From stage to plate – the essential guide to eating and drinking your way through the Fringe
But with 3,352 shows competing for your attention at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where do you even begin? As an obsessive festival-goer, I've learned how to squeeze every drop of cultural and culinary goodness from August without emptying my bank account.
Start smart – plan ahead and stay fuelled
Don't go in blind. I've spent countless hours researching this year's lineup and created a comprehensive Fringe Recommendation Spreadsheet featuring 165 must-see shows, including plenty with food and drink themes.
These aren't random picks – they're based on thorough research, trusted PR tips, and my reviews from previous years. You'll find everything from big-ticket productions to hidden gems in the PBH Free Fringe, plus money-saving offers throughout.
My second piece of advice: factor in travel time between venues and build in 'pitstops' to refuel. Edinburgh in August is a marathon, not a sprint.
Where to eat – beyond the beaten path
Have a plan for your day and book restaurants ahead – they all get busy around the main venues. While street food stalls pop up around venues for quick bites, I recommend escaping the crowds.
Jump on a tram to the Macdonald Road stop on Leith Walk, where my favourites include Pera (fabulous Turkish BYO), Brunswick Book Club (outdoor seating sun-trap), Vittoria's (Italian – Crolla dynasty excellence), and The Walnut (intimate restaurant with seasonal local ingredients).
Venture further to the Shore for fabulous views and small plates at Port of Leith Distillery – the UK's first vertical distillery overlooking the Firth of Forth. Another couple of hidden gems are Café Domenico's, a bustling Italian with warm welcome and genuine cuisine and the fabulous Barry Fish, on the Shore.
For something special, try Badger & Co on Castle Street, inspired by Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows. This creative dining experience celebrates local seasonal produce, including foraged ingredients from local hedgerows.
W Edinburgh's W Deck offers 360-degree city views, signature cocktails, and live music during W Sunset Sessions (Fridays 7-10pm). Their glass pod dining experience provides stylish private dining overlooking Carlton Hill, perfect for August's nightly fireworks displays from Edinburgh Castle.
For night owls, Duck & Waffle Edinburgh's 9pm Club offers 25% off food and beverages from 9pm to close until September 2025.
Shows with a culinary twist
Australia's singing cook Michelle Pearson returns with her multi-award-winning Comfort Food Cabaret (Aug 1-3, 8-10 at 1 pm, New Town Cookery School). Join her for lunch, where you actually get fed! Taste dishes cooked before your eyes, paired with heartfelt storytelling, live music, and cooking demonstrations.
In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience (Assembly Rooms, Bijou) sees comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh and a wine expert guide you through five wine tastings and at least five jokes.
Edinburgh Gin Presents Ready Steady Cocktail (Edinburgh Gin Distillery) – professionals face off against brave amateurs in a live cocktail challenge. Ingredients come from the Tombola of Taste – think seaweed, chilli, or lavender fudge. With welcome drinks and two outrageous creations, anything can happen.
The Gin Tasting Show (Muse at Braw Venues – Hill Street) returns with tastings of three gins, history lessons, weird gin facts, and cabaret entertainment.
For whisky enthusiasts, A Dram is Worth a Thousand Words with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society offers guided tastings of three exceptional cask-strength, single-cask whiskies.
2 Guys, 3 Drams: The Ultimate Live Blues and Whisky Experience (Big at the Space Triplex) – The Rhythm and Booze Project serves three superb Scotch whiskies alongside stomping blues music. In 65 minutes, learn to sound clever about whisky while enjoying raucous tunes.
Whisky Under the Stars at Dynamic Earth's 360° Planetarium combines astronomy with three Holyrood Distillery whiskies – Embra, Ambir, and Pitch – for a stellar adventure.
For night owls, Midnight Treats at the Fringe at Tipsey Midgie (Whisky Bar of the Year 2023-2025) features Colin Hinds pairing three hand-selected Scottish whiskies with bespoke canapes.
One of my favourite experiences last year was a Thai Cooking Masterclass with chef Rujira Herd in her own home in Liberton. She reveals trade secrets while teaching three delicious dishes. Only 20 minutes from the city centre on buses 7, 37, or 47.
Learn to Cook and Enjoy A Three-Course Meal with Local Chef Nell Nelson takes place in a 200-year-old historic Edinburgh home. Maximum six guests enjoy welcome drinks, then cook traditional Cullen Skink and Scottish shortbread before relaxing with their homemade creations.
What's In the Kitchen (Assembly Rooms, Bijou) offers a tribute to Brazilian cuisine through five acts centred on the senses, featuring local ingredients with Brazilian touches.
Stay refuelled and you'll pass the finish line with no problems.
For timings and bookings: edfringe.com
For my Fringe recommendations spreadsheet: https://shorturl.at/ekAV3
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