Our pick of casual cafés and places to pop in for a bite don’t require a booking and are certainly a step up from a Pret sandwich. The Nook at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait is a bistro-style spot within the refurbished Café Portrait. It’s a sit-down-and-dine place where a menu of Scottish-style dishes, like smoked haddock hash, and signature cocktails are inspired by famous Scots and artworks within the galleries. Sticking with the Galleries, the Scottish Café And Restaurant at the National Gallery features a local produce-led menu from the folk at Contini in a big bright space overlooking Princes Street Gardens.  

Plenty of places in town take their coffee seriously. The team at Lowdown Coffee on George Street know when a long pour might enhance flavour or which blend goes best with oat milk. To eat is a mouthwatering array of cakes, soup, sourdough and pomegranate-speckled avocado toast. Bastard Barista on Queen Street is a steampunk hideaway where intricate coffee paraphernalia shows they care about the perfect brew, plus they’ve got pastries and sandwiches for a quick snack. 

Big, substantial breakfasts, brunch croques, bagels and leftfield plates of pierogi make up the menu at The Painted Rooster in the West End. Everything is made from scratch, and it’s fast, filling and fuss-free. Hidden down Dublin Street is MaRobert’s café-style spot, which feels like stumbling on a local secret. Tanzanian-spiced plantain, chickpea chicken and fragrant rice is designed to be taken away in plastic tubs, but you can sit in.    

For a sandwich or soup and a side of social responsibility, pop into Social Bite on Rose Street. The charity has been tackling homelessness in Edinburgh through various projects over the years, including employing those experiencing homelessness in their kitchen. 

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: Evelyn Wallin Photography.