In Edinburgh, there is no need to travel the world to get a great bite to eat. The capital has such a wide variety of cafes and restaurants with prices to suit any wallet, whether you want a full meal or a quick nibble on the go. In this article, we will break down our top picks of places to grab a sweet treat in one of Scotland’s most historic cities.
Caffe gelato
39 S Clerk St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NZ
Located on busy main road South Clerk street in the vibrant Newington Area of Edinburgh, this Italian-inspired dessert café is perfect for those who want to satisfy their sweet tooth.
Caffe gelato offers everything from a wide range of ice creams and sundaes to cakes and cookies all at a reasonable price range. One scoop of ice cream will set you back just £2.25 and a large slice of one of their numerous cakes is only £3.50. Furthermore, they offer some classic high street deserts such as cookie dough and waffles.
Thanks to its great location not far from one of the entrances to Holyrood Park (which you can read more about in our upcoming article on walks in Edinburgh), which houses the gorgeous Arthurs Seat, it is also a great place to grab an after-walk treat.
Check out their website for the full menu here.
Cafe Piccante
19 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3JU
If you have been wanting to try the famous Scottish deep-fried mars bar then this locally run chip shop is the place to go. The Scottish delicacy combined with two scoops of vanilla ice cream could be considered a little pricey for the size at £4.50, but if it is on your Edinburgh bucket list then Piccante is your best option.
If you want something more traditional of a British chip shop, and much less sweet, then they offer all of the classic dishes from fish and chips to sausages and fish cakes all at pretty reasonable prices. Moreover, its central location makes it perfect if you want to grab a quick bite on the go while exploring the city. Cafe Piccante also has a couple of indoor seats if you want a break from walking around, just bear in mind that these can get quite busy during lunchtime as the chippy is popular with local construction staff.
The full menu can be found on their website here.
Shortbread House of Edinburgh
25 Tennant St, Edinburgh EH6 5NA
If you’re walking down to the waterside, looking for the perfect place to get your loved ones back home a souvenir or just wanting to try some traditional scottish shortbread then the Shortbread House of Edinburgh is the place to go.
This small little shortbread shop nestled within the streep streets of northern Edinburgh prides itself on offering fine handmade biscuits and other baked goods. Prices can range wildly from £1.20 for a small packet of two fingers all the way up to £25 for a multipack of shortbread tins. However, I would recommend going somewhat in the middle with one of their tins of shortbread biscuits. These come in a wide range of flavours my favourite being the dark chocolate orange variety.
Nothing beats going into the physical store but due to current covid restrictions in Scotland you must reserve your order a few days in advance on their website. From this same website you can order products to be delivered if you fancy getting a taste of this Scottish treat without making the journey.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy our review of Edinburgh Zoo. You can find our post telling you everything you need to know here.
Are you planning on visiting Edinburgh? Will you try any of these places while you’re there? Let us know in the comments below.
Seagull With a Suitcase 
3 thoughts on “Top 3 Edinburgh Sweet Treats”