You have the tickets, the babysitter is booked and the outfit is sorted. The only thing left to plan is dinner, and that is where a theatre night most often goes wrong. Leave it too late, end up queuing at the nearest chain, and you take your seat with indigestion and a grudge.
This guide is for anyone heading to the Edinburgh Playhouse who wants to eat well beforehand (or have a drink afterwards) without sprinting. It covers timings, what to look for in a pre-theatre spot, and why a short walk down Leith Walk is worth it.
About the Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse sits at the top of Leith Walk on Greenside Place, on the edge of the city centre. It opened in 1929 as a cinema, modelled on New York’s grand Roxy, and was converted into a theatre around 1980 after a public campaign saved it from demolition.
With 3,059 seats it is the largest theatre in Scotland. That is why the big touring musicals land here, along with comedy, concerts and a busy Festival programme each August. It also explains the one thing every regular knows: when a show finishes, a very large number of people leave at the same time.
Those numbers matter for dinner. On a busy night, the restaurants right next to the theatre fill up with everyone who had the same idea. Walking a few minutes further gives you more space, more choice and less time spent waiting for a table.
Planning Your Pre-Theatre Meal
Work backwards from curtain up
Most evening performances at the Playhouse start at 7pm or 7:30pm, but always check your ticket. As a rule, aim to finish eating about 30 minutes before curtain up, which allows time to pay, walk round to the theatre and find your seats without a dash.
For a 7:30pm start, that means booking a table for around 5:30pm. For a matinee, an early lunch from noon works well.
Tell your server you have a show
It sounds obvious, but it helps. If the team knows you need to leave by a certain time, they can pace your courses and bring the bill when you need it.
Choose dishes that do not keep you waiting
A slow-cooked roast or a steak cooked to order is a treat, but if time is tight, a pie, a pasta or fish and chips arrives quicker and sits better during a two-and-a-half-hour musical.
Book ahead
On show nights, everyone around the Playhouse is busy at the same time. A booking takes the stress out of it.
Keep the bill simple
If you are in a group, agree how you are splitting the bill before the final course arrives. Five people working out who had the extra glass of wine is a classic cause of a last-minute dash to the theatre.
Why Walk Down Leith Walk?
Leith Walk is the long road that joins the city centre to the port of Leith, and it has become one of Edinburgh’s best streets for food and drink. Independent restaurants, cafés and pubs line it from top to bottom, and it is a much more relaxed place to eat than the streets around Princes Street on a Saturday night.
Brunswick Book Club is at 113 Brunswick Street, just off Leith Walk, under ten minutes on foot from the Playhouse (about 0.3 miles, and mostly flat). That is close enough for a comfortable walk back before the show, and far enough to escape the crowds. The trams and buses also run along Leith Walk if the weather turns.
Eating Before the Show at Brunswick Book Club
Our main menu runs from noon to 10pm every day, so whatever time your performance starts, the kitchen is ready. Here are a few dishes that work well before a night at the theatre. Prices are from our food menu at the time of writing.
For a proper dinner
- Steak Pie (£15.75): slow-cooked beef with ale in a golden pastry crust, with peas, mash or chips, and gravy. Comfort food that will see you through to the interval.
- Fish and Chips (£16.25): our famous batter, garden peas, chunky chips and tartare sauce.
- Balmoral Chicken: chicken breast stuffed with haggis, wrapped in Parma ham, with turnip mash, French beans and a light whisky sauce. A good choice for visitors who want something Scottish without committing to a full plate of haggis. Our Balmoral chicken guide explains the dish.
- Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (£14.75): the national dish, with whisky sauce. If this is your first time, our guide to haggis, neeps and tatties covers everything you need to know.
For something lighter
If you do not want to feel heavy in your seat, a starter or a sharing plate might be enough. The chilli squid, halloumi fries and Brunswick tacos (Cajun haddock or chicken) all come out quickly. The nachos and the baked brie with focaccia sticks are good for sharing between two.
The chicken Caesar salad, the sea bream salad and the honey soy hake are all lighter mains that still feel like a proper meal.
For vegans and vegetarians
The melanzane parmigiana (baked aubergine with vegan mozzarella and tomato sauce) and the vegan burger with sweet potato fries are both on the main menu. The Margherita pizza is a reliable vegetarian choice. Dishes marked NGCI are made without gluten-containing ingredients, and there is an allergen menu by QR code at the table.
Pudding, if there is time
Our desserts menu includes sticky toffee pudding, banoffee pie and tiramisu. If time is short, you could skip it and come back afterwards instead, which brings us neatly to the next part.
A Drink Before, or After, the Show
Not every theatre trip needs a full dinner. Sometimes you want a glass of something and a bowl of olives while you discuss whether the lead is as good as the reviews said.
Our drinks menu has prosecco by the glass, a short wine list and our Brunswick Originals cocktails, each named after a book. Fittingly for a theatre night, there is a Mr Darcy (vodka stirred with basil-infused vermouth) and a Tea Party (pink gin, Chambord, scone syrup and egg white). Several can be made alcohol free.
House drinks are good value all day, and there is a full coffee bar if you need something to keep you sharp through the second act.
After the curtain falls, we are open until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. It is a short, easy walk from the Playhouse, and a much better place to talk about the show than the bus stop.
Bringing the Family to a Matinee
Big family musicals and children’s shows make the Playhouse a favourite family outing, especially in the school holidays. Feeding children before a matinee is a job in itself, and our kids menu makes it easier: three courses for £10 at the time of writing, with options such as pizza Margherita, cod goujons, chicken breast strips and twisty pasta.
If you are coming as a large group, book ahead and get in touch if you have any questions about your visit.
A Morning Show or a Day Out?
If you are making a full day of it, our breakfast menu runs from 10am to 5pm. A Full Scottish or eggs Benedict before a matinee will keep you going until the interval ice cream. Read more in our guide to brunch on Leith Walk.
Getting Between Brunswick Book Club and the Playhouse
From Brunswick Book Club, walk to Leith Walk and head south towards the city centre. Keep going to the top of the Walk and you will reach Greenside Place and the Playhouse, with the St James Quarter just beyond. It is a straight route on a wide pavement, and it is well lit in the evening.
If you would rather not walk, the tram and several bus routes run along Leith Walk between Leith and the city centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Brunswick Book Club from the Edinburgh Playhouse?
We are just off Leith Walk, under ten minutes on foot from the Playhouse on Greenside Place, about 0.3 miles along a mostly flat route.
What time should I book dinner before a Playhouse show?
For a 7:30pm curtain, we suggest booking around 5:30pm. That leaves time to eat at a relaxed pace and walk round before the doors close.
Do you have a pre-theatre menu?
Our full main menu is served from noon to 10pm every day. Let your server know your show time and we will make sure you are out in time.
Can I come for a drink after the show?
Yes. We are open until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Is there food for children before a matinee?
Yes. Our kids menu offers three courses for £10 at the time of writing, and breakfast is served until 5pm.
What restaurants are near the Edinburgh Playhouse?
There are plenty around Greenside Place, Picardy Place and the St James Quarter. A short walk down Leith Walk opens up many more independent options, including Brunswick Book Club.
Book Before the Show
The best theatre nights are the ones where nothing feels rushed. Book a table at Brunswick Book Club, let us know your curtain time, and enjoy the walk up Leith Walk with a full stomach and plenty of time to spare.
