The 24 best 'feel good' restaurants and cafes in Edinburgh from great sandwich shops to fine dining

Research into Edinburgh’s business landscape has revealed the city’s “feel good” people and places. Launched by Feel Good Comms, the Edinburgh Feel Good Index is a new initiative designed to show the best of the city. Designed to give visitors and residents alike the lowdown on the businesses that are “getting it right” across the the capital.

More than 100 Edinburgh residents nominated businesses and organisations across the city and this, coupled with consumer reviews, helped compile the inaugural index. The research also revealed a trend in consumer behavior, 100 per cent of respondents gave a score of 4 or 5 out of 5 when asked how much a brand’s "feel good" factor influences where they choose to spend their money.

The findings suggest that the human element remains the most critical factor for business success, with 40% of respondents citing friendly and welcoming staff as the primary reason they love a specific business. This was followed by the overall atmosphere and high quality products, which each received 20% of the vote, while a commitment to ethical values and deep community roots each accounted for 10 per cent of the findings.

Chris Batchelor, founder of Feel Good Comms, said: “Feel Good Comms was born out of a desire to champion the businesses that genuinely make the world a happier place. Being Edinburgh based, part of our mission is to help local businesses tell their stories so they can be celebrated. The Feel Good Index is not about being number one, but rather about honoring every business nominated by the community, and we’re excited to build the list over time.”

Keep reading to discover 24 best ‘feel good’ restaurants and cafes in Edinburgh.