Edinburgh Grazing: The Best Foodie Pitstops During the Fringe

An early morning caffeine fix is, thankfully, no problem. Edinburgh has a vibrant coffee culture with more than its share of artisan roasters and third wave coffee outlets. Even Grow Urban a bijou plant shop on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge serves a good flat white and cake. What you won’t have time for is to join the snaking queue outside Lannan Bakery nearby. Another time. 

Instead head to one of the branches of artisan bakery Twelve Triangles scattered around the city. Or for one of the best breakfasts in Edinburgh book a table at Urban Angel in the New Town. The French Toast is legendary, thick slabs of toasted brioche topped with streaky bacon and swimming in maple syrup. If you’re down in Leith where there’s a smattering of Fringe venues, Toast on the Shore is another good brunch spot dishing up Mexican huevos rancheros: chipotle spiced tomato and black bean stew on a corn tortilla, with crumbled feta, two poached eggs and smashed avo.

Later, for lunch-on-the-go you could stock up on picnic staples at Edinburgh’s peppering of gourmet delis such as legendary Valvona & Crolla or little Herbie down in Stockbridge and head to Inverleith Park or the Meadows. Or tuck into a Big Hot Sandwich from Alby’s (Leith and Southside). The doorstep sarnies are bursting with fillings such as fried oyster mushroom, Sichuan seasoning, doubanjiang mayo, pickled chillis, carrot, daikon and sesame slaw and shredded Chinese cabbage. If you’d rather grab a table, veggie restaurant Henderson’s has a good £12 Lunch Deal Monday to Friday 12-4pm, think Mac’n’Cheese with nasturtium, spinach pesto, onion bread crumbs and mixed leaves.

Some shows even offer food. At Venue 572 (that’s the Yotel on Queen Street) Daniel Martiniez’s lunchtime flamenco show at 1pm every day gives a flavour of Spain with tapas and a glass of wine, while at Fringe hubs such as the Pleasance Courtyard there’s a huddle of food stalls where you can grab a quick bite from Edinburgh stalwarts such as Mimi’s Bakehouse to Harajuku Streetfood.

A little out on a limb, but perfect for a break from the crowds, a breath of sea air and views over the Firth of Forth to the Forth Bridges, Street food market The Pitt moved recently from Leith to Granton. During the Fringe they’re hosting an exhibition, Brick Journeys, models built from LEGO® bricks, celebrating how humans have travelled through time from hot air balloons to rockets – including a model of the iconic Forth Road Bridge. The resident food trucks range from Buffalo Truck (buttermilk fried chicken burgers) to Choola’s award-winning Nepalese street food and Lazeez for authentic Lebanese mezze.  

Edinburgh might not be the cheapest city in terms of accommodation, especially during the summer’s festival frenzy, but eating out at the Fringe at least doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

Lucy Gillmore is a freelance journalist who left a newspaper travel desk for the Highlands’ hills. Dipping into Scotland’s ever-evolving food and drink scene she will be bringing us the latest news stories, dates for the diary and shining a light on local food heroes in a regular column.  You can follow her on @lucygillmore

Words: Lucy Gillmore
Photography: Simon Hird.