A Review of Edinburgh's Best Vegan Breakfasts for American Travelers
A Review of Edinburgh's Best Vegan Breakfasts
for American Travelers
American travelers exploring Edinburgh, Scotland will find their mornings (and afternoons) enhanced with the city's best vegan breakfast options.
In Edinburgh, travelers are greeted with a
diverse array of vegan breakfast offerings that not only cater to dietary preferences but also celebrate the Scottish culinary culture. They can enjoy the traditional flavors while staying true to their personal beliefs.
From traditional Scottish dishes like vegan haggis to innovative plant-based creations, cafes and restaurants in the city offer a flavorful exploration into vegan gastronomy. This article explores the city's commitment to vegan-friendly dining, highlighting establishments and unique breakfast experiences that blend cultural authenticity with contemporary dietary needs.
Chapter One Coffee Shop, an all-vegan cafe located on Dalry Road, embraces the belief that "peace begins on your plate," living in harmony with both humans and animals in the world. A cozy neighborhood spot to enjoy their Full Breakfast, featuring a selection that includes sausage, bacon, scrambled tofu, baked beans, potato scone, tomato, haggis, spinach, and sunflower seeds, served with toast and butter.
A hearty breakfast ideal for travelers with 30-45 minutes to spare, accompanied by a refreshing cup of coffee or tea. Each bite provides a flavorful and nutritious experience that promotes compassion.
Chapter One crafts its haggis from oatmeal, pearl barley, sunflower seeds, and other ingredients. While traditional haggis typically include minced hearts, livers, and lungs of animals mixed with oatmeal, onions, suet, and a blend of seasoning and spices.
Slicing open the vegan haggis is quite different from Robert Burns’ celebrated poem "Address to a Haggis," which ceremonially praises the traditional version:
Fair fa’ your honeft, fondue face,
Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.
For travelers short on time, a quick and satisfying option is to choose from the daily sandwiches in the display case. Options include Falafel and Mango Chutney, Pepperoni, Sweet Chili Chick*N, Smoked Tofu, Almond Pesto and Mozzarella, Reuben, Brie and Cranberry, Mediterranean, and Haggis.
The Haggis sandwich had already sold out for the day, so the server at Chapter One suggested her favorite, the Smoked Tofu sandwich, which includes kimchi, sriracha, mayo, and spinach. The multigrain bread with flax, poppy, sesame, and sunflower seeds adds a delightful nuttiness to each bite.
Though not a traditional Scottish dish, this sandwich highlights the city's diverse flavors and cultural influences.
The Holy Cow restaurant, entirely vegan, offers their unique versions of the Full Breakfast, with a gluten-free option available. Both choices include Italian-style sausage, smoked tempeh bacon, organic baked beans in tomato sauce, scrambled tofu, potato scone, mushrooms, tomato, greens, and toast with butter.
This Full Breakfast features an elegant presentation with baby tomatoes on the vine and a small bowl of butter. Their attention to detail in the plating creates a fancier vibe, elevating the overall dining experience.
For more breakfast options, Seeds for the Soul restaurant is popularly known for its vegan offerings among locals.
Their menu includes the Full Breakfast, Vegan Benny, Pink Hummus and Avocado Toast, Savoury Pancakes, Biscoff Pancakes, and Breakfast Toast.
Their Vegan Benny consists of a “toasted English muffin topped with pan-fried firm tofu, house bacon, avocado, vegan hollandaise, and homemade yolk sauce,” making it a highly recommended choice for a savory breakfast. The dash of paprika powder adds the perfect touch of spicy flavor to the dish.
Their Biscoff Pancakes, featuring “homemade fluffy pancakes served with Biscoff sauce, chocolate sauce, banana, [and] Biscoff crumble whipped cream,” are almost like having dessert for breakfast. Then order an Americano, black or with milk on the side to balance the sweetness.
Breakfast is served until 3 pm, allowing travelers ample time to enjoy the breakfast menu at their own pace.
While travelers may not always have cake for breakfast, The Piemaker offers piping hot pastries. They provide vegan options such as the Spinach Vergas Bake, Mushroom Vergas Bake, Double Potato Roll, Haggis Roll, and Sausage Roll. The Haggis Roll is a classic pastry filled with a savory blend of mushrooms, onion, peppers, carrots, grains, seeds, and spices.
"The future is vegan" and Edinburgh is progressively embracing veganism.
