Welcome to the ultimate guide for gluten-free foodies in Edinburgh! We’ll take you through the best of gluten-free restaurants throughout Edinburgh!
Whether you’re a local or just visiting this vibrant city, we’ve got you covered with the top spots serving up delicious gluten-free dishes. From cozy cafes to fine dining restaurants, get ready to indulge in the best of gluten-free Edinburgh. Let’s dive in and discover all the mouthwatering options waiting for you!
Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Edinburgh
Gluten-Free Italian in Edinburgh
La Locanda
La Locanda in Edinburgh is my favorite gluten-free friendly restaurant in Edinburgh. The food was incredible, authentic, and I felt very safe eating there
La Locanda is located right at the heart of Edinburgh and fairly easy to get to on foot (just be prepared to walk uphill!) It is a tiny restaurant but that makes it feel so quaint!
Not many items are listed on the menu, and the menu changes every few weeks. But almost every item can be made gluten-free as well as dairy-free! We ordered the Arancini (which are made in a separate fryer!), I ordered gluten-free Ragu, and then the chocolate torte cake for dessert.
My favorite part of the meal was that the gluten-free pasta was homemade! This is a rare find and I appreciated the effort of the chef to make their gluten-free food as authentic as their regular dishes.
If you’re gluten-free, La Locanda is my top recommendation for the best gluten-free restaurant in Edinburgh!
Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh
The Colonnades at the Signet Library
I absolutely love afternoon tea in the U.K – especially when I can find gluten-free friendly high tea!
Afternoon tea in the UK is a beloved tradition that dates back to the early 19th century. It typically consists of a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, and pastries, all served alongside a pot of hot tea. The idea behind afternoon tea was to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, providing a light meal to keep hunger at bay until supper time.
We found exactly that at gluten-free afternoon tea at The Colonnades located in the historical Signet Library. The Signet Library, nestled in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, boasts a rich history dating back to the early 19th century.
Originally built as the meeting place for the Society of Writers to the Signet, a prestigious legal society, this magnificent Georgian building has witnessed centuries of intellectual discourse and cultural gatherings.
Today, it continues to enchant visitors with its timeless charm and serves as the backdrop for memorable experiences like the gluten-free afternoon tea at the Colonnades. We were fortunate enough to go around Christmas and the library looked beautiful!
In order to book Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea at The Signet Library you need to email Colonnades@thesignetlibrary.co.uk in advance. They recommend you give two dates that you are available for it.
I put the subject as “Gluten Free Afternoon Tea” and wrote:
Hi There! My name is Skye and my husband and I would like to make a reservation for Afternoon Tea for 2. We will need 1 gluten-free tea and 1 regular tea. If you have it available we would like to make the reservation for ___________________ at ____________. If you do not have that day, we can also do _________________ at _____________. Thank you!
Sending this email does NOT confirm your reservation! They emailed us back telling us they had our second choice available. I then had to email them back to book our second choice. From there, they sent us an automated email and we had to click “Confirm” to confirm our reservation.
Trust me, the Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea is worth these steps!
Afternoon Tea comes in two servings, the first is a savory platter of different savory sandwiches and finger-foods. The second is a tray of desserts. It is a LOT of food! Do not eat before you go like we did thinking it would be light! We were so disappointed that we couldn’t finish all of the desserts and the desserts are the best part!
The first two photos below show some of the savory treats. We went at Christmas time so the whole menu was winter-themed! It was adorable! The middle picture shows my husband’s gluten menu on the left platter, and my gluten-free platter on the right.
For the most part, our trays were the same, except mine was served on gluten-free bread!
This was one of my favorite experiences that we did in Edinburgh and I cannot wait to return for Afternoon Tea at The Colonnades at the Signet Library!
Gluten-Free Pancakes in Edinburgh
Stack and Still Edinburgh
We lucked out! By chance, our hotel was right across the street from Stack and Still Edinburgh! This charming little cafe had the best gluten-free pancakes I’ve ever had!
I was a little worried about eating here because it is such a small, shared kitchen. But, after reading the Find Me Gluten Free reviews I had to check it out.
We ate here once in person. Then the day before we left I got a to-go order so I could heat it up and have breakfast before heading to the airport at 6 am.
Both times I ordered gluten-free pancakes with one of their suggested toppings as well as BBQ Loaded Tater Tots for some extra protein.
The food was exceptional! I was so thankful to enjoy such great gluten-free breakfast food. The price was exceptionally reasonable as well!
The service was a little slow, but we went during Hogmandy week and every place was packed – including here! We didn’t have to wait, but while we were dining there many people came in and had to wait 15-30 minutes for a table.
But Stack and Still is well worth the wait for any gluten-free foodie!
Gluten-Free Nepalese Food
Solti Lounge & Restaurant
Solti Lounge and Restaurant serves Nepalese food – flavorful cuisine from Nepal in the Himalayas. The spices and flavors of Nepalese cuisine are naturally gluten-free and will delight any gluten-free foodie!
Solti has an impressive Find Me Gluten Free rating and an even more impressive Google Reviews rating at 4.7 stars.
I did not get sick from eating at Solti, however, they did not originally understand that with a “gluten-allergy” you cannot eat food that has been in a shared fryer with gluten.
We were originally told that my husband’s appetizer was gluten-free and was marked (gf) on the menu. But it was made in the shared fryer. (I believe he ordered the Chicken Pakora, but I could be remembering wrong).
The only gluten-containing dishes are in their appetizers. All of their entrees are entirely gluten-free and marked so on their menu.
Our meal was very flavorful and stood out for its impressive taste. It made me wish we had more Nepalese restaurants in NJ!
I highly recommend a trip to Solti in Edinburgh for amazing gluten-free flavors. Just make sure you make a reservation. Solti fills up fast!
Edinburgh Street Food (A surprising gluten-free find!)
We went to church on Sunday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Afterwards my husband was hungry and we stumbled upon Edinburgh Street Food!
Edinburgh Street Food is a large, open food court with bench-style seating. There were so many different food options for him to choose from. I figured I wouldn’t be able to eat here, but they had a completely gluten-free and vegan restaurant option – Antojitos!
You order from your phone and a server comes and delivers your food to you. My husband ordered Japanese food while I ordered 3 gluten-free and vegan tacos.
The tacos had amazing flavor and were very filling for being vegan! I was a little worried about cross-contamination since there are many different food stalls here. However, since Antojitos is its own stall and is 100% gluten-free I had no issues! We will definitely be returning!
Edinburgh has proven to be a haven for those who follow a gluten-free diet, with its wide range of options and delicious offerings. From traditional, gluten-free afternoon tea to international flavors, Edinburgh has something for every palate.
By following our guide to the best gluten-free restaurants in Edinburgh in 2024, you can truly indulge in all that this beautiful city has to offer without worrying about your dietary restrictions.
So next time you visit Edinburgh, make sure to check out these amazing restaurants and savor the flavors without any worries!