15 Food & Drink Tours in Edinburgh Worth Booking

1.Edinburgh Food Tour with Scotch, Haggis, a Secret Dish & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,172 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134Our pick

Spend about three hours walking Edinburgh with a local food guide, sampling haggis with neeps and tatties, Scottish cakes, cheese, whisky and a secret dish. The group is capped at 10. Guides such as Carlos, Nichola and Joanne have led lively tours that mix food with city stories. Start at St Giles’ Cathedral and finish near St Mary’s Street.

“Craig was a great guide - entertaining, informative, and helpful. We enjoyed learning the food history and etymology of phrases from Scotland. Lots of fun! We were full by the end. The only addition I'd make is perhaps one more (small) dish of a savory variety.”

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2.Scotch Whisky Tasting & Stories — Bespoke Whisky Lounge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 972 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

At Hot Toddy on Jeffrey Street, a local whisky guide leads you through four single malts from Scotland’s whisky regions and shares stories of whisky and Scottish folklore. The two-hour tasting compares styles including Highland and Lowland whisky. Drinks are included only with the Whisky & Folklore ticket, and alternatives are available on request.

“Really interesting night with great stories. Noami was great fun. Lots of whiskey and a great setting.”

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3.Scottish Highlands Tour with Whisky Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 628 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $63

Travel from Edinburgh through Perthshire by small-group minibus, stopping in Dunkeld, at Black Linn Falls, in Pitlochry and at Queen’s View. The day ends at Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery for a guided tour and whisky tasting. Guides have included storytellers such as Duncan, Graeme and Kylie, though your guide will vary.

“Thanks Russell, it was a wonderful trip with great stops in the highlands! Thank you also for the interesting information about the history of Scotland It was a pleasure to have taken the trip with you!”

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4.Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour with EatWalk Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 561 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $163

Spend about three hours walking from the Grassmarket and Old Town toward the Royal Mile and New Town, tasting a full meal’s worth of Scottish food with paired drinks. Groups are capped at 12. Guides you may meet include Tilly, Tom, Tamara, Wag and Christy, whose stories connect local dishes with Edinburgh’s past.

“We had such a wonderful time on this tour. Tamara was an excellent guide and we learned so much about the history and culture from this experience. We've already recommended this tour to friends.”

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5.Holyrood Distillery Whisky and Gin Tour & Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 533 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $37

At Holyrood Distillery, join an English-language, one-hour guided tour of a young Edinburgh whisky and gin maker, then sample its products. Expect an explanation of the distillery’s methods and what sets them apart from older producers. Guides have included Brice, Diego, Matthew and Neil. The group is capped at 22, and the tour returns to its starting point.

“This was a great tour! They really make it an enjoyable and informative experience! I highly recommend.”

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6.90min Underground Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh’s Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 350 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

In Edinburgh’s Old Town, meet at John’s Coffee House & Tavern for a 90-minute tasting in the underground Lost Close. A guide introduces four whiskies from Scotland’s main whisky regions, along with stories about how whisky is made and how regional styles differ. Choose a standard, intermediate, or high-end tasting when booking.

“It’s for those who want to know the history of Scotch Whiskey and the different tastes, along with the reason for them. Very informative and fun. There were 4 different kinds of whiskey we tried and I got to know which one I preferred.”

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7.Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $63

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide such as Wag, Iain, Christy, or Sara, stopping at local pubs to taste Scottish beers, including traditional cask ales. The two-hour tour also takes in Canongate, Cowgate, and historic university and market landmarks. Tastings are included, and groups are capped at 12.

“Great! well worth the money. A must when traveling to Edinburgh for the first time. Ian was knowledgeable and easy going.”

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8.Edinburgh Cheese Crawl : Guided Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 231 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Walk from Comely Bank toward Stockbridge with a guide such as Jenny, Kieran or Xander, stopping at local cheese shops and a deli for a generous range of samples and a glass of prosecco. Expect neighborhood stories, time on your feet and tastings that may take place outdoors. The group is capped at 15.

“Totally worth it! I wished there was a bit more wine than just one medium glass each but tasting 7 cheeses is pretty good value for money still and I would definitely recommend!”

