Alby's in Edinburgh, City of

Wow. I came by here on the recommendation of a Time Out article and I am so glad I did! I got the caponata sandwich which I took with me to eat by the Water of Leith. It was an absolute delight and probably one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had - perfectly seasoned, perfect amount of greens and perfect type of bread. It is indeed a “big” sandwich which makes it great value! The restaurant is super cute and pretty accessible from city center.

Cute little place with a limited but excellent and unusual selection of sandwiches on delicious fluffy and salt-sprinkled bread. Cappuccinos were strong and smooth.

Absolutely phenomenal sandwiches.

This is a fantastic sandwich!! I've never had such a delicious sandwich. I found it from google maps, many people said very good, so I decided to try it. I came here about 3pm, it’s not busy time. I really hope everyone to try it

We both enjoyed our coley sandwiches

Sandwiches were incredible. We had the ham hock with pea fritters and a toastie with pancetta, Brie, and figs. The bread was fresh and crisp, the fillings were top notch. The vibe is cute and laid back, service was friendly and unpretentious.

Incredible. Easily one of the top 5 sandwiches I’ve ever eaten.

Mucho delicious. Nice Music and good vibes

Last minute booking (got lucky). Never been before, would 100% be coming back. Unbelievably good homemade sandwich, massive too! Absolute belter of a lunch

I was honestly not expecting much when we walked in this place. The location is a bit underwhelming... You walk down a small set of very steep stairs and duck to enter. Once you're inside there are a few tables to sit at and a small counter. The sign in the window promises just one thing: Big Hot Sandwiches. It's not a lie. We were offered a seat and the server came over to offer us some water and a menu. The menu is quite small, with a few sandwich options, and a large drinks selection of mostly beer and soft drinks. I was a little skeptical as I ordered the Toastie, and Rosemary Fries - my experience with focaccia is usually not great... When the sandwiches arrived, my skepticism soon turned to extreme enthusiasm... The sandwich was amazing, and the bread was a huge part of that. The contrast between the pillowy-softness of the bread and the slight crunch imparted by toasting the whole thing matched so well with the gooey cheeses, and the slight kick from the jalapenos. The fries (thought they called them "chips" here?) were also delicious, and perfectly cooked to be nice and crisp on the outside, but soft and slightly chewy on the inside. The rosemary flavor was strong and really meshed with the saltiness. The server was very friendly and efficient and the price was definitely right. If this place existed back home, I'd be there all the time!

Legendary sandwiches and awesome team, keep up the great work!

What a wonderful restaurant. The food was delicious and the staff was kind and personable.

A great idea to serve your sandwiches on focaccia bread. This place has a limited menu but they do it well. A nice little restaurant and a great place to stop if you are visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia. The prices are also really good as the sandwiches provide a very good portion. My one issue is with the packaging. Even when you eat in, everything is wrapped and served in throw away material. The fries come in an aluminum container and each sandwich is wrapped, I'm not sure why they don't provide everything on reusable plates as the salad did come in a plate. Sadly this would prevent me from really recommending it or returning. A small change would easily change this rating.

Amazing and friendly staff. Sandwiches have a good variety of veggie options and the fried were exquisite. Honestly loved it and will definitely be going back there soon

Lovely service, great music, and the sandwiches are really delicious! I recommend without hesitation 😊

Amazing sandwiches, huge portions and a cosy feel when dining in.

Great sandwiches, very friendly staff and amazing arancini, highly recommend!

Popped in for a quick food grab to take away around 3pm, place was empty. New food menu every 4 weeks and they have another place that has different menu, so wasn't able to order what I saw on Google review photos. Menu had 4 sandwiches (1 curry chicken tight focaccia, 1 hallumi, 1 sardines and 1 vegan). Ordered 2 chicken ones and had 2 irn bru, paid £31 for all, waiting time less than 10min. Food was very good, juicy, lots of salad, tasty chicken, sauce, focaccia very good,great flavour combo. Would I come back? Not sure, as a bit expensive for a sandwich (£13 each, others were cheaper, around £11), but it tasted great. Also note, no buggy or wheelchair accessible, about 4 or 5 steps down the main road.

Sandwiches are absolutely massive! Delicious. Limited changing menu means always something new to try. Can’t wait to go back

Exceptional spot for sandwiches. Really big and really tasty. The fries and caesar salads are good too. Alby’s is a fine place for a quick meal.

Awesome comfort food. One of the best places to dine in Edinburgh. Excellent spot for lunch. Extremely courteous and friendly staff. Love dining at Alby’s.

