Holy Cow in Edinburgh, City of

Amazing vegan food and lovely staff. Our son is a fussy eater and they accommodated our request to make something for him that wasn’t in the menu. Really appreciated!

I wanted to know what type of sweetener they add to the cakes but the answer was “I do not know”! Even when I asked the guy there “How are you?” His answer was “not too bad”! I felt they do not pay attention to details about healthy ingredients

Healthy options but no real cooked food. The food didn't have any taste (bowl) although the plate was nicely presented and filling. Overpriced for veggie plates.

The owner was so sweet. I had a friend who had her own food and she let us get seated and even brought her a plate and utensils. So kind. I had the vegan quarter pounder and fries. Unfortunately didn’t like it much, but might try out another dish if I come back to Edinburgh :)

Well… What can I say? I had the avocado sandwich. I fell in love with this delicious sandwich. The arrangement is cozy and comfortable. The personnel was kind.

Great, well-seasoned cuisine with very nice, smiling staff. It is definitely worth eating here, and absolutely not in the category of eating or not eating animal products. Thank you! It was delicious.

Damn delicious and really nice staff! 10 out of 10 would go again:)

Great food and lovely staff, a must visit for any vegan visiting Edinburgh

We used to love coming here but sadly Holy Cow seems to have gone the way of many restaurants during the cost of living crisis. We were here most recently a couple weeks ago and had the usual Pad Thai salad that we always have and were so sad to find that they've cut the peanut sauce and other flavoursome aspects of the dish. It didn't taste anything like it used to which was really disappointing as we'd come for a treat and in it's current incarnation, it's just not anything special anymore. The salad was fine but it didn't taste like pad thai anymore, no lime, no chilli, and no peanut sauce. We tried to cheer ourselves up with what looked like some amazing vegan cheese cake but that was even more disappointing, dry and chalky. I also was absolutely freezing the whole time as it was a rainy cold day and there didn't appear to be any heating on. Sad times to see a previously wonderful establishments struggle like this.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was pleasant and the waitress was very friendly. Unfortunately, the draft was noticeable at the window seat and I wouldn't recommend the two cakes we ate. The chocolate cake was dry and the mango cheesecake was more than solid. The hot chocolate and coffee were delicious though.

I went with my partner looking for veggie options in Edinburgh and we really liked it. The burgers (made of homemade bread) are accompanied by a good portion of fries (homemade, too, and very delicious). The Oyster mushroom or pulled BBQ option were super tasty, different from the "typical" tofu or vegetable burgers. The girl was very kind. We would recommend it! 😊

It is the best vegan place I have ever been to, period.

Really delicious burger, big portion. Dessert looked really good, was too full to try one, I'll definitely get one next time I'm in Edinburgh.

I went here when staying in Edinburgh.Was really happy with it the breakfast was a decent size and delicious.The potato scone things were amazing.i find vegan breakfast can be tiny.there is however only one option wich was way too big for my wife.

What an absolute delight! The best vegan cafe in Edinburgh. The food is so delicious. Highly recommend the quarter pounder burger and the coconut cheesecake. ☺️

Absolutely outstanding food. You'll not leave here hungry, that's for sure.

Lovely food, friendly service. The only downside was the music was too loud. The soup of the day was cream of potato and it was delicious, as was the Reuben.

Food was amazing! I had a soup of the day with buckwheat handmade bread, it was very tasty. Also blue matcha tea was great. The service wasn't very good tbh. There was only one waitress working and it seems that she had too many customers at the same time. The table wasn't clean when we arrived and even after asking, the waitress didn't clean it, so we had to wipe it ourselves. But she was nice tho, just feels like they need to hire more staffstaff. Design is very cute and cozy, but it was a little bit cold inside.

I really hate to leave bad reviews, but this is the second time this happens and I have to say something about the appalling attitude of the staff. First time last year I popped in for dinner (they’d just open for service) and I remember attempting a bit of chat with the lady behind the till at the moment of paying, and complimented them about how good the cheesecakes in the display looked. Not even a smile or an attempt at being polite on her part. I can’t even remember what I ordered that evening so it mustn’t have been that mind-blowing anyway, but I do remember it was overpriced. Oh well, Edinburgh prices, I thought. Tried to justify the woman’s abrupt manners thinking maybe she was tired after a long day. I found myself in town again today, I was nearby and decided to give the place another go. It must have been 11:45, I saw fairy lights on from outside, no signs on the door, so I walked in and the woman behind the counter said in a really aggressive tone “We are not open??!!”. Horrible attitude, not a smile, not even a polite “Hello, sorry we are still closed, we open at 12” or something. I worked in hospitality myself and yes, we all have bad days, but it’s not the customer’s fault, and kindness costs nothing. Before posting this review I had a look at the others, and a few do mention the appalling customer service. Maybe consider that in order to work with people on a daily basis you need to have basic people skills, instead of filling the place with your negativity.

