I found Makar's Mash Bar while doing my research
Good choice?
It looks like it would be a heavy lunch, but if I have dinner at Locanda de Gusti that night, I could eat relatively late as they're open until 10 pm.
They have Cranachan, too - which I've been dreaming about since my previous visit to Scotland.
If not Makar, then any other suggestions?
Thanks
If you want something lighter for lunch, the museum as a nice café on Level 0.
You can see the menu here. It’s called the Museum Kitchen.
https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/plan-your-visit/eating-and-drinking
I like it because it’s quick. You pay at the counter, grab a seat, and they bring you your food.
Makar’s is fun, yes, but obviously very carby! In a similar vein on Forest Row is Mum’s Comfort Food, although I don’t think they have cranachan.
So many restaurants and cafes to choose from in the area though. Easy enough to just choose whatever takes your fancy at the time.
Carrie, that might be perfect …my time is limited, and a quick, lighter lunch is probably what I need if I’m going to have a carb-filled meal at dinner
Thanks !!
If you want something lighter for lunch, the museum as a nice café on Level 0.
You can see the menu here. It’s called the Museum Kitchen.
https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/plan-your-visit/eating-and-drinking
I like it because it’s quick. You pay at the counter, grab a seat, and they bring you your food.
Golden Girl, Yeah, I think Makar’s might be best for another day. I’ll grab a bite in the museum restaurant or something nearby.
Any ideas for lunch near the Botanical Gardens?
Thanks!
Makar’s is fun, yes, but obviously very carby! In a similar vein on Forest Row is Mum’s Comfort Food, although I don’t think they have cranachan.
So many restaurants and cafes to choose from in the area though. Easy enough to just choose whatever takes your fancy at the time.
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Any ideas for lunch near the Botanical Gardens?
There's a couple of nice cafes right on the property. I had the best sandwich there.
https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/royal-botanic-garden-edinburgh/food-and-drink/#gatewaycafe
I'm all about quick meals when i'm traveling. There's too much to see. No time to eat:-)
Carrie, those look fine! Thanks!
I LOVE to eat - good food is important to me- but I don’t have a lot of time, so quick, tasty lunches are probably best for me …..
There's a couple of nice cafes right on the property. I had the best sandwich there.
https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/royal-botanic-garden-edinburgh/food-and-drink/#gatewaycafe
I'm all about quick meals when i'm traveling. There's too much to see. No time to eat:-)
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Lunch near the Botanical Garden - The Orchard Bar & Restaurant, Lannan Bakery, the Herringbone
Lunch near the National Museum - We love the Mash Bar (our son is a student at UoE and it is our family meal place), Paradise Palms, Sandy Bells
National Museum: there are a bunch of small ethnic places as you head south on Forest Road. And the Greyfriars Bobby Bar / Pub had surprisingly good food when we stopped in. Lots of theater types frequent it during Fringe.
Botanic Gardens: you're right next to Stockbridge, which is sort of Restaurant Central in Edinburgh. If you want to splurge a little, consider the Tollhouse and Scran & Scallie.
I stayed near Waverley, so on my way to the National Museum I stopped at a restaurant called Bread Meats Bread 7 North Bridge--excellent selection of sandwiches and burgers, including chicken and vegan options, poutine, and with a variety of side salads and potato offerings. Very fresh and tasty, hard to choose as everything sounded delicious.
A four minutes walk from the museum is The Piemaker, 38 South Bridge. It’s a small shop with only a few seats, but had a good variety of savory pies and soups.
I stayed near Waverley, so on my way to the National Museum I stopped at a restaurant called Bread Meats Bread 7 North Bridge--excellent selection of sandwiches and burgers, including chicken and vegan options, poutine, and with a variety of side salads and potato offerings. Very fresh and tasty, hard to choose as everything sounded delicious.
I’d forgotten they had a new branch on North Bridge! A trip to the Lothian Road branch for their absolutely filthily delicious Luther burger was one of my little treats for myself after finishing three weeks of daily performances at the Fringe.
Emily, thanks! I had actually looked at the Orchard last night - love the menu. The others are great options, too!
I’ll check out the Museum options other than Mash. Mash could still work if I have a later dinner
Thank you!!!
Lunch near the Botanical Garden - The Orchard Bar & Restaurant, Lannan Bakery, the Herringbone
Lunch near the National Museum - We love the Mash Bar (our son is a student at UoE and it is our family meal place), Paradise Palms, Sandy Bells
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I love ethnic food, so that’s great!
I think I actually ate at the Greyfiar’s Bobby last time - and enjoyed it!
I had dinner in Scran & Scrallie a few years ago - yum!
Thank you so much, JP!
National Museum: there are a bunch of small ethnic places as you head south on Forest Road. And the Greyfriars Bobby Bar / Pub had surprisingly good food when we stopped in. Lots of theater types frequent it during Fringe.
Botanic Gardens: you're right next to Stockbridge, which is sort of Restaurant Central in Edinburgh. If you want to splurge a little, consider the Tollhouse and Scran & Scallie.
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Christa, Ooh, that menu looks soo good - amazing variety, and milkshakes, too
I’m staying not far from Waverley & Calton Hill, so I it’s about a 20 minute walk…but I if I go to the museum first, it’s much shorter, and extremely convenient.
That might be perfect
Thanks!!!!
I stayed near Waverley, so on my way to the National Museum I stopped at a restaurant called Bread Meats Bread 7 North Bridge--excellent selection of sandwiches and burgers, including chicken and vegan options, poutine, and with a variety of side salads and potato offerings. Very fresh and tasty, hard to choose as everything sounded delicious.
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Jaimie, ooh, they even have Cornish pasties - yum!
Wow, so many options!
Thank you!!
