Eating gluten free Edinburgh is easier than you think — and far more delicious. Scotland’s capital has a thriving gluten free food scene, from cozy Royal Mile cafes with house-made GF soda bread to upscale restaurants that clearly mark celiac-safe options. Here’s exactly what I ate over a long weekend in Edinburgh, with honest reviews of every spot.

Gluten Free Edinburgh – Day 1

We arrived in Edinburgh around noon and walked from Waverley Station to our hotel. Right away, we were ready to grab lunch!

DEACON’S HOUSE

This is a super cute little cafe right on the Royal Mile. They have a lot of options for coffee, tea, and pastries, with gluten free cookies and bars. They also had a nice lunch menu where I got a delicious sandwich on GF bread and a split pea soup. They were very knowledgable of gluten free options so we had a lovely time here!

TAISTEAL

We wanted to go out for a little fancy dinner, so we headed to Taisteal for a 3-course dinner. They didn’t have gluten free options labeled on the menu, but the owner was super helpful and checked everything with the chef. I had a delicious avocado Panna cotta, then a roasted duck, and finally a chai crème brûlée.

Gluten Free Edinburgh – Day 2

L’ETOILE SALON DE TEA

This place is a gluten-free dream! They have a ton of gluten free patisserie, as well as a gluten free food menu. I would highly recommend eating here!

WORLD’S END 

A famous pub on the Royal Mile, we stopped here for a pint and a snack. They weren’t super clear on gluten free options, so since I’m not celiac, I had some fries. At the time, they told me they didn’t have a separate frier, so I wouldn’t recommend it for celiac. Then I got a gluten free cider!

HOWIES

Another nice dinner spot in Edinburgh! You will definitely want a reservation here. This is a great spot to have a safe gluten free meal and try local Scottish flavors. They clearly mark gluten free on their menu and almost all of their main courses were naturally gluten free, including a local favorite, Cullen Skink.

Gluten Free Edinburgh – Day 3

Our favorite breakfast spot in Edinburgh, I’d highly recommend getting a reservation here! They had tons of gluten free options including a house made GF soda bread that was PHENOMENAL. This bread isn’t certified GF so celiacs might want to be careful, but I had no issues with it. They also serve a full Scottish breakfast that they can make gluten free. I had the hash which is naturally gluten free and delicious!

THE COLONNADES AT THE SIGNET LIBRARY

This was an incredible experience. We did a full afternoon tea here that they seamlessly accommodated gluten free. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything! You need to make a reservation and give them 48 hours advance notice of a gluten free accommodation. This is a bit of a splurge at £60 per person, but I thought it was totally worth it. We spent over 2 hours here as we enjoyed an amuse bouche, a full savory tower, a full sweet tower, pallet cleanser, and 2 pots of tea each.

Want to explore the highlands? Read my Scottish Highlands day trip guide.

Eating gluten free across Europe? Check out my gluten free Italy guide.