings. They have a virtual queue system. Explore Stockbridge while you wait.
"Reviewers consistently praise The Pantry for its incredibly tasty and fresh food, with highlights including perfectly poached eggs and delicious avocado dishes."
7. Hata
A tiny cafe in Canonmills that has quietly built a reputation for serving the best porridge in Edinburgh. That sounds like faint praise until you try it. Hata’s porridge bowls are generous, plant-based, and topped with seasonal combinations that change regularly: think roasted plums and cardamom in autumn, rhubarb and ginger in spring. The “Go Awesome Porridge” is the one to order if you want the current special. Reviewers write things like “this changed my opinion of porridge,” which is not something people normally say about oats.
The coffee is also excellent, including Vietnamese-style options and seasonal specials. The pistachio cardamom cake and honey cake sell out early and are worth arriving for. The space is small and cozy, with a rustic aesthetic that feels like someone’s living room. It’s in Canonmills, a residential neighbourhood between New Town and the Botanics, which means it’s mostly locals rather than tourists. No bookings, but weekday mornings rarely have a wait.
Hata
- Edinburgh's best porridge, with innovative plant-based toppings that change seasonally
- Pistachio cardamom cake and honey cake that sell out fast
- Vietnamese coffee and seasonal specials like pumpkin spice lattes
The porridge toppings change regularly. Ask what's on today.
"Reviewers consistently praise Hata for its exceptional food, especially the best porridge in Edinburgh which has even changed some customers' outlook on the dish."
8. Black Rabbit
Edinburgh’s best vegan brunch, and yes, that includes for people who aren’t vegan. Black Rabbit is on Brougham Street in Tollcross, a fully plant-based cafe that’s small enough (about 10 seats) that most people end up taking their food across to the Meadows and eating it on a bench. The tofu benedict is the dish that keeps appearing in reviews, usually accompanied by surprise that vegan eggs benedict can taste this good. The full vegan breakfast is hearty, properly seasoned, and big enough that you won’t be hungry until dinner. The haggis and cheese toastie uses plant-based haggis and it works.
The pastries and cakes are baked in-house: cinnamon rolls, hazelnut croissants, cruffins, and a chocolate cake that reviewers get weirdly passionate about. Prices are lower than you’d expect for the quality. The only real downside is the size. On a busy Saturday morning, you might wait 15 minutes for a seat, and even then you’ll be sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers. Take it to the Meadows instead. Combine it with a walk to our best cafes in Bruntsfield, which is a 10-minute stroll south.
Black Rabbit
- Fully vegan cafe with a tofu benedict that converts sceptics
- Full vegan breakfast, haggis and cheese toastie, cinnamon rolls
- Surprisingly reasonable prices for the quality
Seats about 10 people. Arrive early or take away and eat in the Meadows nearby.
"Black Rabbit is a fantastic little vegan cafe with friendly staff and delicious food. Reviewers rave about the Haggis and Cheese toastie, Full Vegan Breakfast, and Tofu Benedict."
9. Toast Tea
Asian-inspired breakfast sandwiches near Holyrood. Toast Tea is on Holyrood Road, close to Arthur’s Seat and Dynamic Earth, in a small cafe that does Korean sandos, brioche toasties, and “rice-wiches” (rice bun sandwiches, essentially). The sweet toasts are the menu’s signature, and they’re the kind of thing that looks better on Instagram than it sounds in words: thick slices of bread piled with creative sweet toppings. The crispy chicken brioche toastie is the savoury pick.
Service is quick, the vegan options are genuinely good rather than afterthought additions, and the whole menu feels like it was designed by someone who actually eats breakfast every day and got bored of the same ten dishes. The tip from regulars: grab your order to go and eat it in Holyrood Park, especially if you’re planning a morning hike up Arthur’s Seat. Coming back down to a Toast Tea sandwich is the reward you deserve.
Toast Tea
- Asian-inspired sandwiches: Korean sandos, brioche toasties, and rice-wiches
- Sweet toasts that are the signature order
- Quick service and strong vegan options
Grab your order to go and eat it in Holyrood Park, especially after hiking Arthur's Seat.
"Reviewers consistently praise Toast Tea for its delicious and unique menu items, particularly the brioche toasties and sweet toasts."
10. Shore Deli
A canal-side cafe in Leith that does a Scottish Breakfast with a view. Shore Deli overlooks the Water of Leith where it meets the Shore, and if you get a window table you’re looking out over the canal while eating eggs, bacon, haggis, and tattie scones. The focaccia sandwiches are the other reason to come: fillings like courgette and Parmesan, or brie with Gruyere, olive, and jalapeno, on bread that’s properly made. The soups (Thai sweet potato, carrot) are good for a lighter option.
It’s cheaper than the central Edinburgh brunch spots, which is part of Leith’s appeal. Combine it with a walk along the Shore and a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, which is a 15-minute walk north. A few reviewers wish there was more pesto on the sandwiches, which is a very specific complaint but apparently a recurring one.
Shore Deli
- Scottish Breakfast with a view of the Water of Leith canal
- Focaccia sandwiches with fillings like courgette and Parmesan
- Good value for the quality, cheaper than central Edinburgh
The Scottish Breakfast with a view of the canal is the thing to order.
"Shore Deli is a charming cafe overlooking the canal, offering a cozy vibe and delicious food. Reviewers rave about the Scottish Breakfast, excellent coffee, and focaccia sandwiches."
