Fringe food: Pubs, cafes & restaurants near Summerhall

Pubs and Bars near Summerhall

The Royal Dick (it's inside Summerhall)
In many ways, the best place to go after a show at Summerhall is Another Bit of Summerhall. Past the front desk and through into the courtyard you'll find The Royal Dick, a well-stocked and reasonably-priced bar anchored around beer from the on-site Barney's Brewery, and super-fresh gin from the equally-local Pickering's distillery.

The Southern (22 South Clerk St, 3 mins from Summerhall)
A stablemate of Holyrood 9A and the Red Squirrel, The Southern is an atmospheric hideaway which matches the excitement and intrigue of the Edinburgh Fringe. Directly behind Summerhall, The Southern boasts dozens of draught beers and a tasty and varied food menu, as well as an interior with plenty of nooks and crannies to hang out in. There aren’t many better places to dissect a Fringe show than around the enormous, Dr. Strangelove-esque table across from the bar.

The Dagda Bar (93 Buccleuch St, 4 mins from Summerhall)
Dagda is just a hop and skip from Summerhall, but step into the cosy, one-room bar and you’ll feel like you’re in a different world. The perfect antidote when you tire of the sometimes-sprawling outdoor bars of the Edinburgh Fringe, Dagda is a small and traditional pub with barrels to stand around, stained glass to look at and leather seats to sit on – much as a pub should be.

No. 1 The Grange (1 Grange Rd, 4 mins from Summerhall)
The ideal pub for the geographically-challenged, beyond its pleasingly straightforward name. Easy to spot? It's a bright shade of teal, so a big tick there. On a corner? Check, with lots of cosy window seats to look out for that one friend who always wanders off in the wrong direction. Worth finding? With a great tap list, intriguing food options and a relaxed vibe, we reckon so. 

Restaurants near Summerhall

Kampong Ah Lee (28 Clerk St, 5 mins walk from Summerhall)
As with many great experiences at the Edinburgh Fringe, Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight (to give it its full name) requires a leap of faith. It may look unassuming from the outside, but inside there’s a huge array of tasty, inexpensive Malaysian noodle, rice and soup dishes to try. Just down the road from Summerhall, it’s an authentic taste of Malaysia in the centre of the Fringe action.

Tanjore (6 Clerk St, 5 mins walk from Summerhall)
A taste of South India in the centre of Edinburgh, this small but cosy restaurant offers authentic dishes from across the region but the stars on the show are the light and fluffy dosai (lentil pancakes) stuffed with a variety of delicious fillings. The BYOB policy is the icing on the cake, helping you save a few pennies during the Edinburgh Fringe.

Noodles and Dumplings (23 S Clerk St, 2 mins from Summerhall)
You'll never guess what this lot specialise in. Beyond the straightforward name and the steamy shopfront sits a fantastic little spot for excellent bowls of soup loaded with delicious hand-pulled noodles and some truly excellent dumplings. If you're a veggie, their steamed dumplings are cracking; if you're a meat eater, let's just say you're in for a treat. Quick service, filling portions and a great location to hit some of the key Fringe venues make this one of our favourites.

Cafes near Summerhall

Cult Espresso (104 Buccleuch St, 5 mins walk from Summerhall)
A welcome sanctuary from the Edinburgh Fringe, this split-level coffee shop pairs a stripped-back aesthetic (think brick walls and lovely shiny glass doors) with expertly-crafted coffees and a small but well-formed food menu. Oh, and their coffee grinders are called Bert and Ernie – no amount of Fringe overload could stop that from raising a smile.

Considerit (3-5A Sciennes, 2 min walk from Summerhall)
Vegan cakes – they're so hot right now. Evidence of this is Considerit's brick-and-mortar spot across from Summerhall, on the back of regular appearances at markets across the city and beyond. We nipped in on opening day, and Considerit were firing out delicious vegan doughnuts as fast as they could to keep up with demand. Trust us, they're worthy of the hype. 

Press Coffee (30 Buccleuch St, 5 mins walk from Summerhall)
Big windows, tasty coffee and a permanent selection of lounging students no matter what time of day/year it is mark out Press Coffee. From the same people as the fantastic Kilimanjaro, expect the same great espresso drinks and cakes.

Takeaways and on-the-go options near Summerhall

Africano Wrap Place (Chapel St, 5 mins from Summerhall)
Clue's in the title, but there's a surprising amount of complexity waiting behind the simple frontage and perfunctory choice of name. Take the falafel wrap; homemade falafel packed with fresh herbs and spices, paired with a light, smooth houmous and a delightful spicy peanut sauce – it's a party in your mouth, and everyone's invited.

The Wee Boulangerie (67 Clerk St, 3 mins from Summerhall)
A French bakery in the heart of Edinburgh's Southside, The Wee Boulangerie fires out tasty pastries, cakes and lunch options every day of the week, but their range of bread is their real calling card. Sourdoughs, rye breads, fougasses, foccacias, and a baguette or two – if you're in need of something to keep you ticking over during the Edinburgh Fringe, this is the place to go.  

Victor Hugo (26 Melville Terrace, 4 mins from Summerhall)
That this deli is named after the author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a pretty big clue as to its angle, and Victor Hugo certainly follows through on that Gallic promise. It's a charming deli serving up filled croissants, fresh sandwiches, pastries and coffees, with outdoor seating overlooking The Meadows if you find yourself with time to spare.

Dough (47 S Clerk St, 2 mins from Summerhall)
A second branch of the Edinburgh aces, whose pizza is one of our favourites in the capital. Light fluffy dough, great toppings, top chat (we once walked in on the entire staff loudly singing Alanis Morissette) – just an all-around great package. 

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