Union of Genius in Edinburgh, City of

Delicious food and nice friendly staff

The golden chicken chilli taste nothing like the old one under the new ownership. Not crazy at all , more tomatoey . It was also served cold and the toppings were not as good.

We went to see some YouTubers who recommended it. Very delicious soups. We ate outside in the sun!!! Very attentive staff. He tried to make us understand since we speak Spanish. The price is average 7 pounds. We were very satisfied.

That lentils and lime soup (with fresh mint) was divine. I was curious (lentils, lime and mint?!) and I haven't been disappointed! The choice of soups is incredible, and now they offer a wide range of tasty sandwiches. It takes me 10 minutes to make my choice every time 😊. I love this place.

Restaurant in the university area of ​​Edinburgh, we entered a bit by chance and it was an incredible success. The staff is super friendly and calm, the food is tasty and super cheaply priced. We felt very sheltered even though the place is small and they closed soon. Totally recommended.

The Farm House Chicken soup is incredible, we paired it with sourdough for lunch and it was perfect! It was just a short walk from the castle and not crowded at all.

Group of 4, I had the Golden Chick Chilli which in all honesty the nicest meal I’ve had in Edinburgh in recent memory. Will certainly be back again, great value considering the location too.

Delicious soups. We ordered two, one of them vegan, and they were incredibly tasty. Keep going like this

Great food and the kindest service!🙏

Great and cozy place to get some comfort food and very reasonable price. It was very cold and windy and the soups resurrected us. The bartender was very kind and charming. We will definitely come back when we pass by.

Simply amazing!! Great service, lovely soup and relaxing music.

The best soup of my life!!! Seriously!!! Small but sure an invitation to a pause in your day with a rest-rechargeful-nutritional-suuuper tastyful stop! My body thanks and my mood in this winter too :) Wish I lived in Edinburgh just to be coming here more often. Will return for sure. Toilets are also clean, staff are welcoming and there are other delicious options for those not fans of soup like my teenager son... real food here😍!

Amazing soups, fantastic coffee and lovely warm service from Maz and the team.

Love this place! Been a couple times. The service is great and the soup is delicious. It’s a nice spot to warm up on a chilly day. Prices are good for the amount of food you get! Very filling & satisfying!

Toda una sorpresa este sitio, y totalmente para bien. Buscábamos algo caliente para un día helador, y todo un acierto. La sopa de apio nabo estaba deliciosa, y todo un detalle el bollito sin gluten. ¡Repito seguro!

Union of Genius solía ser una gran comida barata cerca del campus central. A 4 libras. 75 para una sopa grande, de calidad inigualable, junto con un ambiente acogedor UoG fue recomendado en la guía anual de comidas baratas (escrito repartido a los estudiantes de mi departamento al otro lado de la carretera). Ay, ya no. Ahora estéril, aparentemente centrado en los bocadillos más que en la sopa, y a 7 libras para una sopa grande, este aumento de precio no ha ido acompañado de un aumento de calidad (de hecho, ¿cómo podría, cuando la sopa ya era la mejor! ). La función de la UoG, como un restaurante barato centrado en los estudiantes a la hora del almuerzo, ha quedado eclipsada. Es una pena ver, y no merecerá mención en mi guía de comida barata para la cohorte de este año. Cerca, Nile Valley y Africano Wrap mantienen un sabroso almuerzo por menos de £ 5.

My favourite lunch spot. My friends and I come here pretty well every day. The soups are always incredible, well priced and change every day. The owners are also super lovely.

My friends and I go to this place very often for lunch between classes. The prices are very good, and the portions are generous. Not only is it super cosy, and the staff incredibly friendly, but the soups are amazing. They change the soup menu every day, and it never disappoints. The börek is also incredible. They sell other things like sandwiches and salads, but the soup is so good that we always go for it! 😂 by far our favorite place near uni, 100% recommended!!

Era Nochebuena. Vine sola con mi bebé después de unas compras navideñas. El personal fue increíblemente grosero conmigo cuando le pregunté si podían enfriar la sopa para mi bebé. Nunca lo olvidaré. Eran estudiantes internacionales y me avergonzaron de una madre local, por pedir que se enfriara la sopa. Nunca he experimentado algo así.

Visited last weekend during a trip to Edinburgh. The gluten free soup was delicious and the GF bread came wrapped in separate packaging, which was reassuring for me as a coeliac. The staff were truly lovely and made my dining experience great!