And oh what a sandwich it was! My partner had the halloumi and I had the sardine sandwich. It was hands down the best sandwich I have had in Edinburgh - posh and plentiful enough for dinner, yet flavorful and down-to-earth. Service was brisk and friendly.

Highest of quality , kind staff and one of the best chicken sangas I’ve ever had!

Amazing place for big hot sandwiches. Really like the chicken pakora & garlic pickle sandwich, sardine melt sandwich and halloumi & baba ganoush sandwich. The arancini and shaved fennel salad are delicious too.

Large and delicious sandwiches. Relaxed atmosphere. Great service.

The staff were helpful and friendly. Great sarnies with filling portions. The fries with aoli were very good. Touristy questions about transport links were helpfully met.

This place is just really freaking good.

Genuinely the best sandwich I've ever had!

OMG - WOW! The best toastie/sandwich I've possibly ever had. Limited menu, but I think this is the key to amazing food - keep it small and be amazing at what you have to offer. I had the broccoli and cheese/garlic etc toastie (sounds awful but really worked) - we had it with chips and aioli sauce. My husband had the meat one and was super impressed too. Seating is a bit awkward/uncomfortable - there was 2 chairs to our table, and then a bench that was under the window - the bench was too high for the table but wasn't an issue as there was only 2 of us. Fairly limited seating but they do take-out too. If you're in the area, you must try!

Sandwiches so great you almost forget you just paid £12 for a sandwich. 🥪🔥💵

This sandwich is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. I was really hungry and ambitious, but still had to ask for a takeaway bag for half of the sandwich. Truly life changing.

Loved the cauliflower sandwich!

Went out of our way when on holiday to head to Alby’s. Really easy to get to, brilliant service (book if you can, we didn’t realise but luckily got a table) and the sandwiches. Wow. Fried chicken to die for. One’s probably enough to share unless you’re starving, and the fried pickle platter was great. Licensed too which is fun. Brilliant.

Best sandwiches in Edinburgh, no question.

Fill your stomach and the stomach in your hat with this amazing line of sandwiches, some of which fit in a hat to take home to eat. I have to go, my wife wants me... Zoltán

Have passed a number of times, liked the look of the place. Eventually tried out today and was not disappointed. Not a big bread fan so opted for two of the light sides. Amazing flavours and had to take at least 1/2 home with me for later. I'll definitely be back. Would love to see Soup(s) on the menu but that's just my preference.

Excellent food and better service.

Delicious sandwiches and great atmosphere! Wonderful veggie and vegan options. A perfect lunch spot if you find yourself in Leith.

Been wanting to visit in person for ages. As amazing as I expected! Place is bigger than it looks from the outside, decor is fab. But the important part - the food😍 I was just on a quick work lunch break by myself so just grabbed a sandwich and an apple juice. Service was lovely, place was busy but the girl was super kind and the food didn’t take long at all. Bread was incredible, all fillings were 10/10. Couldn’t recommend it more!

10/10. Great sandwhiches. Cauliflower Mac n cheese croquettes side was phenomenal. Surprisingly good coffee too. First time here but not the last.

Lovely atmosphere and friendly service. The sandwiches were nice enough but definitely not worth £13. It’s a similar vibe to Max’s Sandwich Shop in London, but unfortunately the sandwiches are nowhere near as good and still more expensive.

Fab place to grab a muckle, huge, sarnie. So fresh & delish & don't forget the chips too

A nice sandwich shop located close to the Yacht Britannia in Leith. Worth a visit if you're in the area. Sandwich prices are a tad on the high side considering that they don't come with a side - £13 for a chicken sandwich.

The sandwiches were really delicious, and the person who brought us our order was really nice and friendly!

Super friendly little place that makes the best sandwiches! The staff were lovely, I highly recommend coming here.

Muckle sarnies, recommend sharing one between two and defo have the chippies too👌🏼

A friend recommended this place and he was bang on. Probably the tastiest sandwich I've had in Edinburgh.

Great place for a weekend lunch. The courgette frittes is the best.

Super nice and attentive service. The sandwich, great. The fries, great! E

my favourite sandwich shop in Edinburgh, tash and matt (owners) are so lovely and the food is always bangin✨

Staff all very friendly, incredibly chill environment and fantastic sandwiches.

OMG the Nashville hot chicken is outstanding. Never had sandwiches so good and so fresh. I also had the prawn toast! It really was incredible. 10/10

The sandwich I got was incredible. I got the pulled beef short rib sandwich. Possibly the single best sandwich I’ve ever eaten!

