Where Edinburgh does brunch best

This Nordic-inspired coffee shop in a basement in the city centre is a cosy, buzzy place to start your day. Great coffee, teas and pastries for a quick pick me up or a grab and go are a given, but if you’re looking for something more substantial for your Edinburgh breakfast or brunch, there’s a concise and ever-changing menu showcasing the best of local produce, which may include cheesy omelettes, granola with seasonal fruits, or toasted breads with delicious toppings like sweet Scottish crab. 

Chef Roberta Hall-McCarron’s café and bottle shop in Leith (next door to her fabulous restaurant, The Little Chartroom), is open from 9am, with a brunch offering that veers from hearty savoury dishes like venison black pudding, full Scottish breakfasts and brioches stuffed with your choice of breakfast items (bacon, sausage and haggis? Why not?), to sweeter treats like filled doughnuts and Basque cheesecake. Late riser? No problem: one of the best brunches in Edinburgh is served well into the late afternoon on weekends.  

If you’re looking for a hearty Scottish breakfast to fuel a day of sightseeing around the city, Edinburgh Larder should be on your to-do list. With two locations – one in the Old Town close to the famous Royal Mile and another in Morningside – you’re never too far from this Edinburgh institution, which, alongside its mammoth cooked breakfasts (vegetarian options are available), serves satisfying brunch dishes like eggs Benedict and mushrooms on toast. Looking for Edinburgh’s best brunch? You may have just found it. [Various locations].

Consistently highlighted as one of the best places for brunch in Edinburgh, family-run Loudons, with locations in Fountainbridge and New Waverly, serves an all-day menu that includes brunch classics such as French toast, pancakes and even Korean and Mexican twists on eggs Benedict. Loudons’ vibe is more modern, light and airy than cosy café, with thankfully plenty of space for its many regulars, though do expect a queue at weekends. [Various locations]. 

Located in pretty Stockbridge, The Pantry is a popular local haunt with a concise all-day brunch menu that is all killer and no filler. French toast arrives dripping with homemade vanilla clotted cream and fresh, sweet Scottish strawberries if in season, while Belgian waffles may come topped with blueberries two ways, fresh and a compote, finished with a drenching of maple syrup. For a savoury option, try a classic avocado toast, or a traditional cooked breakfast, available until 12pm, with “posh pork sausages” and “prime haggis” to fuel your day (or send you straight back to bed). 

The Spence is the restaurant of the Gleneagles Townhouse, the city outpost of the famous Gleneagles luxury hotel in Perthshire, a must visit for many a golf tourist. Whether you’re staying over or simply dropping in, The Spence has plenty to offer the hungry brunch-er, with a breakfast menu served up until 12pm offering lighter options like fruit salad, as well as cooked breakfasts and smashed avocado and eggs. An intriguing rosti ‘Benedict’ with a Marmite hollandaise might split the crowd, but deserves to be on the table. 

Twelve Triangles founders Rachel Morgan and Emily Cuddeford opened their first Edinburgh bakery in 2015. They now have seven locations across the city, another in Melrose in the Scottish Borders, and have become famous for their slow-fermented sourdough bread and pastries. Head to the Stockbridge branch for a simple yet satisfying brunch menu too, featuring comfort food dishes like cheese or housemade beans on toast (or both!), toasties, granolas and lunchtime sandwiches. All in all, one of the best places for brunch in Edinburgh. [Various locations] 

If you’re looking for a healthier brunch in Edinburgh, Urban Angel in New Town has plenty of restorative options like acai bowls and a range of smoothies to put a spring in your step – we recommend the Golden Glow smoothy (fresh orange juice, turmeric, ginger, coconut milk, mango, banana and honey). If that doesn’t hit the spot, then opt instead for one of the brunch classics, from baked eggs to chorizo and spinach Benedict, with bread baked in-house.