tollcross-west-endDaily 10:00-18:00Walk-in onlyCakes and slices
Lovecrumbs cake shop on West Port in Edinburgh, opened 2010, a tea-and-cake counter in a Grassmarket-adjacent townhouse with a daily-changing slice counter.
Tip: Walk in only; the upstairs nook holds four for a quieter window. Cake stock is the day's bake, no holds.
Worth the queue: Salted caramel cake
stockbridgeWed-Sun 08:00-16:00, closed Mon-TueSourdough and laminated pastries
Bostock Bakery on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2020 by Hamish Saxton, a sourdough-and-pastry kitchen with daily-changing croissants and loaves.
Tip: Saturday morning queue runs out the door. Order ahead through the Square online shop to skip the wait.
Worth the queue: Almond croissant
tollcross-west-endTue-Sat 16:00-18:00 (kitchen offcuts)Walk-in onlySourdough and viennoiserie
The Palmerston restaurant's bakery counter on Palmerston Place in Edinburgh, opened 2021, selling the day's bread from the kitchen at the end of restaurant service.
Tip: Stock varies by day; show up at 16:00 sharp. Sourdough and cinnamon buns go first within the first 20 minutes.
Worth the queue: Cardamom and pistachio bun
old-townTue-Sat 09:00-15:00Walk-in onlyBread and pies
Edinburgh Larder's bake counter on Blackfriars Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, opened 2009, baking Scotch pies, sausage rolls, sourdough loaves and short.
Tip: Pies are at the counter from 11:00 to lunch; loaves sell through the morning. Friday list runs on the website.
Worth the queue: Scotch pie
canonmills-inverleithMon-Sat 08:00-17:30, Sun closedItalian breads and panettone
Valvona and Crolla's bakery shelf on Elm Row in Edinburgh, baking within the city's longest-running Italian deli opened 1934, with focaccia and Sicilian pastries.
Tip: Panettone preorder list opens 1 October each year; the boxes sell out by mid-December.
Worth the queue: Panettone
tollcross-west-endMon-Sat 08:00-16:00Walk-in onlyCoffee and pastries
Machina Espresso's pastry counter on Brougham Place in Tollcross Edinburgh, opened 2015, an espresso bar with a small daily-changing pastry rack from local.
Tip: The pastries are bought-in rather than house-baked; quality is high but stock runs out by 12:00.
Worth the queue: Cardamom bun