Edinburgh Fringe ’11: Where to eat

July 27, 2011 | ONLINE ONLY
Mia de Graaf

As ever, Yorkites are plenty up in Edinburgh this year. Whether you’re performing or watching, the Fringe is a big one, and cafes will feel like a godsend in between shows.

Thankfully, Edinburgh is home to more than a handful of places to stop off for that coffee, milkshake, quinoa bar, shot of melted chocolate, or king-sized pile of nachos you’ve been craving.

Here are our pick of the essential places to look out for up there, that all work with a student budget.

View larger map

1. Kilimanjaro Coffee
104 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9EJ

Particularly good for… A FULL ENGLISH

A very famous one. Located almost directly opposite Zoo Southside venue, this little red café has a mellow vibe, and does really good quality coffees and a great breakfast menu if you’re based around there. They also stay open much later than other cafes, so if you can bag yourself a sofa, you’re set for an afternoon.

2. Black Medicine Coffee Company
2 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DH

Particularly good for… A COFFEE

This is the ‘must-go’ café – the only problem is that everyone knows that, including the owners. More often than not this raw, African-style spot is heaving, and during August the prices are thwacked up. That said, they know their coffee: it is consistently good. And the smoothies and milkshakes really are worth it, particularly after you’ve just performed.

3. Jordan Valley
8 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DH

Particularly good for… A SNACK

This health food shop (just up from Black Medicine) has a lot of tea, soy sauce, rice etc that you might want to stock up on, but the star buy here is the quinoa bar: an indispensable post-show reward for any performers. It comes in double chocolate, dark chocolate, caramel and lots of other flavours. For those with allergies it is completely gluten-free.

4. Mamma’s American Pizza
30 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 NJU

Particularly good for… GLUTEN FREE

On the gluten-free subject, this pizza place, based down in Grassmarket, does great gluten-free pizza. Although the price has gone up quite in bit in recent years, it’s still affordable and worth it. There is a wide selection of toppings and sizes to choose from. If, on the off-chance, you get some nice weather and the market’s on, this would be a great stop off in between browsing Edinburgh’s notorious vintage stalls.

5. The Forest Café
3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 1EY

Particularly good for… SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Host to its own Fringe season, ‘Forest Fringe’, this place has a hippie atmosphere about it, and the most incredible nachos you’ll find in the city (generous helpings of all kinds of sauces). If you head there later the drinks are great – unique kinds of beer an interesting raspberry wine.

6. Monster Mash Café
20 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QN

Particularly good for… COMFORT FOOD

If in need of comfort food, this place will make you feel right at home. This is a modernized retro eatery. Although I had a very tasty burger here, other people I was with had the signature sausage and mash, and my plate was slightly put to shame. With 85p Tetley’s tea, and some crackly 70’s tunes crooning in the background, it definitely ticks the comfort box.

7. Chocolate Soup
2 Hunter Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1QW

Particularly good for… A TREAT

Another famous hotspot for fringe-goers, this place does pretty much what it says on the tin: all things chocolate. Still a legitimate café though, and the sandwiches (chocolate-free) are great. The speciality is a mini paper cup of melted chocolate. Just on the corner of the Royal Mile, it can get very crowded during the day, with very long queues. Many troops don’t start flyering until 12 or later though, so at midday you can easily bag yourself a table.

8. Baked Potato Shop
56 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1PB

Particularly good for… VEGETARIANS

Just off the mile, this place takes baked potatoes to another level: all sizes, all kinds of topping. They also have a pile of homemade cakes and flapjacks behind the bar which make the place even more endearing. It’s very small, so don’t be discouraged if you see a queue out the door – it’s definitely a take-away place. For performers in need of energy, this is definitely somewhere to head, or for anyone braving a walk up the Mile during prime flyering time.

9. Oink
34 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2

Particularly good for… MEAT EATERS

With a full on hefty glazed pig sat in the window, this isn’t one for vegetarians. But for all else it is not one to be missed. The bread rolls are nothing special but inside you get some top quality meat, topped with crackling and a heavy dollop of apple sauce. At about £4.50 each they’re a real bargain.

TOP TIP: There are quite a few Tescos around, so if you’re doing the whole month, find out if there’s one near you. If there is, get a Tesco Club Card. You will inevitably be nipping in there all the time and when you’re running out of cash, you will appreciate the ‘Club Points’

–

Did we miss anything out? Comment below with your own Edinburgh food&drink gems.

2 responses below. Comments are open.

1. Charlotte Alexander-Marsh says:

   August 1, 2011 at 2:56 am

   Great article, Mia! Just one place you’ve missed: Piemaker just off the Mile. It does great pies, pasties and other unhealthy Scottish delicacies. I have to say, as a herbivore, that it didn’t appeal to me at all last year but my fellow (veggie and carnivorous) flyerers swore by it. It’s cheap, right in the centre of the action and best of all serves hot food for those rainy days… i.e all the time!
2. Mia de Graaf says:

   August 2, 2011 at 7:05 pm

   Thanks Charlotte, never went there myself but I do remember hearing about it – I’ll give it a look. Also remembered The Elephant House. Although I’m sure this list could go on forever..!

Nouse.co.uk is powered by WordPress. Designed and developed by Andrew Fairbairn, Jonathan Frost and the Nouse technical team.