Best brunch Edinburgh: 18 must-try brunch spots

Steeped in culture and history, there’s a reason why Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. Whether you’re just visiting, or a fully-fledged resident, brunch recommendations always come in handy. We’ve rounded up some of the best brunch places in Edinburgh below, to help kick-start your day (after a lie-in of course).

Brunch: the magically chaotic meal sandwiched between the normal times of breakfast and lunch. It is a meal time with no rules, so we can understand its popularity. With more of us building our days around brunch, restaurants have listened; chefs have donned their thinking caps (or chef's hats, we should say), and got down to the important business of devising new, exciting brunch dishes. It’s safe to say that they have not failed us - with limited restraints on what actually classifies as brunch food, restaurants all over Edinburgh are serving up an incredible range of dishes. Fancy a meaty full English? No problem. Craving some sweet (or savoury) waffles? Eggs? Burgers? Or even a curry? Brunch is sure not to disappoint with its creative plates and combinations.

From famed, nationwide chains like Dishoom, down to small, independent café's like Snax Café, the streets of Edinburgh are packed with diamond brunches. Searching for the best brunch in the Scottish capital is an extremely difficult (and important) task, one that we take very seriously. We've tried countless pancakes, and scoured the city for shakshuka and avocado toast, from early morning to late afternoon, in order to bring together this list of Edinburgh's best brunch spots. That said, it’s not just the food that’s important, but the whole experience; these restaurants have speciality drinks, cosy interiors, charming atmospheres and, if you’re up to it, boozy brunch cocktails.

On that note, it’s time for us to share our findings and for you to pick next weekend’s brunch outing.

Greenwoods

What: Greenwoods first made a name for itself in Amsterdam in 1988 as the place to get your breakfast, brunch and lunch fix. This Edinburgh site is the third and most-recent opening from the brand, and has become known in the city for serving some of the best brunch plates in the capital. Served all day, options include a full Scottish breakfast, eggs benedict, 'breakfast stack' pancakes and banana bread tumble topped with fresh peaches, coconut yoghurt, raspberries and vanilla mascarpone.
Where: 61 Frederick Street, EH2 1LH
Book Now: Greenwoods

Urban Angel

What: The timings of brunch at Urban Angel have become a little stretched since it started to become popular, but we're not complaining. At this Edinburgh mainstay, you can enjoy an all-day brunch, seven days a week. Classic options include French toast topped with bacon and maple syrup, but if you're looking for something lighter, you can opt for a smoothie bowl or hummus on sourdough toast. To drink, there are fresh juices for those on their best behaviour, and Bloody Marys for those on their worst.
Where: 121 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ
Book Now: Urban Angel

Hamilton’s

What: A stalwart of Stockbridge’s brunching scene, Hamilton’s is packed with brunchers on a weekend getting in full Scottish breakfasts, eggs benedict and Bloody Marys. If you want to get a bit more experimental with your brunch cocktail, there’s a huge list of house mixes to choose from too, as well as some hefty brunch sandwiches like a chicken parm with tomato sauce and mozzarella.
Where: 16-18 Hamilton Place, EH3 5AU
Book now: Hamilton’s

The Ship on the Shore

What: Scotland is known for being home to some of the best seafood in the UK, and The Ship on the Shore is here to make sure you don’t forget it. All of the ingredients here are responsibly sourced and carefully prepared to create a menu to showcase the best the region has to offer. On the menu, you can expect to find classics like eggs royale with Scottish smoked salmon, or a full breakfast with black pudding and tattie scones.
Where: 24-26 Shore, Leith, EH6 6QN
Book Now: The Ship on the Shore

Loudons

What: Loudons is known for its top tier brunch menu that offers something for everyone. Think full breakfast with haggis and potato scone, and smashed avocado on toast, as well as something a little different like coconut pancakes with mango and lime compote. However we love the Korean beef brisket benedict, which is perfect alongside a fresh smoothie (or even one of the tempting cocktails if you’re looking to start the party early).
Where: 2 Sibbald Walk, EH8 8FT
Book Now: Loudons

