My Favourite Vegan Restaurants in Edinburgh

Did you know that Scotland is an incredibly vegan-friendly destination? Its capital Edinburgh boasts an endless list of plant-based restaurants and cafes, food ventures and markets and the majority of regular eateries also offer vegan options on their menus. With so many restaurants to choose from, it can be tricky to find the most delicious plant-based meals in the city. This guide details some of the most delicious vegan restaurants in Edinburgh.

This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Find out more here. All opinions are my own.

If you are like me, you like to save money on flights and accommodation, but when it comes to food, you bring out the big guns – read: the credit card. Apart from hiking holidays, I spend most of my time when I’m on vacation, eating my way around the city. I’m a massive foodie and that has not changed ever since I turned vegan. 

While I might live in the vegan capital of Scotland – click here for my favourite vegan restaurants in Glasgow – Edinburgh is not far behind. There are lots of vegan cafes and restaurants and new ones are opening all the time. Even regular restaurants can barely afford not to cater at least a couple of vegan options on their menus.

According to a survey from 2018, Edinburgh has the second-highest proportion of vegan in the UK! (Only Glasgow has more.)

EDINBURGH Travel Essentials

Where to Stay in Edinburgh: Hotels & Hostels for Every Budget

Edinburgh City Tours: The best city tours in Edinburgh

Things to do in Edinburgh: A 2-Day Itinerary for Edinburgh

Whether you are vegan yourself, curious to taste some of the local vegan cuisines or travel with someone who doesn’t eat animal products, plant-based eating out in Edinburgh has never been easier!

I love trying new restaurants in Edinburgh and tasting which ones have the best vegan options on the menu – someone has to do the hard work! 

Here is my go-to list of delicious vegan food in Edinburgh.

Paradise Palms [Southside]

Paradise Palms is a colourful bar and restaurants near the university campus that focuses on mouth-watering burgers and comfort food. Everything is vegetarian and there are tons of vegan options.

I wanted to try a little bit of everything, so went for the Lucky BBQ Platter which included several vegan meats and multiple side dishes and salads. It’s almost impossible to finish, but it was delicious!

Paradise Palms, 41 Lothian St, Edinburgh EH1 1HB, +44 131 2254 186, website

Loudons New Waverley [Old Town]

Disclaimer: My meal at Loudons New Waverley was a gifted experience. All opinions are my own.

Loudons runs two cafes in Edinburgh – the original on Fountainbridge, and a new spacious location at New Waverley, a development project with living space, hotels, shops and restaurants just off the Royal Mile. 

Loudons New Waverley is a stone’s throw from the Royal Mile and thus a perfect place for a hearty breakfast before you start exploring, or pit stop for a rest from all the sightseeing you’ve already done. The cafe is not fully vegan, but has several delicious vegan options on the breakfast and lunch menus, including pancakes, quesadilla, a walnut burger and a vegan Benny – their speciality. A Benny is an English muffin with different toppings – the vegan option comes with tomato dill haricot bean houmous, garlic roasted cauliflower and spinach and is topped with romesco sauce, pickled mixed vegetables and toasted flaked almonds.

That Benny is exactly what I had, but we also tried the quesadilla and several of the cocktails from the menu – it all tastes delicious and we left feeling incredibly well-fed, nourished and also a little tipsy!

Loudons New Waverley, 2 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh, EH8 8FT, +44 131 556 7734, website.

Holy Cow [New Town]

Holy Cow is perfectly located in Edinburgh’s New Town: around the corner from St Andrews Bus Station, not too far from Edinburgh Waverley and near many popular sites and attractions like Scott’s Monument and Princes Street.

The cafe is 100% vegan and focuses on burgers, sandwiches, salads, soup, coffees and cakes. The menu changes seasonally and there are always specials on offer using local and seasonal produce. I’ve had some tasty salads and sandwiches here before, but particularly if you are looking for something sweet like a cake, Holy Cow is a great place to head to.

