Restaurants Near Edinburgh Theatres
Dinner before a show can be one of the best parts of a theatre trip. Whether you’re planning a quick bite before a matinee or making an evening of it with dinner and a musical, Edinburgh has plenty of places to eat within easy reach of its main theatres.
The Edinburgh Playhouse and Festival Theatre are both surrounded by restaurants, cafés and bars, but the best choice will depend on where you’re seeing your show, how much time you have and the type of meal you’re looking for.
Use this guide to find pre-theatre dining ideas near your venue and start planning your evening.
Find Restaurants Near Your Edinburgh Theatre
Already know where you’re seeing your show? Start with your theatre to find restaurants in the most convenient part of the city.
Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse sits at the top of Leith Walk, close to Picardy Place and the St James Quarter. You’ll find plenty of dining options around Antigua Street, Elm Row, Broughton Street and the surrounding city centre. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal, Italian food, somewhere for a special occasion or a relaxed dinner before the curtain goes up, there are plenty of options within easy reach of the theatre.
Explore Restaurants Near Edinburgh Playhouse
Festival Theatre Edinburgh
Festival Theatre is on Nicolson Street, close to Edinburgh’s Old Town and the University of Edinburgh. The surrounding streets offer everything from casual dining and international cuisine to restaurants that work particularly well when you need to eat before an evening performance.
Explore Restaurants Near Festival Theatre
Best Pre-Theatre Restaurants Near Edinburgh Playhouse
If you’re heading to the Edinburgh Playhouse, choosing somewhere close to the theatre makes it much easier to relax over dinner without constantly checking the time.
Here are a few places to consider.
Mamma Roma
📍 Antigua Street, Edinburgh
🚶 Around a 2–3 minute walk
🍝 Italian
⭐ Best for: Traditional pre-theatre dining, couples and families
Mamma Roma is one of the closest restaurants to the Edinburgh Playhouse and is particularly well suited to theatre visitors.
The family-run Italian restaurant serves a wide selection of pasta, pizza and traditional Italian dishes and even offers a dedicated pre-theatre menu before Playhouse performances.
Its location just around the corner from the theatre makes it particularly convenient when you don’t want a long walk after dinner.
Because of its proximity to the Playhouse, booking ahead is a good idea when a popular musical or show is in town.
Valvona & Crolla Café Bar
📍 Elm Row, Edinburgh
🚶 A short walk from Edinburgh Playhouse
🍝 Traditional Italian café and restaurant
⭐ Best for: Italian food and a relaxed daytime or early meal
Valvona & Crolla has been part of Edinburgh’s food scene since 1934, with its Caffè Bar tucked away at the back of the famous Italian delicatessen on Elm Row.
The menu focuses on traditional Italian cooking using Scottish and Italian ingredients, making it an interesting option if you’d like something a little different before your visit to the theatre.
Opening hours are worth checking carefully when planning an evening performance, as regular Caffè Bar hours can finish earlier than many city-centre restaurants and may change during events and festival periods.
Dishoom Edinburgh
📍 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh
🚶 Around a 10-minute walk
🍛 Bombay-inspired Indian food
⭐ Best for: Sharing dishes, groups and a lively atmosphere
Dishoom Edinburgh is located on St Andrew Square and offers Bombay-inspired food in a lively city-centre setting.
The menu works particularly well for sharing, making it a good choice for couples or groups who want to enjoy several dishes before heading to the theatre.
It’s slightly further from the Playhouse than some of the restaurants immediately around Leith Walk and Picardy Place, so leave enough time for the walk after your meal.
Dishoom can also become busy, particularly at popular dining times, so plan ahead if you’re working around a fixed performance start time.
Want More Playhouse Dining Ideas?
These are just a few places you could consider before a performance.
Our dedicated Edinburgh Playhouse dining guide will go further, with options for quick meals, special occasions, families and different budgets, along with restaurants within easy walking distance of the theatre.
Best Pre-Theatre Restaurants Near Festival Theatre Edinburgh
Festival Theatre’s location on Nicolson Street gives theatre visitors plenty of choice around the Old Town, Southside and surrounding streets.
If you’re eating before a show, I’d prioritise restaurants within easy walking distance so you don’t have to rush across the city as your performance time approaches.
Mother India’s Café
📍 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh
🚶 A few minutes’ walk from Festival Theatre
🍛 Indian small plates
⭐ Best for: Sharing, couples and groups
Mother India’s Café is on Infirmary Street, close to Festival Theatre, making it a particularly convenient option for pre-theatre dining.
The restaurant is known for serving Indian dishes in smaller portions designed for sharing, allowing you to choose several different dishes for the table rather than sticking to one traditional main course.
That style of dining can work particularly well before the theatre, although you should still allow plenty of time for your meal and book ahead when possible.
More Festival Theatre Restaurants Coming Soon
We’re expanding our Festival Theatre dining guide with more places to eat within easy reach of Nicolson Street and the Old Town.
Rather than recommending restaurants simply because they’re somewhere in central Edinburgh, we’ll concentrate on places that make practical sense for theatre visitors, including quick meals, family-friendly choices and restaurants for a more leisurely pre-show dinner.
How to Choose a Pre-Theatre Restaurant in Edinburgh
The best pre-theatre restaurant isn’t necessarily the fanciest or even the closest. It is the one that works around your performance. Before booking, consider a few practical things.
- Check Your Performance Time – Always check when your show starts before making a restaurant reservation. Matinee and evening performance times vary, and some productions have different start times on different days.
- Allow Enough Time to Eat – For a sit-down meal before an evening performance, allowing around 90 minutes can give you time to enjoy dinner without constantly watching the clock. You may want longer if you’re planning several courses, celebrating a special occasion or eating further away from your theatre.
- Check the Walking Time – A restaurant might describe itself as being in Edinburgh city centre without actually being particularly close to your theatre. Check the walking route before booking and remember that Edinburgh has hills, busy streets and uneven surfaces that can make journeys take longer than expected.
- Look for Pre-Theatre Menus – Some Edinburgh restaurants offer menus specifically designed around theatre performances. These can be useful when you’re eating earlier in the evening, but check the serving times, number of courses and any restrictions before booking.
- Book Ahead – Restaurants near Edinburgh’s theatres can become particularly busy when a major musical or popular production is running. Friday evenings, Saturdays and festival periods can be especially busy, so booking your table in advance can make your evening much easier.
Tips for Pre-Theatre Dining in Edinburgh
A little planning can make the difference between a relaxed dinner and a dash to the theatre. Choose somewhere reasonably close to your venue and leave yourself a buffer between finishing your meal and the performance starting. Even if a restaurant is only a few minutes away, you’ll still need time to walk to the theatre, enter the building and find your seats.
If you’re attending a particularly popular show, remember that many other audience members may have exactly the same dinner plans. Restaurants close to the theatre can become busy at similar times. It’s also worth checking the expected running time of your musical if you’re planning drinks or food after the performance. Check out our guide on How Long Is a Typical Musical? What to Expect for more information.
FAQ
Planning dinner around a theatre performance can raise a few questions, especially if you’re visiting Edinburgh or trying a restaurant for the first time. Here are some quick answers to help you plan your pre-theatre meal and arrive at your show relaxed and on time.
Planning Your Edinburgh Theatre Visit?
Once you’ve chosen where to eat, you can start planning the rest of your theatre visit. Explore upcoming Edinburgh musicals, find information about your theatre and use our visitor guides to plan transport, timings and more of your time in the city.