Dog friendly and great food with lush coffee.

Lovely atmosphere, great food and drinks! The smashed avo sandwich was AMAZING and the festive coffees are a must. Shame that we didn't realise the other location had the breakfast pancakes but this was great too!

Magic. Great food, an oasis in a busy city.

Fabulous little vegan cafe serving really tasty food.

The mushroom burger was amazing

Great place for a wee treat before work! Always love the cake and matcha combo and this place never disappoints! Would recommend, had a lovely morning there today and service was super friendly :)

Red Velvet Cake was completely flavourless and not a particularly nice texture. Oreo cheesecake had a slight peanut butter flavour in one layer and was otherwise completely flavourless. 4 slices of cake came to a shade under £20 so expected more at that price.

The worst vegan burger I have ever tasted, could not finish the meal. It was like eating dry bread with lettice and some diluted and tasteless "dressing". The place was kinda filthy.

Popped in for a nice dinner after a long journey and it definitely hit the spot. The atmosphere was very welcoming and the decor and fairy lights gave off a wonderful vibe. The staff were very lovely and helpful from the moment we came in too. But the food.. oh the food was stunning. We left very happy, warm and full. We got a piece of Oreo Cheesecake to take back with us to the hotel and my only regret is that we didn't get two slices. 😍 Plus the coconut milk hot chocolate was beautiful, we will definitely be returning if we get the chance to!

Very limited menu and poor service

We were met with a monosyllabic refusal.

This is a wonderful little vegan cafe with a menu of delicious sweet and savory items. Vegan for the animals and a perfect respite from the city noise and limited menu options at conventional restaurants.

Extremely cozy, with mugs and decoration that feel like in your living room. Chips were delicious.

The table settings have all the loveliness of a sunny Sunday picnic, with sweet bright touches (string lights, potted plants, etc.)—like a Sunday picnic at an evil-free cow farm! My wife had the “smashed avocado” on toast (yes, the meme-iest millennial meal; we perpetuate the stereotype, gladly) and a hot chocolate. I gobbled down the reuben, which was a creamy and tangy sandwich tower of gut-gladdening comfort food. For dessert we enjoyed a (gluten-free) coffee and chocalate cake—oh dear lord it was soul-warming!

Very cosy! Wonderful vegan food. Recomend the pulled jackfruit burger

Exceptional vegan brunch, changed my perception of vegan food

Such a shame, but food wasn't great 😕. We felt as if we could have done a better job ourselves. Burgers were dry/stale and chips were barely cooked, felt a waste of £40. Might have been more sympathetic if the restaurant was busy, but we were the only ones there.

Super liebe Mitarbeiter, leckeres Essen!

We had the quarter pounder bean burger and the pulled jackfruit burger and they were fine but not amazing. Bean burger was a bit dry and could have used more sauce, it was a bit bland. The jackfruit burger had full uncut cloves of garlic in it, which was very odd. Fries were a bit soggy as well, but also fine.

Cosy cafe but the cheesecake I had was a real let down. Generous portion but little flavour - not sure if it was made in-house but left me wanting. Got a snack from a corner shop to fulfil my sweet craving.

Pains me to say this but I was slightly disappointed by this place - perhaps having had unfair expectations after loving its sister place in Fountainbridge. First the really positive stuff… the young woman doing the greeting/taking orders was exceptional… small details that showed emotional intelligence and care for customers. Food was fine… but at over £15 I guess I was hoping for something slightly more than just a good-but-basic burger, chips and some leaves. Atmosphere just didn’t do it for me… mainly because of the loud radio from the kitchen competing with the songs in the dining area and creating a stressful vibe that I just wanted to get away from. All in all, ok, but I’ll definitely go to the much more chilled one in fountainbridge next time.

Great atmosphere, quaint and cozy. Great variety of food options. The oatmilk latte and Chocolate/Peanuts smmothie were delicious.

I have been a customer here a few times, and I'd just like to start out by saying it really depends on who is working and how busy it is. My only good experiences have been when it's quiet. It can sometimes be long wait times if busy, and in that case you can feel the stress of workers. It was not a welcoming environment on my last visit, and I could kind of feel a sigh of relief when customers would walk out?! I would think there would be a better way of this place dealing with stress (there can't even be more than 8 tables inside?) On a positive note, the food is very lovely and me and my friends especially enjoy the smoothies. A bit on the expensive side, and I would think most of the people paying wouldn't mind if the customer service and place was actually welcoming and efficient.

Lovely food, but be prepared to wait. Ordered 2 sandwiches and chips and was waiting 45 minutes. One table actually left before their food arrived because it was taking so long. Another table who ordered after us received their food 10 minutes before we did. We asked about our order and were told they were very busy, hence the delay, and that they only have one chef on their busiest day.

Delicious lunch! Great location, but it is a small place, you might have to wait for a table to clear as it gets full

After finding the stairs to the restaurant, I had an amazing carrot sandwich and a nice chai latte. Whole place is vegan, really nice food and service. Only the decoration didn’t really have a personality, but it was okay! :) Will visit again

Great quantity at a great price. Always good to see a fully vegan restaurant near or in a city. The Reuben sandwich was particularly tasty and the cheese, despite being vegan, tasted very close to real cheese!!! I’m impressed :)

I was so excited to visit an all vegan restaurant during our trip in august, but holy cow disappointed on every front. we arrived and weren't greeted or offered menus, had to ask how the ordering process worked after sitting in our seats not knowing for 15 minutes. We ordered our food, only to be told 10 minutes after paying that the main ingredient (tofu) was out of stock, so we had to choose different dishes. I picked the celariac, which was honestly so strange. A giant slab of celariac wrapped in nori was basically flavourless and cold, I doubt it was heated to foodsafe temperature. I requested gf bread which was more like cake and crumbled to pieces in my hands. The only redeeming factor were the chips which is a sad thing for a vegan restaurant when you've paid 13£. It felt like a real waste of food. We were not checked on at any point after receiving food by the server. I left hungry and unsatisfied.

Tasty, nice atmosphere and the waitress is super nice!

Best vegan cheesecake ever!! I got Biscoff one. Was incredible and for such a good price as well. It’s right next to the bus station so went in and grabbed a slice for the bus home

Amazing Tofu burger! Nice flavour and a lot of food in the plate.

Had a really fresh and tasty burger here. The staff was nice and motivated 👍🏼

Delishous and filling all vegan menu

£6.50 tomato soup .Tasted like hot water not good value 👇

Tasty all vegan food and drinks served by lovely staff, epic.

Excellent and very tasty food and super friendly staff.

Couldn't fault the young lass working there, great service and very polite. Coped well when it got very busy all of a sudden and provided service with a smile. The sandwich we had wasn't very tasty, very very dense unpleasant bread and fairly under seasoned. Chips were great though, as was the coffee. Took some cake to go. My mate said the carrot cake was top notch, unfortunately the same can't be said for the biscoff one, my partner thought I was pranking her with a cake ment for dogs. Looked great, wasn't very edible.

I'm from Glasgow and when I knew i was coming through to Edinburgh I had to try this place. Extremely Highly recommend this place. I had the quarter pounder the coffee cake with tea. I'm 100% coming back, try one of the other fantastic burgers they have. Waitress recommended a fantastic burger 🍔. Friendly staff, lovely decor and amazing food in an amazing city. What more could you ask for 👍

Such delicious food. Try the carrot Lox sandwich, I get it each time I’ve been here. Don’t miss this if you are in Edinburgh and looking for some stunning food!

If you like vegan cakes, it is the best place to get them from. A huge variety of high-quality cakes every week. They have even tiramisu or banofee pie. The best ones I had. Total 5 stars

Really delicious food in a snug little cafe.

Best vegan restaurant (possibly overall restaurant) I've ever been to. Shared the soup of the day which was the nicest soup I've tasted served with great homemade bread. I then had the jackfruit burger which was great, however my partner had the naori fish burger which was out of this world; tasted just like the real thing! Great service and all round perfect experience - can't recommend highly enough!

I’m not even vegan but I loved it - delicious burgers and cake!

Just had the best mushroom soup I've ever had. Nicely spiced and very well made. Great service, great atmosphere and very homey restaurant. Highly recommend

Possibly one of the best places I’ve been in for vegan food! I had the quarter pounder burger and it was great. I’m definitely going back :)

One of my favourite spots in Edinburgh for brunch or lunch or cake and coffee.

The afternoon tea was amazing! If you’re vegan (or just like vegan food) and in Edinburgh, this is a must-try! For just £25 per person, the amount of food you get is immense and so delicious. Staff were lovely and the general cafe location in an art gallery is a beautiful setting to eat in. Thanks Holy Cow for such a fantastic lunch!

Avoid this place if you have allergies. I had an allergic reaction after having a "gluten dairy free" cake and coffee there.

Mangiato molto bene a un prezzo corretto. L’hamburger di funghi, servito con patatine fritte, era davvero buono e la zuppa del giorno (oggi era patate dolci e zenzero) era squisita e abbondante. Ci torneremo sicuro se capiterà ancora di essere a Edimburgo e lo consiglio vivamente a tutti.

Fantastic little place. Great selection of food and drinks. Only thing I will say that was a bit of a disappointment was that the bun was super dry and dense. But all in all a good meal, the vietnamese tofu was perfect and the kimchi was delicious and spicy

If you want variety delicious vegan foods come and visit. I did takeout a burger and a smoothie, the taste was good. The stuff lady was not rude but also not so warm and nice.

