Pulse PlantBased HomeCooking in Edinburgh, City of

I have been wanting to try Pulse for a while now. Had a hard time choosing what to have for lunch because everything sounded great. I had the mushroom and zucchini french toast and a banana mini muffin. It was delicious. Everything is vegan / plant-based which makes me extremely happy. The service was one of the best I've had in Edinburgh, everyone was so kind. The location is perfect, right off Princes Street but tucked away below, with the church, graveyard and Edinburgh castle in view. Just a heads-up that they're only open Thursday to Sunday (reason why I haven't been able to try it until now). As a plus: the lovely complex where Pulse is also has a Fairtrade shop, another cafe and a bookshop.

The staff are so friendly and genuinely seem like they love working at Pulse. The location is stunning too with views of the church from outside on the patio. I got 2 salads and the bread. The bread is beautiful but both salads are very acidic which made it not as enjoyable, with this being said it’s a very healthy and fresh place to grab a bite

Great restaurant, with delicious vegan food where you can really taste the love and attention, and with incredibly friendly and hospitable service. We would recommend it 100%!

Can’t believe we’ve lived in Edinburgh for 4 years and only discovered Pulse today. Wonderful vegan food, with an emphasis on flavour and they get the balance just spot on. The staff are lovely and enthusiastic about their food and happy to tell you all about it. Highlight was the Quince upside down cake which was a wonderful slice of Christmas. Mark, Diego and Verity made us feel like we’d been in a hundred times, and behind the scenes Mark’s wife worked the magic in the kitchen. Will be back!

I'm neither vegetarian nor vegan, but this has hands-down been my best food experience in Edinburgh! I had the traybake (which smelled and tasted equally delicious) with a leafy salad, as well as the aubergine+seitan rice bowl. The seasonings and textures meshed beautifully, and each dish had much depth of flavor - you can definitely tell that a lot of thought and care has been put into the food here. PULSE would make for a wonderful dinner date spot, or just a cute and welcoming place to visit on your own (it's super clean, spacious while also being cozy, and has a fantastic ambience 😊). If I ever come back to Edinburgh, PULSE is absolutely a place I'd revisit! tl;dr - fantastic dining experience, an absolute gem!!

The cutest vegan restaurant ever! This was my favorite meal I had in Edinburgh. I got the autumnal stew and the tofu balls and they were absolutely delicious. Such a nice atmosphere and the staff were so incredibly friendly and welcoming! I loved talking with them and I would highly recommend this place for anyone who wants a fantastic meal!

The best vegan/plant based food I had! The soup of the day ( black bean soup + sourdough bread and herby butter) was exactly what I needed on a cool autumn day. Very comforting and an amazing airy texture. Brilliant soup! Great service too, very welcoming staff. I would strongly recommend 👌

A small and cozy restaurant in the Princess Street area. Few tables, very intimate. Very kind staff. Excellent food! we chose the trio of salads and 2 dishes with rice and various vegetables plus the pear cake. I have to say that everything was a perfect mix of flavors. As also said to the girl who served us at the table, they should make a recipe book. I would buy it immediately. Coming back!!

Was a lovely experience! The food was absolutely lovely. We ate at all vegan restaurants/cafes on our city break but this topped it all off! Definitely mine and my partner’s favourite. The owner was so lovely. He was very passionate about the place was so lovely to see and he couldn’t have given us any better service along with his staff. Will definitely be visiting again :)

This is our new favourite restaurant! Absolutely delicious food, and as an added bonus, it's all vegan and healthy! Lovely friendly staff too.

Spectacular staff and a wonderful, homely feeling. Brilliant food! Highly recommend!

Very discreet place with a warm jazz atmosphere. 100% Vegan dishes with surprising but comforting combinations. The service is attentive

This is a place where incredibly tasty food is served. Whoever thinks healthy vegan food cannot be delicious will be proved wrong. Flavour is intense but layered, with texture, colour and fragrance adding to a very enjoyable experience. I had falafel with salad, some delicious cardamom and date "truffles" and coffee.

A long overdue review from our trip to Edinburgh last year: The absolutely delicious, 100 % plant based and lovingly prepared food offered by Pulse Café beneath St. John's Church was one of the highlights of our trip. The friendly staff takes the time to answer questions about the seasonal menus, sharing their passion for great and planet-friendly tastes. :)

I very much loved this place. As a tourist who was on foot all day I really appreciated the relaxed and cozy atmosphere. The staff were very sweet and helpful with meal suggestions. The music was quite tasteful and at the perfect volume to set the mood. The food was very wholesome while still very tasty. As a big hungry boy I was very satisfied! The staff were very knowledgeable and helpful with the allergens. Which is very comforting! Strongly recommend this spot.

The staff are lovely, welcoming and helpful. The food was fantastic and veggie friendly. And the atmosphere is fantastic.

Delightful fully vegan restaurant in the heart of Edinburgh. Friendly staff, homemade meals made with real food. I recommend the Tofu scramble on toast and the mixed leaf beetroot salad was delicious. The Tiramisu inspired overnight oats are amazing!

Cozy place! Aubergine and rice was savory and warm.

Amazing atmosphere! Great for a date or a chilled afternoon. Not-obvious and delicious coulinary combinations

Delicious tasty superb fabulous gorgeous first class food. Lovely setting. Great staff. Will visit again.

Lovely home cooked style food. Just what I needed! I'd go back regularly if I lived local 🙂

Really lovely and hearty salads, cute spot and kind staff. Quite pricy but feels worth it for a treat

An absolutely faultless place to eat. Impeccable service and a unique, tasty vegan menu. I sat in the charming outdoor seating area and enjoyed the aubergine and pepper dish for a very affordable price (I would have happily paid double!). I will be coming back :)

Outstanding food, service and absolutely everything else in-between. Extremely well thought out food with a unique blend of flavours, quite unlike anything we'd ever experienced before and we have tried countless vegan eateries World wide. One visit is not enough, we will definitely return to exhaust the menu... oh, and they allow Woofits, result!

Amazing food and lovely staff. Thank you :-)

I loved this place. The food was all excellent. A nice variety of vegan offerings. Soup was amazing. winter stew was really good. The team were super welcoming. It has an intimate - not too formal feel. Update: Second visit was just as great. One of my favourite plant based restaurants.

The food was magically prepared and the Host was quite happy and vibrant - a must stop!

I’m not not even vegan and this food was amazing.

Delicious fresh food, so tasty, lovely quirky premises and very friendly staff. Food choices were very creative with some interesting ingredients used- a place to savour.

Maybe my favorite restaurant in the world. Gracious staff, serene location, delicious and nutritious food, and beautiful presentation. Service was expedited at our request so we wouldn’t miss an appointment later in the day—even so, the meal was relaxing and enjoyable on every count!

Very cute place in the building that looks like a part of a church with a view for cemetery. I liked my artichoke and baby potatoes, it really tasted like homemade food. My favourite part was the service - very sweet and caring for each customer. If you’re in Edinburgh come to support this small business!

Nice food, that tastes like home. Very good service and the dishes were very similar to what we eat in Ukraine :)

Exceptional service and the food was delicious! Relatively cheap as well ! Would highly recommend 👌

Very very friendly, local food, healthy, lovely environment with friendly service team. Perfect for our Friday evening treat!

Lovely place, great staff and awesome food! Highly recommend ✨

I wish we had gotten to try more on the menu, but we just popped in for a quick bite! The tiramisu overnight oats were to die for.. seriously one of the best vegan desserts/snacks I've ever had, without being too sweet. My friend loved the potato salad. Would love to go back!

Tucked under the church, this was a great find that we ate at twice during our recent stay in Edinburgh. We love this place because it serves fresh, healthy, wholesome and unique plant-based recipes inspired by a range of international flavors. We also very much appreciate that they are not trying to replace meat with “Beyond Burger” or other fake meat products (like so many other vegan spots). The menu changes seasonally and is limited, with more than enough options. And the service is super friendly, quick and attentive. Reservations are recommended as it is a smaller place, but not required. Definitely give it a try and you won’t be disappointed!

Eclectic spot tucked under the very skirts of St John's church, this restaurant earns every star and then some! Looking to take a break from the usual heavier and meat-centered fare, we popped in to try something on the healthier side- and we were not disappointed (read as: we are omnivores and this place was DELICIOUS, you will not miss the meat!)! The setting was cozy, the staff inviting, and the passion for their product and experience is evident. We were greeted and treated like family, and the menu items reflected the care and love of the house. We've already recommended it to some friends and family who will be visiting in the fall. Looking forward to returning someday!

I tried the “Fab things on Toast” adding a salad and had a green tea. The attention was excellent from the moment I arrived. The taste of the food is amazing. As a vegan I can say that it was worth every peso.

The food is FANTASTIC, really really great tasting food (irrelevant of it being vegan or not) Clean, high end ingredients that make a difference. Lovely humans work there and own there and it's a brilliant place to eat and just hang. Best place so far in Edinburgh this visit.

Thank you for the healthy, delicious and very balanced lunch and for the nice advice. You can tell that the shop is run with a lot of love ❤️

I rarely leave reviews,but we’ve been home from Edinburgh a few weeks now and Pulse’s food has been on my mind a lot! Every single mouthful was pure heaven,so delicious and fresh! Ayshé and Mark ..thankyou for the best meal in ages,we now need to visit Edinburgh again to try more of your fabulous dishes. I highly recommend visiting this little gem of a place,we were lucky enough to sit outside and staff were lovely and helpful!

