The best brunches start without an alarm. You wake up when you wake up, wander down Leith Walk, and arrive somewhere that is happy to cook you eggs at half past two in the afternoon without raising an eyebrow.
That is how breakfast works at Brunswick Book Club. We serve it from 10am until 5pm, every day of the week. This guide covers what makes a good brunch in Edinburgh, what is on our breakfast menu, and how to make the most of a long, slow morning on Leith Walk.
What Counts as Brunch?
Brunch is less a meal and more a state of mind. Technically it sits between breakfast and lunch, but in practice it is any morning meal eaten at a pace that would horrify a commuter.
The word itself is thought to have appeared in Britain in the 1890s, a jokey blend of “breakfast” and “lunch” for the Saturday crowd who had been out the night before. More than a century later, the logic has not changed. Brunch is for people who want a proper breakfast, a bit of company and the option of a drink, without being rushed out the door.
In Edinburgh, brunch has grown into its own scene. Different parts of town have their own favourite spots, and the queues on a Saturday prove how seriously the city takes its eggs.
What Makes a Good Brunch Spot
Long serving hours
The single biggest frustration with brunch is the cut-off. Arrive at 11:45am and find breakfast finished at 11:30am, and the day starts badly. A brunch spot worth its name keeps the kitchen going well into the afternoon.
A menu that covers both appetites
Every group has one person who wants a full plate of everything and another who wants yoghurt and coffee. Good brunch menus handle both without fuss, with light choices alongside more filling plates.
Somewhere for the whole group
Brunch is a group sport. Families with buggies, friends nursing sore heads and the one person who only wants a smoothie should all feel at home. A mix of tables, a relaxed team and a menu that does not need explaining make the difference.
Coffee taken seriously
Brunch without decent coffee is just a late breakfast. A proper espresso machine and someone who knows how to use it makes all the difference.
Room to linger
Nobody wants to feel the next booking breathing down their neck, and attentive service makes it easier to settle in. Comfortable seats, a bit of space and staff who are happy to bring another round are what turn a meal into a morning.
The Brunswick Breakfast Menu
Our breakfast menu runs 10am to 5pm, seven days a week. Prices below are from our current food menu at the time of writing.
The Full Scottish (£13.45)
The big one. Grilled bacon, sausage, haggis, an egg cooked the way you like, grilled tomato and mushrooms, baked beans, hash brown, black pudding, potato scone, and toast with butter. It is a breakfast designed for people with plans to do very little afterwards.
What separates a Full Scottish from a Full English is the haggis, the potato scone (tattie scone, if you are local) and, depending on who you ask, the Lorne sausage. Ours keeps the haggis and the potato scone front and centre.
The Half Scottish (£9.45)
For lighter appetites: grilled bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, egg, baked beans and toast. All the essentials, without the need for a nap.
Eggs, every which way
- Eggs Benedict (£9.95): a toasted muffin with two poached eggs and hollandaise. Choose crispy grilled bacon, Scottish smoked salmon, avocado or spinach.
- Eggs with Haggis and Chilli Jam (£9.95): two poached eggs on toasted English muffins with haggis and a sweet, warming chilli jam. If you only try one thing on the menu, make it this.
- Scrambled Egg on Toast (£6.95): three scrambled eggs on toast, with the option to add smashed avocado, smoked salmon, or both.
- Omelette: three eggs with your choice of two fillings (ham, bacon, cheese, mushroom, tomato, peppers or onion), served with beans and toast.
Something a little different
Breakfast Tacos (£9.95) pile scrambled eggs, avocado and tomato onto two tortillas. They are lighter than a fry-up and better suited to a warm day on the terrace.
Warmed Waffle and Bacon (£8.95) is the sweet-and-salty option: crispy streaky bacon on a warm waffle with maple syrup and banana. Brunch purists may argue; brunch fans will not.
Rolls for the road
A breakfast roll with one filling is £4.45, or £5.95 for two. Choose from sausage, bacon, haggis, fried egg or black pudding. A bacon and egg roll is the quickest way to make Leith Walk feel friendly on a cold morning.
Lighter options
Not everyone wants a plate of fried food before noon.
