Edinburgh’s restaurants don’t forget the youngest members of the family, and there are some great options for eating out with children.
Eating out with kids in Edinburgh is usually easy if you know where to look. The city has plenty of pubs, cafés and family restaurants, but bear in mind that not all pubs allow children at all times, and some only let them into the dining area.
So if you are travelling as a family, the easiest choice is usually spacious restaurants, places with a children’s menu, informal cafés or pubs that serve food during the day. The Old Town, the Grassmarket, George IV Bridge, Princes Street and the New Town are the most practical areas, as they are close to the main sights and make it easier to plan your day with children.
In this list you’ll find restaurants in Edinburgh where you can eat with kids without any fuss: central places with varied menus and simple dishes, so both adults and children can enjoy their meal.
1. Hemma
73 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AU
At the bottom of the Old Town, this Swedish-style bar and restaurant knows how to win over Edinburgh’s young families.
At lunch and dinner, you’ll often see the terrace and tables full of parents enjoying the excellent food while keeping an eye on their little ones.
Inside, there are several floors with big windows and lots of space to eat or have a coffee while the kids enjoy the play area or the table football.
2. Cold Town House
4 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU
Cold Town House is a very convenient choice for eating with kids in Edinburgh, especially if you are visiting the Old Town, the Grassmarket or the Castle area. It’s on one of the city’s prettiest and liveliest squares, with iconic views of Edinburgh Castle.
The menu focuses on pizzas, simple dishes, casual food and easy sharing plates, which usually works very well for families. It also has a children’s menu, very handy if you want somewhere the kids can eat without complications.
The atmosphere is modern and relaxed, more informal than a traditional restaurant, but very comfortable for a family lunch or an early dinner. In good weather, its rooftop terrace is a big draw, although it’s best to book or check availability, as it gets busy.
A good choice if you want to eat somewhere central, with easy dishes for children and adults, without straying far from Edinburgh’s main sights.
3. The Storytelling Café
43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
In a unique setting in the heart of the Old Town, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, you may arrive to find a hall full of young children listening open-mouthed to a storyteller.
It’s a break from the busy tourist centre: you can enjoy generous desserts while the little ones draw and colour, and then see their work hung on the wall alongside other children’s drawings.
4. Akva
129 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QG
In this large, two-floor venue you can enjoy a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. On sunny days, make the most of its great terrace and take a walk along the Union Canal, right next door.
The food has a Nordic touch and is very good, with plenty of dishes that children usually love, as well as lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
Ideal if you are in the West End and looking for a good place to eat with kids.
5. Vittoria on the Bridge
19 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN
Vittoria on the Bridge is one of the most convenient Italian restaurants for eating with kids in central Edinburgh. It’s on George IV Bridge, very close to the Royal Mile, Greyfriars Kirkyard, the National Museum of Scotland and the Grassmarket, so it fits perfectly into a day in the Old Town.
Italian food is usually a safe bet with families, and here there’s something for everyone: pizzas, pasta, risottos, meat, fish and desserts. There’s also a children’s menu, which makes things much easier with young kids.
It’s spacious, central and used to welcoming families and groups, a good alternative if you want something more comfortable than a pub but not too formal.
If you want to eat with kids in the Old Town and are looking for a simple, reliable option with dishes children usually like, Vittoria on the Bridge is a safe bet.
6. The Standing Order
62-66 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LR
The Standing Order is one of the best-known pubs in the city. In the heart of the New Town, on George Street, it’s a fascinating place for parents and children, as the building was once a grand bank, built at the beginning of the last century.
The menu is varied and, most importantly, there’s a children’s menu. It’s also one of the cheapest places to eat in the city, and if your kids turn over their placemats, they’ll find pictures to colour in.
They may not spend a minute drawing, though, as one of the rooms has a huge old bank vault door that they’ll try with all their might to open!
Bear in mind that if there’s a football or rugby match on, children may not be allowed in after 8pm.
For more family ideas, visit the free Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile.