plr

My hotel has a breakfast buffet for 13 pounds, and I'd like suggestions for alternatives at about half that price, with great food, no huge tour groups to battle at 7-8AM, and either in, or close to Old Town. I do two meals per day when I travel, so it's important!

janisj

I'm curious about this too. I've always either rented a flat (and cooked my own b'fast) or stayed in B&Bs w/ HUGE Scottish b'fasts included.

twk

ttt - I'm interested as well.

plr

My question appears to have gotten buried on the list before it ever received replies, so I'm bringing it to the top again (for a few minutes). Grab it quick, folks!

Barbara

I think you're not getting replies because there just aren't breakfast places in Edinburgh. People don't go out for breakfast there. You will most likely find that the places that do serve breakfast are the hotels.

plr

Ohh Nooo!! That was not the response I was hoping for! I love a big breakfast. (Just don't wish to pay as much as I might spend for dinner..).

ron

I think your problem is the need for a "Great" breakfast. I am sure there will be cafes near your hotel that will serve a decent stomach filling and artery clogging Scottish breakfast.

janisj

Maybe consider staying somewhere else - someplace that includes breakfast? Would probably end up saving you even more than the £13 per night - if the room rate is also less.

noe847

I just looked in my Scotland the Best guidebook (by Peter Irvine). In the Edinburgh section, he has listings of "the Best Caffs" "The Best Tearooms and Coffee Shops" and "Good Places for Sunday Breakfast". No idea of the price, but here are a few that might fit the bill:

Rick's
55a Frederick St.
7 days from 7:00am,

Hadrian's
2 North Bridge

Black Medicine Coffee Shop
Nicholson and Drummond near Univ Old Quad. Bagels, smoothies. daily 8:00am to 8:00pm (Sun from 9:00)

The Elephant House
21 George IV Br
8:00am to 11:00 p,
also: Elephants and Bagels
Nicholson Square
from 8:30 (9:30 weekends)

Monster Mash
4 Forrest Rd. near University
daily 8:00am to 10:00pm

Spoon
15 Blackfriars St off Royal Mile
Mon-Sat 8:00am to 6:00pm

Always Sunday
170 High Street, Royal mile
8:00am to 6:00pm

This book is terrific. I always buy the most recent edition and it has NEVER steered me wrong in my several trips to Scotland. I recommend buying it.

sheila

Yes, but watch. Sunday is different...

there willbe caffs. they'll be OK. Where are you staying. Location would help...

plr

Thanks to everyone. Ron, I guess "decent" is what I'm looking for, if not "great!" I'm booked at the Mount Royal Ramada, so will be close to lots of options, I'm sure. I got a good rate there, and am kind of attached to its location, but would consider other options if you have suggestions, Janis. And Noe, by coincidence I had just ordered a copy of Scotland the Best several days ago due to the accolades I so frequently see on this Board. Thanks so much for taking the time to list all the options. I guess "Always Sunday" might be a safe bet, Sheila. You know, I have to mention my surprise at how "late" the opening times are for breakfast--at least for most of those listed here. When I travel, I like to be up & running a couple of hours earlier than normally--which is why I wasn't too concerned about getting a hotel with bkfst included. Maybe the caffs will be the thing.

caroline_edinburgh

Let me see if I understand your requirements correctly. You are staying at the Mount Royal Hotel on Princes Street. You want a place to eat the same type of full breakfast usually served in hotels, but think that you can get it cheaper outwith the hotel. You want it to open early, like 7/8am. Is that correct ?

If so, the sort of place you are looking for is a greasy spoon cafe. These do exist in Edinburgh but I can't think of any in the centre of town - only in more outlying/residential areas. The only places I can think of in the centre are 1) more upmarket places like Centotre, Valvona & Crolla, Plaisir du Chocolat & Cafe Florentin : these will sell you a coffee & a nice pastry for considerably less than £13, but a full breakfast would be the same as or more than the hotel; 2) McDonalds 3) places which sell sandwich-type breakfasts like the aforementioned Elephants & Bagels, and sandwich shops which do things like bacon rolls (one quite near your hotel on West Register Street, the last time I walked past).

Some pubs do a cooked breakfast but they don't normally open until 11 or possibly 10.

A few comments on some other earlier suggestions :-

Rick's : style bar & restaurant - I don't think you'd get out of there for <£13.

Hadrian's : the less posh restaurant of the extremely posh Bal;moral Hotel - need I say more ?

Black Medicine Coffee Shop - as stated, coffee & bagel/muffin type things - I don't think they'd do a full breakfast.

Monster Mash : could be a possibility. I've only been there in the evening for sausage & mash & didn't know it did breakfast. Smoky, though, if you're going before 26th March.

Always Sunday is suposed to be nice but I'm not sure what they do for breakfast.

plr

McDonalds?--Aachh!! Think I'd prefer a greasy spoon! Caroline, that's a great review you just gave, and you saved me alot of trekking around "in search of.." Yes, I think you summed up what I was hoping for. I realize that saving 6pounds per day does not sound like enough to quibble about in the big scheme of things, but I have kept saying that throughout my planning so far--splurging a little here & a little there, with great justifcations (!) to the point that I need to find ways to trim a little on the other stuff. I do appreciate all the input! If you catch the name of the place on W. Register St, please note it here.

caroline_edinburgh

Hi plr. Will do. Also I'm going to Always Sunday on Thursday (for a Slow Food Sicilan Oranges dinner !) so will try to check out their breakfast options then.

caroline_edinburgh

Here'a another suggestion, thinking about what I might do if I wanted to get out early & only have 2 meals a day. Your hotel room will have tea & (instant) coffee making facilities. If these will suffice first thing, you could just buy some sort of pastry/muffin/biscuits the day before, to have in your room with the in-room coffee/tea as an early breakfast. (You are very close to the Marks & Spencer food hall !) Then have a full breakfast at a pub at 11am.

alanRow

Most of the department stores have a breakfast menu up till about 10:30am where you can get all your favourite fatty foods.

You might also want to try the pub in Waverley station to see what they offer.

caroline_edinburgh

Good point about the shops. BHS which is quite near your hotel does a cheap fried breakfast - not top quality but OK I'd imagine. It normally opens at 9am - possibly 9.30 one day a week & 11 or 12 on Sundays.

plr

All right, guys--enough with the cracks about "artery-clogging, fatty foods"!! I can't help myself. I love to start the day with bacon & eggs and good warm bread or waffles or pancakes when I'm on holiday.

Thanks for the suggestions of trying department stores (what's BHS?) and Waverly station, as I'd have not thought of these places at all. Caroline, where exactly is Marks & Spencer? In a pinch, I will very likely need to do just what you suggest about breakfast in the room. I really do appreciate your checking out Always Sunday for me!

sheila

Irvine lists a few 7 day places in his Sunday list- Ricks in Frederick Street from 7 and Spoon and few others from 8am; but caroline has summed it up. a) not in the town centre and b) not before 8

alanRow

BHS = British Home Stores

Also John Lewis does breakfast on a Sunday in their top floor restaurant & you get views over the Firth to boot