19 places to eat and drink on the Edinburgh Tram route
Buy a day pass and you can hop on and off to visit multiple establishments on the Airport to Newhaven route
There’s plenty of good eating and drinking to be found around Edinburgh’s tram line and it turns out that travelling in a straight line makes for a fun way to explore some new spots. Patina (Edinburgh Park Central) is an airy bakery, working hard to serve the office workers around it as well as the burgeoning communities in the west of the city. From there, it’s mostly suburban until you hit Haymarket: tap off here for casual drinks at Old Pal or explore the craft beers at The Wee Vault. If it’s lunchtime, don’t ignore Panificio’s unassuming shop front: their huge, fresh focaccia sandwiches are both delicious and good value.
Jump back on the tram and use the many traffic light-pauses on Princes Street to indulge in a spot of people watching, before getting off at St Andrew Square. A short walk brings you to Nightcap, one of the city’s few truly late-night hangouts, or keep walking down Dublin Street to The Magnum, a real locals’ local.
Staying on until Picardy Place means you’ve got all of Broughton Street ahead of you. Stop off at List team favourite The Keller for a German pint and a pretzel in a whimsical basement bar, or head to Taisteal for high-end dining that combines Scottish produce with ingredients sourced from around the world and a steal of a midweek early set menu.
Any stop on Leith Walk takes you to somewhere interesting to eat. Get off at McDonald Road for wee bistro The Walnut, which has more than earned its place in an ever-changing neighbourhood, or enjoy the Miami-style décor and excellent tacos at Bodega. Walk a couple of blocks to La Casa, where casual tapas please the crowd or Origano which is that rare beast: a cosy, comfy pizza joint where you’ll want to linger. There aren’t that many true sports bars in Edinburgh, but the Foot Of The Walk stop brings you to Duke’s Leith for wings and every sport imaginable, or keep walking to Nauticus for craft cocktails and good craic.
You’re near the end of the line now, so enjoy a final sweep around Ocean Drive before getting off at Ocean Terminal for a slap-up supper at DogStar, one of the hottest openings of the past year. Newhaven is the end of the line, where you’ll find a handlful of relatively hidden away spots. Dreadnought is close by for a final pint, Porto & Fi is an excellent neighbourhood bistro that specialises in creative breakfasts, and Norah is a gorgeous café/restaurant that’s worth the trip for the sausage, egg and chips alone.
This TipList is taken from Eat & Drink 365, our sister mag recommending the best in restaurants, bars, cafés and more across Edinburgh. Want a copy? It’s available online or across all good stockists in Scotland’s capital; picture: Dogstar / Nathan Hinze.