Foodie Edinburgh Trip

When people think of the Scottish food scene, they picture haggis, whisky, deep-fried everything and electric orange sodas; but this depiction couldn’t be further from the truth! In reality, Edinburgh has been transforming itself into Scotland’s, if not the UK’s culinary capital for many years now. And if you know where to go, the city has some truly spectacular dishes on offer! Luckily, you’ve come to the right people, as the TRIPorganiser team are huge foodie fans, and combined with our boundless knowledge of our hometown, we know ALL the best places to discover some exceptional tastes. So here we are, we bring you our thoroughly tried-and-tested Foodie Edinburgh Trip.

So where do we start? Well the good news is with our Foodie Edinburgh trip, you’re more than spoilt for choice!

One of our absolute favourite haunts to visit when we’re in the Calton Hill area has to be The Gardener’s Cottage, which is set in – yes you guessed it – an old gardener’s cottage in Edinburgh’s Royal Terrace Gardens. Headed by chef duo Ed Murray and Dale Mailley, the food is completely seasonal, meaning that there’s no printed menu, and that all the dishes are prepared using the freshest ingredients available on the day. Their communal dining set-up is perfectly intimate; and a foodie experience at the Gardener’s Cottage is an experience that lingers long after the plates are cleared.

Or maybe you fancy something a little more hearty? In that case, we’d love to introduce you to Stockbridge’s very own Scran & Scallie; a rustic, charismatic gastropub with a strong “nature to plate” ethos running throughout their menu. This place never fails to wow us, and their witty, knowledgeable staff will be sure to make you feel right at home in front of their roaring fireplace. But most importantly, their food is literally iconic, with their contemporary take on various Scottish classics such as Orkney King Scallops, and Ham Eggs and Chips rightly receiving a prestigious Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide 2019; an extremely revered honour in the culinary world. Their famous Scran and Scallie Steak Pie is our favourite!

But of course, everyone knows that it’s practically illegal to undertake a Scottish Foodie adventure without a stop at a cheesemonger; after all, cheese is to Scotland what Guinness is to Ireland. Backed by over 40 years of experience in the industry, there’s no one we would rather get our cheese from than IJ Mellis. Yes, mass-produced cheese from the supermarket is good, but have you ever had the delight of trying Farmhouse cheese? That’s what IJ Mellis is all about, and they place incredible emphasis on the superior quality of their products, and the origin of the ingredients used to make them. And don’t worry, although they’re shops (there’s three in Edinburgh alone!), there’s also a designated Cheese Lounge, where guests can sample artisan cheese and natural Scottish wine pairings from the store. Why, we’re drooling just thinking about the experience!

Perhaps you fancy a wander through one of the many food markets that Edinburgh has to offer, such as Stockbridge Farmers Market, The Old Town Street Food Festival, and of course, the legendary Edinburgh Food Festival; which takes the city’s Inverleith Park by storm every summer. Either way, there are certainly plenty of options to choose from! And if you have any specific dietary requirements, don’t stress, as there’s plenty of free-from markets too; such as the Scottish Vegan Festival, which is always a blast.

Of course, everything we’ve mentioned here is only to rouse the senses, as it’d be impossible to mention the endless Foodie options available in this fantastic city. So if you’re interested in our Foodie Edinburgh Trip, get in touch with a member of our team; and we’d be more than happy to give you your very own bespoke tour – one mouthful at a time!