The 15 Best Food & Drink Experiences in Edinburgh

1.Edinburgh Food Tour with Scotch, Haggis, a Secret Dish & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,172 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134Our pick

Spend about three hours walking from St Giles’ Cathedral through Edinburgh’s Old Town, tasting haggis, neeps and tatties, cheese, cakes, whisky, and a secret dish. Guides such as Carlos, Nyssa, Nichola, Madge, Craig, and Joanne mix food with stories, folklore, and practical city tips.

“Nessye was excellent as a guide. Very energetic and knowledgeable and personable. Food was excellent. I would strongly recommend.”

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2.Scotch Whisky Tasting & Stories — Bespoke Whisky Lounge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 972 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Spend about two hours in Hot Toddy’s cozy whisky lounge with a guide such as Ben, Euan, Alasdair, or Max. Taste four single malts from Scotland’s main whisky regions, compare Highland and Lowland styles, and hear folklore, family stories, and Edinburgh whisky lore.

“We had Sabie as our guide. It was really fun learning about the whiskeys in the Hot Toddy, a lovely, comfortable, speak-easy atmosphere. Sabie is an amazing whiskey guide with mesmerizing stories and a deep knowledge of whiskey and scientific processes of whiskey making.”

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3.Scottish Highlands Tour with Whisky Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 628 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $63

Travel from Edinburgh into Perthshire with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Duncan, Graeme, Kylie, or Sean. Walk to Black Linn Falls, visit Dunkeld and Pitlochry, stop at Queen’s View, then tour Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery with whisky tasting. Expect a small minibus, outdoor stops, and a full day on the road.

“The guide was the best !! William is a gem of a person .. also the Dewar tour was really nice”

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4.Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour with EatWalk Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 561 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $163

EatWalk Tours leads a three-hour walk from St Giles’ Street through the Grassmarket, Old Town, Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle area, Chambers Street, and New Town. Expect a full meal, four adult drink pairings, and lively stories about Scottish food, Edinburgh, and even local legends.

“Loved all the food on the tour - lots of great experiences. I even enjoyed foods I don’t normally eat. Tilly was great and provided great venues and lots of interesting history”

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5.Holyrood Distillery Whisky and Gin Tour & Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 533 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $37

Spend about an hour touring Holyrood Distillery with guides such as Brice, Diego, Chris, or Neil. See how this young Edinburgh distillery approaches whisky and gin, then taste several products in a relaxed setting. The tour suits both whisky fans and gin drinkers.

“One of my favourite places in Edi when it comes to learning (and tasting). Quick tour where you learn a lot about whiskey and gin making and taste some of the products. Now when they have a proper (non New Make) stuff you can actually see what is the final product :).”

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6.90min Underground Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh’s Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 350 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Meet at John’s Coffee House in Parliament Square for a 90-minute English tasting in The Lost Close. A guide such as Mark, Dan, Haley, or Eleanor leads you through four regional whiskies, whisky-making basics, and an underground Old Town venue. Intermediate and high-end tasting levels are also available.

“Great line up of whisky, great history, great location, and great guide. Highly recommend this tour if you want a down to earth tasting in a really cool setting.”

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7.Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $63

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with an English-speaking guide such as Wag, Iain, Christy, Sara, or Mhairi. Visit three pubs, taste Scottish beers and cask ales, and connect brewing traditions with sights including the Old College, Canongate, and Cowgate. Tastings are included.

“Nice easy stroll and beer tasting. Learned about local history. Friendly guide. Would recommend. Gets chilly at night so dress warm.”

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8.Edinburgh Cheese Crawl : Guided Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 231 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Join guides such as Jenny, Xander, or Kieran for a 2.5-hour cheese walk through Comely Bank and Stockbridge. Visit local cheese shops and a deli, taste several Scottish and European cheeses, enjoy a glass of prosecco, and learn about Edinburgh’s food scene. Expect outdoor standing and a small group of up to 15.