Oh, what a lovely surprise of a place! Everything was amazing from the moment we entered. And the food… no words to describe how incredibly tasty everything was!

Delicious and nourishing meal in an adorable and well-located place. If you need a break from all the heavy pub meals, this is the place to be! Also perfect if you want to eat vegetarian or for certain food allergies. (Gluten for example) If you want to use the toilets, ask the waiters, as they are well hidden. ;)

Authentic, delicious dishes which are clearly made with love and care

We've found a great place to eat in Edinburgh. Friendly helpful staff, helped with my dietary restrictions.best vegetarian food we've had in a long time. Pulse will be our treat next visit from Loch Lomond to Edinburgh.

Delicious food, beautiful place and really friendly staff. It's a shame I don't live in Edinburgh... I would go there very often!!! It will remain in my heart like the city it is in.

Such a lovely place! And the food is amazing!

Very rich combination of different flavors and superb service 👌🏾

Who would have thought vegan food could taste this good? The hospitable staff, flavorful dishes, and generous portions made for a wonderful experience. We dined in the courtyard, which added to the delightful atmosphere. Prices reflect the excellent quality of the ingredients—it’s amazing how what we eat can make us feel. One thing to note is that there's no menu available on their website, or at least it’s not easy to find. Also, the lack of on-site toilets might be inconvenient for some, though being in the city centre, it's not a huge issue. Kudos to the team amd chefs —this new gem is definitely worth returning to! 💗

Exceptionally friendly staff and great food

Super tasty food, whole food, plant based 😊 Best salads in Edinburgh! My favorite dish was the Turkish aubergine and the quiche No seed oils & they cook w minimal oils! LOVED THE POPSICLES - I got creamy chocolate but there were a bunch of fruity flavors I’m excited to try!

All the food we eat was amazing. The staff were very friendly and kind. Definitely, we will go back again.

so cute, and delicious food !!🫶🏼

This place is incredible. The best spot for plant-based eating in Edinburgh I’ve been to. The food is incredible and tastes like something my dad would make back home, and the service is very warming and friendly and the atmosphere is lovely. A must!

In for another delicious lunch, this place serves genuinely thoughtfully prepared and often original food. Not a Beyond Burger in sight! The aubergine dish is one of the best things I have ever eaten and as usual, finished off with the tiramisu inspired overnight oats. Well done folks!

Absolutely 💯 lovely food 😋 friendly staff ,my water was taken away a bit quickly before I'd finished it, but they were shutting soon. That aside a great place to eat at whether vegan of not . Next time I'm in town I will return 👍🏻

Great service. Food was nice but not amazing. I had the soup and the stuffed balls

Extremly friendly stuff and the food tasts delicious ❤️

Special food experience with lovely vegetable salads and tasty dressing sauce

This place is tucked away from the city hustle and bustle and has the freshest, most nourishing food. Everyone here was so kind to us and we enjoyed everything so much. Perfect for vegetarians and healthy eaters!

Lovely vegan food that you appreciate, even if you are a meat eater. We shared small dishes, and the where all great.Extremely good service from engaged personnel.

Definitely an amazing address for vegans and vegan curious, nice place, nice people, amazing food !

By an old cemetery and in the alcove of an old church, this restaurant has the kindest staff I have seen in scotland and the food was healthy and incredible. I highly recommend!

Best vegan food I've had in my 10 years living in Edinburgh

What more to say then that we loved this place!! The food,the taste, the location, the meaning behind it all. Just go there and let your self be amazed. 🙏

I fell in love with PULSE: Such a comfortable place, i would've loved to sit under the cherry tree outside if it wasn't raining. The inside is as well so charming! The service was beyond nice and the food tasted so good, i had the flat with two salads of the day and the upsidedown cake. I can recommend everything i ordered, especially the leafy salad with the house dressing! Everything was really fresh and well spiced (not too much!). I stayed for a week in Edinburgh and tried several restaurants and cafés and it was indeed the best visit and meal i had, wish you were located in my hometown :D My dears, if i return to the lovely City of Edinburgh, we will meet again :) Many many greetings and thank you very much!

Cosy interior, friendly staff, passionate owner and amazing food. The best spot for healthy food in Edinburgh!

Excellent place for plant based food. Absolutely worth a visit.

I've been here 2 times when I was in Edinburgh. Once alone and once in a group and in both cases the staff was super friendly. You can see that they really enjoy doing this and are passionate about their work. Super delicious food and good advice from the staff!

Lovely food and attentive staff. Relaxed atmosphere tucked away just a few yards from Princes St. Loved it.