11. Honeycomb & Co.
In Bruntsfield, south of the Meadows, Honeycomb & Co. does the kind of brunch where the dishes have names. The “Frookie” (a French Toast Cookie hybrid) is exactly as indulgent as it sounds. The Hot & Spicy French Toast is for people who want heat with their morning sugar. The savoury options are solid too, but this is really a place for people with a sweet tooth who want their brunch to feel like a celebration rather than just a meal.
Portions are genuinely large. Multiple reviews suggest sharing dishes, which is a good sign. The interior is pretty: tiled walls, plants, good lighting for photos. Book ahead for weekends. It’s in a residential part of town that tourists rarely visit, which keeps the atmosphere local. If you’re walking from the city centre, the route through the Meadows is pleasant, and you can stop at our recommended cafes in Bruntsfield on the way.
Honeycomb & Co.
- Creative dishes like the Frookie (French Toast Cookie)
- Hot & Spicy French Toast and other inventive brunch options
- Beautiful interiors and large portions worth sharing
Book ahead for weekends. Consider splitting dishes because portions are generous.
"Honeycomb & Co. is a charming and inviting restaurant known for its creative and customizable food options, with large portions."
12. Chorrito
Not a traditional brunch spot, but Chorrito runs a monthly chilaquiles brunch that has become one of Edinburgh’s worst-kept food secrets. It’s a tiny Mexican taco restaurant on Leith Walk with counter seating where you can watch the cooking. The regular menu is all about hand-made blue corn tortilla tacos (the lamb, mushroom, and fish are the picks), but the brunch events add chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and other morning-appropriate Mexican dishes to the lineup. Follow them on Instagram for dates, because these events sell out.
Outside of brunch events, it’s still a great spot for a late breakfast of tacos and mescal, if that’s your style. The space is very small. If there’s a queue when you arrive (and there often is, because they don’t take bookings), grab a drink at one of the nearby Leith Walk bars and wait for a text. The passion behind the food is obvious from the first bite.
Chorrito
- Blue corn tortilla tacos with hand-made tortillas
- Monthly chilaquiles brunch that draws queues down the street
- Small, passionate operation with counter seating to watch the cooking
The monthly chilaquiles brunch sells out fast. Follow them on Instagram for dates.
"Chorrito is a small taco restaurant that has garnered rave reviews for its fantastic tacos, authentic Mexican flavors, and friendly staff."
13. Guajira Cafe & Coffee
A Dominican-Scottish cafe on Elm Row near the top of Leith Walk. Owner Indhira opened Guajira after moving from the Dominican Republic, and the menu reflects both cultures: avocado toast sits next to beef chimichangas, sourdough sandwiches alongside Caribbean-influenced dishes. The coffee is exceptional. Reviewers mention ordering a second cup, which is the kind of detail that says more than a rating number. Flat whites and lattes are the recommended orders.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with art on the walls and good music. Vegetarian options and alternative milks are handled thoughtfully rather than as afterthoughts. One reviewer noted that the soup of the day was bland, which is worth mentioning because almost everything else gets praised enthusiastically. It’s a neighbourhood cafe in the best sense: the kind of place where regulars linger and new visitors feel welcome immediately.
Guajira Cafe & Coffee
- Dominican-Scottish cafe with avocado toast and chimichangas
- Coffee that reviewers call beautiful, often ordering twice
- Art-filled, relaxed atmosphere with good vegetarian options
The flat whites are so good that most people order a second one.
"Reviewers consistently praise Guajira Cafe for its delicious and beautifully presented coffee. The food receives high marks, with many vegetarian and alternative milk options available."
14. Go Go Beets
Out in Portobello, Edinburgh’s seaside neighbourhood, Go Go Beets does plant-based Scottish breakfast like nobody else. The roll with veggie haggis, leeks, and tattie scone is the headline order. They can make almost everything on the menu gluten-free, including the pastries and sandwiches, which is rare. The HLT sandwich (halloumi, lettuce, tomato) with lime and coriander drizzle is the lunch crossover pick.
Portobello is a 20-minute bus ride from the centre, but if you’re spending a morning at the beach, this is where you eat first. The cafe is colourful, the staff are friendly, dogs are welcome, and the matcha lattes are good. It’s small, so visit during off-peak hours if you prefer not to queue. After brunch, walk along the promenade. On a clear day, you can see across the Firth of Forth to Fife.
Go Go Beets
- Plant-based Scottish breakfast with veggie haggis and tattie scones
- Almost everything on the menu can be made gluten-free
- Portobello location near the beach, perfect for a morning walk then brunch
Try the veggie haggis, leek, and tattie scone roll. Everything is gluten-free friendly.
"Go Go Beets is known for its delicious plant-based food, friendly staff, and accommodating gluten-free options."
How to Plan a Brunch Crawl
Edinburgh’s brunch spots cluster in a few neighbourhoods, which makes it easy to combine breakfast with exploring. Here are three routes:
Old Town route: Start at Edinburgh Larder on Blackfriars Street, then walk down to Toast Tea near Holyrood. Both are close to the Royal Mile without being on it. See our things to do guide for what to do between meals.
New Town and Stockbridge: Dishoom or Greenwoods in the New Town, then a walk down to The Pantry in Stockbridge. If you’re still hungry (unlikely), the best cafes in Stockbridge are a short stroll from The Pantry.
Leith crawl: Shore Deli for a canal-side breakfast, then Chorrito for tacos if you’re still standing. Finish with a walk to the Royal Yacht Britannia. For dinner options in the area, see our best restaurants guide.
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