BEST SOUP! We come here most days for lunch because the food is consistently so good and such high quality. The Anatolian chicken soup is the best soup I’ve ever had! They are also so kind and welcoming! This is a must visit🙌

Really friendly staff, gluten free soup was brilliant and as was the gluten free bread!

Soup lovely, sandwiches lovely, staff lovely- lovely

If you want to drink soup, you are definitely in the best place in Scotland, I recommend it. Try last Mohican sandwich and Anatolian Chicken soup !!

I ordered the chef's special with gluten free bread, it was delicious my mother ordered the carrot soup and she loved it. It's a cozy place with amazing and cheap gluten free food. I was so hungry that I forgot to take a picture of the food because it smelled lovely.

Delicious Chai Latte and phenomenal soup!

Lovely soups and lovely people :)

Enjoyed the food, very welcoming and breads were great!

delicious soup for a very fair price! perfect place for a warm meal after a cold morning. We have already been to this place twice and tried different soups, all very so yummy. Best soup we've had in Edinburgh so far! The staff is very welcoming and nice. The place is small but cozy. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a low-budget meal

This place is an absolute gem! They have every single day different 4-5 soups which are consistently excellent, with rich flavors and perfectly prepared . The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, going above and beyond to make you feel welcome. Plus, the pastries, sandwiches and snacks are delicious! Highly recommend this place everyone.

Fantastic soup and burek. Very friendly service. Will definitely go back.

The lentil soup was beyond delicious! A genius blend of herbs, spices and warmth. You could tell it was made with love !! Must try !!

Such a cute spot for lunch! The staff were so lovely and our soup was great - we ordered Mexican beans :)

Love the soup and brownies! Lovely atmosphere, great choice on a winter’s day.

Este lugar tiene cierto potencial, pero mi experiencia fue un poco decepcionante. El personal era amable y atento, lo que fue un buen toque, pero la sopa no estuvo a la altura de las expectativas. Estaba bien, pero no vale la pena el precio. El ambiente era lo suficientemente acogedor, pero me pareció que la comida carecía de ese extra algo que me haría querer volver. En general, si bien el personal era genial, la comida y el valor dejaron mucho que desear. No tendría prisa por volver.

The soup was delicious and the owners were very kind and helpful, highly recommended!

Excellent quality soup, clean and simple environment Perfect for a quick and cheap lunch break The owner was very kind and available for every request Advised!

Estaba caminando y vi chicas comiendo deliciosas sopas así que entré. Le pregunté al hombre que trabajaba qué sopa recomendó ya que todas se veían tan bien y me dijo que probara esta papa de pollo kurda con un caldo de especias de tomate, así que lo hice y fue absolutamente maravilloso. Era justo lo que necesitaba en un frío día de noviembre y el ambiente era muy acogedor con cojines de asiento lindo decorado. Increíble experiencia y sin duda volverá xx

Not just an inspired name, but the most lovely genuinely warm staff and AMAZING food. Whatever else you do in Edinburg, have lunch here x

One of my favourite places in town🤍

Great cosy spot with great prices - I got the soup and salad deal and it was delicious and fresh . Would highly recommend . Very fast service

Good option to eat something quick, healthy and warm. Yes, it is true that you have to like spicy because all purees are a little bit spicy. Cheap and convenient option.

A delicious and generously priced meal! Highly recommended.

Best Soup Ever!!! Highly recommend, good prices, flavours and service. A hidden gem 🌟

Great variety of soups! Stayed in Edingburgh for few days and it was a great way to start the day or have a delicious meal without it being too heavy on the stomach, since I walked a lot.

Cute little place with very friendly staff. I had the vegan chili and the flavored black tea, and both were very good and reasonably priced.

Every time we visit Edinburgh we try to go here for a wonderful soup and bread for lunch

Lovely little soup spot tucked away from the busy street! The staff are very friendly and the soup was insanely good 😊

Had the vegan chilli and it was delicious! So filling and the perfect cozy dish. Exactly what I needed. The staff were so lovely and gave us vegan cheese on the house. Can’t recommend it enough :)

Excellent everything!! Perfect for a quick bite! The friendliest staff in Edinburgh ♥️

Tomó una deliciosa sopa y café. Servicio encantador, personal sonriente. Recomiendo encarecidamente este popular lugar para almorzar cerca de los prados.

Fantástica selección de sopas, ensaladas y cuencos de chile (vegano, carne y verdura). Buena relación calidad-precio, servicio muy amable y alegre.

We love this place! We've visited twice so far on our trip to Edinburgh. Delicious soup and vegan chili - love that you have vegan options and vegan cheese. Great service and prices. I'm sure we will be back again.

