Lacto
Ovo
International
Beer/Wine
Gluten-free
Scottish
Modern, stylish restaurant serving meals with influence from around the world. Vegan options may include Moroccan black-eyed bean stew, smoked tofu noodles, and haggis, neeps & tatties mille feuille. Vegan cocktails available. Open Mon-Sun 12:00-21:30.
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56-58 St. Mary Street (at Royal Mile & Cowgate), Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1SX
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Last update on 26 Jan 2024 by geometric-noise
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216 Reviews
First Review by Stevie
Yves’
Points +36
Amazing food - - Edit
Fantastic vegan menu. Stylish yet laid back stetting with lovely high ceilings. Food is absolutely delicious. Flavourful and fresh. Staff is super friendly and professional. One of the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh. Highly recommended!
Read morePros: Excellent vegan menu, Wide selection for vegan options
Cons: Temperature inside the restaurant was a bit cold
Guest
hascarrots
Points +163
Outstanding and gourmet - Edit
Very reasonable prices. Fast service. Full bar. One of the best 50 vege restaurants in the world.
Read moreGuest
GF Cookie Monster
Points +1388
Awesome GF/vegan choices - Edit
Aubergine, chickpea, and cashew kofta (appetizer) - just a little spicy, but super flavorful. They're fried things, reminiscent of falafel, but shaped like little sausages.
Read moreSmoked and marinated tofu (appetizer) - chewy on the outside, soft on the inside. Nice smoke flavor. Both these appetizers came with delicious chutneys, that were very different from each other.
Spicy chili with guacamole and chocolate sauce (main) - chili seemed medium spicy, but with complex flavors. The chocolate went beautifully with it. There was a small fried corn thing, which went well with the guacamole. Also got some very thin sweet potato chips (crisps), which were good.
Cool decor, attentive service, extensive menu. Great location, easy walk to Holyrood Palace. Go when you can!!!
Pros: Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Helpful staff
Cons: Most Vegan desserts weren't GF, Most GF desserts weren't Vegan
Guest
Ann-SofieVE
Points +102
limited but great vegan and vegetarian menu, world cuisine - Edit
Nice restaurant with vegetarian and vegan world cuisine. Fancy vibe, but price is ok. Staff was very friendly, service fast. I had the chickpea wrap with curried veggies, my boyfriend the risotto with leek and asparagus. Both dishes were yummy, but portions could have been a little bigger. Free tap water. Eco-friendly: straws only on request. Visit recommended!
Read moreGuest
IlSui
Points +62
good and can get better - Edit
Nice place, healthy food and cheeper than some fast-food.
Read moreI've had junk food for a week and I deserved a real dinner!
Pros: 50% vegan
Cons: desserts can be improved
Guest
MaureenVSI
Points +44
Wonderful graduation dinner for 9 - Edit
I really wanted to celebrate my PhD which took me 8 years part-time. My family and honey-bun came from London and Ireland over to Scotland to celebrate and some local friends also came out. So the place had to be special. David Bann does not disappoint. The restaurant is lovely, the food very varied and the portions good - very important for my stropping nephews. The service is also excellent and discrete - I really cannot wait to visit this restaurant in Skye - in fact, it's an excuse to go.
Read moreGuest
caw
Points +2816
Great - Edit
Great menu, great atmosphere. Friendly staff.
Read moreGuest
JoanneMarshall
Points +63
Love this place - Edit
I have been here quite a few times. It's one of my favourite places to eat. I've never been disappointed with any of the food - there is always so much choice and the staff are all friendly.
Read morePros: loads of choice, welcoming
Guest
eeveeb
Points +25
amazing meal - Edit
Went for a celebration meal and this menu didn’t disappoint, with two vegan one of which is celiac and a vegetarian this restaurant caters for all. With a wide range of food the tofu fritters for starter where to die for and then risotto and lentil shepherds pie couldn’t have been better.
Read moreA beautifully designed menu and you cake taste the passion of the chefs!
Would recommend to anyone who want a classy dinner
Guest
KatyWilliams
Points +124
Gourmet Vegan Food Galore - Edit
David Bann really sets a high standard for vegan / vegetarian dining, the whole experience is excellent from the classic meals with a vegetarian/vegan twist to the relaxed atmosphere and brilliant customer service. The vegetarian dishes all have the option to go vegan and everything is of a very high quality. Have been twice and plan on going many times in the future!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Friendly staff, Relaxed atmosphere
Guest
BecCarter
Points +94
Great Food - Edit
I loved my meal at David Bann. The food was amazing and the service was great. It’s really fancy food without trying too hard or being OTT. Definitely recommend - although it is a vegetarian restaurant, lots on the menu can be ordered vegan.
