Edinburgh: Food & Drink

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Joseph Pearce
23 Elm Row 01315564140 
By day, Joseph Pearce’s is a relaxed Swedish café on Leith Walk with free Wi-Fi, top-notch coffee, home-style Scandinavian food and kooky decor. By night it’s a bohemian bar with a cool crowd powered by aquavit-based cocktails and Swedish cider. Entertainment comes from the regular art exhibitions, live music, DJ sets, and a weekly jogging club.

Brass Monkey 
14 Drummond St 01315561961 
Tucked between the Pleasance and the Bridges, Brass Monkey matches a great location with a truly unique atmosphere. Much of that atmosphere comes from the mini-cinema in the back room, packed as it is with comfy mattresses and enormous cushions. Daily films at 3pm make this a great place to while away the hours between lectures, with a vibe that might make you reluctant to leave. 

Whistlebinkies
4-6 South Bridge 01315575114 
If you like some music with your drinks then Whistlebinkies in the centre of town is a good choice. There’s always something going on, be it a punk covers band or some old Scottish folkies wailing on acoustic guitars. As a bonus Whistlebinkies is open until 3am, so if you don’t want to head home but don’t fancy the clubs you know where to go. 

The Blue Blazer
2 Spittal St 01312295030 
The Blue Blazer is a traditional Edinburgh pub, in the best possible sense of the term. Boasting one of the finest selections of real ales, whiskies and rums in Edinburgh, the Blue Blazer’s knowledgeable and friendly bar staff welcome grizzled regulars and beardy art students alike. Former title-holder of Edinburgh Pub of the Year, The Blazer’s cosy fire, wooden pews, and small back room offer a happy Tollcross hang-out for all comers. 

BrewDog
143 Cowgate 01312206517
Stripped-back brick walls and comfy couches make for a great setting in which to settle and start exploring the Fraserburgh craft giants’ vast collection. There are almost eighty bottled beers packing out the fridges, plus five BrewDog draughts and at least as many guest ales. If you get carried away with their Scrabble board or Pop-Up Pirate and lose track of time, there's pizza, cheese and meat boards all served until closing time. 

Bannermans 
212 Cowgate 01315563254 
A semi-underground Cowgate pub, Bannerman’s is one of the favourite night spots of the city’s rockers. The windowless gig room in the back is one of Edinburgh’s more interesting places to take in a gig, but the main bar is much more laid-back and friendly. It’s cheap, there’s plenty of space, and it’s literally in the centre of town. You can see why it’s a favourite now, can’t you?

The Auld Hoose
23-25 St Leonard's St 01316682934
A brilliant cross-breed of ‘old man pub’ and ‘rock bar’, this Newington pub covers both bases in style. Cool old wooden furniture contrasted with 1990s heavy metal makes for a good base for a night out, and the ridiculous bowls of nachos will keep everyone ticking over no matter how many friends pile along for the ride. Seriously, they’re less bowls of nachos and more small cauldrons filled with chilli and guacamole. 

Finnegan’s Wake
9B Victoria St 01312263816
There aren’t many pubs that we know of that name-drop James Joyce in their titles, and even fewer that will do you a pint for £2. Finnegan’s Wake does both from its Victoria Street home, and the strong Irish influence ensures that the place is always busy and full of atmosphere. There’s Irish sport on the TV for homesick ex-pat students, and regular live music for the rest of you. 

Cloisters
26 Brougham St 0131 221 9997 
Cloisters sits on the edge of the Meadows, and offers the perfect spot to finish a day of sitting in the park. Set into the side of a church, the pub is packed with period features like the snazzy ceramic bar taps. A huge selection of beers and ales and lively atmosphere make Cloisters a great spot for a few with friends, and the spiral stairs to the toilets will help you figure out when it’s time to go home. 

Villager
49 George IV Bridge 01312262781
‘Shabby chic’ before that was even an expression, Villager is packed with brilliant details. There are enormous fans in the ceiling, stencils of robots on the distressed walls, and an outrageous cocktail list filled with Anchorman quotes. The tap water even comes with watermelon, mint and cucumber. When that much attention goes on the tap water, you’re in the right kind of place. 

