What to Eat and Drink at Edinburgh Christmas Market (An Honest Guide)🌭

Planning a visit to the Edinburgh Christmas Market this year? Expect sizzling grills, steaming cardboard cups, and that familiar December hum under the fairy lights. It’s one of the most joyful things to do in the city in winter – but when it comes to Edinburgh Christmas Market food and drink, knowing what’s actually worth eating makes all the difference.

I’m Hazel, a travel blogger who takes festive food very seriously. After several days eating my way around the market (purely in the name of research), here’s what I genuinely loved, what was fine but forgettable, and what I’d skip in the future.

Bratwurst (the small circular stall near the top) 🌭

One of the best things I ate!

I went for a standard bratwurst rather than the smoked frankfurter-style options or currywurst, and it was excellent – juicy, well-seasoned, and topped with onions that were fried perfectly.

Service was fast, which makes a big difference when it’s cold and busy.

Note: This is the small, circular bratwurst stall near the top end of the market, further up past the first cluster of food stalls. It’s easy to miss if you stop early, but well worth continuing for.

Festive Fries – The “Highlander” 🍟

A clear winner. I had the Highlander (haggis, peppercorn sauce, and crispy onion) and it was generous, warming, and genuinely satisfying. Plenty of haggis, a decent sauce, and good-quality skin-on chips rather than limp fries.

I’d happily go back just to try the other options.

Spaetzle with Beef Ragout and Cheese 🧀

Comfort food done properly. Soft spaetzle, rich beef ragout, and melted cheese made this a really solid choice.

My only gripe was menu design rather than flavour: the ragout was the only option without garlic sauce. I didn’t want garlic and would have loved more cheesy, non-garlicky choices. Still, the dish itself was very good.

The Roast Yorkie 🥩

Genuinely impressive. I had the turkey version with gravy, stuffing, and veg. You can add roast potatoes and pigs in blankets, but even without extras it was filling and satisfying.

It’s served with a fork, so you’re not forced into biting into a whole roast-in-a-bun situation. At £15 it isn’t cheap, but it felt justified and was one of the most memorable things I ate.

Raclette 🧀

It was nice, but not mind-blowing. As a big cheese fan, I had high hopes.

The raclette was fine, and watching the cheese being scraped onto potatoes is always part of the fun. The potatoes and cornichons were good, and everything tasted ok.

In hindsight, raclette often looks better than it tastes. The cheese cools very quickly in the cold air, and flavour-wise it was pleasant rather than outstanding.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries in a Waffle Cone 🍓

Strawberries and chocolate are a great idea in theory, but in practice this one struggled in the cold.

The chocolate set almost instantly, freezing the strawberries solid inside the cone. It was so hard I actually snapped the wooden fork trying to get into it.

Nice enough flavour-wise, but the chocolate itself wasn’t particularly good, and the experience was more effort than joy.

Stroopwaffel (Biscoff) 🍪

It was a stroopwaffel. It tasted like a stroopwaffel.

£9.50 felt steep, but to be fair they were using proper Biscoff biscuits rather than a cheaper alternative. Not bad, just not exciting.

Skip: The Apple Crumble 🚫

Unfortunately, this didn’t resemble a crumble in any meaningful way.

It tasted like packet apple sauce topped with raw, floury crumble mix, finished with overly sweet custard. The topping didn’t seem cooked or toasted, and the whole thing was overwhelmingly sweet.

Crumble is a truly great British dessert. This version did it no favours, especially at £9.50.

Mac and Cheese (white trailer) 🧀

A little disappointing. I chose the mac and cheese from the white trailer rather than the stall that also sells grilled salmon, mainly because it had more topping options.

I went for “Santa’s Fave” (£10.75) with blue cheese and bacon. The blue cheese was sprinkled on top rather than mixed through, leaving the rest of the mac quite bland and not particularly cheesy.

Also the blue cheese tasted like Danish Blue, which I don’t mind, but it’s a strong flavour and not for everyone.

Drinks at the Edinburgh Christmas Market 🍷

If you enjoy mulled wine, you’ll know the struggle. Most mulled wine at Christmas markets is passable at best, and that was largely true here, particularly from the main bars, where drinks often tasted very carton-forward.

