Where do you go for brunch In Edinburgh?
Let’s face it: it’s the smuggest meal of the week. People who ‘do Brunch’ are happy, satisfied, generally middle class types. And if you’re one of them, well done. Here are some tried and tested suggestions for you.
For a pre George St shopping trip: Papii
The Eggs Benny and waffles in this bright, lively and chic café are legendary. They also serve smoothies in screw-top jars with handles on them. And it’s just a stone’s throw away from shops you can buy the sort of clothes and shoes Kate Middleton wears. Win!
Papii Cafe, 101 Hanover Street, 0131 466 2033
For the Yogis: Leo’s Beanery
Run by a charming Stockbridge family with avocados and home baking in abundance. There are several yoga studios within Guardian Newspaper throwing distance and on Sundays a lovely market just down the road to purchase artisan foodstuffs and organic soap. You don’t get more Stockbridge than that!
Leo’s Beanery, 23a Howe St, 0131 556 8403
For reluctant outdoorsy types: John Hope Gateway at the Botanics
A bright elegant restaurant that manages not to feel part of a visitors centre. All the usual brunchy fare is on the menu here and one can step out for a relaxed amble to work it off afterwards. If there’s anywhere in Edinburgh you could do a ‘When Harry meets Sally’ or rather Morag meets Hamish, Central Park style arm-in-arm stroll, this is it.
Gateway Restaurant, Arboretum Place, 0131 552 2674
For the hot date: The Dome
Never had a brunch ‘date’? Well, you’ve never ‘lived’ whether its your first or fiftieth breakfast together this is a splendid treat. The sort of place you should order Champagne with your full breakfast. A top joint to take a high flyer hot off the overnight from Zurich. At
least that’s been my experience…
The Dome, 14 George Street, 0131 624 8624
For the more adventurous Bruncher: Dishoom
Edinburgh folks love anything that’s ‘come up from London’ and Dishoom has become a favourite eatery, particularly for breakfast. Here you can eat the kind of breakfast a Parsi bodybuilder would consume! Kejriwal or Bombay Omelette for the win, or the muscles… All the usual, bacon, sausages and egg come in a freshly made Naan. Extremely tasty.
Dishoom, 3a St Andrew Square, 0131 202 6406
For keeping’ it real: The Sea Breeze Cafe
Its a bit of a misnomer because this well-loved establishment isn’t near any watery expanse, but in the middle of Leith Walk. Proper fry-ups and strong tea is on the bill here with, delightfully, not a smashed avocado or sourdough in sight! An after brunch stroll up and down Leith Walk is a real eyeopener in retail offerings: where else could you get a telly repaired AND buy darts or have your eyebrows threaded and a T Shirt printed at the same time? Its my favourite kind of Sunday.
Sea Breeze Cafe, 261 Leith Walk, 07775 762065
Happy brunching, smug ones!