Under the Stairs
3A Merchant St 01314668550
Easily missed if you don’t know it's there, Under The Stairs is exactly that – a comfy little bar/cafe tucked under the stairs on Merchant Street. With wooden floors, exposed brickwork, ever-changing exhibitions and mismatched comfy armchairs and sofas, it manages to show off both shabby hipster chic and homely coziness all at once. 

The City Cafe
19 Blair Street 0131 220 0125
If you’ve ever dreamt of going to an American diner in the 1950s, well you can’t. Luckily, The City Cafe will make do as a pretty faithful consolation, with its chessboard-style floor and leather and chrome booths. The oversized bar houses a wide range of drinks, and even if you just fancy a coffee City Cafe has you covered with cool branded mugs and a coffee machine that looks like the back of a Cadillac. 

Bar Kohl
54 George IV Br 0131225693
The striking, modern design and great location of Bar Kohl are important, but really this place is all about the cocktails. The drinks list is outrageously long, with hundreds of options to work your way through, all served up by bar staff who enjoy coming up with mad new ideas. The burger selection doesn’t let the side down, matching the focus on quality ingredients seen at the bar.

99 Hanover Street
99 Hanover St 01312258200
First things first - your friends will never have any excuse for not finding this New Town pub. Once you get inside it’s a cosy, comfy spot with plenty of range behind the bar and a good mix of people in front of it. It’s right in the heart of the action just off Princes Street and George Street, making it a great place to meet up for a night out, as no-one’s going to get lost on the way.

The Blackbird
37 Leven St 01312282280
The Blackbird is one of the latest examples of the ongoing revival of student favourite Tollcross. While the complete loss of one of the area’s top ‘old man pubs’ wasn’t ideal, the replacement isn’t half bad - the decor is trendy but links back to the area’s past, the beer list is comprehensive, and the beer garden remains with new decking and snazzy covered seats.

Eteaket
41 Frederick St 0131 226 2982
If you like tea, then prepare to spend a lot of time in Eteaket. The Frederick Street tea room is all about the tea and cakes. There are literally dozens of loose leaf blends on offer, all blended specifically for Eteaket and packed with all sorts of mad and exotic ingredients, and the cake situation is much the same. Too many types of tea and cake – that’s a good problem to have. 

Artisan Roast
57 Broughton St 07956355054 | 138 Bruntsfield Pl 07517 471033 
We once heard someone compare the Artisan baristas to die hard Star Wars fans, their knowledge straddling the limits of what is socially acceptable. Well yes, Artisan Roast is serious about its coffee, but for that you will be very grateful as you sip a sumptuous chilli mocha or one of the best flat whites Edinburgh has to offer. If you’re not, then you clearly belong to the dark side. 

Black Medicine Coffee Co.
2 Nicholson St 01315576269 | 108 Marchmont Rd 0131 622 2660 | 7 Barclay Ter 01315576269 
The three outposts of the Black Medicine empire can each offer the same welcome combination – cool furniture, switched-on staff, free Wi-Fi and brilliant coffee. No wonder the cafes in Bruntsfield, Marchmont and at the Bridges are always filled with students and real folk alike.   

Hula
103-105 West Bow 0131 2201121 
One of our readers’ favourites in our 2013 Food and Drink Survey, Hula presumably came out on top because it reminds us all of the summer. Bright and breezy, Hula does a great line in fresh fruit juices with exotic and outrageous blends that you never would have considered, as well as great coffee and exciting food on the menu. Good choice, readers!  

Lovecrumbs
155 West Port 01316290626 
The ‘pubic triangle’ behind the Art College might not be the first place you’d think to go for cake and a chat, but then Lovecrumbs is one of those places that defies sense. An inventive cake menu that changes by the day, tables made from old pianos, and a literal window seat give Lovecrumbs an anarchic air that makes the act of going for coffee into an adventure.  

