Eating Edinburgh: Old Town Food & Drinks Tour

Yes, there’s no better way to experience the beautiful city of Edinburgh than with a food tour led by a local guide. From its historic cobblestone streets and iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle to its vibrant food scene, the city offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. A food tour is the ideal way to explore the flavors of Scotland, discover hidden gems, and learn fascinating stories about the city’s rich culture and history.

Edinburgh is renowned for its traditional cuisine, offering iconic dishes like haggis, a savory blend of sheep’s offal with oatmeal and spices, often served with turnips and potatoes. The city also delights visitors with Scotch pies, meat-filled pastries, and Cullen skink, a hearty smoked haddock soup. Sweet treats include Edinburgh Rock, a crumbly candy, and rich, buttery shortbread. Adventurous eaters can try the famous deep-fried Mars bar, while whisky lovers can explore Edinburgh’s world-class Scotch offerings, making the city’s culinary scene a must-experience for food enthusiasts.

All food and drinks, as well as your professional local guide are included in the price you pay for the tour. No hidden charges or upsells here.

Our Edinburgh tours range in length from 2.5 3 hours.

Each tour’s area can be found listed as its “location”. You might explore Old Town, New Town, or both!

Our tours have maximum capacities of between 12 guests. This ensures that our small groups are able to move unobtrusively through the neighborhoods we explore, respecting our surroundings and the locals that live in Edinburgh.

We love welcoming solo travelers! All of our tours are open to individual guests.

Children under 4 years old do not need a ticket and can join the tour for free. However, food is not included for children under 3 and under. Paid tickets with food included are available for ages 4 and up.

You will savor Scottish and regional dishes, exploring Edinburgh’s rich culinary heritage from hearty local fare to innovative modern cuisine. Offerings may vary by day or season, but you’re sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!

Yes. All tours include drinks, and they’re always included in the price you pay.

Vegetarian-Friendly Tours but vegan, gluten-free, or kosher options may be limited. Please share dietary restrictions upon booking for best accommodation. Note that tastings outside those catered for your needs are at your own risk. The company assumes no responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances. Guests with severe or life-threatening allergies cannot participate in this activity for their safety.

For full details, guests should always refer to the specific tour page, as limitations may vary.

Yes. On each of our Edinburgh tours, you are guaranteed to eat at least the equivalent of a full meal.

Of course! If you would like to purchase something at one of the stops we make, you are welcome to do so yourself, or if you need assistance, you can ask your helpful guide.

Visit eatingeurope.com and click on the orange “Book Now” button: it’s simple as that! You will be able to choose your tour, date, time and number of guests before booking.

We accept major debit & credit card payments, iDEAL and Bancontact.

We offer discounts on tickets for adolescents and children, but unfortunately do not offer discounts on group bookings.

Small group tours can be cancelled and refunded up to 24 hours before tour departure. Private tours can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure. For full details, please see our cancelation policy page.

We are committed to providing a great experience for all of our guests, so if you require a private tour to be suitable for children or seniors, please get in touch and we can create a bespoke experience for you.

Please note that some of our tours involve areas with limited accessibility and are not wheelchair/stroller accessible. For assistance and alternative option, please contact us. We’re dedicated to providing a great experience for all our guests!

There is no dress code on our tours, however it’s recommended to wear a good pair of shoes (these are walking tours, after all!) and be prepared for the elements, even though most of our stops are indoors.

Yes, absolutely! Edinburghers are proud of their city and are happy to share it with visitors who embrace its unique character. The warmest welcomes are found when visitors appreciate the rhythm of local life—whether that’s by supporting independent shops on Victoria Street, being mindful of noise in the residential closes of the Old Town, or simply having patience as you navigate the busy crowds during festival season.

That spirit of mindful travel is at the heart of what we do. Our small group food tours are designed to connect you with the real Edinburgh, introducing you to the local families behind our favourite vendors and sharing the stories that make the city so special.

While not all of our guides speak languages other than English, please contact us if you’d like to request a tour in another language and we’ll do our best to accomodate.

Yes! You are welcome to take photos and videos of the food and scenery throughout your tour. If you would explicitly like to get photos of fellow guests or your guide, we kindly ask that you get their permission first.

Tips for our lovely guides are not required, but they are appreciated!

No. While some tours may have one or two stops which other groups visit (can’t help it if they’re popular!), Eating Europe are proud that the majority of stops on every Edinburgh tour are restaurants and vendors who work exclusively with us.

We do! Please see the “Book a Private Tour” option or contact us, and we can arrange a private or custom Edinburgh tour to suit your specific needs.