**Edited 5 stars down to 4. 2 years ago this was my 5 star review: "Delicious!" The sandwiches were HUGE and deep filled (see pic) back then. I've been a regular at Alby's ever since. Unfortunately I've started to notice that in recent months, their foccacia has got thinner and fillings are more sparing. The sandwiches are still good but no longer amazing, like they used to be. Please please please, Alby's, put the BIG back into your "big hot sandwiches" slogan 🫰🫰

Best sandwiches ever! I've been here a couple of times and they have the best sandwiches. The selection changes regularly and they are filling big sandwiches! Coffee is good too, as is the service! Good veggie options. They do take away too.

Stopped in with my little boy earlier today, what a find. The holy grail of amazing service, coffee & food all in one place. We both loved it 👌

Possibly the tastiest shop sandwich 🥪 I have ever tasted ... We shared the vegan option ... The sandwiches are huge. So delicious with top quality focaccia and ingredients, with real thought put into texture too. Can't wait to return. Lovely service too. Thank you 😊

One of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten- huge portions and excellent quality, I’ll be dreaming about the smoky, crunchy, sweet and sour flavours of the hispi cabbage for a while! Friendly service and a great atmosphere, I can’t wait to return and try their other sandwiches.

Super Sandwiches und sehr freundlicher Service. Die Musik ist auch nice.

Great sandwich - horrific service, felt very unwelcome

What an astounding little find this was. Beautiful food , Quirky, Friendly and made to feel so welcome. A full tummy all the way back to Yorkshire! Thanks Guys. You deserve all the very best with your business. Long may you continue because we'll be back on our next visit up North!

Super accueil et très bon sandwich

We just stumbled upon this place.it was 3pm and we needed something to eat. No fuss made. Very friendly waitress. Best sandwiches we had in a long time. Original and tasty. Huge portions. Chips had a lovely coating of spices. Very good value. Do stop for lunch.

You need to eat here. The sandwiches are incredible. Decor is beautiful. Music was spot on. Got chatting to the owner too who is lovely. The whole place is a vibe!

The service was great, the sandwiches were even great. Would really recommend the buttermilk chicken sandwich with the pesto. Mwah (chefs kiss) I'll be back again however the latte was average, considering the price point here, a wee bit of latte art would've added to the great experience

Fantastic food, absolutely massive sandwiches and friendly staff who helped us with some alternative food options without any fuss! 10/10 would sandwich again

The sandwiches are amazing and creative, the service is always amazing, and their choice of music is perfect. You have to try it to understand why everyone loves it so much!

Delicious and generous sandwiches made from varied ingredients, perfect for all tastes. They also offer veggie and vegan options !

This is a temple dedicated to sandwich gastronomy. Alby’s has been taking the focaccia sandwich to higher levels for a few years now out of a little basement joint in Leith. Each sandwich creation is a carefully crafted hymn of praise for true sandwich worshippers, always with the perfect combination of taste, texture and ingredients. Make your pilgrimage soon.

Great sandwiches. Had the Chicken Ceasar and it was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while. Focaccia style bread is super tasty and the size is big, good value for money in my opinion. Will def go back to try some more fillings!

Wonderful sandwiches, highly recommend.

Amazing sandwiches, absolutely huge and definitely enough for two

We went to Alby’s based off a few recommendations from friends who said they’d really enjoyed it. We didn’t book a table and just turned up. Unfortunately there wasn’t a table but the waitress asked us if we’d be happy sharing a table with other people. We were happy with this and so were the other people at the table (it was quite large so we didn’t feel close to them) We ordered the battered chicken thigh focaccia sandwich and it was so good! It was really flavoursome and the focaccia was very soft. Would definitely recommend this sandwich if it’s on the menu on the day you visit. The sandwiches are very large so they’re a bit more pricey than a regular sandwich shop but they’re worth every penny. The service was really welcoming and quick. Definitely worth a visit!

Delicious chicken sandwich and great rosemary chips. Very generous portions. The flavour combinations are just great. The breaded chicken was crispy and piping hot. The slaw was spicy and a perfect combo with the chicken. It’s not often I rave about a sandwich but this one was really excellent.

This place has incredible sandwiches, great staff, and a wonderful atmosphere.

Amazing sandwiches! Impressed with the size and unique selection. Would highly recommend.

Damn good sandwiches! Great wee restaurant and atmosphere too - perfect spot for a funky Saturday lunchtime treat.

