Best Outdoor Seating Restaurants in Edinburgh for Dining Under Open Skies
Words by
Charlotte Davies
Edinburgh's weather is famously unpredictable, but when the sun breaks through the clouds, the city transforms into one of Europe's most rewarding places to eat outside. After years of chasing golden afternoons across this city, I have compiled a personal guide to the best outdoor seating restaurants in Edinburgh, places where the combination of food, atmosphere, and open sky creates something genuinely memorable. Whether you are after a long lunch in a cobbled courtyard or a glass of natural wine on a sun-drenched terrace, these are the spots that locals actually return to when the forecast finally cooperates.
The Gardener's Cottage and Its Secret Garden in Edinburgh's Stockbridge
Tucked away on the edge of Stockbridge, just a short walk from the Water of Leith, The Gardener's Cottage is one of those places that feels like a private members' club even though it is open to everyone. The restaurant operates out of a converted gardener's cottage that once served the Royal Botanic Garden, and the outdoor seating spills into a walled garden surrounded by mature trees and climbing roses. The menu changes with the seasons, but the slow-roasted lamb shoulder with heritage carrots has been a recurring highlight during my visits. What most tourists do not know is that the garden has a small herb wall that the kitchen staff harvest from directly, and if you ask your server, they will sometimes walk you over to smell the rosemary and thyme growing just steps from your table. The best time to visit is a weekday lunch between noon and two, when the garden is quiet and you can actually hear the birds over your conversation. The vibe is relaxed and unhurried, though the outdoor tables near the back wall can get damp and chilly if there has been overnight rain, so bring a light layer even on a sunny morning. This place connects to Edinburgh's deep horticultural history, sitting as it does in the shadow of one of the world's great botanical institutions.
What to Order: The seasonal tasting menu, which often features produce from the restaurant's own growing plots in the Lothians.
Best Time: Weekday lunch, noon to 2 PM, when the garden is at its most peaceful.
The Vibe: Quietly elegant, like dining in a friend's country garden. The outdoor seating near the back wall stays damp after rain, so pick a table closer to the cottage.
Patio Restaurants Edinburgh: The Scran and Scally on Leith Walk
Leith Walk has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, and The Scran and Scally sits right at the heart of that change. This is a no-frills neighborhood bistro with a proper outdoor terrace that runs along the pavement, and it has become one of the most reliable spots for al fresco dining Edinburgh has to offer on the city's north side. The menu leans heavily into Scottish bistro classics, and the haggis bonbons with a whisky cream sauce are the kind of thing you will think about for weeks afterward. I have sat on that terrace on evenings when the light was doing something extraordinary over Calton Hill, and it felt like the whole city was putting on a show just for the people eating sausages and drinking cold lager outside. A local tip: the kitchen does a Sunday roast that is wildly underpriced for the quality, and the outdoor tables fill up fast after noon, so arrive early or be prepared to wait. The vibe is loud, friendly, and unpretentious, though the tables closest to the road can get a bit noisy when the buses roll through during rush hour. This place captures the spirit of Leith Walk's ongoing reinvention, where old Edinburgh meets new Edinburgh on a single stretch of pavement.
What to Order: Haggis bonbons to start, followed by the Sunday roast if you are there on a weekend.
Best Time: Sunday lunch, arriving by 11:45 AM to beat the crowd.
The Vibe: Rowdy and warm, the kind of place where strangers become friends over shared condiments. Road noise from the bus lane is noticeable at peak hours.
Open Air Cafes Edinburgh: Lovecrumbs on West Port
Lovecrumbs is a tiny cafe in the Grassmarket area, technically on the West Port side, and its outdoor seating consists of a handful of tables on a raised platform that catches the afternoon sun beautifully. This is not a place for a three-course dinner, but for a slice of excellent cake and a flat white while watching the world go by beneath Edinburgh Castle, it is hard to beat. The baking is done in-house daily, and the brown butter sea salt brownie has achieved something close to legendary status among regulars. What most visitors do not realize is that the cafe sources its coffee from a small roaster in Leith, and the beans change seasonally, so the flavor profile of your coffee will shift depending on when you visit. The best time to grab an outdoor table is mid-afternoon on a weekday, around 2:30 or 3 PM, when the lunch rush has cleared and the sun is hitting the platform at its best angle. The vibe is cozy and slightly bohemian, though the outdoor seating is limited to about six tables, so your chances of snagging one drop significantly on sunny weekends. Lovecrumbs represents the Grassmarket's shift from a rough-and-tumble drinking strip to a neighborhood that takes its coffee and cake very seriously.
What to Order: The brown butter sea salt brownie and a flat white made with whatever single-origin bean is currently in rotation.
Best Time: Weekday mid-afternoon, around 2:30 PM, when the sun hits the platform and the lunch crowd has thinned.
The Vibe: Small, warm, and wonderfully unpretentious. Only about six outdoor tables exist, so weekend sun-seekers often leave disappointed.
