104 Accessible Edinburgh: A Festival Guide Eating 105
This bustling family bistro, loud with the buzz of conversation
and the clink of glasses and cutlery, is no ordinary Italian, but a
little corner of Naples complete with hearty Neapolitan home
cooking by friendly head chef Rosario. The food ranges from light
and tasty ravioli tossed with butter and sage to delicious platters
of grilled seafood.
There are bus stops nearby and Haymarket train station is
not too far away. You can also park in the Co-op car park for up to
two hours. Blue Badge holders are also able to park just outside
the charity shop very close to the entrance.
Entrance is level, but the door is heavy – although helpful
staff will hold it open. It’s a small space, with tables quite close
together, making navigation difficult in a wheelchair and if you
need to use the large accessible toilet.
Loudon’s Café & Bakery
0131-228 9774; http://www.loudons-cafe.co.uk; 94b Fountainbridge;
mains £5-10; 8am-5pm; buses 1, 34, 35
A cafe that bakes its own organic bread and cakes on the prem-
ises, ethically sourced coffee, daily and weekend newspapers
scattered about, even some outdoor tables – what’s not to like?
All-day brunch (8am to 3pm) served at weekends includes eggs
Benedict, warm spiced quinoa with dried fruit, and specials such
as blueberry pancakes with fruit salad.
It’s well served by buses, but with no accessible parking near-
by. The door is heavy, but once inside the cafe’s level. There is
plenty of space and an accessible toilet.
Mosque Kitchen
0131-667 4035; http://www.mosquekitchen.com; 31 Nicolson Sq;
mains £4-7; 11.30am-10pm, closed 12.50-1.50pm Fri; all South
Bridge buses
Expect shared tables and disposable plates, but this is the place
to go for cheap, authentic and delicious homemade curries,
kebabs, pakoras and naan bread, all washed down with lassi or
mango juice. It caters to Edinburgh’s Central Mosque, but wel-
comes all – local students have taken to it big time. No alcohol.
It’s listed as wheelchair-accessible on Yelp, but we have no first-
hand testimonial.
Indigo Yard
0131-228 5876; http://www.petersyard.com; 27 Simpson Loan; mains
£5-9; 7.30am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat & Sun; buses 23, 27,
35, 45, 47This Swedish-style coffee house produces its own homebaked
breads, from sourdough to focaccia, which form the basis for
lunchtime sandwiches with fillings such as roast beef with beet-
root and caper salad, and roast butternut squash with sunblush
tomato pesto. Breakfast (served till noon) can be a basket of
breads with conserves and cheeses, or yoghurt with granola
and fruit.
There’s a small (5cm) step in from the pavement. Once in-
side, everything is on the level but somewhat cramped, particu-
larly to get into the accessible toilet at the back of the shop.Stockbridge
Stockbridge has a decent selection of neighbourhood bistros,
ethnic restaurants and pubs.Gateway Restaurant
0131-552 2674; http://www.gatewayrestaurant.net; John Hope Gate-
way, Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Row; mains £7-11; 10am-
5.15pm; buses 8, 23, 27The restaurant in the John Hope Gateway visitor centre (p80)
serves hot breakfast and lunch dishes, while the Terrace Cafe in
the middle of the gardens has outdoor tables with a superb view
of the city skyline. The Gateway Restaurant is accessed via a
lift to the rear of the main wooden spiral staircase in the atrium
or from the Garden via the John Hope Gateway decking, where
there is a push-button automatic door. Tables and furniture can
be moved as necessary. There are large-print menus available,
and staff are happy to read menus if necessary. There’s an ac-
cessible toilet on the same floor as the restaurant.Scran & Scallie
0131-332 6281; http://scranandscallie.com; 1 Comely Bank Rd;
mains £10-22; noon-3pm & 6-10pm Mon-Fri, 8.30-11am & noon-
10pm Sat-Sun; buses 24, 29, 42Established by the Michelin-starred team responsible for the
Kitchin and Castle Terrace, this laid-back gastropub adds a mod-
ern chef’s touch to old-time dishes such as chicken liver parfait,