Vegan
International
Take-out
Gluten-free
Breakfast
Serves food inspired by the cuisines of the world. Located at the garden level of St John’s Church. Dishes may include baked aubergine, crushed broad beans & peas, and kimbap. Open Thu 12:00-17:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-17:00.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
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Lothian Rd and Princes St (at St John's Church, Garden Terrace Level), Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 4BJ
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 01 Jul 2025 by A&M
Update business info -
Added by craigmc on 29 Nov 2022
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126 Reviews
First Review by Jessthetics
Gingertwins
Points +134
Delicious vegan food - Edit
Fantastic experience sitting outside in the sunshine in this friendly restaurant. A variety of tasty options. I had the savoury traybakes which was delicious. Price very reasonable for quality and selection of food. Will definitely be back.
Read morePros: Delicious healthy food , Friendly service , Great central location
Guest
JoBeill
Points +50
Delicious healthy vegan food - Edit
Totally vegan restaurant. Lots of healthy choices. We had the aubergine tofu main with rice. I had a banana muffin to follow.
Read morePros: Outdoor eating area, Friendly staff
Cons: Portions are a little small for the price, Get there early/reserve if you want to sit outside
Guest
krislamb
Points +47
WFPB with SOS free options - Edit
All items are whole food plant based. When available, they also use local, organic ingredients. Thankfully, there are none of the unhealthy fake meats that are too often found in vegan restaurants. As an added bonus, salt, oil, and sugar (SOS) are limited, with some options that are SOS free. If I lived reasonably close, I would be here often!
Read moreMy dining partner, who normally doesn’t go to vegan restaurants said, “This food is really good even if you are not on a special diet!”
Updated from previous review on 2025-07-28
Pros: WFPB with SOS free options, Locally sourced, organic
Cons: Only open Thursday through Sunday
Guest
Hcb504
Points +493
Delicious - Edit
We stopped here for lunch and didn't leave disappointed! The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was so fresh and delicious. We had a couple of salads and the flan. We would definitely eat here again if we are back in Edinburgh.
Read moreGuest
HenryGray
Points +148
Wow, wow, wow! - Edit
Finally we managed to get to Pulse after years of trying! Amazing location, staff were brilliant and the food was absolutely outstanding. We had the soup to start with sourdough bread, we shared the aubergine dish which nearly had me in tears it was so light and tasty. We were given a bean salad dish to try and again blew us away. Try the Bon Accord juices, local to Edinburgh and brilliant. Dog friendly as well!!!
Read morePros: Food, Staff, Location
Cons: 500 miles away from where we live , Can’t eat here every week
Guest
RuthLewis
Points +151
Delicious whole foods - Edit
I love this place, the food is always absolutely delicious and I really love the fact that it is wholesome home cooking and never any processed fake meats like so many vegan establishments, which suits my personal preference. Service is always brilliant too, owners are lovely.
Read moreOnly downside is I’d love it to be open on more days of the week! Worth waiting til Thursday for though!😄
Guest
ghostbirdsings
Points +56
Wonderful vegan restaurant in Edinburgh - Edit
We ate at Pulse on our last evening in Edinburgh and I can honestly say that I wish we had found it sooner. If I lived in Edinburgh, this would be my regular go-to for eating out. The food was delicious. The staff were super-friendly and helpful (accommodating for a vegan with nut and gluten intolerances) giving us a warm welcome as soon as we arrived (without having booked to boot!). And it bears repeating that the food was superb, affordable and delicious. We had the Savoury Traybake (amazing!) and the Fragrant Sweet Potato, White Beans, Rice and Tofu Balls (superb!), plus a selection of salads. And it was all so good! We would have loved to try the desserts, but we were simply too full!
Read moreKudos to everyone at Pulse. Thank you for topping off our wonderful stay in Edinburgh perfectly! I will be recommending your restaurant to everyone I know!