The Al Fresco Dining Edinburgh Experience at The Apiary in the Old Town
The Apiary sits on a quiet side street in Edinburgh's Old Town, just off the Royal Mile, and its courtyard garden is one of the most surprising outdoor dining spaces in the city. You would never know it was there from the street, which is exactly what makes it special. The restaurant focuses on modern European cooking with Scottish ingredients, and the outdoor courtyard, framed by old stone walls and string lights, feels like stepping into a secret. I had a dish of hand-dived scallops with celeriac remoulade there on a June evening that I still think about, partly because the food was excellent and partly because the courtyard was bathed in that particular golden light that Edinburgh gets in early summer. A local detail worth knowing: the courtyard has a retractable awning, so even if the weather turns, you can still eat outside, which is a rarity in this city. The best time to visit is early evening, around 6 PM in summer, when the courtyard is warm but not yet crowded. The vibe is intimate and slightly romantic, though the stone walls can make the space feel a bit enclosed if you were hoping for a wide-open sky experience. The Apiary connects to the Old Town's tradition of hidden spaces, the kind of courtyards and closes that have been part of Edinburgh's urban fabric for centuries.
What to Order: Hand-dived scallops when they are in season, or the venison loin with juniper berries.
Best Time: Early summer evening, around 6 PM, before the dinner rush fills the courtyard.
The Vibe: Secretive and romantic, like dining in a walled garden that time forgot. The stone walls limit the open-sky feeling, and the space can feel snug when full.
The Roseleaf Cafe and Bar in Leith: A Riverside Outdoor Haven
Down in Leith, on the banks of the Water of Leith near the Shore, The Roseleaf Cafe and Bar has one of the most distinctive outdoor setups in the entire city. The terrace overlooks the river, and on a good day, you can sit with a plate of their famous potato scones and eggs while watching herons stalk the waterline. The menu is eclectic and fun, ranging from full Scottish breakfasts to burgers to seafood plates, and the Bloody Marys are widely considered among the best in Edinburgh. What most people do not know is that the building itself was once a pub called the Bosun's Locker, and some of the original nautical decor has been preserved inside, giving the place a layered history that goes beyond its current hip reputation. The best time to visit is a weekend morning, arriving by 10 AM to secure a riverside table before the brunch crowd descends. The vibe is cheerful and slightly chaotic in the best way, though the outdoor tables near the river can attract midges in still, warm weather, so bring repellent if you are sitting close to the water in July or August. The Roseleaf embodies Leith's transformation from a gritty port district into one of Edinburgh's most desirable neighborhoods, without losing the area's rough-edged character.
What to Order: Potato scones with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, paired with a Bloody Mary made with their house spice mix.
Best Time: Weekend morning, arriving by 10 AM for a riverside table.
The Vibe: Lively and unpolished, the kind of place where the food is generous and the drinks are strong. Midges near the river can be a real nuisance in warm, still weather.
Patio Restaurants Edinburgh: Montpelier Brasserie in the New Town
Montpelier Brasserie sits on Montpelier Park in Edinburgh's New Town, and its pavement terrace is one of the most civilized outdoor dining spots in the city. The menu is French-leaning brasserie fare, and the steak frites is the kind of simple, perfectly executed dish that reminds you why brasserie cooking endures. I have spent many a Saturday afternoon on that terrace with a carafe of red wine and a copy of a book I never quite finished, watching the light shift across the Georgian facades of the surrounding streets. A detail that most tourists miss: the brasserie is housed in a building that was originally a Victorian-era pub, and if you look carefully at the interior stonework, you can still see traces of the old bar layout. The best time to visit is late Saturday morning or early afternoon, when the terrace is sunny and the New Town is at its most photogenic. The vibe is polished but not stuffy, though the outdoor tables on the street side can feel exposed when the wind picks up from the east, which happens more often than you might expect even in summer. Montpelier Brasserie reflects the New Town's enduring appeal as a place where elegance and accessibility coexist, a neighborhood designed for strolling and lingering.
What to Order: Steak frites with a glass of Cotes du Rhone, or the duck confit if it is on the specials board.
Best Time: Saturday late morning, around 11 AM, when the terrace catches the best light.
The Vibe: Refined but relaxed, like a Parisian corner cafe transported to Georgian Edinburgh. East wind can make the street-side tables uncomfortably breezy.
The Pitt in Leith: Street Food Meets Outdoor Community Dining
The Pitt is a street food market and events space on Pitt Street in Leith, and while it is not a traditional restaurant, its outdoor communal dining area deserves a place on any list of the best outdoor seating restaurants in Edinburgh. Multiple rotating food vendors set up inside the warehouse space, and the outdoor area, with its long wooden benches and string lights, becomes a gathering place on warm evenings. I have eaten everything from Korean fried chicken to wood-fired pizza to vegan Ethiopian stews at those benches, and the variety is part of the appeal. What most visitors do not know is that The Pitt also hosts regular live music nights and film screenings in the outdoor area, so you might end up watching a band while eating your dinner, which is a very Edinburgh experience. The best time to visit is a Friday or Saturday evening in summer, when the full range of vendors is operating and the outdoor area is buzzing. The vibe is communal and energetic, though the outdoor seating is entirely uncovered, so a sudden downpour can scatter the crowd quickly. The Pitt represents Leith's creative, community-driven food scene, a place where the emphasis is on shared experience rather than individual fine dining.
What to Order: Whatever the rotating vendors are serving, but the Korean fried chicken stall and the wood-fired pizza are consistently excellent.
Best Time: Friday or Saturday evening in summer, from around 6 PM onward.
The Vibe: Festive and communal, like a neighborhood block party with better food. No cover over the outdoor area means rain sends everyone scrambling inside.
Open Air Cafes Edinburgh: The Elephant House and Its Castle Views
The Elephant House on George IV Bridge is famous as the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote parts of the early Harry Potter books, and while the interior gets most of the attention, the outdoor seating at the back of the building offers something the inside cannot: a direct view of Edinburgh Castle rising above the rooftops. The menu is straightforward cafe fare, soups, sandwiches, cakes, and good coffee, and while the food is not going to win any awards, the setting more than compensates. I have sat at those back tables on crisp autumn mornings with a pot of tea and watched the castle emerge from low cloud, and it is one of those Edinburgh moments that stays with you. A local tip that most tourists miss: the back outdoor area is accessible through a side door and is far less crowded than the front-facing tables, so if the main terrace is full, ask staff about the rear seating. The best time to visit is mid-morning on a weekday, around 10 or 11 AM, before the tourist groups arrive in force. The vibe is casual and a bit touristy, but the castle view elevates it beyond the ordinary, and the back tables offer a quieter experience. The Elephant House connects to Edinburgh's literary heritage in a tangible way, a place where one of the best-selling book series in history took shape over cups of coffee.
What to Order: A pot of tea and a slice of cake, nothing more. You are here for the view and the history, not the menu.
Best Time: Weekday mid-morning, around 10 AM, before the tourist crowds build.
The Vibe: Casual and tourist-facing, but the castle view from the back tables is genuinely magical. The front terrace gets packed quickly on weekends.
When to Go and What to Know About Al Fresco Dining in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's outdoor dining season is shorter and more unpredictable than most visitors expect. The best months for reliably eating outside are June, July, and August, when daylight stretches past 10 PM and temperatures occasionally climb into the low twenties Celsius. May and September can also produce beautiful evenings, but you should always have a backup plan, a warm layer, or both. Most restaurants with outdoor seating open their terraces and gardens in late April or early May and close them by early October, though a few hardier spots keep a few tables out longer if the weather permits. Booking ahead is essential for popular spots on sunny weekends, and many restaurants now use online reservation systems that allow you to specifically request outdoor tables. One final piece of advice from someone who has learned the hard way: always check the wind direction before committing to an outdoor table. Edinburgh's east wind can turn a pleasant evening into a teeth-chattering ordeal in minutes, and not every terrace has adequate wind protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in Edinburgh safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Edinburgh is perfectly safe to meet and is supplied by Scottish Water, which regularly tests and treats it to meet UK drinking water standards. You can drink it straight from the tap at any restaurant, cafe, or hotel without concern. Most restaurants will serve tap water on request at no charge, and there is no need to purchase bottled water unless you prefer it.
Is Edinburgh expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier traveler should budget approximately 120 to 160 pounds per day, covering a mid-range hotel room (80 to 110 pounds), two meals at casual to mid-range restaurants (30 to 40 pounds), local transport and attractions (10 to 15 pounds), and a modest amount for coffee and snacks. A main course at a typical Edinburgh restaurant costs between 14 and 22 pounds, and a pint of beer runs about 5 to 6 pounds in most pubs.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is generally casual, and most restaurants and cafes have no strict dress code, though a few fine dining establishments in the New Town may expect smart casual attire. It is customary to greet staff politely when entering a pub or restaurant, and tipping around 10 to 12 percent is appreciated but not obligatory. Queuing is taken seriously, so always wait your turn at counters and bars.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has one of the highest concentrations of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the United Kingdom, with over 40 fully plant-based establishments and virtually every mainstream restaurant offering at least one or two dedicated vegan options. Areas like Leith, the New Town, and the Grassmarket are particularly well served, and even traditional Scottish pubs now commonly list plant-based dishes on their menus.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Edinburgh is famous for?
Haggis is the iconic Scottish dish most associated with Edinburgh, and trying it at least once is practically a requirement for any visitor. It is traditionally served with neeps and tashed potatoes, and many restaurants across the city offer their own versions, from classic preparations to modern reinterpretations. For a drink, a dram of single malt Scotch whisky from a local pub is the quintessential Edinburgh experience, with hundreds of options available at dedicated whisky bars throughout the Old and New Towns.
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