A slice of the city that would once have been considered more between places, Abbeyhill and Easter Road is now forging a much more assured identity as an excellent location in its own right for coffee, drinks and eating out.

The café scene has been improving year on year. Twelve Triangles bakeries are dotted around the city; at their Kitchen Table on Easter Road, the love of good bread and local ingredients come together in a gorgeous neighbourhood café. Big focaccia sandwiches are hard to beat: try one with chicken and crispy chicken skin, roast fennel and jalapeño labneh, or packed with carrot bhajis, pickles and yogurt. The Basque cheesecake with berries is outrageously good. On the same stretch of Easter Road, Polentoni offers delicious Italian focaccia and crispy hot farinata to take away. Nearby there’s always a queue for flat whites and long blacks at cult coffee spot Little Fitzroy, you can now stay a while too at ‘Little Sitz-roy’ next door. There’s a new-ish branch of Fortitude coffee at Abbeyhill too, always a great bet for an excellent coffee. 

Right by the ‘Abbeyhill Colony of Artists’ which holds a yearly festival in local houses you’ll find Art and Vintage. Run by a chef and an artist, it’s a warm and welcoming space to enjoy a big breakfast, loaded sandwich, sourdough toastie or taco, and peruse the contemporary art on display in changing exhibitions. Nearby Red Kite Café serves superb scones and a full gluten-free menu, and try unassuming Think Pastry for wonderful Greek pastries. 

For an evening out, book a table at Montrose. The ground floor is a relaxed wine bar, pouring organic low-intervention wines from across Europe alongside a menu of small plates like Islay oysters, saucisson and burrata, and heartier options like Shetland mussels and game sausage with pasta. Upstairs the restaurant is a more formal affair: there’s a calm hush, with thick napkins and flickering candles. It’s a set menu, so relax and lean into the experience: excellent local produce cooked creatively, with lots of foraged ingredients.

Among the local pubs you’ll find a crisp pint at The Old Eastway Tap by Cross Borders brewery and a seat in the sun; laidback hangout The Mash Tun is good for a cocktail or a burger; get tacos and a cocktail at the quirky Safari Lounge while The Percy.pl offers hearty servings of Polish comfort food favourites (or a pint next door).

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: Murray Orr.