Brew Lab
6-8 South College St 0131 6628963 
Central locations and stunning interiors are one thing, but can anyone match Brew Lab in the ‘best coffee machine name’ stakes? We can't think of any challengers to ‘The Slayer,’ imported from Seattle for this genuinely exciting coffee house. They brew their own custom espresso blend and match it with outrageous sandwiches and soups, plus cakes and teas from some of Edinburgh’s best producers.  

Mums
4A Forrest Rd 01312609806
This retro diner is the ultimate place for comfort food. A whole range of twists on bangers and mash, pies, burgers and milkshakes can save you from the fiercest of Tuesday afternoon hangovers. And unlike real mums they won't pull a passive-aggressive scowl when you leave your veg, or even ask for help with the dishes. 

Illegal Jack’s
113 Lothian Rd 01316227499 
Illegal Jack’s is a simple beast; go on a weekday lunchtime, head to the counter, select the filling for your monstrously large burrito, hand over a fiver, and grab a drink on the way to your seat. This Tex-Mex joint serves up tasty grub in a canteen-style atmosphere, and the speed of service combined with the plentiful seating means that tasty but messy Mexican goodness is never more than minutes away. 

Wannaburger
8 Queensferry St 01312200036
Wannaburger serve arguably the best burgers in the city, and certainly offer the most bang for your buck. Locally-sourced meat is the key to Wannaburger’s success, and their ludicrously tasty milkshakes just add to the appeal. As does the modern design, and the hard-to-find American sport on the telly. Oh, and the 15% student discount helps as well.

Vittoria
113 Brunswick St 01315566171 | 19 George IV Bridge 01312251740 
One of the few Edinburgh landmarks without its own postcard, Vittoria's is a genuine institution. The seating areas outside feel a bit optimistic for these climes, but punters at the restaurants on Leith Walk and George IV Bridge aren’t going to let that stop them. Vittoria is the place to go when the parents are in town, with great Italian food, reasonable prices and waiters who can liven up even the most stilted of evenings.   

Mother India’s Cafe
3-5 Infirmary St 01315249801
Nothing beats a good curry, but when there’s loads of dishes you fancy but can’t decide on a favourite aren’t you a bit stuck? Not at Mother India, where the tapas-style dishes mean that the breadth and variety of your dinner is limited only by your ability to share with your friends. And they’re your friends, so if you ‘accidentally’ elbow them out of the way for the prawns they’ll understand. 

Kismot
29 St Leonard's St 01316670123
You may be aware of Kismot due to their dangerously spicy Kismot Killer (finish it all and it’s free!), but their regular menu is pretty exciting too. Great home-cooked curries from a mum and dad duo, the on-the-bone chef’s special is our particular favourite. A BYOB policy makes for an inexpensive meal, and the occasional bit of competitive eating gives you some entertainment with your dinner. 

Negociants
45 Lothian St 01312256313 
The student’s best friend, Negociants disappeared for a while but is now back better than ever. The outside seating area has a canopy to protect from the elements, and the prices were clearly worked out with a student’s bank balance in mind. A good shout for lunch, dinner or drinks, or all three, especially if you can nab one of the wingback armchairs.  

Stack Dim Sum
42 Dalmeny St 01315537330 
In our Food Survey, readers reckoned that Stack in Leith knew how to make a tasty dim sum, and it’s an opinion shared by FOUND’s Tommy Perman. He rates the dim sum at the low-key restaurant as the best he’s had in the world, and he’s literally been to China. If that isn’t enough incentive to try it out, then the low prices should be.  

Chop Chop
248 Morrison St 01312211155
Cheap, cheerful and charming Chinese food that more than lives up to the growing hype and endorsements from angry celebrity chefs. Their entire menu is made, from scratch, on the premises – it comes across in the food, but isn’t reflected in the student-friendly prices. Fast becoming a brilliantly unpretentious local legend, with some of the best dumplings this side of the Great Wall.