Exploring the Tastes of Edinburgh During Study Abroad

I have always loved trying new foods, but I’d exhausted my options back at home. Whenever I stepped into a favorite restaurant, I would think to myself how fun it would be to recreate the menu. I rarely externalized these thoughts.

When I arrived in Edinburgh, I set out to explore the city through food. I began a list on Google Maps, flagging restaurants, cafes, and sandwich shops that seemed intriguing. The more I went about my daily life in Edinburgh, the more places I stumbled upon and flagged for later.

What Makes the Perfect Restaurant

To me, the perfect place to dine has a beautifully curated atmosphere, painted in earthy tones, and a menu crafted with attention to detail. I notice unique ingredients and flavor combinations, or a classic dish with a distinctive spin. Creativity ultimately draws me to try new restaurants and come back to old favorites. When something is done well, it is truly exhilarating.

My dad came to Edinburgh in October. On the final evening of his visit, we chatted over Thai food, and he said, “I didn’t quite realize that as long as I’m in your wake, I will eat well.” I laughed and took the opportunity to explain the undisclosed thoughts I’d had for years. I explained my love of restaurants, food, and the creativity that comes with it. I detailed my goal of creating a menu alongside a chef. In my phone, I keep notes of my favorite flavors, ingredients and combinations that I might include in a menu of my own someday.

I only ever imagined that I would be able to craft a menu for my wedding. But when I unraveled all the thoughts that had been confined to my mind for so long, I began to believe in this outlandish dream. My dad provided me with the utmost support, and all of a sudden, I was telling everyone I wanted to open my own restaurant. I’ve never been so excited about my future.

While my restaurant may not materialize for a while, Edinburgh will forever be the place where this dream was fully realized.

My Top 5 Edinburgh Restaurants

As I prepare to leave, I know I will miss my favorite restaurants deeply. In case you get to there, here are my top five favorites:

1. Margot. A breakfast, lunch and dinner spot. Beautifully decorated with calm, sage green paint. Views of the meadows. Tiny cakes in myriads of creative flavor combinations. I can see time, thought, and experimentation went into these recipes.

2. Alby’s. The perfect sandwich shop. A crisp mustard yellow exterior. The most precious gingham curtains. The most decadent toasties.

3. Origin Coffee. Simple, streamlined, satisfying. A centrally located spot that I visited much too often. Chocolate chip banana bread became a morning staple.

4. Smith & Gertrude Stockbridge. A beautiful array of breads, cheeses, and meats. Low lighting and intriguing interior design. The restaurant centers around a large communal table, inviting conversation across groups.

5. Pomelo. Small and secluded, in residential Marchmont. Lovely pale pink exterior. Warm, hand-cut Asian noodles and sandwiches. Chewy and deliciously flavorful.

Penelope Paxson | Boston University | University of Edinburgh Partnership | Fall 2024