Scott’s porridge oats come with optional toppings of honey, fruit compote, banana or Nutella. Granola is served with organic yoghurt, mixed berries and honey. Smoothies include Swiss Style (banana, muesli, strawberries and yoghurt), Banana Mamma (pineapple, banana and coconut milk) and Tropical Taste (kiwi, passion fruit, orange juice and cranberry).
And if you have a sweet tooth, “The Book Shelf” bakes include an Empire biscuit and a lemon slice to go with your coffee.
Vegan and Vegetarian Brunch
Plant-based brunch should not mean a sad plate of toast. Our Veggie Breakfast has roasted veggie sausage, an egg, baked beans, grilled tomato and mushrooms, potato scone and toast. The Vegan Breakfast brings vegan sausage, baked beans, grilled tomato and mushrooms, sautéed potato, avocado and toast.
The breakfast tacos, porridge (with a dairy-free milk) and smoothies are also easy wins. Alternative milks are available for coffee for a small extra charge. Dishes marked NGCI on the menu are made without gluten-containing ingredients, and some dishes can be made gluten free, so ask your server.
Coffee and Drinks
Our house coffee is an Italian blend, roasted to a medium-to-full body. The full range is there: espresso, cortado, flat white, latte, cappuccino, mocha and matcha, plus breakfast tea and herbal teas. Hot chocolate comes with whipped cream and marshmallows if you ask nicely.
Because we are a bar as well as a kitchen, brunch can also be a little livelier. Prosecco is on by the glass.
Our house drinks are good value all day, and our drinks menu has a Brunswick Originals cocktail list with names borrowed from the bookshelf. Mr Darcy (vodka stirred with basil-infused vermouth) is a reasonable choice at noon. Probably.
Brunch With Children
Brunch is one of the easiest meals to do with kids, and our long breakfast hours help. Little ones can share toast, porridge or a waffle, and from noon the kids menu offers three courses for £10 at the time of writing. If you are coming with a buggy or a big group, mention it when you book, as reservations help for bigger groups at the weekend, and we will do our best to find you room.
Brunch, Then Lunch, Then Sunday Roast
Because breakfast runs until 5pm and our main menu starts at noon, the two overlap for five hours every day. That makes us useful for groups who cannot agree.
One person can have eggs Benedict while another orders fish and chips and a third has the 12-hour braised brisket roast on a Sunday. Our guide to the Sunday roast in Edinburgh has more on that.
Getting Here
Brunswick Book Club is at 113 Brunswick Street, Edinburgh EH7 5HR, just off Leith Walk. The trams and plenty of buses run the length of the Walk, so it is an easy trip from the city centre or from Leith itself.
When the weather is kind, our terrace onto Leith Walk is a lovely spot for a slow coffee and a breakfast taco. It is first come, first served. Inside, it is warm and cosy, with a literary theme that runs from the decor to the cocktail list, which is exactly what you want on a grey Edinburgh morning.
After brunch, you are well placed to explore, and the area is good for walking before or after a meal. Walk north and you reach the Shore, with its waterside bars and restaurants. Walk south and Calton Hill is waiting at the top of the Walk for some well-earned views.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is breakfast served at Brunswick Book Club?
Breakfast runs from 10am until 5pm, seven days a week. Our main menu starts at noon, so both are available between noon and 5pm.
Do you serve a full Scottish breakfast?
Yes. Our Full Scottish includes bacon, sausage, haggis, egg, grilled tomato and mushrooms, baked beans, hash brown, black pudding, potato scone and toast.
Is there a vegan breakfast in Leith?
There is. Our Vegan Breakfast has vegan sausage, baked beans, grilled tomato and mushrooms, sautéed potato, avocado and toast.
Can I book a table for brunch?
Yes, we take reservations, and we recommend booking at weekends. You can book online here.
Do you do bottomless brunch?
Not at the moment. Our drinks menu is available all day, including prosecco by the glass and our Brunswick Originals cocktails.
Where is the best brunch in Edinburgh?
It depends what you are after. If you want generous breakfast hours, a Full Scottish with haggis and a seat on Leith Walk, we think Brunswick Book Club is a good place to start.
Book Your Brunch
Turn off the alarm, come down whenever suits, and let us handle the eggs. Book a table at Brunswick Book Club and make it a long one.
