Edinburgh Food Tour: Old Town tastings with Scotch and haggis

Taste your way through Old Town and learn why Edinburgh's food scene matters

A shared food tour through Edinburgh's Old Town led by a local guide in English, stopping at Grassmarket and the Royal Mile to taste haggis with neeps and tatties, Scottish cakes, creamy cheese, a secret dish and Lowland whisky single malt. The tour runs three hours and covers the historic streets where locals actually eat, not just the sights tourists photograph. Minimum age 18 for the whisky tasting. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and the itinerary shifts based on what's available that day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Edinburgh Old Town and Food

• Visit Grassmarket historic square
• Walk along the Royal Mile
• Pass by Arthur's Seat volcano
• See Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Pass National Museum of Scotland
• View Scott Monument

The experience

The tour starts in Grassmarket, the medieval square at the heart of Old Town where independent shops and pubs line the cobbles beneath Edinburgh Castle. From there you move onto the Royal Mile, the steep historic street that connects the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, stopping at places a guide who lives here actually recommends. You're not rushing between landmarks. You're eating what matters (haggis with neeps and tatties, Scottish cakes, creamy local cheese), and the guide explains the history woven into each dish so the food makes sense instead of just tasting good.

Three hours means you cover real ground without the pace turning into a march. The group stays small, which changes how the stops work: you're not herded through a restaurant or squeezed into a corner. There's room to ask questions and linger over the whisky. A Lowland single malt closes the tasting, and by then you've moved through enough of the Old Town that you can navigate it alone afterward if you want to. Tea and water come with the tour, so you're not managing thirst between tastings.

The secret dish is the one thing the guide won't name until you're standing in front of it. It's the detail that makes regulars book this tour instead of another one. The itinerary shifts depending on what's open that day and the weather, so the guide has flexibility to reroute around crowds or a closed kitchen. You need moderate fitness for the walking and the cobbles. Comfortable shoes matter more than you'd think on Edinburgh's uneven streets.

What’s included

• Scottish cakes and creamy Scottish cheese.
• traditional haggis with neeps and tatties.
• a secret dish chosen by your guide.
• Lowland whisky single malt.
• tea and water throughout.
• live guide commentary in English on the history and culture behind each tasting.

Options for this experience

2 options

Food tour in a small groupGuide in English · 11:30 and 12:00Small-group option: join our Edinburgh food tour with a group of no more than 12 people.

Private Tour OptionGuide in English · 12:00Upgrade to a private tour: choose this option for a private Edinburgh food tour reserved solely for you and your group!

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:30 and 12:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book the shared group tour if you want to meet other food travelers and move at a steady pace through Old Town without arranging logistics yourself. Choose the private option if your group prefers to taste at your own rhythm and have the guide's full attention for questions about the food and the streets you're walking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's the secret dish on the Edinburgh food tour?

The secret dish is kept unnamed until you arrive at the stop, so the guide can surprise you with something the kitchen is doing well that day. It changes based on what's fresh and available, which is why regulars come back.

Can I book the Edinburgh food tour as a private group instead of joining a shared one?

Yes, a private tour option is available at checkout, so you can book the same route and tastings with just your own group instead of joining strangers.

Does the Edinburgh food tour include hotel pickup?

No, the tour meets in Grassmarket in the Old Town. You'll need to arrange your own transport there, though public transportation stops nearby.

What exactly do you taste on the Edinburgh food tour?

The tour includes Scottish cakes and creamy Scottish cheese, traditional haggis with neeps and tatties, a secret dish chosen by the guide, and a Lowland whisky single malt. Tea and water come with all tastings.

Is the Edinburgh food tour suitable if I have dietary restrictions?

Many dietary restrictions can't be accommodated due to the nature of the tasting menu, so you'll need to contact the operator before booking to confirm whether your needs can be met.

How long does the Edinburgh food tour take?

The tour runs three hours and covers Grassmarket, the Royal Mile, and other stops in the Old Town where the guide sources the tastings.