Lovely food with exceptional staff; a safe haven among the busy streets of Edinburgh.

Omg this place is amazing. Would highly recommend for delicious and nutritious food x

Delicious food that makes you feel good! Alongside incredible hosting by the wonderful owner who was very welcoming and explained all the dishes to us. Thank you!

We were traveling in Scotland in May and were really happy about this little restaurant in Edinburgh. Finally something healthy on your plate ;) The staff was super friendly and attentive. The food was very tasty and everything was prepared and served with love. Absolute recommendation, even for non-veggies/vegans.

Excellent in every way. So tasty and thoughtful in its cooking. Heads up: they don’t have their liquor license just yet, so go for the food and a non-alcoholic clean living experience (and drink later!) It’s in the ground level of the church, so the atmosphere is quite lovely as well.

Great food! Great place and service!

We passed the cafe by accident and were warmly welcomed by the super friendly staff. Sat on the sunny terrace and enjoyed some drinks and desserts. Super nice and cute place with good prices and all vegan. You should definitely give it a try when in Edinburgh!

Slightly hidden but absolutely lovely little gem just around st Johns church. Several fully plant based options that all look prettier than the previous one. I had the Baba ganoush with a salad and it tasted great! Staff is friendly too 😊

The place looks beautiful. The service was ten stars. But the food is not good. The portion is not justifying the price. It is a rip off and tasteless.

Really good restaurant. The staff was so friendly and heartwarming. Great food.

So pleased to have found this lovely place! Service very friendly, food amazing - best plant based food I’ve ever had! Beautiful location - would highly recommend.

My biggest recommendation to anyone in Edinburgh!

Just what we were looking for: excellent and flavorful veg + grain dishes. Welcoming staff and peaceful surroundings; we had a relaxing meal on the sunny terrace. I wish there were more restaurants like Pulse everywhere that we travel.

Vegan food in Edinburgh, Scotland Food**** We got the tofu scramble and quinoa salad. Both were delectable!! Atmosphere*** Very cute and cozy Service**** Perfect and attentive! Price$$ Under 20

Beautiful food. Owner was lovely too. We were gutted it was closed the following day! I had their homemade minestrone soup. The butter is unusual obviously, being vegan. But delicious. Honestly the whole thing was just lovely. We are already trying to come back in July :)

A slightly hidden gem. Provided great respite from the rain and a (small) variety of delicious dishes. Fresh & high quality ingredients. Friendly staff who were welcoming and helpful.

Very delicious food, I’m a fussy eater but there was even something I liked. The soup of the day was amazing, and the tofu was spot on. Great place. Also the man that served us was very nice and good to talk to. He has a-lot of knowledge about the food they cook and other interesting topics.

Honestly a hidden gem! Delicious food (healthy too!) lovely staff

Awesome food, great service! i would give more stars if i could.

Wonderful place to eat, the atmosphere was lovely and the taste phenomenal. Honestly.

Pulse really is top class - from the warmth of the welcome, to the careful explanation of what is on the menu, to the delightful service and - last but certainly not least - the excellence of the beautifully prepared food. A must try if you've not been before.

Lovely restaurant and lovely staff. Food is amazing. Would definitely recommend coming during a sunny day and sit on their terrace. An absolute gem is Edinburgh

Excellent vegan food. You have to try the traybake ! And a lovely staff. Highly recommand !

A real gem in the city centre! Much more tranquil and green than I imagined, so a lovely place to sit outside. The food was fresh and full of flavour, and the service was superb. I will definitely be back and would highly recommend visiting.

Went as a walk-in at lunch with my partner on the 4th May and had a lovely time. The food was excellent, and we were shown examples of all the different dishes before we ordered to give us a good idea of what to expect. The wait staff were incredibly nice, and also seemed very relaxed. There was none of that hectic stress you sometimes encounter and I got the impression they are well valued and secure in their jobs, so the atmosphere was lovely. I would reccomend the mockzarella dish, and they also do a lovely soup of the day with sourdough and Miso butter

Lovely restaurant, great service, peaceful atomosphere, highly recommend.

Very special dishes with excellent combinations! Super healthy but really tasty food, the staff is friendly and helpful and the atmosphere makes everything even more special! Definitely recommended.

This is a gem of a restaurant, which I would recommend to anyone, but especially to vegetarians and vegans. Staff are friendly and dedicated to providing a positive dining experience for their customers. Their secret is out - this is a great place for a lunch date!

I can't recommend this little gem enough - from the fantastic, fresh, fragrant food to the wonderful, warm, welcoming owner, Mark. We will be back! Pros: Totally plant based, Fantastic atmosphere, Very welcoming and friendly Cons: None NB...I was so keen to eat the delicious food placed before me that I forgot to take photos...sorry folks - you're missing out on a visual treat :)