Edinburgh is a compact, yet vibrant Scottish city with a medieval castle and plenty of modern eateries dotted around the city. Home to Scotland’s very own Crown Jewels, the city is jam packed with cafes, diners and restaurants that all serve hearty breakfast fare with traditional Scottish flare.
If you’re looking for accommodation, check out our guide to the best places to stay in Edinburgh.
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The Edinburgh Larder
Traditional Scottish breakfasts are the order of the day at The Edinburgh Larder. Delivering delicious food made with honest ingredients in a warm and welcoming cafe environment, The Edinburgh Larder is great place to start your day. Guests can fill up on spinach florentines, full breakfasts made with haggis or artisan toast and homemade scones, all served with delicious cups of freshly ground hot coffee and a smile, in the heart of the beautiful city of Edinburgh.
- 15 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh EH1 1NB
- +44 131 556 6922
- Monday – Friday 08.00AM – 5.00PM, Saturday and Sunday 09.00AM – 5.00PM
Mums
MUMS Great Comfort Food prides itself on offering top class food at half the cost of other establishments. The team behind the cafe believe that gourmet food should be for everyone, and great values prices should never equal poorly made food. Using local produce and fresh, organic ingredients, Mums is one of the most popular places to eat in the city. Choose from bacon rolls, pancake stacks and classic breakfast plates, complete with black pudding and organic eggs.
- 4a Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QN
- +44 131 260 9806
- Monday – Saturday 09.00AM – 10.00PM and Sunday 10.00AM – 10.00PM
Urban Angel
An independent eatery that is serious about great food. Located right in the heart of Edinburgh, Urban Angel is a fantastic meeting place for those looking for great food, fantastic coffee and filling breakfasts. Using locally soured ingredients, diners will be delighted with their classic Eggs Benedict, their freshly repaired smoothie bowls or their creative use of cannellini beans and avocado toast combinations. An institution for breakfast in the city, diners can enjoy their great breakfast and brunch menu all day long.
- 121 Hanover Street, New Town, Edinburgh EH2 1DJ
- +44 131 225 6215
- Monday – Friday 08.00AM – 5.00PM and Saturday – Sunday 9.00AM – 5.00PM
Loudons Cafe & Bakery
Offering simple healthy food that is full of flavour, Loudons Cafe & Bakery offers delicious home made treats made in their on-site bakery. Using high quality ingredients, and organic produce, breakfasts at Loudon’s are utterly delicious. Diners can tuck in to a variety of “Benny’s” – slang for eggs Benedict – complete with smoked salmon, cajun spices or haggis, or choose from french toast, smoothie bowls or super food pancakes and much much more.
- 94B Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QA
- +44131 228 9774
- Monday – Friday 07.30AM – 5.00PM and Saturday – Sunday 08.00AM – 5.00PM
The Blue Bear
A traditional Edinburgh cafe offering first class food and service. Diners at The Blue Bear can eat as much or as little as they want with the “Build your own Scottish breakfast” menu, and dishes are created using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and top quality Scottish meats. The waffles are also a popular choice that can be mixed with as many sides as your fancy. Whilst you wait to eat you can enjoy steaming hot cups of coffee and play games out the back.
- 9 Brandon Terrace, Edinburgh EH3 5EA
- +44131 629 0229
- Monday – Sunday 08.00AM – 6.00PM, Wednesday – Friday 08.00AM – 3.30PM, Saturday and Sunday 09.00AM – 3.30PM Closed on Tuesdays
La Barantine Victoria
La Barantine Victoria is a beautiful French cafe located in the heart of Edinburgh. Offering some of the very best coffee in the capital, the quality of the flaky croissants and butter pastries is also second to none. Diners can spend a lazy hour or so enjoying chocolate croissants, almond croissants, fresh scones, pain au chocolate and even freshly made baguettes whilst enjoying a hot morning coffee and watching the world go by.
- 89 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JP
- +44131 226 4927
- Monday – Sunday 07.15AM – 6.00PM
Milk
Penned as a destination for food that is nutritionally sound, seasonal and natural, MILK is one of the hippest breakfast eateries in the city. Creating dishes using Scottish grown and traditionally farmed food, diners can enjoy mushroom & rosemary breakfast burritos, full fry ups made with Red Tractor meats or eggs and Comte cheese for breakfast, while the cakes available all day long are delicious, fresh and fabulous. Steaming hot coffee also comes as standard here at MILK.
- 232 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EA
- +44131 629 6022
- Monday – Thursday 07.00AM – 3.00PM, Saturday 08.00AM – 4.00PM and Sunday 08.00AM – 3.00PM
Royal McGregor
The Royal McGregor Whisky Bar & Restaurant is a family run gastro pub located in the heart of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Set in recently refurbished premises, this pub offers plenty of traditional Scottish charm, perfectly combined with excellent food and quality service. Open every day, visitors can enjoy a full Scottish breakfast complete with tattie scones, haggis and black pudding or opt for french toast, pancakes or a healthy breakfast instead.
- 154 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS
- +44131 225 7064
- Monday – Thursday 10.00AM – 11.00PM, Friday and Saturday 10.00AM – 11.45PM and Sunday 09.30AM – 11.00PM
Leo’s Beanery
If you want great coffee, Leo’s Beanery serves some of the best in Edinburgh. Located at the heart of the trendy New Town area, Leo’s offers amazing baked goods, great eggs and steaming hot coffee in their quirky basement bar and cafe. Breakfast diners will love the delicious Bowers bacon, the St James Smokehouse salmon and all of the wonderful freshly baked scones or gluten free granola dishes, or add as many extras as you want to create your own perfect breakfast.
- 23a Howe Street, Edinburgh EH3 6TF
- +44131 556 8403
- Monday – Friday 08.30AM – 5.00PM, Saturday 09.00AM – 5.00PM and Sunday 10.00AM – 5.00PM
Spoon Edinburgh
Spoon offers a combination of the casualness of a cafe and the formality of a restaurant, and offers fun, inventive dishes that don’t cost the earth. With retro furnishings and funky decor, Spoon is a great place to meet up with friends and enjoy a late breakfast or lazy lunch from their first class menu. You and yours can enjoy avocado and poached eggs, full fry ups complete with haggis or veggie grills with portobello mushrooms.
- 6a Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
- +44131 623 1752
- Monday – Saturday 10.00AM – 11.00PM and Sunday 12.00PM – 5.00PM
Other Breakfast and Brunch Guides:
- Best Breakfast in Bristol
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- Best Breakfast in Manchester
Amar was born and raised in England and embarked on an 11-country round-the-world gap year after graduation and then became well and truly hooked. The first gap year inspired a second, which ended up being a 23-country down-the-world trip from Canada to Antarctica. Since then, Amar has spent the last 14 years traveling the 7 continents.