Where to find the best mulled wine

The best Glühwein I found came from two small, dedicated Glühwein stalls near the top of the market, past the small circular bratwurst stall. They are separate from the main bars and easy to miss if you don’t walk all the way up.

The bratwurst stall itself sits next to a large bar that sells the more standard, underwhelming mulled wine. Keep walking and look specifically for the Glühwein huts.

The version with amaretto was particularly good, and they also offered brandy and other additions.

Drinks to skip

Several main bars sell an ‘Innis & Gunn Winter Warmer’, a whisky-based drink. I tried it and overheard other people discussing it, all equally confused. It tasted like whisky-flavoured water with a hint of orange and isn’t something I’d recommend.

Better drink options

• Hot Spiced Mulled Gin – really good and quite strong (pictured above on the right).
• Festive Mulled Punch – tasty but extremely sweet, and noticeably hotter than most other drinks.
• Gingerbread coffee from Hector and Harriet Luxury Coffee and Hot Chocolate. A solid, comforting choice.

Top 5 Picks at the Edinburgh Christmas Market ⭐

1. 🌭 Bratwurst from the small circular stall near the top.
2. 🍟 Festive Fries – The Highlander (haggis, peppercorn sauce and crispy onions).
3. 🥩 The Roast Yorkie (turkey, gravy, stuffing and veg).
4. 🧀 Spaetzle with beef ragout and cheese -good comforting fare.
5. 🍷 Glühwein from the dedicated stalls near the top (especially with amaretto).

Helpful Tips for Visiting the Edinburgh Christmas Market 💡

🚪You can enter from Princes Street during the day. This gets you straight to the food stalls at the top of the market without having to walk through the entire site.

🌙 Expect different access rules at night. In the evening, entry is typically via the Market Street entrance only, which means walking through the whole market to reach most of the food stalls.

👥 Evenings are very busy. If you visit at night, expect heavy crowds, long queues, and a few sardine moments, particularly around the big rides.

💳 Card is king. Most stalls are card-only. Cash often causes delays and awkward moments.

By the way, I visited the market solo, and if you would like to visit Edinburgh on your own, you may be interested in my Solo Traveller’s Guide to Christmas in Edinburgh.

FAQs About the Edinburgh Christmas Market 💡

Some common questions about Edinburgh Xmas Market below:

What food is best at the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

Bratwurst, festive fries, roast yorkies, and spaetzle were my top picks.

Is the food at the Edinburgh Christmas Market expensive?

Yes. Prices are high across the board, so it’s best to expect it and treat the experience as part of the festive outing.

Where can you find good mulled wine at the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

Look for the dedicated Glühwein stalls near the top of the market, past the small circular bratwurst stall. The main bars sell mulled wine, but it isn’t the best.

Are there vegetarian options at the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

Yes. There are vegetarian options including cheese-based dishes, fries, spaetzle, and sweet treats.

What is the best time to visit the Edinburgh Christmas Market for food?

Daytime visits are calmer and make it easier to reach the food stalls. Evenings are atmospheric but extremely busy.

When does the Edinburgh Christmas Market close for the season?

In 2026, it is January 4th. Always check the official website before making plans.

Final Thoughts on Edinburgh Christmas Market Food and Drink 🎄

There’s something wildly joyful about wandering the market with warm food in hand and fairy lights overhead. While not everything is a gourmet experience, the Edinburgh Christmas Market food and drink scene brings all the festive feels – from cheesy, gooey bites to spiced drinks that warm your soul. Go hungry, bring cash, and embrace the seasonal chaos.

Related Reading 🎅

☕ Top 8 Cosy Places for the Best Hot Chocolate in Edinburgh.
🎉 Things to do in Edinburgh on New Year’s Eve.
🍽️ Food of Scotland: 18 Traditional Dishes & Local Drinks You Have to Try.
🏨 Best Cosy Hotels & Festive Stays in Edinburgh (With Fairy Lights & Fireplaces).
🎄Edinburgh Christmas Itinerary: 3 Magical Days in Scotland’s Festive Capital.
🌟 A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Christmas in Edinburgh.
🧣 5 Magical Festive Walks Around Edinburgh.

Pinterest 📌

Planning your trip to the Edinburgh Christmas Market? Save this post to your festive travel board so you’ve got the best eats ready to go!