Food and Drink: Performer Favourites

Matt Price

Broken Hooters and Geezers with Shooters, Underbelly Bristo Square, 31 Jul–25 Aug, not 12, 6:50pm

Rigatoni's pizza restaurant on Clerk Street. The guy who owns it is hugely entertaining. He took a selfie on my phone last year and danced around the restaurant, bantering with the customers. He also looks like a member of the Italian mafia, which fits with the theme of my show this year. If you're a performer, get away on your day off and go to the beach and have fish and chips.

Lydia Zanetti

Producer of Aunty at Assembly, and My Best Dead Friend and Working on My Night Moves at Summerhall

The Summerhall courtyard is one one of my favourite places to have a pint, not only at the festival, but in the whole world. Filled with the warmest, kindest, most over excited artists and performance fans you will ever meet. Every festival that courtyard becomes a strange little family for a month. I fall in love with every single person there.

Ellie Dubois

Like Animals, Sumerhall, 31 Jul–25 Aug, not 1, 12, 19, 2:15pm

I live in the highlands of Scotland not Edinburgh itself, but I always like to go to visit the Mosque Kitchen when I visit. I have checked in with Like Animals cast member Kim Donohoe who grew up in Edinburgh and she recommends: Osteria del Tempo Perso and Italian Connection in Bruntsfield, The Skylark in Portobello, and Nonna's in Morningside. Also if you fancy heading super off the beaten track and want a day trip (or longer) up north then The Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore is fantastic.

Hannah Moss, On The Run theatre

The Rebirth of Meadow Rain, Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul–26 Aug, not 7, 14, 1pm

There's a chocolate shop on Morningside called The Chocolate Tree, it does great ice cream too! Manna House bakery in Easter Road is also great, it's part of a line of independent shops and bars which is a nice little escape and on the way to Portobello.

Fern Brady

Power and Chaos, Monkey Barrel Comedy, 1–25 Aug, not 12, 6pm

Fortitude Coffee next door to The Stand is easily the best coffee shop in Edinburgh, and for food I like Henderson’s Vegan Restaurant (not the veggie deli downstairs, the upstairs one), Paradise Palms and also the Basement Bar on Broughton Street for Mexican food and cocktails. I used to go to Boda Bar and Sofi’s a lot when I lived in Leith. They’re nice Swedish bars. 

Catherine Alexander, Complicité and Polka Theatre

I'll Take You to Mrs Cole!, Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul–26 Aug, not 12, 1:45pm

If you are with children head to the Royal Commonwealth Pool where there is excellent soft play and an inflatable assault course in the water. While your children are happily occupied you can drink tea and eat good value lunches (or Pom Bear crisps) and admire the view of Holyrood park through the glass wall of the building. A real sanity saver.

Phil Nichol

Too Much, Monkey Barrel Comedy, 1–25 Aug, not 12, 9pm

I’m a fan of Cult Coffee on Buccleuch Street. Lovely staff and great coffee. If you are lucky you will get some live music thrown in as well. Mr Kim’s for fantastic and reasonably priced food although it’s so popular that you’ll have to queue as it’s only open for a few hours a day after 5.30pm. Or journey out of town to North Berwick and find The Lobster Shack on the dock. Sit outside and watch the Forth pour in to the sea while eating some delicious seafood. Have a glass of wine and be back in Edinburgh in time to see my show.

George Egg

Movable Feast, Assembly George Square Gardens, 1–25 Aug, not 12, 4:30pm

Well I’m into cooking so I can tell you some great places to get ingredients if you’ve got self-catering accommodation. For meat, Saunderson’s on Leven Street is the best place. For fish, George Hughes on Bruntsfield Place, and for bread, The Wee Boulangerie on Clerk Street. They’re all independent local places, very friendly, very supportive and superb produce. And if you don’t want to cook yourself then The Cheesy Toast Shack (there’s a few all around George Square and Bristo Square) are so so good.

Juliette Burton

Defined, Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul–25 Aug, not 12, 5:30pm

I lived in Edinburgh for four happy years so I made sure I explored as many places to eat and drink as I could. Joseph Pearce's Bar on Elm Row has great brunches, cocktails and ciders plus PINTS of bloody mary (yes, pints). Generally I'd recommend exploring Leith Walk, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge for a break from the festivals. To look after your mental wellbeing, find quiet spaces to hide. And if it's a fine day, take a break and have a picnic in one of the parks. That's the best place to eat, drink and take a breather in my experience.

Leo Kearse

Transgressive, 31 Jul–25 Aug, 9:15pm

Scotland has some of the worst food on the planet (square sausage, deep fried pizza, the munchie box) but there are some gems in Edinburgh. OX184 on Cowgate is a bit pricey but open really late for food, and it's got a relaxed atmosphere. The chicken wings are amazing – they're non-greasy and cut so there's a big chunk of breast meat attached. Kampong Ah Lee is a Malaysian restaurant on Clerk Street that does delicious invigorating bowls of laksa for a reasonable price. Wee Bite on St. Mary's Street (just between the Royal Mile and Cowgate) does a coffee and a freshly made roll stuffed with bacon for £2.60. And comedians who use Wetherspoons as a euphemism for scuzzy low grade nightlife clearly aren't taking advantage of steak Tuesday. A large, fully-edible steak and trimmings with a pint of beer for around the 10 pound mark. Treat yourself!

Double Denim

Adventure Show, Underbelly Cowgate, 1–25 Aug, not 12, 8:40pm

Michelle is always on the hunt for new vegan places and Pumpkin Brown her current favourite. It’s healthy and light and in an unexpected spot next to pubs and more touristy things. Brew Lab is a treat if you want a good coffee. Ting Thai Caravan is relatively cheap and a nice healthy option too. Secret Arcade is an awesome vodka hide-away. Also if you have time to have a sip of a rhubarb and ginger liqueur at Edinburgh Gin distillery you won't regret it.