With this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe now underway, we’ve taken a look at the best places to grab a bite to eat in between shows.
Focusing on four areas where most of the world’s biggest arts festival’s venues are located, including Leith, New Town, Old Town and Pleasance/Bristo Square, we’ve recommended eateries to cater all tastes, from quick and easy takeaways to fine dining experiences.
See our photo gallery below to get ideas for where to stop for food during the Fringe this August in Edinburgh.
5. Vittoria on the Bridge
If you are heading to a show at Bristo Square or the Pleasance, you can enjoy delicious and authentic, Italian cuisine at one of Edinburgh’s most popular restaurants, Vittoria on the Bridge, which is the perfect place for a quick bite of lunch, offering an unbeatable lunch deal of two courses for just £19.95, or three for £24.95. You could get lost in the extensive a la carte menu, with over 40 dishes on offer. A perfect spot to take the kids, or catch up with friends, while you watch the city go by. Open seven days a week, 11.30am until 11pm. | Taste
6. Pleasance Courtyard
The Pleasance Courtyard, an original Fringe venue since the event’s first year – 1947, is one of the most popular social areas for performers and punters alike. Come rain or shine, the Courtyard offers that beer garden buzz, with plenty of covered seating. Among the food vendors on offers is Smash & Stack, Edinburgh's gourmet burger stall. For pure indulgence, head to Total Meltdown to try their grilled cheese sandwiches. Cheese enthusiasts can also get their fix at Pizza Geeks who have been serving Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas with a slice of geek in Edinburgh since 2016. Happy Dumplings are on a mission to bring their famous family recipes from restaurants in China to Scotland. Mint will be serving up their signature wraps, and, for a sweet treat, Mimi's Bakehouse has award winning cakes, scones and coffee, alongside hot filled rolls. | Edinburgh University Students’ Association
7. The Mosque Kitchen
A full belly, and change from a tenner. That’s the main draw of The Mosque Kitchen – a no-frills, queue-up-with-a-tray canteen-style set-up, with plastic cutlery and plastic plates. All in a great Fringe location at 31-33 Nicolson Square, slap bang between the festival's two main venue hubs at Potterow and Teviot Square. You can enjoy well priced, quickly served tasty curries, as well as a good selections of yummy ice creams for pudding. The Mosque Kitchen is open seven days a week, 11:30am - 10pm. | Stock
8. Charles Street Lane
Outside the plethora of Fringe venues at Teviot is Charles Street Lane. This Fringe hotspot is where to find an array of street food staples, including Mac Love with their popular mac ‘n’ cheese, Greek Street Food offering chicken and halloumi gyros, and Churros Truck for Spanish fried doughnuts with a range of dipping sauces. Great fast food allowing you to quickly refuel in between Fringe shows. | Edinburgh University Students’ Association