Union of Genius in Edinburgh, City of

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.

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

A delicious and generously priced meal! Highly recommended.

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.

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

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.

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 :)

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Nice soups and very polite staff!

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.

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

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

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 ❤️

Very friendly service, and amazing food!

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.

What a cozy, amazing place to have a bowl of soup. They have an incredible chili every day. And they rotate out seasonal ingredients with daily soups that are amazing. Big fan. Best deal in Edinburgh.

Such delicious food and really lovely friendly staff. Pop in!!!

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!!

I have been visiting Union of Genius for years, everytime I am in Edinburgh. Healthy, fresh and tasty food. This year I met the new owners; very warm and welcoming people and the food is still amazing. Very happy to be able to keep the tradition alive and will keep coming to this lovely place. I wish them all the luck.

Amazing selection of scratch, cooking soups and sandwiches.

Open unexpectedly on a Friday evening during the Fringe. Lovely food and great price. Highly recommend a visit … don’t pay the extortionate prices you see nearby … check this place out. I had the golden chicken chilli (orzo, butter beans, sweetcorn and chicken) husband had leek and potato soup. Simple food great flavours.

We had life-saving salads and soup here in the middle of an exhausting day at the Fringe. Wonderful fresh salads and excellent soup. Friendly and helpful service. It’s a small place but well worth a visit.

Nice and homey little place, with good soups and a choice of other lunch options. The prices are more than fair, and the personnel is kind and helpful. I would really recommend!

The Golden Chicken Chili was brilliant.

Unbelievable place! Great price! Friendly people! Highly recommend 🤌🏼 healthy and hearty.

a café rich in its humility. The smile of the staff welcomes you with fresh, thoughtful and original drinks and meals at a price that can’t be more decent. There are still places where you can drink human warmth in a cup, and the threshold of this café leads you to one of them.

Friendly staff and delicious hearty chilli

Delicious food (i had the veggie chili) and very warm service. Thank you

Very nice stuff and comforting soup, perfect for a tired tourist, love the cozy atmosphere!

Great food, good prices! Even my little boy loved it 😁

We tried Lentil soup and liked it very much. Their bread was very delicious. It has a very friendly atmosphere. The employees are very polite and sweet. Thanks :)

Amazing place! The food was delicious and the service was awesome. For sure we will come back whenever we can. We had an amazing time with all our family and they share their knowledge and some recipes with us. Thanks so much 🫶🏻

I went to this place today, and I have to say, I wish I was living in Edinburgh so that I could come here more often. I had the Veggie Chilli, which was delicious and for £7 at an absolutely fair price. It came with 3 toppings and a side of nachos. The staff was super friendly and helpful and the place is very lovingly furnished. I can only recommend going there :). The only reason I subtracted a star from the Ambience is that the street might not be the prettiest in Edinburgh. But as I said, they compensate for this through the interior of the restaurant, their food, and their service :).

I really like the new layout! 💖 I'm dairy free, so the fact that they always have at least one DF soup is a huge win. I love the variety that they have several soups to pick from. the bread is delicious, the bulghur with sabza is also super tasty. one of the best places to get lovely homemade food in the center of town that's nutritious and isn't charged at rip off tourist prices.

Union of Genius was always impeccable and I was really sad that they were going to close. But thankfully, the new owners are great!!! The Anatolian Chicken Soup was so close to what my Turkish mum makes (tbh this was better, but I won’t ever tell her). I’m so happy that they kept the favourites but also introduced their own flair. Can’t wait to try the other newer soup and salad options :) Also, I hope at some point you’ll restart catering for other cafes & sell soups in jars in the grocers. It was such a luxury for me to be able to have the soups without having to go into town!

Great place. Friendly service. Great tastes. They deserve thanks.

Excellent address. We tried several soups and they were all amazing! The staff was very friendly and there was a cosy atmosphere. We'll definitely come back next time we travel to Edinburgh.

Great soup and sandwiches! My 15 month daughter approved as well and that is a tall order! Great owners as well. Thanks for the hospitality!

A practically perfect place. Delicious, homemade soups (etc.) on a regular rotation that cater to various dietary needs, lovely staff, a cute, cosy atmosphere... I could go on! Pair all that with their wonderful ethos of donating a large amount of soup (I think 150 litres per month) to rough sleepers, and it's an instant win. Makes me wish I lived in Edinburgh!

Fantastic and very affordable little healthy place! I asked for a recommendation and got The Big Green soup (courgettes and spinach) alongside with onion bread. The staff was also extremely nice. I give my full recommendation to them, especially if you are in the mood for something healthy!

eating the golden chicken chili for the first time as i type this. arguably my favorite chili i've ever had. get all the fixings and get ready to ascend.

My favorite lunch place in Edinburgh! I visited this cafe 9 times so far and had different soup every day, and every soup was so great. :) I will definitely continue to come to this cafe for lunch. The staff is very kind and nice. Today, she offered me free coffee to practice her coffee brewing skill, which was also very good. 😊