Holy Cow, 34 Elder St, Edinburgh EH1 3DX, website

Mimi’s Bakehouse [Old Town, Leith + others]

Disclaimer: My meal at Mimi’s Bakehouse was a gifted experience. All opinions are my own.

Another vegan-friendly cafe in the Old Town of Edinburgh is Mimi’s Bakehouse. The branch at the City Art Centre offers plenty of space and a small selection of vegan items on the menu. It is perfectly located across the road from Waverley station and inside one of my favourite art galleries in Edinburgh!

Don’t miss out on these Edinburgh museums, galleries and monuments off the beaten path!

I indulged in a vegan chilli bowl with lovely fresh mango salsa and a huge dollop of guacamole. For dessert, I ordered a slice of vegan Biscoff brownie – according to the cafe staff, one of the most popular dessert choices among vegans and omnivores. It was delicious ad perfect with a cup of chai latte.

Mimi’s Bakehouse City Art Centre, 1 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE, website
Other locations in Leith, Corstorphine and on the Royal Mile (but that one is very small)

The Pitt street food market [Granton]

The Pitt is a street food market – originally located in a quiet backstreet of Leith, but reopening in a new location in Granton in 2023.

Every week there is a selection of food trucks and street food stalls dishing up cuisines from around the world, including some delicious desserts. While not all of them have vegan options, there are always a few with vegan dishes on the menu. Regular vegan-friendly vendors include Free The Chilli and SPOT, a dessert stall that sources sweet treats from local businesses.

The Pitt, 20 West Shore Road, Granton EH5 1QD, website

Chapter One [West End]

Chapter One is a neighbourhood cafe near Haymarket train station in the west end of Edinburgh. They have always had a wide range of vegan-friendly offerings, but in June 2019, Chapter One went 100% vegan!

One the menu you will find what you would expect in a small cafe – a variety of plant-milks for your hot drinks, breakfast rolls, cooked breakfast, sweet treats like pancakes and French toast, granola and porridge bowls for breakfast; paninis, wraps, sandwiches and soups for lunch; and loads of vegan cakes and bakes.

I picked up a vegan sandwich from their deli counter to take on the train back to Glasgow and loved the convenience. It also tasted great, so thumbs up!

Chapter One, 107 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh EH11 2DR, website.

The City Cafe [Old Town]

The City Cafe is an iconic, American-style diner in the Old Town of Edinburgh, just off the Royal Mile.

The cafe opened in the 1980s. It’s best known for its burgers and all-day breakfast, but also great music and friendly staff. There are a lot of vegan options on the menu, including deliciously sweet milkshakes.

On the weekend, you may have to queue for a while to get a table, since this a favourite among locals and visitors alike.

The City Cafe, 19 Blair St, Edinburgh EH1 1QR, +44 131 2200 125, website

Snacktime: Falafel Wraps [Old Town]

We’ve all been there: no time for a proper sit-down meal because you’ve spent too much time in the museum and are now almost running late for the tour you booked in the afternoon. Enter, the best snack for busy tourists around the world: the falafel wrap.

If you find yourself hungry and under time pressure in the Old Town of Edinburgh, there are two options for amazing falafel wraps.

Palmyra has always been one of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh. It’s delicious, cheap and conveniently located on Nicolson Street.

22 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH, +44 131 667 6655, website

Edinburgh’s vegan restaurants are always good for a culinary surprise. Make sure you try some of the plant-based food in the city on your next visit. 

Of course, there are many more vegan-friendly eateries in Edinburgh and I have a long list of places I hope to try soon and add to this post – from Henderson’s to Beetroot Sauvage, the afternoon tea at Casa Angelina and doughnuts at Considerit. 

In the meantime, if you want more tips, head over to my friend Emma’s website Vegan Edinburgh. Emma reviews a new restaurant each week and has created a huge database of vegan-friendly places to eat in Edinburgh. Find it here!

---

Pin this post for later: