Bistro in Edinburgh

“Great service / very welcoming and worth the stop. Allergy friendly. Gluten free option for English breakfast and other things! would do again”

“Went here for dinner and was not disappointed.... there were 3 of us and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Steak and Ale pie was beautiful, full of tasty, tender chunks of meat , l had the cheeseburger which was one of the tastiest burgers l have ever had, the other person in our party had the Italian chicken.... also very well cooked and tasty... attentive staff but not overly so and reasonably priced. And of course you have the view of the bridges... we were there at night time so they were lit up making it more special... l would definitely recommend this place and will most certainly return one day...”

“This lovely cafe by the Shore is definitely a hidden gem. From the outside, I wouldn’t know this charming building is a restaurant/cafe. We had breakfast here couple weeks ago when visited Edinburgh. As soon as we walked into the door, staffs welcomed us with warm smiles.We got seated promptly. My waitress was very sweet and attentive. I liked that you can choose anything in the menu, it doesn’t have to be breakfast items. We got the avocado toasts with both choices of egg and smoked salmon and a small bread with sausage. For drinks, we got the hot chocolate, iced coffee latte and banana/strawberry smoothie. Overall, I was satisfied with my orders and service here.”

“The Turkish coffee was divine, and they had great vegetarian options! The service was absolutely lovely as well, highly recommend!”

“We had a fantastic experience, the food was outstanding, the wine was at the perfect temperature, the atmosphere was relaxing and the service was attentive but not overbearing. Our first time here as my wife wanted to try it, so I took her for her birthday. Our new special occasion venue.”

“5 stars for the food and service. Haddock and chips lovely, chicken burger top notch. The chicken was unadulterated, didn't come covered in a million and one spices or topped with some chilli relish rubbish, it was great, just what I wanted. Nice piece of chicken, mayonnaise, salad and gerkins. The menu said fries and we were expecting the usual skinny things you tend to get when it says that but what we received was really good chips. Nice pot of tea, very friendly and helpful service. Looking forward to returning soon.”

“Great service and amazing food. Would recommend for anyone who likes live music too as there’s music every Saturday! Great place”

“A little sharp arrived as they were opening, served starters to our table, very nice. Then munched my way through the buffet. Back for puds. Barmaid in leather trousers was rather tasty too.”

“What a great place!! We have had our breakfast here during our visit in Scotland and we can’t praise it enough! Fabulous food and very, very welcoming staff!!”

“Absolutely love this wee cafe, food is delicious, the service is quick and friendly, the place is really clean and the prices are reasonable. I just wish it was bigger as sometimes you struggle to get a seat as it's so popular.”

“A hidden gem just outside the city! Or close by to Midlothian winter sports centre - The Secret Herb Garden is a stunning oasis with vibrant, fragrant gardens full of herbs and flowers. The on-site café and bistro are excellent—perfect for breakfast, a relaxing lunch or coffee paired with one of their amazing homemade cakes. Don’t miss the gin tasting experience—crafted with their own botanicals—and the shop, where you can buy their delicious honey (from their own hives), gin, and other local goodies. A truly magical spot for nature lovers and foodies alike!”

“This was a Christmas present from my sister for my mum Thora and me . We booked it for the 10th of April. The atmosphere was good the music was a bit loud but still enjoyed are selves. The food was really nice we had vegetarian so we can recommend the vegetarian. The staff were absolutely brilliant.”

“I had 4 days in Edinburgh in late September 2025, and this was my favorite breakfast place. My sandwich -- eggs benedict on top of a double-decker avocado toast with black pudding, hash browns and bacon -- was delicious and filling. Coffee was good, and service was friendly.”

“Lovely food and really lovely service! They have a separate vegan menu which is awesome to see, along with a vegan drinks menu (Biscoff Hot chocolate and other amazing sounding drinks we didn't have the stomach space to try). I had the full vegan breakfast and the vegan haggis was real nice. Absolutely recommend! They were down to 2 works today and they still served super fast with their service being bang on point, thank you for a tasty breakfast!”

“Honestly one of the best burgers I've eaten anywhere!”

“A hidden gem. I hope they manage to stay in business as they often look empty. Really thoughtful and well put together veggie wrap, more like a halloumi burrito really. If you’re coming through from Edinburgh or cycling past this unassuming cafe is the place to go.”

“Excellent, down to earth, staff/owners. Excellent food and they went the further mile to accomodate me as a vegan, offered to make me a thick creamy hot chocolate which was delicious. Had a full english vegan breakfast and a vegan carrot cake for afters. All absolutely gorgeous and not overpriced like most bougie vegan places. Was there about half past two Thursday gone.”

“Brilliant service. Came in for breakfast I had the egg florentine and a Chai latte food was excellent and the latte was very good. Amazing service from a girl called Khozi very smiley and friendly. Will definitely be back.”

“Food amazing!! Staff also very friendly. We ordered starter and mains but we had extra break with salsa at the beginning, then extra shot of alocohol at the end. Nice small restaurant with good atmosphere.”

“Quirky indeed, at times offers takeaways only but generally otherwise sit-in available. Lovely bagels, friendly service, fab coffees”

“I visited this cafe on a solo trip to Scotland. Having just arrived in Edinburgh and met with a classic Scottish welcome (rain) I was on the look out to quickly find somewhere to go grab a bite to eat and hope the rain would stop in the meantime. The Nether Bow Port Cafe & Bistro is located in Old Town Edinburgh and has a key location on the street that leads to the Royal Mile. Having dived into the cafe I was quick to find a busy but lively atmosphere and I was lucky that there was a small table for two available so perfect for welcoming a solo diner like me. After taking a seat I was presented with a menu and given time to browse before my order was quickly taken. I opted for a dish off the lunch menu, grilled seabass, fries and vegetables and a soft drink. The wait time for the food was reasonable about 20 minutes which was ok because of the number of people who were also dining at the same time. It was a good atmosphere while I waited, they had music playing but it wasn’t too loud as it still allowed people to chat. Once the food was brought out it looked to be a good portion size for a lunch dish. The fish was nice and tasty, however the slight downside was the vegetables were a little too crunchy for my liking but that’s just personal preference. The price wasn’t too bad, maybe a little on the expensive side for a lunch but I guess prices reflect the cafes location in Edinburgh and also the produce used. After eating I approached the counter to make payment and this was quickly taken by card before heading off back into the rain to see the sights of Edinburgh! The cafe was a nice little place to grab a bite to eat and I found it friendly and welcoming to all visitors. Would recommend.”

“Always get great quality food with fab prices. Staff all friendly and helpful. Great selection of drinks as well. Nice atmosphere and decor too”

“One of the best halloumi cheeseburger i ever eat Excellent coffee, excellent veggie menu”

“Haggis- I tried it and it was very good. We had the deep fried mushrooms also, the steak was very good and the Brie salad with raspberry sauce was great—-I am sorry the picture does not do it justice. There is an inside restaurant and a patio. The festival has been popping for the whole month of August and they are still engaging people with great hospitality.”

“Brilliant food and brilliant staff would sertanly recommend”

“Great restaurant quality food at reasonable prices. Highly recommended.”