A four minutes walk from the museum is The Piemaker, 38 South Bridge. It’s a small shop with only a few seats, but had a good variety of savory pies and soups.
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If you're staying near Waverley and Calton Hill--I stayed at the Parliament House Hotel on Calton Hill--you're likely very close to a fabulous restaurant called Howies, on Waterloo Place. Reservations are a must--I had lunch one day and dinner another, it was that good. If you are inclined to try haggis I found theirs to be quite tasty. I loved their food so much I even considered a day trip by train for another meal when I visited London last August...but didn't want to deal with the Fringe madness!
https://www.howies.uk.com/venues/howies-waterloo-place/
Christa,
Great minds think alike! I already have a reservation at Howie’s Waterloo! Wow, if it’s that good, maybe I should go twice!
I had haggis in Glasgow at a nice restaurant - I really enjoyed it!
Can I ask what time your dinner reservation was for? I keep seeing that the British tend to eat fairly early, so I’m not sure know if 8pm is too late…
Thanks!
If you're staying near Waverley and Calton Hill--I stayed at the Parliament House Hotel on Calton Hill--you're likely very close to a fabulous restaurant called Howies, on Waterloo Place. Reservations are a must--I had lunch one day and dinner another, it was that good. If you are inclined to try haggis I found theirs to be quite tasty. I loved their food so much I even considered a day trip by train for another meal when I visited London last August...but didn't want to deal with the Fringe madness!
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I keep seeing that the British tend to eat fairly early, so I’m not sure know if 8pm is too late…
We eat a lot later than Americans! 8pm is perfect.
Golden Girl, thanks!
I’m going to change the reservations I have - I kept reading that the Scots (British in general) eat between 6-8, much earlier than the French…I’m glad 8 is a good time since anytime in the 7pm hour on vacation seems early, lol
It was my last night in Edinburgh and I had to be packed and up very early the next day so I had a reservation fairly early at 6:30 pm--as a solo traveler I tend to eat dinner between 6 - 7. They gave me a lovely table both times.
Oh, we eat a lot earlier than France or Spain. I’d normally book a restaurant for 7 or 8pm.
I tend to eat between 7:30 and 8pm because it’s my entertainment for the evening, and I enjoy being out then; I don’t want to get back to my room too early
When I’ll be going out to eat during my 3 months in the UK, I’ll generally go out earlier -because I’m considering as if I’m living there…and I prefer to get home earlier. But why I’m taking little side stays to places like Bath, Conwy & Edinburgh, I’ll go out later
I’m going to have a late arrival into Knaresborough from Edinburgh if I have dinner in Edinburgh on my last night. Sunsets around 10pm, but so that’s the time I’d like to arrive home. I’ll probably have an early dinner that night
It was my last night in Edinburgh and I had to be packed and up very early the next day so I had a reservation fairly early at 6:30 pm--as a solo traveler I tend to eat dinner between 6 - 7. They gave me a lovely table both times
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I changed my reservations to 8pm because it gives me extra time to get ready after my day out. Even when I’m in Paris, I'm not going to reserve past 8 or 8:30
Oh, we eat a lot earlier than France or Spain. I’d normally book a restaurant for 7 or 8pm.
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a fabulous restaurant called Howies, on Waterloo Place
Cosign. Howies is terrific!
I'll add another vote for the cafe at the museum. Good atmosphere, and the pizza was very good. Have a great trip!
JP, I’m absolutely stoked to try it!
Any recommended dishes?
Cosign. Howies is terrific!
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Ali, it turns out that I’m going to do a Three Bridges tour before I go to the Museum, so I’m going to have lunch in South Queensbury, but thank you so much!
I'll add another vote for the cafe at the museum. Good atmosphere, and the pizza was very good. Have a great trip!
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Any recommended dishes?
Betsy, I ate at Howies Waterloo frequently on both of my recent stays in Edinburgh, and I can’t think of any dishes I wouldn’t recommend! :)
My trip reports include the particulars:
Nancy, such great reports- I loved reading them!
Howie’s sounds so good that I may book it for my first dinner, too!
Thank you!
Betsy, I ate at Howies Waterloo frequently on both of my recent stays
in Edinburgh, and I can’t think of any dishes I wouldn’t recommend! :)
My trip reports include the particulars: 2023:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-6-days-solo-in-edinburgh-in-late-june-2023-with-day-trips
2024:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-glasgow-and-edinburgh-with-day-trips-and-lots-of-great-food
We had lunch at the cafe at the National Museum of Scotland and also at the cafe at the Botanic Gardens, and we were happy with all of our lunches. We dined outdoors at the Botanic Gardens.
Also, we had dinner one night at Makar's Mash Bar, and all 4 of us loved it! Delicious food! Nice staff. Definitely recommend.
KMK, thanks!
I think I’m going to go to the National Museum after my train at around 11:30, so I think lunch at the cafe makes the most sense. I’ll probably do the same at the RBG
As I’ve extended my stay to 4 nights, I can have dinner at Makar’s - yay!
We had lunch at the cafe at the National Museum of Scotland and also
at the cafe at the Botanic Gardens, and we were happy with all of our
lunches. We dined outdoors at the Botanic Gardens. Also, we had dinner
one night at Makar's Mash Bar, and all 4 of us loved it! Delicious
food! Nice staff. Definitely recommend.
Betsy, Make sure you make reservations for Makar's Mash Bar. We had reservations; when we arrived there were people in front of us who did not have reservations, and they were told to come back in an hour.
KMK, I’m going to do that now - I always make reservations when I can!
Betsy, Make sure you make reservations for Makar's Mash Bar. We had
reservations; when we arrived there were people in front of us who did
not have reservations, and they were told to come back in an hour.