Las sopas son increíbles. Visitamos dos veces porque era muy bueno. El personal es muy amable y si el tiempo es agradable, puede sentarse fuera y disfrutar del clima y la acción de la calle. El Pollo de Oro Chile es delicioso.

Fair warning to fans of the previous Union of Genius - this is not the same in any capacity. Thoroughly disappointed as a patron of over 10 years that this place and menu have changed so drastically, especially given the instagram post from the new owners promising that our favourites would stay the same. My mum and I had a leek and potato soup and the three bean curry - both fine, but the curry didn’t come with anything you’d imagine to be paired with a curry (I.e. naan), and the portion of olive bread I was given was so small. I don’t even want to comment on the vegan chilli. This was a favourite of mine and many other customers for years, and although I don’t mean to be rude, it has been absolutely ruined. What used to be a delicious smoky chilli, has now become essentially watery tomato soup full of sweetcorn. The original recipe has been changed and now has orzo instead of bulgur wheat, is about 75% sweetcorn, and cannelini beans which add nothing to the flavour. I literally had one spoonful and binned it when I purchased this a few weeks ago. For both the price and memory of the previous chilli, this was so disappointing. I have no doubt the owners are trying to make this place their own, but they have changed all of the previous favourites. As a long time patron of UoG, I’m sad to say you’ve lost two loyal customers. Edit: In response to the owners, while I understand your frustration at a one star review, the quality of the food we had yesterday could not bump this up to a two star review considering the chilli I had several weeks ago, and my frustration at the cost considering I had to bin it too. I’m also sure you can understand the frustration of being under the impression recipes would remain the same in some dishes, only to become unrecognisable to their previous counterparts. Genuinely all the best for your business, but the best era of this cafe has ended for us.

Fantastic soup, sandwiches and more! Would definitely eat here every day if we lived here! Thank you guys!

I loved the food here! It was the perfect stop for a cold, rainy day in Edinburgh. The sweet potato coconut soup and ham and cheese pie were so full of flavour. Top tip - Don’t sleep on the apricot cake

Absolutely amazing homemade soup. My new favourite place in Edinburgh! Really friendly staff too, highly recommended

This is a gem of a cafe. The two brothers who run it are extremely friendly and affable. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and the service was excellent.

Great lunch spot, we loved all the food and drinks. Highly recommend!

This cozy little spot is a hidden gem for soup lovers. Their selection is impressive, each bowl is packed with flavor and comes at a very reasonable price. If you have room for dessert, their Armenian honey cake is a must-try – it's the perfect sweet ending to a satisfying meal. Just a heads up: the soups tend to sell out quickly, so make sure to get there early to avoid disappointment.

I went here after a recommendation from a friend. The food was delicious, and I left wanting more even though I ordered two soups and a sandwich. However, the friendliness and hospitality of both the chef and the individual behind the counter is what sold me. They were both incredibly down to earth and respectful people who seemed to find great value in fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The selection of food/menu seemed really well thought out and all sounded amazing (the different soups, chillies, salads - and savoury pastries & sandwiches all seemed to really suit the autumnal weather!) that it was genuinely hard to choose what to get - the staff were very sweet, patient and knowledgable in helping to make decisions. The service was very fast - and best of all the food was genuinely delicious, I’d highly recommend the sweet potato and chilli soup!

Food is fantastic, best veggie chilli I’ve had, the staff are very lovely and the overall aesthetic and atmosphere is great

Amazing soups and very friendly staff

Amazing soup and sandwich shop with decadent desserts. I got the chicken tarragon with chickpeas and it was fantastic. Had a lovely experience and would 100% come again. The flavors just popped. Love small businesses like this. Really friendly owner.

Rich and filling soups. A different and very good meal. Congratulations

We were early but the owner let us sit at the table and wait for another person even though it was an incredibly busy lunchtime. Really appreciated his kindness.

They make healthy food that is delicious to eat. Fast and friendly service too.

Stunner of a little soup place! Everything was delicious. Would highly recommend a burek alongside your soup.

I stopped for coffee but the smell was so amazing I stayed for soup. My friend had another soup and a chickpea salad and all were really good. Staff were lovely and the place has a great ethos too. Wish I lived closer - will definitely be back next time I'm in Edinburgh.

The service and atmosphere is as lovely as before, but unfortunately the chicken chili that I’ve loved and had more than 50 bowls of tastes nothing like before the owner change 😭 will come back to try some soup sometime in the future

Great chilli, tea, and very pleasant staff.