Dishoom

What: This group of Indian cafés already has a flock of sites across London, as well as another outpost in Manchester. At the Edinburgh site, you’ll find a brunch menu which is peppered with tempting meat dishes, along with a decent number of vegan options. The obvious choice is Dishoom's signature bacon naan roll, but there are other good options too, including date and banana porridge and the vegan Bombay breakfast: spiced (eggless) akuri, vegan sausages, vegan black pudding, grilled field mushrooms, masala beans, grilled tomato and home-made vegan buns.
Where: 3a St. Andrew Square, EH2 2BD
Book Now: Dishoom Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Larder

What: A hidden gem for a hearty, delicious brunch. The Edinburgh Cafe serves up fresh dishes with locally-sourced ingredients until 3:30pm, so you don't need to rush out of bed. The eggs Benedict, royal and florentine are a picture of elegance served up on thick, buttery granary toast. Or opt for the savoury and sweet option of waffle that combines a Ramsay’s bacon with peanut butter yoghurt, cherry jam and roast peanuts. Whatever you go for, you can rest assured it’ll arrive beautifully-presented and packed full of flavour.
Where: 15 Blackfriars Street, EH1 1NB
Book Now: The Edinburgh Larder

Em’s Kitchen

What: Em’s Kitchen describes brunch as breakfast without the alarm clock, which means even the sleepiest of foodies can enjoy a plate of the good stuff at this eatery that’s open until 4pm. The food here is so good it’s naughty, with pancake stacks doused in Biscoff sauce or topped with fried chicken and syrup, chocolatey French toast, and bagels with streaky bacon, fried egg, cheese and chips.
Where: 38 St Mary's Street, EH1 1SX
Book Now: Em’s Kitchen

Snax Cafe

What: An independent coffee, brunch and lunch spot in the centre of the city that has truly made a name for itself as a fantastic place to stop for brunch. The menu is so extensive that we're sure there will be something to everyone's tastes. Feast on various sizes of the traditional breakfast or a hot baguette or wrap. Go for a fully Scottish experience with the haggis breakfast roll or, for a more lunch-style option, the haggis burger with chips. Also serving salads, paninis and chips with various toppings - it is clear why this has become a popular place, especially with hungry students just round the corner.
Where: 15 West Register Street, EH2 2AA
Book Now: Snax Cafe

Mimi's Bakehouse

What: Fancy a slice of cake with your brunch? Then, Mimi's Bakehouse is the place. A feel-good, award-winning bakery with locations across the city, Mimi's serves up an all-day brunch menu alongside afternoon tea and a range of speciality drinks. These aren't just your normal brunch dishes, Mimi's includes brunch fries (covered in bacon, spring onion, poached eggs and hollandaise); a taste of the mediterranean with its houmous, pepper and crispy chickpea toast; as well as freshly baked banana bread with homemade mixed berry jam. You better save room to try one of their baked-goods for dessert though!
Where: 1 Market Street, EH1 1DE
Book Now: Mimi's Bakehouse

Hula

What: Before we’d even checked out the menu at Hula, we were already pretty obsessed. There’s plush green seating, lots of natural light and pink neon signs - a super chic setting to start your day in style. To eat, the menu is kept fairly healthy, so you can tuck in to a hearty brunch without any of the guilt - there’s smoothie bowls and avo on toast, but it’s the chorizo hash with poached eggs, crushed potatoes and ‘hulandaise’ sauce that gets our vote.
Where: 94a Fountainbridge, EH3 9QA
Book Now: Hula

The Pantry

What: Serving breakfast until 11am and then an all-day brunch menu, The Pantry is a reliable source for a delicious start to your day. With the breakfast menu serving up the traditional full English, hot rolls and matcha French toast, it is no surprise that the brunch menu also offers some incredible dishes. Stand-out choices like sunshine on stockbridge (sweet potato, tomato, courgette, avocado, eggs and a drizzle of sriracha) and the mighty duck (duck and orange baked beans, potato rosti, poached egg and parsnip crisps) can both be combined with incredible sides. Nacho breakfast chips are surely worth a trip, right?
Where: 1 North West Circus Place, EH3 6ST
Book Now: The Pantry

Honeycomb & Co.

