Edinburgh Food Tour: Small Group, Independent Restaurants

Taste your way through Edinburgh's Old Town without the tourist traps

A small-group food tour in Edinburgh led by an experienced local guide, visiting independent restaurants and cafes across the Old Town and New Town. The tour includes several food samples equivalent to a large lunch, at least one alcoholic beverage for those 18+, and roughly two miles of walking between stops. Every tour varies: the guide chooses different restaurants based on the day and guest requests, and can accommodate most dietary restrictions except vegan diets.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Stockbridge Market5m
2. Royal Mile15m
3. St Giles' Cathedralpass by
4. Scott Monumentpass by

Edinburgh Old Town and New Town Food Tour

• Meet at Old Town Chambers hotel
• Explore Old Town Edinburgh
• Visit restaurants and cafes in Old Town
• Walk along the Royal Mile highlights
• Pass by St Giles' Cathedral
• Pass by Scott Monument
• Visit New Town or view from New Town
• Enjoy food at New Town establishments

The experience

Four to five hours, four miles of walking combined, and you leave full. The tour starts at the Old Town Chambers hotel between two restaurants on the Royal Mile, then moves through Edinburgh's UNESCO World Heritage Site to stops the guide selects fresh each day. This is not a fixed route hitting the same five places every morning. The operator changes which restaurants and cafes you visit based on what's best that day and what you're in the mood for. You'll spend roughly 15 minutes on the Royal Mile itself seeing the street's highlights between tastings, pass St Giles' Cathedral and see the Scott Monument, but the real stops are the ones serving food: independent places with better relationships to the operator than a typical tour company has.

The samples add up to a very large lunch by the end of the day. You'll get some of the best coffee or tea in town early on, so there's no need to grab a cup before you arrive. At least one alcoholic beverage is included for guests 18 and over who drink alcohol. The guide covers the history and stories of Edinburgh and Scottish cuisine as you move between stops, and also points out other top places to eat around the city: useful when you're planning the rest of your meals. Most dietary restrictions are accommodated if you disclose them when booking. Vegan diets are the exception the operator cannot work with.

The walking is steady but not strenuous: suitable for all fitness levels, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller if needed. Service animals are welcome. Public transportation is available nearby if you need it, and the tour duration includes travel time, walking and waiting time at the restaurants themselves, so there are no surprises about what four to five hours actually means.

What’s included

• Several food samples or small dishes equivalent to a very large lunch.
• at least one alcoholic beverage for guests 18+ who drink alcohol.
• excellent coffee or tea.
• a local guide with deep knowledge of Edinburgh and Scottish cuisine.
• stories and history about the city and its food culture.
• recommendations for other top places to eat around Edinburgh for the rest of your trip.

Before you book

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

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 10 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Skye Class Tours

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace with roughly two miles of walking spread across four to five hours, so it suits anyone comfortable with a moderate day on foot between restaurant stops. The guide changes which restaurants you visit each day based on what's best and what you want, which means no two tours are the same. Book this one if you want the real independent places rather than the circuit every other food tour in town runs.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

191 verified traveler reviews

5 ★187

4 ★2

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What restaurants will I visit on the Edinburgh food tour?

The restaurants change from tour to tour based on what's available and what guests want that day. The operator visits independent establishments across the Old Town and New Town (never chain restaurants or places serving microwaved food), and has stronger relationships with these places than typical tour companies do, which is how they can guarantee you'll leave full and get better access to their food.

Is the tour suitable for people with dietary restrictions?

Most dietary restrictions are accommodated if you disclose them when booking. The one exception is vegan diets, which the operator cannot work with. Allergies and intolerances should also be mentioned at the time of booking so the guide can plan the stops accordingly.

How much walking is involved in the Edinburgh food tour?

The tour covers roughly two miles of walking combined between all the stops over four to five hours, which works out to a steady pace suitable for all fitness levels. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and the duration includes travel time and waiting time at restaurants, not just walking.

What is included in the food tour price?

The tour includes several food samples or small dishes equivalent to a very large lunch, at least one alcoholic beverage for guests 18+ who drink alcohol, excellent coffee or tea, and a guide who shares knowledge and stories about Edinburgh and Scottish cuisine. You don't need to arrange anything beyond showing up at the hotel reception where the tour begins.

Will I see Edinburgh's landmarks like the Royal Mile and Scott Monument?

Yes. The tour passes St Giles' Cathedral, the Scott Monument, and spends roughly 15 minutes on the Royal Mile seeing highlights between restaurants and cafes. The Old Town itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many of the restaurants and stops are located within it, so you'll see the city's character as you move between tastings.

What time does the tour start and how long does it take?

The tour runs four to five hours and begins at the Old Town Chambers hotel reception. The duration includes travel time between stops, walking and waiting time at restaurants, so the full afternoon or morning is blocked out for the experience.