Learn about the best of Edinburgh Fringe while indulging in some of the city's best food
Ages
5+
Duration
1.5 hours
Departs
Daily 2:00 pm
Highlights
Tuck into Scottish haddock fish & chips from one of the city’s newest and nicest additions 🐟🍟
Haggis isn’t for everyone, so we’ll spice it up (not literally, this is Scotland after all) by serving it in bon bon form with whisky marmalade, fried radish and kale!
Taste Scottish cheeses from an Edinburgh institution that’s been around more than 30 years 🧀
Hear about the history of Fringe from those who know it best, and catch word-class street performances with your group! 🤹
End your extended lunch with a Scottish twist on a classic dessert in Grassmarket 🍩
Tour Description
Fuel your Fringe festival adventures with a delicious intermission from the chaos of Edinburgh. This perfectly timed lunch food tour will take you from the Royal Mile’s cobblestones to hidden culinary gems that locals have been keeping secret for good reason.
While performers prep for their afternoon shows, embark on a culinary journey through Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. Forget queuing for lukewarm Fringe festival food stalls: sample classic Scottish fare, meet food artisans while admiring the displays from street performers all around, and finish with a show-stopping dessert that’s sweeter than a five-star review.
This Edinburgh food tour perfectly balances traditional Scottish cuisine with modern flair to keep things interesting – much like the festival itself. Experience the best of Scottish flavors while giving your feet (and wallet) a break from the Fringe frenzy. It’s the ideal tour for festival enthusiasts who want to taste Edinburgh’s culinary soul without missing a single show!
Perfect mix of history about Fringe and food in Scotland! The ideal length to fit in between shows. Thanks so much for an amazing tour.
Lindsey M | Tripadvisor
Dietary Information
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.
Why Eat with Us?
Expert Local Guides: Fun, knowledgeable Edinburgh locals.
Edinburgh’s Hidden Gems: Enjoy exclusive access to local favorites where you’re treated like family.
Culinary Diversity: Taste a variety of delicious dishes, and hear the stories behind the food.
Cultural Immersion: See Edinburgh through the eyes of a local.
Established Expertise: Europe’s best food tours, top-rated since 2011.
"Perfect mix of history about Fringe and food in Scotland! The ideal length to fit in between shows. Thanks so much for an amazing tour.
" — Lindsey M | Tripadvisor
Please note that the items above are a selection of the delicious foods we often feature. Offerings may vary by day or season, but you're sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!
Meeting Point
The Milkman
52 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1PB
Your guide will be waiting for you underneath the “Fleshmarket Close” street sign, wearing our purple Eating Europe bag.
What people are saying
5.0
★★★★★
Excellent food tour. I am a big fan of food tours, and this tour solidified that opinion. A great mix of dishes across new and old town and at a great pace. What better way to try haggis without having to commit to haggis. It’s pleasantly surprising by the way. Certainly give this tour a try when in town!
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Meghin F
6/01/2025
The tour, food, and Luanna were wonderful. The tour, food, and Louanna were wonderful. Genuinely local in the cuisine and company. A nice way to eat your way through the city.
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Mark P
6/01/2025
Edinburgh Old Town food and drinks tour Luana was a phenomenal guide with loads of history and very friendly. Food options were vegetarian/vegan friendly which was a plus.
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Kim W
5/28/2025
Easy and Fun Food Tour through Edinburgh Excellent experience through Edinburgh. Had a great time with Luana as our tour guide! Would definitely take this tour again when I come back to the city.
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Jack T
5/28/2025
Luana in Edinburgh Luana was amazing. Love that the walking tour took us through some of the attractions that were already on our Edinburgh List!
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Kera B
5/27/2025
Delightful Delightful experience with Ailsa. She was fun and knowledgeable. Loved all our food stops. Choices of dishes were a good intro to Scottish cuisine.
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Excursion53333022428
5/24/2025
Climbing Closes for Cullen Skink is FUN Alisa was a ray of Scottish sunshine—we enjoyed all the stops and particularly the Cullen Skink in the beautiful Cafe Royal. Had a lovely group and really got an insight into the area and the food. Would highly recommend.
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Martin G
5/07/2025
A must do if you love food, good conversation, and immersing yourself in local culture! My friend and I participated in Eating Europe's first offering of the Edinburgh Old Town Food & Drinks tour, and it was amazing!!! Our guides, Ailsa and Laine, were warm, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the history and culture of Edinburgh's old town. The food and drink stops selected for the tour were top notch. Such delicious food and the perfect portions! I never thought I'd have the courage to try Haggis, let alone enjoy the flavour, but the Haggis Bonbons were incredibly tasty (as were all the other delicacies we sampled!). I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Edinburgh :)
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Terra M
2/01/2025
Edinburgh at its very Best 😍 I was extremely fortunate to be gifted the opportunity to experience this exceptional tour by a close friend visiting from Canada and it was without a doubt one of my best experiences ever, One that I will truly treasure. Our guide Alisa was lovely and provided us with a wealth of fascinating Edinburgh history. There were 7 of us in the group ( 5 participants and 2 guides) small and wonderfully intimate learning along the way that we were actually on the inaugural Eat Europe Edinburgh experience.We visited 5 locations over 3 hours.Our first stop was at the The Cafe Royal, where we tried a Game Scotch Egg (sooo yummy!). Next up we visited a restaurant called Arcade, where we enjoyed a drink of Irn Bru (the most popular soft drink in Scotland) and - another first - Haggis Bonbons with a whiskey sauce which were unbelievably moorishOur third stop on our tour was at the Royal Mile Tavern, where we tried Game Stew (delicious!) with a sleeve of Innis & Gunn. Feeling already quite full at this point, we still had two more stops! Our fourth stop was at I. J. Mellis & Son for a sampling of Scottish Cheeses accompanied by oat cakes, and finally our last stop was the Kilted Donut, where we got a Cranachan (traditional Scottish dessert) donut this was divine ❤️ It has to said that this tour is certainly not cheap tour option however please don’t let this deter you, as having now had this opportunity I now can’t wait to try another one by this fabulous company if fact the London tour is calling my name as my friend also did this one whilst there and like this one absolutely loved it. Let this be the one very special treat you give to yourself on your visit here as I guarantee you will not regret it.Kristen
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Kristen O
1/17/2025
Absolutely amazing tour It was an absolute honor to be a part of the first Eating Europe food tour in Edinburgh! Ailsa and Laine were amazing, the food was incredible and the group was super fun as well!