“We went to multiple local businesses and had some wonderful and delicious cheese! It was a lot fun to try all the varieties. The day we went the weather was a bit on the cool side and most of the tastings were outside so dress appropriately! Our tour guide was very knowledgable!”

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9.Edinburgh Luxury Private Food & Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 223 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $325

Explore Edinburgh’s West End, New Town, and Old Town with a private Eat Walk guide such as Tom, Wag, Anastaziya, or Julie. Expect a full meal’s worth of Scottish tastings, paired drinks, local history, hotel pickup, and a useful map with restaurant and bar discounts.

“The guide was knowledgeable, amiable and funny. Also he had earpieces so we could all hear him. The selection of foods and drinks was perfect.”

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10.Eating Edinburgh: Old Town Food & Drinks Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134

Spend three hours walking Edinburgh’s Old Town with an English-speaking guide such as Ailsa, Luana, Emery, or Reece. Taste Cullen skink, haggis bon bons, pie, Scottish cheese, and a deep-fried Mars bar while hearing stories about the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, Edinburgh Castle, and local life.

“What a terrific walking and food tour we had with our guide, Luanna, on the Edinburgh Old Town Food and Drinks tour. The guide was very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the city. We experience many new foods and enjoyed the atmosphere of the city's small businesses. We would definitely recommend this tour and Luanna to other travelelers.”

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11.Luxury Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh’s Underground Vaults | 90min

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 140 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $131

Meet at John’s Coffee House for 90 minutes underground in The Lost Close. A whisky guide such as Mark, Eleanor, or Sara leads you through five drams from Scotland’s whisky regions, mixing old bottles, tasting tips, and Edinburgh history in a group of no more than 10.

“Such a fun time, I suggest you book multiple times to get and try even more whisky. One a day at least to get a proper feeling of the city.”

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12.Tailored Premium Edinburgh Food Tour with Highest Quality Dishes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $165

Spend four to five hours tasting Scottish classics, coffee, tea, sweets, and at least one alcoholic drink while walking Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns. Skye and Nichola tailor stops to your interests, explain the stories behind each dish, and offer useful food tips for the rest of your stay.

“Very well researched and each stop well chosen. Very educational and fun. Our tour guide Skye was passionate about the quality, creativity and presentation of the food we ate. He had an exceptionally good relationship with the restaurants we visited and we received warm welcomes wherever we went.”

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13.Holyrood Distillery ‘Journey to Whisky’ Tour & Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $43

At Holyrood Distillery, guides such as Brice, Dave, Henry, and Finn explain Scotch production, the old brewing traditions of the building, and Holyrood’s modern methods. You’ll taste four samples showing different stages of the spirit, including new make, aged spirit, and a peated expression.

“All in all very interesting. Learned about the scotch making experience. I little expensive for what you get. Would probably have made out better with a whiskey tasting rather than a whiskey making experience.”

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14.Private Food Tour of Edinburgh with Haggis, Scotch & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 112 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $465

Meet at St Giles’ Cathedral at noon for a three-hour private walk through Edinburgh’s food and landmark scene. Your English-speaking guide serves haggis, neeps and tatties, Scottish cheese, cakes, a secret dish, and Lowland single malt whisky. Ask about dietary needs before booking.

“Nicola was a great tour guide. She is knowledgeable, passionate about Scottish culture and funny. We enjoyed our tour immensely. Haggis, scones, whisky and ice cream were delicious.”

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15.Scotch Whisky Tasting – The True Spirit of Scotland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Meet near John Knox House for a 90-minute guided tasting in a central Edinburgh whisky bar. You will sample three single malts from Scottish regions plus new make spirit, with guides such as Marcos, Nick, David, Richard, Victoria, Carlos, and Maria explaining whisky styles, production, and local history.

“Whisky Tasting with Marcus. I only can recommend the Tasting. Marcus could answer all questions about Scotch Whisky. Together with the nice Pub we've been, all in all a great time.”

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