Be ready to wait 45 minutes for 5 sandwich

Alby’s in leith is not to be missed - these are excellent sandwiches you won’t forget about. I’ve been 3 times now and they never disappoint. The menu changes up every so often so it’s worth checking the delivery menu ahead of time on Google via Albys website. I would advise to book ahead of you want a seat (it’s not always busy when I’ve been but once I had to wait for a seat). In the first pic I had the Baja fried Coley, tomatillo salsa verde, spicy mexican slaw, crema & rocket sandwich, and I shared my half with a friend who got the Poached chicken thigh, tarragon aioli, sugar snap peas, garden peas, chicken salt croutons & rocket sandwich. Both were unreal - but if I had to pick a winner it would be the baja! All with House fries. Sandwiches are bursting with flavours, hearty and messy. The bread has an amazing butter and salt base (I think) - Imagine a diner in America making you a sandwich. You’ll never forget these. If you’ve not had an Alby’s sandwich you are missing out!!!! Staff are always friendly, there are vegetarian options and prices are around £11-12 per sandwich. Totally worth it! Only downside is the small seating arrangements, and maybe the location. Seats and white interior don’t make it very cosy. Second pic is from last year. Think it was steak sandwich and a fried chicken sandwich (again, a swapsies scenario), and much like the review above, they were delicious👌

Amazing craft sandwiches on super yummy focaccia. Came here on recommendation from an employee at Holyrood distillery. Small, but well chosen selection. The staff were very accommodating. My group of three bought 2 sandwiches to share (it still made a big meal) but neglected to consider cutting them up. The staff graciously remade the sandwiches and cut into thirds instead of halves. Definitely will come again when travelling through Edinburgh.

Pushy service. Overpriced for what it is. Has a live, laugh ,love sign in it.

Hidden Gem! Firstly the staff are super friendly, i was told that they just had their new menu, so I tried three of them. The focaccia bread is nicely done, the crust is adequately salted and crispy, fluffy on the inside. The roasted pork was super tender and juicy. 2nd favorite is the mushroom. Price is reasonable considering the quality of the food and the portion.

A warm welcome from friendly staff and a very welcomed warm delicious sandwich. I an excited to visit again, to leave with a very content feeling

Awesome vibes, creative sandwich ideas. Delicious 😋

Having visited here for the first time, this is now one of my new favourite lunch spots. As shown in the photos, they serve a small menu of enormous hot sandwiches, served in fresh focaccia. They’re stuffed with ingredients, and are really generous portions overall. The menu is diverse enough for everyone to find something they like, and there’s also a menu or sides too. Have one of the sandwiches for lunch and you’ll hardly need to eat for the rest of the day. There is also a good selection of soft drinks. The restaurant interior is clean and bright, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and had excellent taste in music. I’ll definitely return.

It’s easy to miss this place but we’ll worth finding. We ordered a toastie, although calling it a toastie is doing it an injustice. The flavours were amazing. The coffee was also really nice and the prices good. But the dessert was amazing. We ordered to share, but I won’t be sharing next time.

Excellent sandwiches, brilliant friendly team members and decent prices! Always happy to recommend Alby's!

Really nice big hot sandwich. we were really hungry and came in here and ordered the chicken sandwich and chips each. we were absolutely stuffed after. its byob so we brought a beer with us. the staff were lovely and so was the food. would recommend to a friend.

Suuuuppppeeeer delicious sandwich & nice atmosphere! Definitely recommend to come here!

Takes sandwiches to another level. So good. Especially the smoked fish.

Fantastic little place. Unassuming from the outside but full of character and charm inside. The team are DELIGHTFUL, warm and welcoming. Food it different and top notch with a nice selection of drinks too. Great ambience and fun decor. Highly recommended. Jo 🎉

Fantastic Sandwiches. Great place for veggie food. Everything is fresh and tastes superb.

Unreal every time! They change their menu every two weeks and every time it’s a banger. I’ve had chicken parm, meatball sandwiches, their vegan options - always amazing. Get here!!

Best sandwiches in the city and the menu is always changing, so I just keep coming back to try more of them. My favourite lunch spot by far. It might sound like a bit much money for a sandwich but the size of the sandwiches, the quality of the ingredients and cooking, and the inventiveness of the menu mean that the price is more than fair and it's not gone up, even when everyone is upping is their prices.

Lovely food, cool atmosphere, left stowed.

Best sandwiches in Edinburgh. Very good service too.

Best sandwiches I've had. Massive. Full of flavour. Great selection.

Came for the bread, came on the bread. I mean it was nice. The sammies are soooooo yummy. Ask for chef sauce. He’s working so hard. Omg chef sauce

Such a great place! Friendly staff, good music, nice atmosphere. I had delicious cauliflower sandwich. It was full of flavour and juicy. And the size?!?!? Wow!!! These sandwiches are BIG 😂 Thanks so much! I truly enjoyed my first visit and will be coming back.

The food was mediocre at best, however, the service and atmosphere were significantly below average. I would not recommend this place especially if you have children/babies with you.