Home to the world’s largest arts festival , Scotland 's capital bursts with creativity – and now, beautiful baked goods from Edinburgh’s bakeries are taking centre stage. While bakes may not be what first comes to mind when considering Edinburgh’s rich selection of restaurants , the city has seen a host of quaint cafés popping up across its neighbourhoods, showcasing the unique culinary flairs of its locals. Riding the wave of the UK’s artisan bakery boom, queues out the doors of these Scottish bakeries is not uncommon.
From sugary-sweet doughnuts to organic loaves of perfectly crispy sourdough, there’s something here to satisfy both the sweet and savoury tooth in us all. These are our picks of the best bakeries in Edinburgh, offering gorgeous sweet treats which always taste as good as they look. Best for: high-quality bread This artisan bakery is eco-conscious, dog-friendly and stacked with delicious home-baked goods – what’s not to love? Named after the Maltese word for bread, Hobz specialises in baking naturally fermented bread (more commonly known as sourdough).
Founder Matthew Mallia explains, “People might know us best for our pastries, but the bread will always define us.” All the bread here is made from a single mix of dough, combining the best qualities of both white and whole grain flour. This creates light-textured loaves which are flavourful as well as nutritious.
Sustainability is at the core of Hobz, too, with all their flour sourced organically from British and, where possible, Scottish farms in line with their environmental goals. Address: 106 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5DT Website: hobzbakery.com Best for: doughnut lovers Just outside Edinburgh Waverley station , Room & Rumours Coffee is the ideal pick-me-up after a long train journey.
The cafe’s speciality is doughnuts, paired perfectly with a cup of their speciality coffee for the ultimate breakfast treat. The fluffy, round delights are freshly baked each day in a range of flavours: orange crème brûlée, tiramisu (using house espresso) and vegan blackberry jam, to name a few. In 2024, the team even released a limited edition line of Taylor Swift doughnuts, including red velvet fillings inspired by Swift’s iconic fourth album Red .
For savoury cravings, the cafe also serves homemade sourdough sandwiches and açma börek bagels, a Turkish take on the bakery staple and available plain or with feta cheese and chilli. Address: Arch 13, 25 E Market St, Edinburgh EH8 8FS Website: instagram.com/roomrumourscoffee Best for: pastries with a view Overlooking the River Forth and its UNESCO-listed bridge, this waterfront cafe is worth the journey to the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Fronted by experienced baker Lewis Gill, Dune blends classic pastries with creative fillings for their ever-changing menu. Each weekend, the team offers a new range of limited-time-only specials, from Eton mess buns to white chocolate and pistachio escargots puffs. The shop also specialises in vegan bakes, with an extensive selection of plant-based options to choose from.
There are some cosy indoor seats but most visitors opt for the benches outside, enjoying the peaceful view as they tuck into their sweet treats. Address: 35B High St, South Queensferry, Edinburgh EH30 9HN Website: dunebakery.com Best for: artisan bakes Darcie Maher's journey into the world of baking began amid the picturesque landscapes of the Scottish Borders.
With a foundation built upon self-taught knowledge from pastry literature and hands-on stints in bakeries throughout the UK, her expertise flourished into the bricks and mortar of the newly opened Lannan Bakery. Step inside Lannan and immerse yourself in a flood of natural light cascading through wrap-around windows. The weekly changing menu unveils Maher's signature pastries, encompassing classic viennoiserie, custard slices and iced buns.
If your taste leans savoury, prepare to relish hand pies and pala romana sandwiches spotlighting the finest from I J Mellis. Anchoring the heart of the bakery is an expansive counter, granting an up-close view of the creative process and the chance to witness Maher and her team in their element. Address: 29-35 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5BA Website: instagram.
com/lannanbakery Best for: sweet treats You’ll find 101 Bakery nestled in Edinburgh’s Southside and it is largely recognised as being one of the finest spots for baked goods in the city. So much so that many coffee shops in the area and further afield choose to stock owner Rosanna Campbell’s sweet treats, including the popular cinnamon buns and crownies (cookie/brownie combo). Recent concoctions on the menu have included brown sugar roasted strawberry bostocks, rhubarb custard buns and classic oregano and sundried tomato focaccia.
The bakery is also in demand for wedding and birthday cakes, so it’s likely you may have already sampled Rosanna’s recipes if you’ve been to a recent celebratory occasion in the city. Address: 101 Newington Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1QW Website: 101bakery.com Best for: a grab-and-go lunch Wildly different from Scotland’s more traditional sandwich – a crusty roll and square Lorne sausage – the speciality here is wood-fired, honey-water boiled and baked bagels from owner Lara Bross, who set up the business while homesick for her native Montreal.
Laid across the middle of each sesame- or poppy-seed holey grail are fillings that bellow “Oh Canada ”; particular triumphs are cream cheese and smoky salmon, pastrami and Monterey jack, and schnitzel and marinara sauce. There are wallet-friendly outlets in Bruntsfield, Portobello, Stockbridge and the St James Quarter, and each leaves you with the sense that, while the bagels aren’t that complicated, these doughy rings are so much more of an art form than you ever thought possible. Address: Various locations; check the website for details.
Website: instagram.com/bross_bagels Best for: the patisserie experience With four charming cafes dotted across the city, La Barantine brings a taste of Paris to the Scottish capital. Here you can find all the French classics, from delicate macarons to flaky croissants, and their artisan bread is even baked using flour imported from Paris.
They also offer beautiful celebration cakes, hand-made to order by experienced French chefs. Whether for breakfast, lunch or a quick snack, enjoy the authentic patisserie experience inside their classy yet cosy bakeries. Address: Various locations; check the website for details.
Website: labarantine.com.