A bit off the beaten path, but definitely worth looking for it. I went with my boyfriend for dinner and we ha the loveliest time. He fell in love with their vegan burger, and I enjoyed every bit of my mushroom one as well. I also indulged in a smoothie and a cake which were both worth every penny.

Amazing little vegan restaurant, many gluten-free options and the loveliest staff.

Awesome Vegan Burgers at an affordable price 🤩😍

We didn't really enjoy our experience here which was a shame. The drinks were very very weak and just tasted of oat milk.

I'd avoid this place if I was you, after eating some dodgy mushroom burger I was violently sick, I question the cleanliness/ hygiene conditions. Truly awful.

Here I tasted the most delicious vegan burger ever! I also enjoyed the vegan Tiramisù. The Christmas decorations in the shop and friendly service creates a really welcoming atmosphere. Well done 👏 The holy cow must be a happy cow 🐮

We had a burger and an open sandwich both were lovely with lots of flavour! I also had a pumpkin spice latte which was amazing! Really nice cafe with a relaxed atmosphere and great staff. Would definitely recommend to anyone in Edinburgh vegan or not!

Homemade pickles, healthy and indulgent smoothies, great selection of interesting, unique sandwiches and burgers. Great little place!

Lovely place, great food and friendly staff

Lovely small café with vegetarian food. Superfriendly staff.

I cannot recommend this place enough. Delicious vegan mains -- ranging from delicious vegetable burgers and homemade chips to Pad Thai -- and a mouth-watering array of cakes. Very easy going ambiance, attentive and friendly staff and reasonable prices. Love this place.

Today i have the best carot coliander soup ever , well done !

Fresh, tasty, simple and over priced.

Really tasy. I'll definitely be trying to recreate the Vietnamese tofu burger at home!

Lovely, friendly staff and excellent vegan cakes and hot drinks. We have also had lunch here which was very tasty. Highly recommended.

Tucked away from the busy street, this adorable vegan haven took my husband and I in from the cold drizzle where we enjoyed a warming, cozy meal that had us drifting into another dimension of consciousness it was so good. As someone with a food allergy, it feels so nice to be able to confidently eat everything on my plate without having to ask! HOLY COW IT WAS DELICIOUS Also the gal who was working there was an MVP taking care of everyone by herself while additionally finagling with a broken card reader✌️

Dog friendly 🐕 tasty food , place to hide from overcrowded city life, recommend

Cozy basement vegan restaurant in which to escape the rainy Edinburgh weather and work on my sketches. I had the the vegan Reuben sandwich and chips.

Fabulous pre concert burger and pot of tea 🍵

We decided to visit due to the reviews and the hype. I will say the food is very tasty, but in my case where I ordered the mushroom burger, the mushroom was a skinny little slice and the best part was the bun they served it it. The smoothies and the deserts were nice, but the end bill came to £35ish and I was still left feeling hungry and nope I’m not fat or overweight. I would visit it the prices were better and the food more substantial, but other than that, I wouldn’t want to pay £13.00 for a burger I can make at home for a fraction of the price. Sadly for me, I wont be returning but you do have to judge for yourself.

It wasn't a good experience there. Too high prices for regular food. We ordered the pad Thai (which is hard top find a y similarity with real one), and they decided not to put any piece of tofu. About hamburger, nothing remarkable to say. We also had problems with the bill. I dont recommend it at all, sorry.

Amazing place, loved the food and the cozy atmosphere. One of the best vegan places out there!

From a non vegan, really good burger

Amazing vegan cafe and restaurant. Went for dinner and got a mushroom burger with seitan and my mom got a pulled jackfruit burger. These people know their vegan food 😍

Fabulous vegan, veggie & gluten free foods on the menu. Delicious desserts, and a range of hot (with huge choices of milks) & cold drinks - AND a beautiful, sunny patio with tables if you want to be outside!

Amazing food, amazing drinks and lovely staff! When I went I tasted a jackfruit burger and an Oreo cheeseless cheesecake which was very tasty. Very balanced recipes.

Very tasty food and wonderful staff, would definitely recommend! Quite affordable as well and lovely atmosphere.

Delicious coffee in a very cute environment and friendly service. We loved it and would definitely return!

Yum! Really nice food. I had an open sandwich and the bread was super light and fresh, fillings generous and side salad prepared with care. Chips were homemade. My girlfriend had a very nice soup with perfect thickness. 5 stars!

A ver, está bien pero nada del otro mundo. Las hamburguesas cuestan 13£ y me pareció que se pasaban un poco con los condimentos, pero como no estoy hecha a la comida vegana pudo ser ese contraste.