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Fred Chaves
1/16/2025
Amazing tour We had such an amazing time on our tour with Ailsa, she’s super knowledgeable and incredibly nice to be around! The food was just amazing
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Sara S
1/15/2025
5 star quality walking tour I had a lovely tour with my friends around this beautiful city! Our tour guide Ailsa was amazing! Full of good food knowledge and interesting facts about Edinburgh!
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Ian M
1/14/2025
Why Eat with Us?
#1 food and drink experience in Europe - 14 years. 500,000 Clients. 25,000 Five-Star Reviews!
Every tour is meticulously curated to showcase the very best of Edinburgh’s food scene.
Exclusive access to the most legit local spots, from the famous hole in the wall to the trendy new restaurants.
Premium tours with expert guides, outstanding food, and drinks always included
Book now and save 15% off additional tours across Europe!
9 countries, 18 cities, 50+ food tours. Book now and receive a special loyalty code to save even more on future adventures.
Looking for a private food tour during the festival, before or after? Whether you’re visiting with a group or a local craving a unique day out, we’ve got you covered.
For more details or specific requests, reach out to [email protected] or call +1 917-909-6432.
Savour Edinburgh like a local with our expert food tour guides.
Ailsa
Born in Aberdeen, Edinburgh became my second home throughout my University years here.
My current favourite is the Palmerston by Haymarket Train Station - the best lunch deal you can find in Edinburgh!
I recommend that anyone who comes to Edinburgh should spend a day walking around the Old Town - tripping over cobblestones and getting lost in Closes are all part of the quintessential Edinburgh experience. The more 'dreich' the weather, the better.
Andre
Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, I came to Edinburgh for the first time in 2008 and, after a few visits, moved here permanently in 2023.
My favorite place to eat is Soul Vegan in the Southside area is the ultimate comfort food you can find in Edinburgh.
You should go to Calton Hill! You will get a very good understanding about the geography of Edinburgh, plus the views of the skyline are breathtaking.
Luana
I was born in the highlands of Scotland, near the Isle of Skye, then grew up in Brittany, France. I came back to live in Edinburgh as Scotland has always felt like home to me.
I love Nutan's, Indian Bistro in Tollcross! A wee restaurant with a real intimate atmosphere and delicious food. The Mango Lassi is fantastic!
I recommend finding a high point, as the skyline and views of Edinburgh are just gorgeous! You can do that from Calton Hill or Arthur's seat, but also from the top of the Scott's Monument or the rooftop of the National Museum!
A tour can be cancelled with a full refund up to 24 hours before tour departure.
Private Tours
A private tour can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure
Gift Cards, Travel Vouchers & Flexi-Pass™
Gift cards, travel vouchers and Flexi-Pass™ are non-refundable.
LATE ARRIVALS AND NO SHOWS
Due to extremely strict time slots for entry into attractions and for food preparation, both in-person & virtual/online, we recommend you show up 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the tour or experience. Our group tours begin & depart precisely at the scheduled tour or experience start time. If you show up late or cannot find the meeting point, for any reason, refund requests are not honored per policy. If you are having a hard time arriving on time we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can do everything in our power to assist you with arriving at the meeting point at the scheduled time or reschedule to the next available tour.
CANCELLATION DUE TO PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES OR ILLNESS
Inside of 24 hours, your spot on the tour has been reserved exclusively for you. Since we are unable to fill your spot if you’re unable to attend for any reason (including transportation or illness), we do not offer refunds after that time. Please plan ahead so that you are able to join us and don’t miss out!
DISCOUNT CODES
Discount codes are valid for new bookings only. They are not eligible for pre-existing bookings and can not be applied retrospectively.
AMENDMENT POLICY
We would be happy to assist you with rescheduling your tour, free of charge, with any requests made more than 24 hours of 8am CET on the date of the tour. We reserve the right to charge an amendment fee should you request to reschedule within 24 hours of 8am CET on the date of your tour . Once again, this is subject to availability and price changes. In general, we only charge you for any additional costs that we incur such as tickets. We have no intention of profiting from disruptions to your vacation and will work with providers and suppliers to get this cost reduced to a minimum.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
From time to time, the terms of this policy may change at the Company’s discretion.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, you can contact us using the information below:
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