The 18 best breakfast and brunch spots in Edinburgh

Brunch enthusiasts, hangover-sufferers and families alike flock in their masses to Loudons every weekend. Its simple, relaxed interior can lend itself to any sort of occasion, whether business breakfast, quiet solo brunch or chatty mums’ meet-up. This place is famed for its eggs benedict, pancakes and other breakfast staples. Whether you’re at the Fountainbridge or New Waverley location, expect to battle a queue of Loudons loyalists for a seat, but do wait it out – any Edinburgher will tell you it’s worth it. 

Order this: We can guarantee you’ve never had an Eggs Benny like The Hoots Mon – bacon, black pudding puree and whisky hollandaise changes the game. 

Address: 94B Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QA

This no-frills greasy spoon is an Edinburgh institution, cherished above all for its hangover-diminishing breakfasts. Don’t expect smoked salmon or smoothie bowls here: Snax Café is the definition of no nonsense. Portions are served in big, bigger and biggest (the latter suitable only for the super-hungry). 

Order this: Go for the 'biggest' breakfast and get change from a tenner, a concept unheard of elsewhere in the capital. The famous greasy spoon's version comes with two link sausages, bacon, fried egg, black pudding, tattie scone AND a hash brown (so that you don't have to decide which is better), haggis, sliced sausage (a Scottish delicacy), beans, fried tomato and a buttered roll.

Address: 118 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9NG

If you’re feeling a little worse for wear, head here for a moreish health kick. Urban Angel’s smoothies blend mango and orange juice with nutrient-loaded things like spinach and spirulina (there’s also a raw chocolate version, made with oat milk, cacao, dates, banana and vanilla). The virtue continues in the superfood salads, all-day brunch menu and more. If any of this sounds like joyless, penitent eating, you’d be dead wrong – the flavours are straight from heaven. 

Order this: The Baked Eggs at Urban Angel are a thing of legend – a huge heaving dish of tomato sauce chorizo, black pudding, coriander and chili jam… and toast, of course.

Address: 121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ

One of Edinburgh’s newer eateries, Margot has already made a name for itself – but being the sister restaurant of acclaimed neighbourhood bistro Leftfield, we never expected anything less. ‘But isn't Margot a wine bar?’, you may ask, but we’d argue that the launch of their breakfast and brunch menu might be the best thing to happen to Brunstfield. We’re huge fans of their warming bowls of polenta, topped with sticky soy mushrooms, eggs, crispy chilli oil and coriander – paired with a Mimosa, of course. 

Address: 7-8 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP

Freshly-pressed juices, fruit-packed smoothie bowls, full-on fry-ups and (obvs) avocado toast: Hula certainly knows how to pack a punch. With two venues in Edinburgh city centre, this juice bar and café prides itself on championing fresh, healthy eating. They’re also plastic-free and have plenty of vegan options on offer, so it will pretty much please everyone. 

Address: 103-105 West Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2JP 

Just two minutes from the bustling Royal Mile, Edinburgh Larder is hidden down a side street. But those in the know are always richly rewarded. This café sells seasonal, locally sourced and tasty food, with its breakfast menu available all day and featuring all the classics like eggs benedict, porridge and waffles. If you’re in a bit later, try the Taste of Scotland Plate, which comes with Belhaven cold smoked sea trout, Ramsay’s honey roast ham, granary bread, Scottish cheeses, salad and loads more. 

Address: 15 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1NB

This café-bar may look like a pub – because it once was – but it had a serious facelift for its 2007 launch and has menus that would put many Edinburgh restaurants to shame. As you sit among the old wooden fixtures and fittings, enhanced with the odd ornamental eccentricity, you can browse the all-day brunch selection (daily from 10am), including choices like poached eggs on toast with wild mushrooms fried in butter and rosemary, decent porridge, eggs benedict and big fried breakfasts.

Address: 23-24 Sandport Place, Edinburgh, EH6 6EW

New kid on the block Ardfern is the latest project from legendary Edinburgh chef Roberta Hall (Little Chartroom, Eleanore) but has quickly become a must-visit for brunch. The menu boasts a selection of Scottish staples like a lamb sausage muffin with cheese and egg (think a bougie version of a certain fast food chain’s classic…) and a full breakfast with thick-cut bacon, homemade haggis and tattie scones. Feeling delicate? Go for overnight oats with fig raspberry and almond crunch. Just don’t miss the cooked-to-order filled doughnut (yes, they come warm), perfectly paired with a strong cup of coffee. 

Address: 30 Albert Place, Edinburgh, EH7 5HN

If you’ve got a big appetite, Canadian diner Down The Hatch has the big breakfast options for you – and sorry, but you won’t find any fruit-filled yoghurt and granola options here. Instead, everything is served fried on a skillet. And as much as we’ll normally recommend a Scottish breakfast to anyone visiting our city, it’s the Canadian skillet that’s the real star of the show – buttermilk pancakes, sausages, bacon, hash browns and fried eggs… all served with Canadian maple syrup, of course.

Please note: there are two branches of this spot in Edinburgh – only one of them, the South Queensferry branch, serves breakfast, located in a small village on the outskirts of the city. Visit their city centre spot for the regular menu. 

Address: Port Edgar Marina, Edinburgh, Queensferry, South Queensferry EH30 9SQ

If pancakes are your kind of thing, the Treehouse Café in Tollcross could become your favourite spot. This cosy café just by the King’s Theatre and the Meadows is known for its fluffy pancakes, which come in a variety of flavours and with a range of toppings from blueberry to caramel, all served with fruit or ice cream, if you fancy it. If you’re after something different, their menu also includes other breakfast staples like scrambled eggs and bagels, as well as toasted sandwiches and plenty of sweet treats.

Address: 44 Leven Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9LJ 

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