What: Honeycomb & Co. serve a breakfast menu until 12, and brunch until 2.30pm, so you can base the length of your lie in on what you fancy eating that morning. There’s a wide range of dishes available here, from potato and courgette latkes to shakshuka with sourdough, but if you want our recommendation, go for the fruity French toast that changes with the seasons. Whatever you decide, this friendly all-day eatery is sure to deliver the goods.
Where: 1 Merchiston Place, EH10 4NP
Book Now: Honeycomb & Co.

Montpeliers

What: Montpeliers Bar and Brasserie is well-known for it's 'Full Monty' breakfast and it's obvious why - including chargrilled chicken, pork sausage, bacon, eggs, a potato scone, minute steak, haggis, black pudding, tomato, mushrooms AND baked beans - we think we know why it's been called the full monty. If you're not sure you can tackle that, Montpeliers also dishes up breakfast butties, pancakes and eggs Benedict. After 11am, guests can enjoy a £5 cocktail when they order a breakfast item, sip on a cafe signature or a stone cold classic like a bloody mary or mimosa.
Where: 159-161 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DG
Book Now: Montpeliers

Salt Café

What: 'If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well'. And Salt Cafe sure does brunch well. Using seasonal ingredients from local, sustainable producers and suppliers, Salt Cafe whips up a brunch that is up there with the best. You'll find all the classics as well as some special additions like smoked trout omelette, braised peas on sourdough toast and a brie benedict with caramelised shallots. Dog-friendly, child-friendly and breast feeding-friendly; this cafe is the perfect spot for the whole family to dig into a fresh, sustainably-sourced brunch.
Where: 54-56 Morningside Road, EH10 4BZ
Book Now: Salt Cafe

Milk

What: The breakfast menu at this minimalist spot is served all day on weekends, and its bench-style seating makes it perfect for a group brunch outing. On the menu, you'll find unique riffs on brunch classics, including mushrooms on toast with maple, miso, spring onions and chilli. There are sweet classics too, such as a granola bowl with rose and pistachio, greek yoghurt and seasonal compote; perfect alongside anything from the extensive drinks list.
Where: 232 Morrison Street, EH3 8EA
Book Now: Milk

Roseleaf

What: This quirky family-run bar and café is split into two distinct areas and is kitted out with ‘pre-loved’ furniture and other random trinkets. If you fancy a pre-brunch tipple, you can grab one in the lively bar at the front, before heading to the quieter back of the venue for your food. The menus change often, but you might find the likes of French toast made with homemade bread and topped with bacon, as well as Korean style fried chicken in a gochujang sauce, served with toasted sesame seeds and charred lime.
Where: 23-24 Sandport Place, EH6 6EW
Book Now: Roseleaf

Toast

What: Known as Edinburgh's first wine cafe, Toast is open from early till late offering a casual dining experience with simple, yet imaginative plates. At brunch, guests can enjoy their food alongside a cold-pressed, traffic-light themed juice menu; with green, amber and red juice filled with fresh ingredients. Simple classics like pancakes, eggs Benedict and avocado toast lie alongside more creative options that give a hint at why the cafe is named 'toast'. They prove that anything can go on toast with their masala-spiced haricot beans and poached eggs on sourdough toast or smoked Scottish haddock, pak choi and poached egg on sourdough. Covering every cuisine with its huevos racheros and shaksuka options, nobody is left out at Toast. 
Where: 65 The Shore, EH6 6RA
Book Now: Toast

Want to enjoy brunch with a side of booze? Take your pick from our selection of 11 of the best boozy brunches in Edinburgh.