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9.Edinburgh Luxury Private Food & Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 223 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $325

Eat Walk Tours takes your private group through Edinburgh’s West End, New Town, and Old Town, pairing a full meal’s worth of Scottish food with drinks for adults. Guides such as Tom, Wag, Julie, and Anastaziya mix local history with tastings, from haggis to whisky. Hotel pickup, a restaurant map, and discounts are included.

“The guide was knowledgeable, amiable and funny. Also he had earpieces so we could all hear him. The selection of foods and drinks was perfect.”

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10.Eating Edinburgh: Old Town Food & Drinks Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a local English-speaking guide, stopping for Cullen skink, haggis with whisky marmalade, pub pie, Scottish cheese and a possible deep-fried Mars bar. Along the way, take in the Royal Mile, Victoria Street and castle views. Guides such as Ailsa, Luana, Andre and Emery have led the tour, but the lineup and tastings can vary.

“Awesome tour with Emery! She greeted us in a Philadelphia Eagles hat (go Birds!), so I knew it was going to be a great day :). Emery was very knowledgeable about Edinburgh and its history, and you can tell has a real passion for the city. Her narration and explanations were all very detailed, and her personality really made the tour fun. As for the locations and food itself, I enjoyed everything. The venues were all high quality with really interesting and authentic foods. The tour length of three hours was perfect (especially in hilly Edinburgh), and I highly recommend it.”

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11.Luxury Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh’s Underground Vaults | 90min

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 140 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $131

Meet at John’s Coffee House & Tavern in Edinburgh’s Old Town, then head underground to the Lost Close for 90 minutes of whisky and Scottish history. A guide leads a small group of up to 10 through five drams from five distilleries and Scotland’s whisky regions. Guides have included Mark, Eleanor, Sara, and Nicky.

“Great Scotch whiskey tasting down in an underground close. Sarah was our guide, American, and very knowledgeable about whiskey. The tastings were plentiful and a good mix of whiskeys fro all over Scotland.”

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12.Tailored Premium Edinburgh Food Tour with Highest Quality Dishes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $165

Spend four to five hours walking Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town with a local guide such as Skye or Nichola. Expect a generous lunch-sized spread, coffee or tea, at least one alcoholic drink for adults who drink, Scottish food stories, and stops chosen around your tastes. The group is capped at 10, and the route covers about two miles.

“Very fun food tour. Loved all the food. Skye was an amazing tour guide that gave us so much history of the city and took us to local spots that were not in the tourist areas. Highly recommended”

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13.Holyrood Distillery ‘Journey to Whisky’ Tour & Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $43

At Holyrood Distillery, an expert guide leads you through whisky production, Edinburgh’s brewing past, and the distillery’s modern approach. The hour-long visit ends with four drams that can show how spirit changes with maturation, including a peated expression. Guides have included Brice, Dave, Dan, Henry, Connor, and Finn.

“Knowledgeable and engaging host for the tour, variety to the samples provided during it, and a nice environment. Interesting difference to more traditional/longstanding distilleries, not so bound up in history. Also helpful and friendly staff in the shop. Something like being able to keep your glass or having a miniature thrown in to take away would have been the icing on the cake, but very enjoyable experience.”

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14.Private Food Tour of Edinburgh with Haggis, Scotch & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 112 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $465

Spend about three hours walking central Edinburgh with a private English-speaking food guide. Taste haggis with neeps and tatties, Scottish cheese and cakes, a secret dish, and Lowland single malt whisky. The route begins at St Giles’ Cathedral and ends on St Mary’s Street, with famous sights along the way. Guides Nicola and Skye have led tours, though your guide may vary.

“Nicola was a great tour guide. She is knowledgeable, passionate about Scottish culture and funny. We enjoyed our tour immensely. Haggis, scones, whisky and ice cream were delicious.”

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15.Scotch Whisky Tasting – The True Spirit of Scotland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Meet at John Knox House on Edinburgh’s High Street, then head to a central whisky bar for a 90-minute guided tasting. You’ll sample three single malts from across Scotland and an unaged new make spirit while your English-speaking guide explains whisky regions, production, and the spirit’s place in Scottish history. Guides have included Marcos, Nick, David, Victoria, Richard, Carlos, Fernando, and Maria.

“We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience in learning a bit of history behind scotch whiskey, how it is made and what features to look for, when sampling. Our guide was knowledgable, personable and entertaining.”

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