Chorrito Cantina on Leith Walk in Edinburgh, opened 2023 as the kitchen arm of a hot-sauce company, a fully gluten-free Mexican cantina making hand-pressed.
Must order: Huevos rancheros with house hot sauce and hand-pressed tacos with slow-braised pork.
Tip: Fully gluten-free kitchen with no cross-contamination risk. The house hot sauces are sold at the counter to take away.
Address: 126 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5DT
Ardfern on Bonnington Road in Edinburgh, opened May 2024 by Roberta Hall-McCarron beside The Little Chartroom, an all-day cafe and natural-wine bottle shop.
Order: Lamb kofta with tahini and flatbread, or the full Scottish with house haggis.
Tip: The bottle shop sells the same wines you drink at the table. Walk in on Sunday for roast beef and a glass of orange wine.
Roseleaf Bar Cafe on Sandport Place in Leith, a converted pub with tea-in-teapots charm and a brunch menu that runs until 17:00 with Bloody Marys in teapots.
Order: Poached eggs with wild mushrooms on sourdough, or the full Scottish with Stornoway black pudding.
Tip: Brunch runs until 17:00 every day. Order a pot of tea to avoid the queue for flat whites.
Ardfern on Bonnington Road in Edinburgh, opened May 2024 by Roberta Hall-McCarron beside The Little Chartroom, an all-day cafe and natural-wine bottle shop.
Order: Lamb kofta with tahini and flatbread, or the full Scottish with house haggis.
Tip: The bottle shop sells the same wines you drink at the table. Walk in on Sunday for roast beef and a glass of orange wine.
Urban Angel on Hanover Street in Edinburgh New Town, open since 2006, a basement organic-leaning cafe serving ethical breakfasts and brunch plates from 09:00 daily.
Order: Baked eggs with tomato sauce, chorizo and chilli jam.
Tip: Book ahead for weekend brunch; the basement fills by 10:00 on Saturdays. Ask for the window table at street level for light.
Roseleaf Bar Cafe on Sandport Place in Leith, a converted pub with tea-in-teapots charm and a brunch menu that runs until 17:00 with Bloody Marys in teapots.
Order: Poached eggs with wild mushrooms on sourdough, or the full Scottish with Stornoway black pudding.
Tip: Brunch runs until 17:00 every day. Order a pot of tea to avoid the queue for flat whites.
Loudons on Fountainbridge in Edinburgh, a brunch room baking most of its menu on-site with Scottish-sourced ingredients, open until 16:00 daily.
Order: Hoots Mon: haggis, black pudding puree and whisky hollandaise on a toasted muffin.
Tip: The Hoots Mon version of eggs benedict is the reason to come. No dinner service; kitchen finishes before 15:00.
Down the Hatch on Antigua Street in Edinburgh, a Canadian-Scottish diner near the Playhouse serving skillet breakfasts, haggis poutine and burgers until 16:00.
Order: Haggis poutine or the buttermilk pancake stack with Canadian maple syrup.
Tip: A stone's throw from the Playhouse; good before or after an evening show. The haggis poutine is the standout dish.
Dishoom on St Andrew Square in Edinburgh, the Bombay-inspired all-day cafe open from 08:00, serving bacon naan rolls, keema per eedu and house-cured meats.
Order: Bacon naan roll with cream cheese and chilli jam, or the full Irani cafe breakfast.
Tip: Weekday breakfast before 10:00 skips the queue. The bacon naan with house chilli jam outsells every other dish on the menu.
