Eating Edinburgh is a small-group walking food tour of the Old Town that combines tastings with the stories behind them. It includes drinks as well as food, and it has a perfect rating from visitors, which suggests that the formula of good guides, good stops and a manageable group size is working. Edinburgh's food scene has a long tradition behind it and a modern reinvention in front of it, and a tour like this is the quickest way to sample both. Expect to try a mix of traditional Scottish dishes and modern interpretations at a handful of independent venues, while a guide explains how the produce, the history and the local culture fit together. Some stops will be familiar names to people who have read about Scottish food, such as dishes built on seafood, game, oats and cheese, and some will be places you would never have found on your own. The walking is gentle, and the pace is slow enough that you can talk to the guide and other guests. It is a particularly good first-day activity for food lovers because it orients you in the Old Town while filling you up, and it will give you a short list of places to return to for dinner. Check the menu, the start time and the dietary options when you book, because stops can change with the season.
A food tour is only as good as its planning, and this one earns its good reviews through small groups and a clear route. The drinks element means that you will usually be sampling more than one beverage, so it is worth deciding in advance whether you want to take the alcohol option or ask about alternatives.
If you have allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements, tell the operator when you book, not on the day; vegetarian and gluten-free options are often possible but never guaranteed. Wear comfortable shoes, because the route climbs and descends the Old Town's slopes, and come hungry.
Edinburgh is a strong food-tour city because it has so much local produce to showcase. The seas around Scotland supply langoustines, scallops and salmon; the uplands provide venison and game; the farms offer cheese, oats and berries; and the bakers and butchers of the Old Town keep traditions that go back generations. A guide can connect all of that to the history of the street you are on, so that a tasting becomes a lesson in how the city ate and drank.
It also helps you to see that Scottish cooking is more than haggis jokes. That said, the tour is a tasting and not a full dinner, so plan your evening accordingly and check how much food is included when you book.
Schedule the tour for lunch or early evening, depending on the time that suits you, and avoid booking a big meal immediately before or after. It pairs well with a morning at the castle or an afternoon at the National Museum of Scotland. If you like the format, there are other food and drink tours in the city, including a cheese crawl, a beer walk and whisky tastings, but this one is the best general introduction.
A tip
Take notes of the places you like, because the independent venues on the route make good return visits, and many of them are more relaxed outside the peak months.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group walking food tour of the Old Town, with tastings at several independent venues and drinks included.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, on an empty stomach, early in your trip so you can return to the places you like.
How long
Check the running time when you book.
Tips
Come hungry and wear comfortable shoes. Tell the operator about allergies or dietary needs when you book, not on the day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers who want a guided introduction to Scottish produce and Old Town venues.
- Families
- Better for adults and older children who enjoy trying new foods; check the age rules when you book.
- Couples
- A relaxed, sociable way to spend a late afternoon, with plenty to talk about.
- Pair with
- A morning at Edinburgh Castle or an afternoon at the National Museum of Scotland.
- Time needed
- Check the running time when you book; avoid scheduling a large meal around it.
Good questions
Is a full meal included?+
The tour is a series of tastings. Check how much food and drink is included when you book, and plan your evening accordingly.
Are drinks included?+
Yes, the tour includes drinks. Check the options, including non-alcoholic choices, when you book.
Can the tour cater for dietary needs?+
Often, but not always. Tell the operator about allergies and dietary requirements when you book.
How big are the groups?+
It is a small-group tour. Check the current group size when you book.
Where does it go?+
It stays in the Old Town. The stops can change with the season, so check the current route when you book.
