One of my favourite things to do is go out for brunch. I find that most of the time, brunch is one of the most stress-free meals to eat out because often you can find something on the menu that works. The brunch scene in Edinburgh is vibrant, and during my time there, I found some great cafes that cater well to my dietary requirements without feeling like I’m missing out. From gluten-free French toast to tasty eggs benny, there’s an abundance to try if you plan on visiting Edinburgh.
Top Gluten-Free Brunch Spots in Edinburgh
Urban Angel
Best For: Gluten-Free French Toast
Location: New Town
Urban Angel is one of my fave spots in Edinburgh for brunch. Tucked away down some stairs on Hanover Street, this busy cafe offers plenty of gluten-free options to enjoy. This place can get super busy, so I’d recommend booking in advance; otherwise, you may have to wait for a table. I often find with most cafes, when they substitute toast for gluten-free toast, you usually get plain old supermarket brand toast that tastes like cardboard. Urban Angel uses freshly baked good quality gluten-free bread, and it is delicious! I had French toast with bacon and maple syrup, which was so tasty! The coffee is delish, and they also offer a selection of gluten-free sweet treats daily.
Loudons
Best For: Eggs Benny
Location: Foutainbridge and New Waverley (behind the train station)
Loudons has 2 locations in Edinburgh. Both of them get pretty busy, so be prepared to wait for a table if you’re visiting on a weekend. Pretty much everything on their brunch menu can be adapted to be gluten-free. They have a bakery on site and bake their own gluten-free bread, which is great! I was keen to try one of the Benny’s and went for the Scottish Smoked Salmon benny, which was really tasty. There’s also a selection of freshly made sweet treats that are made fresh on site. They had a gluten-free salted caramel brownie and a gluten-free red velvet cake when we visited.
Honeycomb & Co
Best For: Shakshuka
Location: Merchiston
Honeycomb & Co is located in Merchiston in the south of Edinburgh. Almost everything on their brunch menu can be adapted to be gluten-free. I had the shakshuka, which is a North African baked egg dish with some added spicy chorizo, which they serve with some yummy gluten-free toast. They also offer seasonal speciality lattes, which are very impressive, but some do contain gluten, so you’ll need to check what’s on offer the day you visit to make sure it’s suitable. I went for the Giandulla Nutella Latte, which was extremely sweet but delicious!
1 Merchiston Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4NP
0131 228 4641
Website
Argyle Place
Best For: Coffee
Location: Meadows
Argyle Place is a cafe and coffee roaster located in Marchmont, just on the other side of the meadows. The menu is seasonal, so it often changes. The menu isn’t marked with GF; however, I had a quick chat with the server, and they advised that everything on the menu when I visited was able to be adapted to be gluten-free. The staff are super knowledgeable and took care to make sure they could accommodate me. The coffee here is great, probably the best coffee that I had during my time in Edinburgh. They also have a bakery on site and often have gluten-free sweet treats available.
Leos Beanery
Best For: Sweet treats
Location: New Town
Leos Beanery is located in New Town, which is a really lovely part of Edinburgh to visit. Most options on the menu can be adapted to suit your gluten-free requirements, so it’s pretty stress-free for us coeliacs. They also offer a selection of sweet treats daily, and of all the places I visited, Leo’s definitely has the best selection. So, even if you just have a craving for coffee and cake, this is definitely a great place to visit.
Pantry
Best For: A modern brunch menu
Location: Stockbridge
Stockbridge is my favourite area of Edinburgh to visit. Situated away from the touristy hot spots, it’s a lovely little part of town with lots of local artisan shops and cafes. There’s also a market on Sundays, so if you’re visiting over the weekend. The Pantry is one of the most popular cafes in the area, so it gets pretty busy, and you may have to wait for a table. The menu is marked with plenty of options that can be made gluten-free. I chose the U.S.A., which came on delish gluten-free toast and streaky bacon!
Brunch Round-Up
The Edinburgh brunch scene is vibrant, and as a gluten-free foodie, I’m thrilled to have discovered so many amazing spots that cater well to my dietary requirements. From homemade gluten-free bread to sweet treats, these cafes and restaurants have truly elevated my brunch experience. With so many options popping up, it’s an exciting time to explore all this historic city offers. So, grab your friends and head out to one of these amazing spots for a delicious and safe brunch experience!
Read my Gluten free guide to Edinburgh
Photo credit to @coffee.nomics (Argyle place), @allthatchaz (Urban Angel), @justedinburghcafes (Leos Beanery), as I discovered I forgot to take photos!
