Edinburgh’s a good place to eat alone, with lots of great venues to fit your needs.
Some people sense a weird stigma around eating alone, which is rooted in something, but it’s frustrating as it really shouldn’t be there. There’s literally no harm in being somewhere other than your home or hotel if you fancy something to eat.
However, there are some practical considerations. For example, how can you be at your table to show it’s occupied while also ordering at the counter?
This page calls out those reviews for locations that have the solo tag. As a bonus, I started to add that to write-ups in 2022 when venues felt especially suited to eating alone.
Dinner for one in Edinburgh, solo dining, call it what you want, but trust the lived experience of many others; it’s no bad thing.
Latest eating alone reviews
Review: 71 Steps, a bagel bakery on Rodney Street
71 Steps is a new cafe on Rodney Street with excellent coffee, a selection of baked treats and a menu of closed and open bagels. It’s absolutely worth a visit, especially if you’re looking for a place to sit down and treat yourself.
Review: Tasty Buns Baker, City Centre
I’ve an excuse to review one of my favourite bakers in Edinburgh, a city filled with great bakeries, so let’s talk about Tasty Buns.
Review: Goose73, a wine and gastro bar on Broughton Street
A new wine and Italian small plate bar with a lovely, pleasant and polite vibe on Edinburgh’s popular-with-foodies Broughton Street.
Read more Review: Goose73, a wine and gastro bar on Broughton Street
Review: SoftCore, an ice cream and dessert parlour at ESF
SoftCore offers delicious warm cookies and artisanal ice cream at fair prices, with generous hours and from the thumping beat of Edinburgh Street Food’s busy city centre location. Want to perk up any ESF meal? Add SoftCore.
Read more Review: SoftCore, an ice cream and dessert parlour at ESF
Review: Cheese ‘n’ Toasted, a grilled cheese sandwich shop in Stockbridge
Cheese ‘n’ Toasted is a grilled sandwich shack in a shop in Stockbridge’s bustling food haven. It’s a lovely place to get a high-end toastie and eat in the warmth, no matter the weather outside.
Read more Review: Cheese ‘n’ Toasted, a grilled cheese sandwich shop in Stockbridge
Review: Ozen Street Food, a bao bun shack outside St James Quarter
There’s now a surprising number of bao specialists in Edinburgh! I’ll have to write up a top list at this rate, and when I do, you can count on Ozen Street Food being in it.
Read more Review: Ozen Street Food, a bao bun shack outside St James Quarter
Review: Sweet Paradice Desserts, an ice cream parlour in Morningside
Sweet Paradice Desserts is a pink oasis of sugar on the outskirts of Morningside, with a devilishly tempting range of ice cream, waffles, milkshakes and cakes. One visit here will meet your calorie and Instagram bragging quota for the day and be worth it.
Read more Review: Sweet Paradice Desserts, an ice cream parlour in Morningside
Review: Green Bite Cafe & Bakery, a plant-based cafe in Inverleith
A delicious and friendly cafe and bakery which opens early enough to pop in for pre-work breakfast and sells a tempting range of plant-based treats and meals. Green Bite Cafe & Bakery is strongly recommended for this busy commuter corner of Edinburgh.
Read more Review: Green Bite Cafe & Bakery, a plant-based cafe in Inverleith