9 places to grab a bite to eat around Filmhouse
We've rounded up the best spots for a food fix after a film
Chakoo Bombay Café
117 Lothian Road
Grilled Irani kebabs and around 20 curries (tomatoey railway chicken, rich garlic lamb bhuna, coconut and ginger-laced kerala monkfish) are the core offering at this spacious, buzzing Bombay café. Choose from the main menu or try their pre-theatre and ‘naanwich’ options. Ideal for big groups or quick pre-movie bites.
Dine Edinburgh
1st Floor, 10 Cambridge Street
Above the Traverse, next to the Lyceum and Usher Hall, and across the road from the Filmhouse, you’d be hard pushed to find a handier spot for pre or post-theatre/movie dining. Order à la carte or try the fixed-price, three-course menu (at lunch or pre-show), dishing up the likes of wild mushroom strozzapreti and, for afters, poached rhubarb tart.
Filmhouse Bar
88 Lothian Road
Absolutely no excuses for arriving after the film’s kicked off at this place. After a painful three-year closure, the capital’s cinephiles welcomed the revered venue’s reopening in June 2025. Part of its refurb is this comfy 100-capacity café and bar, dishing up soups, fish and chips, assorted wraps and nachos. The beef chilli is the star.
Konj
15–17 Grindlay Street
Konj’s breakfasts and brunches lure folk in from afar. Persian breakfasts with fried eggs, feta and walnuts or sweet omelette flavoured with saffron whisk you to the streets of Tehran, while cakes soaked in honey and dusted with pistachios pair perfectly with perfumed tea. Dinner brings Persian specialities and feasts front and centre.
Ting Thai
55–57 Lothian Road
Fresh vibrant Thai flavours shine in spicy coconut curries and umami-rich noodles, all served in street food-style boxes. Fast cooking and service have the convenience of takeaway, but the vibe is laidback. Walk-ins only: if you can’t get a seat, try their original branch just a 15-minute stroll away at Teviot Place.
Topolabamba
93 Lothian Road
There’s soft tacos, spicy carnitas and blow-your-face-off jalapeño poppers designed for sharing (plus chimichangas, tostadas, empanadas and more Mexican classics), so Topolabamba is great for big groups. An express lunch deal gets you three dishes plus salt and chilli fries or rice, while early evening brings a three-dish pre-theatre option. Plenty of veggie choices too.
Also try… classic sushi and ramen at Bentoya, fried chicken and double-beef pattie sandwiches with a craft beer or two at The Hanging Bat or the titular signature dish at Vietnamese chain Pho
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.