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Edinburgh Reporter
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
From stage to plate – the essential guide to eating and drinking your way through the Fringe
Edinburgh in August means one thing – festival fever. 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: For my Fringe recommendations spreadsheet: Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh cafes, bars and restaurants get earlier start for outside service on trial basis
Cafes, bars and restaurants in Edinburgh will be allowed to start serving customers outdoors from 7.30am on a 12-month trial basis. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And a consultation will gather public views on the impact of the change before a decision by councillors on whether to make it permanent. Current rules on permits for tables and chairs outside restrict the hours to 9am until 9pm with possible extensions until 10pm. Vittoria on the Walk is the perfect spot to enjoy an al fresco dinner and drink. The Crolla family have been at the forefront of Italian hospitality in the Capital since the restaurant was first opened by Nonno Alberto in Leith more than 50 years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A report to the council's transport and environment committee proposed the earlier 7.30am start time following representations from local businesses. But Green councillor Chas Booth asked why there had been no public consultation on the proposal. Officers said each application would still be considered on its merits, taking account the effect on passing pedestrians and nearby residents. And the council's executive director of place Gareth Barwell pointed out waste collections started at 6am and in many places there were early morning loading operations. He said the 9am opening time had been cited at a Meet the Business event as a barrier to local businesses and there was a petition with 1800 signatures calling for businesses to be allowed to operate al fresco from an earlier hour. An amendment tabled by the Lb Dems proposed the change should be made on a trial basis and they backed Green calls for a consultation to be carried out during such a trial. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lib Dem councillor Hal Osler said: "I think we should be supportive of businesses, it has been a very hard time. Lots of independent traders have struggled. If we didn't support individuals to try to maximise their business potential then that is detrimental to them. 'But there is a balance. I don't know a single community that is just commercial, there are residents everywhere. There is concern in some communities. 'We need to be able to see what this looks like so we are supportive of individuals but we don't have a negative impact on residents' amenity which we then have to unpick." Tory group leader Iain Whyte said carrying out consultation through a trial was sensible. He emphasised the need to ensure the prescribed minimum of 1.5 metres of pavement for pedestrians was maintained. And he voiced concerns about tables close to bus stops. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: "I am concerned that in some places, if we have tables and chairs close to bus stops, at busy times you can have crowds gathering. That can already get a bit difficult and dangerous for people passing. "On Leith Walk, you've also got a cycle lane through the middle of that and some floating bus stops, so we probably need to keep areas clear. I'd like officers to look at that so we can make sure none of this happens within 10 metres of a bus stop if it's going to cause a problem." And he suggested: "To help the public monitor this for us and report any breach, could we mark the areas that they're allowed? It would make it easy to report a breach where tables and chairs are straying out into a wider area regularly." Green councillor Chas Booth said there should be discussions with licensing officials n the potential conflict introduced by the earlier start for outdoor operations. He said: "The licensing board has a policy of a 9am opening hour. It's obviously open to any licensed premises to open and not serve alcohol or to make an application which is outwith board policy and every application is dealt with on its merits."
