Best Gluten-Free Restaurants In Edinburgh

Boasting a spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle and the Firth of Forth, Chaophraya is a cool, modern restaurant that focuses on classic and reimagined Thai dishes. Its floor-to-ceiling windows are striking and let in heaps of natural light that illuminate an elegant, carpeted space, and it boasts a pretty rooftop terrace perfect for alfresco eats. For the best gluten-free dining Edinburgh has to offer, this eatery is up there as expert chefs, including owner Kim, put together hand-crafted menus that include a variety of coeliac-friendly options, like khao kriab tod (Thai 'prawn' crackers), tom yum and gaeng panang curry featuring slow-cooked beef, green beans, chilli and kaffir lime leaves.

When it comes to a gluten-free breakfast, Edinburgh has plenty of options but you definitely can't go wrong with a trip to Browns Brasserie & Bar. Easy on the eye first thing in the morning, dangling orbs of light float above rich, blue booths and tropical wallpaper pops in corners of the laid-back space. You can devour a traditional spread here with smoked bacon, eggs and flat mushrooms, or a smoked salmon omelette, smashed avocado on toast or steak and eggs. Its a la carte menu is a dream too, especially for those unable to have wheat, and includes droolworthy plates of pan-fried sea bass and chorizo risotto, chicken burgers and roast Ibérico pork cutlets. 

After travelling around Mexico and a MasterChef win, founders Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby set up the affordable street food restaurant Wahaca in 2007 and the rest is history. The Edinburgh joint brings the flavours of Oaxaca to the New Town in the form of a bright space filled with art, plants and golden lights. The gluten-free menu is a real standout here, as you can enjoy a large number of classics without worry, such as the Mexico City nachos, topped with Trealy Farm chorizo and black beans, free-range pork pibil or grilled 'halloumi al pastor' tacos, and zesty bean and feta tostadas for those with a milder sensitivity.

Bellfield Brewery & Taproom is an absolute gem of a watering hole that not only offers glute-free beer, but also food. Nestled in the Abbeyhill area of Edinburgh, it features a courtyard laced with bunting, and a large dining room with white beams, hanging plants and fairy lights. It was recognised as the Scottish Brewery Of The Year in 2023 and it's not hard to see why: the Bohemian Pilsner is a classic Czesch drink featuring Saaz, and the Cooldown Lager is a refreshing stunner. Pair these with gluten-free plates from an everchanging food roster featuring the likes of Mexican and Vietnamese cuisine. 

When only coeliac-friendly Indian street food will do, Mowgli is the restaurant that ticks the box. Located on Hanover Street in a Grade I-listed building containing towering pillars, chandeliers and tall ceilings over fairy-lit trees, it's certainly something to behold. It takes you straight to a Varanasi kitchen where you can devour gluten-free plates like fenugreek-kissed fries (£7.50), gunpowder chicken (£8.95) and tiffin boxes (from £18) which are essentially food roulette, as it's a surprise what four tiers of meat, vegetables and carbs you get. The desserts are worth sticking around for, as the mango lassi is super refreshing and you really can't go wrong with a signature brownie served with warm ice cream.

Bringing a taste of Argentina to Edinburgh by way of premium Black Angus cattle bred at handpicked farms is steak joint Gaucho, which first opened its doors in 1994 in London before expanding up and down the country. Its eatery just off of St Andrews Square is a striking place to dine on Aberdeen's finest Angus beef - think swooping, spherical light fixtures and warm, golden tones. Celebrating the best of Scottish produce, its menu features dishes like grilled butterfly prawns to start, followed by a selection of sustainable cuts like 300g ancho ribeye, 400g chorizo sirloin and 200g lomo fillet, paired with sides of creamed mash potatoes and sauteed broccoli. It's decadent delights like this place it firmly among the most tempting gluten-free restaurants in Edinburgh.

Gusto is an elegant Italian restaurant located on George Street in the heart of the city, serving up affordable plates of food in a relaxed setting. Founded in 2005 by Jeremy Roberts, it's an easily accessible dining destination for large groups and makes a great spot for a family lunch if authentic, quality ingredients are what you're after. Enter the navy blue dining room and take a seat under smart, industrial lighting before tucking into gluten-friendly offerings of pan-seared scallops with crispy pancetta, seafood risotto featuring a lobster bisque and Romesco chicken salads. 

Out of all the gluten-free food Edinburgh has to offer, The Lookout by Gardner's Cottage is a real gem because it can cater to all dietary requirements by making any item on its menu suitable for coeliacs, including the desserts (if cake is on the cards, they'll kindly make something bespoke on the night with the fresh produce available). Located in Calton Hill and fronting pretty, minimal decor with floor-to-ceiling windows, it whips up a £65 dinner menu that focuses on earthy ingredients. Dunbar crab tart is on the menu, alongside hand-dived scallops drenched in lobster butter, and Perthshire deer loin with squash puree and plum.

Howies can be found in a charming Georgian building in Edinburgh's New Town with tall ceilings and dangling pendant lights. It's part of an independent, family-run group of three eateries that can be found across the city and have been championing local produce since 1990. Pull up a streetside table or take a seat inside to admire vintage artwork, then browse a menu featuring plenty of mouthwatering gluten-free options. From Thursday to Sunday before 6.30pm, you can enjoy two courses for £23.95, including a pan-roasted fillet of hake, a slow-braised casserole of the day and a rump of Scottish lamb, served alongside new potatoes, artichoke and peas, then finished off with a confit garlic and mint oil.

Cosy, intimate and serving up delicious food is this cute little neighbourhood bistro in Leith that also happens to be one of the best gluten-free restaurants in Edinburgh. The Little Chartroom is home to an open kitchen facing a minimal, small dining room laced with dainty wooden chairs and candle-lit tables. While not exclusively advertised as coeliac-friendly, its menu can be adapted for those on a gluten-free diet, so you can look forward to duck liver parfait, mackerel with gooseberry and kohlrabi, and roast chicken breast alongside a crispy thigh, courgette, mascarpone and jalapeño.

The Palmerston is a Michelin Guide restaurant that caters to allergens while offering a large number of naturally gluten-free dishes. Founders Lloyd Morse and James Snowdown set out with a 'whole animal cooking' ethos and a seasonal approach to sourcing ingredients to create what is now the incredibly cosy eatery, The Palmerston, located in the West End. You'll find a sage green dining room sporting abstract portraits and plenty of natural light casting over diners tucking into the likes of hispi cabbage with mashed potato and harissa yoghurt, lamb crépinette or slow roast cockerel alongside chips and a Caesar dressing, with plates ranging from £4 to £36 each.