Everything here is absolutely delicious! They offer a variety of traditional soups, changing them weekly/daily, which keeps the menu exciting. The prices are great, and the flavors are excellent. I highly recommend trying their homemade pastries—they’re a must! If you’re in Edinburgh, don’t miss this spot

Have been wanting to go there for quite some time and wow was it worth it! I regret not going earlier, actually. Service staff was friendly and helpful. We tried potato leek soup and one of their croissant sandwiches, also Mexican chilli with Börek, and some of their chimichuri salad to share. It was all delicious and had a homemade and freshly prepared feel. I feel lots of restaurants these days don't have this anymore, but it really felt like sitting at home and having a made from scratch meal. Absolutely recommend this place to anybody who wants something a little different but heartwarming!

Ordered a small carrot and ginger soup with bread on the side. I would’ve preferred the flight, but they had stopped it. The carrot ginger soup was just fantastic. I just ordered it to go and took a walk around Edinburgh, enjoying the soup. It was a cold weather that day and the soup was just perfect. If you ever visit Edinburgh, do not miss this place

Just great! Nothing wrong, very tasty.

We had 4 soups. The man lives for his soups. Super delicious.

Delicious and great prices! Super small locale but cozy and plenty of seating. Must stop to support a local business and enjoy a lovely bowl of soup

Very nice and cozy restaurant, the soups are inexpensive and taste fantastic! Ate here every day of my stay in Edinburgh and would highly recommend it :)

We were so glad to be with the genius of Old Town ,soups are so delicious. Located near blackfriars Bobby will give best lucks of all time.

This establishment has incredible food, service, and atmosphere. The Union of Genius is one of my all time favorite restaurants and I can't wait to return.

Such a warm people and place. A wide variety of super delicious soups. Definitely a MUST VISIT venue in Edinburgh.

Lovely hearty vegan soup from very friendly owners who really care about what they do. The atmosphere is good and the food menu is super tempting, I can't wait to go back.

I really loved this restaurant and I highly recommend it to anyone in Edinburgh. The soups are so hearty and delicious, perfect for Scottish weather. The flavours are amazing. The service is also so good! They are all very friendly and happy to help :D I was so full after the soup that I didn't try any of their pastries, but they look amazing.

It was scrumptious. I feel relieved by eating something warm. When I come out, it's cold again.

Nice soups and very polite staff!

If you want to warm your soul this is the place. Between us, we had carrot soup and chicken chilli and... mmm, we were all happy. If they were open in the evening I'd go there again. The service was quick and friendly, and they accommodated our labrador dog.

I only spent 1.5 days traveling around Edinburgh and happened to walk into this brunch store. Love it! Excellent food and cozy atmosphere. For my fellow Chinese: I didn't expect much from the English breakfast, but I ordered chicken with bread and it was delicious. Brown The cheese is not too sweet, and the cappuccino is delicious. Chinese people don’t lie to Chinese people!

On our first day in Edinburgh, we had delicious soups and desserts here for lunch. The coffee was also excellent. I can only recommend it.

Delicious, healthy lunch in the heart of Festival Edinburgh. The sebza herb garnish on my bean stew was a new experience for me and our host was happy to share the recipe.

Lovely little place with home cooked food for every taste. We had excellent vegan soup.

Quality price, very good. Good corn soup. Very good people

Easily the best soup place in all of Edinburgh!

This place was once a staple of the community but has gone so markedly downhill. I always give benefit of the doubt but the last 3 times I have visited my order has been forgotten or messed up and the owner has been extremely rude about it. Sure, the food is still lovely but it’s just not worth the hassle.

Best soups and home made food! Very nourishing, amazing service lead by a very friendly man from MEZ! 100% recommended!

Lovely place! It’s small but cozy and the people working there are super nice, they have delicious vegan options and the prices are also very friendly. I really recommend the tomato soup ❤️

This was one of the best meals we had in Edinburgh. I had read about it in a food blog and we randomly walked by and I recognized the name, so we popped in, and it was a wonderful meal. It tastes very fresh and home-cooked, which was a welcome reprieve from heavy restaurant meals on vacation.

Very friendly service, and amazing food!

This place surprised me a lot. I saw a recommendation on a reel and I didn't hesitate to come and try it, the soups are exquisite, you can feel that the ingredients are fresh and tasty, adding to that that it is a healthy meal. You can choose between different options and sizes and the price is very affordable. The service was also excellent, I definitely recommend this place!!