Read morePros: Fruit peices in water, Large servings
Guest
Mountjoy32
Points +308
Interesting Food And Beer - Edit
Creative and tasty food. Interesting beer list. Much prefer David Bann to Henderson's. This place and the potato shop on Cockburn are my two 'go to' spots for a nice vegan meal in Edinburgh.
Read morePros: Unique , Beer List
Guest
Iamreb
Points +53
Fancy place - Edit
We shared a starter and a dessert and had our own maincourse. Everything was sooo delicious. No fast food or anything, just great fancy food. The only downside: there are only 2 vegan desserts, one really didn't appeal to us so we shared the one it was goooood
Read morePros: Staf and food, Prices were great, Professional
Cons: Little vegan desserts
Guest
BryanWoltjen
Points +335
Slick and satisfying - Edit
Fancier end of the spectrum. It's so refreshing to have such a clear, diverse and descriptive menu. Even though it's not vegan, many of the dishes can be made so. All the beers are.
Read moreThe St Mungo lager is a local delight.
Stir fry came with some exceptionally flavoured chunks of tofu.
Staff are friendly, knowledgable and very pretty.
Pros: service, comfort, options
Cons: price
Guest
liamlonsdale
Points +38
proper vegan cuisine - Edit
What a place!
Read moreThe David Bann restaurant was superb. From entering and being greeted by friendly faces I found the staff to be knowledgeable and fun too.
The food was excellent and arrived wonderfully presented. The dishes were labelled clearly in the menu (vegan / GF) and there was plenty of choice.
Located very close to the Old Town.
Pros: Wonderful food , Great drinks choice, excellent staff
Cons: I have none
Guest
findingfay
Points +191
Fancy Dinner - Edit
Was quite excited to come to David Bann as heard great things about it and does seem very 'well known' even to non-veg's. I was disappointed that there wasn't many vegan options.
Read moreThe hummus with bread was really nice, and mum and dad liked their starters too. I found the udon noodle stir fry a bit too 'saucy' and flavoursome but that's probably just me, mum and dad loved their main courses. The portions weren't actually that small - I was expecting them to be tiny because most 'fine dining' places do that.
Pros: Nice food, Nice atmosphere, Good sized portions
Cons: Not enough vegan options, Didn't like my main
Guest
imogenmichel
Points +2746
Pretty good - Edit
My experiences with David Bann over the years have been pretty consistently mediocre, but it's still on my list of places to consider to go out, especially for a fancy meal or eating out with non-veg*ns. I agree with the multiple other revews that they lack good options for vegan desserts. However, they still do decent food and I would certainly consider going back, although with the rise in the number of great vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the city making a real effort to offer good vegan choices it is no longer near the top of my list.
Read morePros: All vegetarian, Fancy
Cons: Don't make much effort for vegans, Pricey
Guest
Zamosa
Points +299
No Haggis - Edit
We only went there because we read here they would have vegetarian haggis, which was unfortunately not the case. It is quite posh and expensive. The food was good, but nothing special.
Read moreGuest
sunshineMUC
Points +475
classy vegetarian restaurant with vegan options - Edit
nice atmosphere, located in the Edinburgh city center, this restaurant offers vegetarian cuisine and has a bunch of vegan options on the menu as well
Read morePros: nice atmosphere, classy restaurant, vegan food options
Cons: a bit pricy though
Guest
vsername
Points +164
Top notch vegetarian - Edit
Very nice vegetarian restaurant where, they offer a huge variety of vegan dishes.
Read moreWe were here for dinner and since it was rather late (22.00) we could only order a main dish and a dessert. That was too bad, but the food was great! I had some Asian noodles with home made tofu and sauce which were brilliant.
Prices are ok compared to the rest of the city and especially given that the restaurant is kind of "pretentious". We had one main, a dessert and a pint each: that made 20£ each.
