Edinburgh: Premium Food Tour with Top Restaurants & Local Stories

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration4h–5h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Edinburgh’s best food stops and stories in Old Town

You’ll walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a local guide who knows chefs by name, tasting high-quality Scottish dishes at handpicked restaurants along the Royal Mile and beyond. Expect laughter over seafood, stories about hidden corners, and enough food for a very large lunch — plus coffee or tea so good you’ll want seconds.

4h–5h

Step-by-step itinerary

Edinburgh Old Town and New Town Food Tour

Meet at Old Town Chambers hotel
Explore Old Town Edinburgh
Walk along the Royal Mile
Pass by St Giles' Cathedral
Pass by Scott Monument
Visit New Town food establishments

The Experience

“You can always tell if a place is good by the way folk greet you at the door,” our guide Fraser said, just as we ducked into this tiny restaurant off the Royal Mile. He was right — the chef waved like he’d known Fraser for years. There was this warm, yeasty smell coming from the kitchen, and I remember thinking, okay, this isn’t going to be another one of those tours where you get a sad sandwich and call it a day. We started near the Old Town Chambers (I nearly walked past it — blink and you’ll miss the sign), but Fraser had us laughing about how even locals get lost in these closes sometimes.

I’d read that Edinburgh’s Old Town is a UNESCO site, but walking those cobbles between food stops made it real. The Royal Mile was busy — bagpipes somewhere in the background, a bit of drizzle on my jacket — but Fraser kept pointing out places I’d never have noticed. At one point he explained why the street actually has five names (I still only remember two), and then we ducked into another spot for what he called “proper Scottish seafood.” The oysters were salty-cold and briny; I hesitated but tried them anyway. He told us stories about St Giles’ Cathedral as we passed by — not too much history, just enough to make me want to look up more later.

We didn’t stick to one area either. After some seriously good coffee (honestly, don’t bother getting any before you come), we wandered towards New Town for dessert. It felt less like a strict itinerary and more like following someone who knows everyone in town. Every stop was different — no chains or touristy stuff — and they even asked about allergies before we started. I’m not sure if it was the whisky or just being full of really good food, but by the time we saw Scott Monument at sunset, I felt like I’d actually eaten my way through Edinburgh instead of just ticking boxes.

What’s included

Your day includes multiple stops at top local restaurants across Old Town and New Town, guided stories from an experienced local host, generous tastings equal to a large lunch (with both savory dishes and dessert), at least one alcoholic drink for adults, excellent coffee or tea along the way, plus accommodation for most dietary needs if mentioned in advance—all within easy walking distance from central Edinburgh landmarks before finishing near Scott Monument.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Skye Class Tours