Start your day in Edinburgh with a proper breakfast in one of the many places the city has to offer. People here take the first meal of the day very seriously!
You can choose from many options, from classic scrambled or poached eggs and pastries to healthier breakfasts with avocado, granola, fresh juices or smoothies.
Better yet, take the opportunity to try one of the most popular options in Edinburgh: the Full Scottish Breakfast.
Bacon, eggs, sausages, haggis, tattie scones (potato scones), black pudding and beans: this feast will give you enough energy to keep going until the afternoon without another bite.
Here are our favourite places for breakfast in Edinburgh, from lovely cafés for a relaxed brunch to cheaper, heartier options to start the day without spending too much.
1. The Edinburgh Larder Cafe
15 Blackfriars Street (Old Town), Edinburgh EH1 1NB
This bright and cheery café is sure to get your day off to a great start. Your breakfast will be homemade and freshly prepared with seasonal ingredients from local, artisan suppliers, making the most of Scotland’s “larder”.
The breakfast menu includes all the classics, such as a full cooked breakfast or a hearty bowl of porridge. But you can also try some more unusual dishes.
For example, kedgeree (rice, smoked haddock and a poached egg), or Scotch pancakes, which are slightly different from those you may have had elsewhere!
The menu changes with the seasons, so you can come back several times and try something new on every visit.
2. Mimi’s Bakehouse
63 Shore (Leith) / 277 St John’s Road (Corstorphine) / 250 Canongate (Old Town)
A family-run bakery and a firm favourite with locals. They started with a shop in Leith and have grown to three branches around the city, the most central on the Royal Mile, in Canongate.
Their huge range of cakes will catch your eye first, and they would make any list of places for afternoon tea, but don’t overlook their breakfast menu, served every morning until midday.
In their Old Town café, the Little Bakehouse, you can try their delicious traditional porridge and breakfast bagels.
If you make it to their original bakehouse in Leith, there are even more breakfast options: savoury cooked breakfasts, French toast if you want something sweet, and healthier dishes, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free choices at very affordable prices.
3. The King’s Wark
36 Shore (Leith), Edinburgh EH6 6QU
The port of Leith is famous for its restaurants, some of the best in Edinburgh, but if it’s Sunday and you’re after breakfast, head to The King’s Wark!
The first thing you’ll love is the building, a 15th-century inn with stone walls and dark wood furniture, in contrast with its modern gastropub menu.
Its famous breakfast menu is only served on Sundays. Book as far in advance as you can or get there early, as it fills up.
The cooked Scottish breakfast is the top choice, with every Scottish ingredient you could want, all of the best quality. But if you fancy something else, there are plenty of alternatives for a spectacular breakfast.
4. Copper Still
154 High Street (Old Town), Edinburgh EH1 1QS
If you want to try a Scottish breakfast without leaving the Old Town, this elegant, traditional-style pub right on the Royal Mile is a great place to do it, with its cosy wooden interior.
Have the classic fry-up with bacon, sausage and eggs, or go really local with the full Scottish version, with added haggis, tattie scones, black pudding and beans.
If you want something lighter, there’s also porridge, scrambled eggs, pancakes or French toast, and filled breakfast rolls if you’re in a hurry.
5. Loudons
94B Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QA and 2 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh EH8 8FT
Loudons is a great choice for breakfast or brunch if you are looking for somewhere modern and spacious with a varied menu. It is especially well known for its breakfasts, brunches and lunches, with options for all tastes and needs.
It has one café in Fountainbridge and another in New Waverley, very close to the Royal Mile and the railway station, which is especially handy if you are visiting the Old Town.
The menu includes cooked breakfasts with haggis and tattie scones, eggs, pancakes, French toast, porridge, granola, smoothie bowls, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Highly recommended if you are travelling in a group and everyone wants something different.
It isn’t the cheapest option on the list, but it’s one of the most complete if you want a really good breakfast and a relaxed, special start to the day.
6. Urban Angel
121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DJ
Urban Angel is one of the best cafés in the New Town for breakfast or brunch in Edinburgh. It’s on Hanover Street, just off Princes Street and close to George Street and St Andrew Square, so it’s very handy if you are staying in the centre.
It is more refined than a traditional café, with a strong focus on seasonal ingredients and local suppliers. The menu includes favourites such as eggs Benedict, French toast, granola, smoothie bowls and fresh juices, as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
The café is bright, pleasant and very popular, so it can fill up at busy times, especially at weekends. If you want a relaxed breakfast in the New Town, Urban Angel is well worth it.
7. Snax Café
118 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh EH8 9NQ and 15 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
Snax Café is one of the best options for a cheap, quick and hearty breakfast in Edinburgh. It has two central cafés: one near the University, the Meadows and Nicolson Street, and another in the New Town, very close to Princes Street.
It isn’t elegant or a place for a sophisticated brunch, but that’s exactly why it’s so useful: a simple spot popular with students, workers and travellers who want to eat well without spending much.
On the menu you’ll find Scottish breakfasts, bacon or sausage rolls, eggs, toast, wraps, baguettes, coffee and hot dishes, including a full Scottish breakfast with black pudding, tattie scones, haggis and beans.
If you want to start the day with something cheap, filling and very local, Snax Café is a safe bet. For more ideas, see our guide to the best brunch in Edinburgh.