Pros: Great food, Not so expensive at it looks like from outside
Cons: They don't have the kitchen open until very late
Guest
53RBC
Points +92
Delicious, just a bit heavy - Edit
We loved the restaurant, great ambiance and outstanding service. The wine selection was ample and reasonably priced - we had an very good Spanish Chardonnay. Our food was quite tasty and well presented, we would have just preferred some lighter options (less cheese or egg). To be fair, many of the menu options can be made vegan and in retrospect we should have gone that way, for example on the risotto which although on the menu said that that it was made with cheddar cheese was way more cheesy that we had expected. We would definitely go back as it is a wonderful place for a special meal at what we thought were very reasonable prices for the quality.
Read moreGuest
mjveganfitness
Points +1843
Good vegan food - Edit
We were excited to try this place after reading the rave reviews. We really enjoyed the food - the lentil soup starter was delicious and we both had the kofta which was very strong in flavour but tasty. Our waitress was really friendly however our food came so quickly, literally one course straight after the other we felt as though we were being rushed. It's a shame as the ambience was otherwise good and we would have liked to have been made to feel more welcome and enjoy being out for dinner. It felt very much as though the staff were dying to close for the evening instead of providing a good dining experience.
Read morePros: Gluten free options, Vegan food
Cons: Meal was rushed, Pricey
Guest
Veganolive1
Points +4984
Great Vegan Options - Edit
A trip to Edinburgh, had to include a visit to David Bann, a well known vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the city. We ordered the vegan version of the salad of fennel, beetroot, raspberry and a poached egg replaced with fried smoked tofu. The salad was delicious, with broccoli and broad beans amongst the leaves and a delicious dressing. Mains was aubergine and chickpeas koftas in a spicy coconut sauce, with sweet potato and toasted almonds and portobello mushroom with chilli and chocolate sauce. Both dishes were delicious and we left clean plates.
Read moreDavid Bann is not your everyday vegetarian restaurant, its fine dining, in a casual atmosphere, with service throughout was friendly and professional.
Pros: Vegan options, Vegan drinks clearly labelled
Guest
dkinjer
Points +305
Very nice atmosphere, not an extensive menu - Edit
This is an upscale vegetarian restaurant. If it were not for the fact that we came a bit early for dinner time, we would have needed a reservation (and we knew that, and took a chance getting a table because it was only 5:30PM. We were seated and told that they need the table at 7:30PM, but it shouldn't be a problem. The atmosphere and service are quite nice, and you definitely feel like you are "dining out", rather than the experience in most vegetarian restaurants, which are quite casual, or even fast-food, lunch bars, and the like. However, the menu, though creative, is not extensive. There are vegan options, but if you also are looking to limit your carbohydrates (as I do, not for some fad diet, but for health reasons), then it is quite restrictive. I think the online menu has changed. The food is served very nicely - attractive on the plate, again, like an upscale restaurant. So, if you are vegetarian and want to dine someplace that is not going to serve the typical vegetable stew with grain, or veggie burgers, etc, then go for it. When I think of the cities I've been to and those that even have a vegetarian restaurant of this level of class, there are not so many such cities. Paris, the last time I was there (this past February) has nothing of any class for vegetarians or vegans.
Read morePros: Lovely atmosphere and presentation of food, Excellent service, Food is tasty
Cons: Not extensive menu
Guest
OliviaGreene
Points +36
Super! - Edit
Super tasty vegan food (with options!), three courses, great presentation, fantastic service. I wondered in without a reservation and they still managed to accommodate me - with extra speedy service! Would recommend booking. My first night in Edinburgh and I fancied something a little bit more adventurous and exciting and this was exactly what I needed! Would definitely recommend and will definitely be returning.
Read moreGuest
EveArmstrong
Points +218
Good but expensive - Edit
David Banns is a great place for a fine dining experience that has veggie and vegan food however the menu especially for vegans is small and the food is expensive so great for a celebration but otherwise there are better places in Edinburgh.
Read moreGuest
rosie
Points +531
Nice spot for a special meal - Edit
I was in Edinburgh for work so we booked a table (although the place was fairly quiet that night). Friendly staff, nice food, portions weren't huge but food was well prepared and tasty. My udon noodles were nice and my colleague (who's very much a canirvore) raved about her chickpea koftas. Most of the puddings weren't vegan, but my trio of homemade chocolate ice cream and fruit sorbets were lovely. The place has a welcoming atmosphere and the food was good, rather than mind blowingly amazing, but I very much enjoyed my dinner. Would return if I was back in Edinburgh.
Read morePros: Friendly staff , Nice atmosphere , Good choice of mains
Cons: Not a huge choice of vegan puds
Guest
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