Pros: Delicious food, Lovely staff and venue/location, Affordable
Guest
RobertaAmato
Points +71
Un gioiello! - Edit
Caratteristico locale molto accogliente. Il personale è gentilissimo e il cibo superbo!
Read moreGuest
AnnaDeKinder
Points +101
The nicest staff and food - Edit
The staff was one of the nicest I ever experienced and I really loved how cosy it was. The food was great as well
Read moreGuest
MariucaBolaños
Points +530
Charming place and helpful staff - Edit
They found a place for me without having a reservation. I go herby rice and tofu balls with tomato sauce and Upside down quince cake. Delicious.
Read morePros: Place , Staff, Food
Guest
Arfon
Points +116
Special treat - Edit
Wonderful treat today at Pulse in Edinburgh. Well presented and tasty food in an amazing cozy venue under the church. Shame I was only in Edinburgh for the day with soooo many options to explore. I’ll be back!!!
Read morePros: Environment , Warm welcome, Tasty Food
Cons: 275 miles away from my home
Guest
motta_eduardo
Points +16
Divine - Edit
We had an absolutely impeccable experience at Pulse. The food was divine—bursting with vibrant flavours that showcased true culinary expertise. The chef clearly has a deep understanding of their craft, creating dishes that are both delicious and thoughtfully prepared. I also love the commitment to real, wholesome ingredients, avoiding refined sugars and other additives that do more harm than good.
Read moreBeyond the food, the atmosphere was simply charming. The décor and ambiance exude warmth and personality, making it a delightful place to dine. What truly set our experience apart, though, was the hospitality—the team was incredibly attentive and made us feel genuinely welcome. Our visit was nothing short of memorable. Thank you, Pulse!
Pros: Food, Ambiance , Service
Guest
AbiM
Points +4984
Busy little place - Edit
Staff lovely and very keen to provide the best, most thoughtful service. Food extremely tasty, would definitely recommend! Small venue quickly fills up and gets busy inside, we came at 12:10 on a Sunday. They are about to have a month’s holiday, so were trying to finish up certain dishes, with sustainability in mind. When it was time to pay, waitress struggled a bit with their table logging system and finding our order in the hand-held device. Worth a visit here.
Read moreGuest
Here.To.Travel_Jade
Points +11311
Lovely little place - Edit
Cute little cafe with limited seating and seems quite refined. The service is really friendly. We got some mixed salads & a seitan dish & hot mulled apple drinks which were all delicious and well presented. It doesn’t have its own toilet- you have to go to another cafe next door. #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
AndrewTaylor297
Points +21
Lovely vegan restaurant - Edit
Very welcoming, lovely food and in a great location!
Read moreGuest
Mirabelle_Plum
Points +187
Exceptional - Edit
Tucked away beneath the church, this is a little gem! The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly, and my meal was DELICIOUS (I had the flan with a spiced ginger carrot salad). Nestling beneath archways under the church, the ambience of this place was also top notch - I will definitely be back!
Read moreGuest
Trinidad
Points +386
Great experience - Edit
5 star service, food, ambience
Read moreMark27
💚✌️
Read moreGuest
Croissance
Points +2809
not the best - Edit
service is really nice, but the actual meals were somewhat lacking
Read moretoo expensive, small portions and the taste was not really that good in any of them
Updated from previous review on 2024-11-07
Guest
vegan_catdad
Points +32
Lovely spot, people, and food - Edit
My wife and I had a delicious and healthy late lunch here. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The food was amazing and perfect on a chilly Fall day. The ambiance is fantastic and comforting. If I lived in Edinburgh this would be a reoccurring spot for me!
Read morePros: Healthy food, People, Ambiance
Guest
Sabrinanr3
Points +201
Friendly service, delicious, wholesome food! - Edit
I had the soup of the day with sourdough toast and coffee. The soup struck that excellent balance of feeling healthy but also tasting rich and savory. The service was wonderful: friendly and polite. The venue is romantic and eclectic. So nice to find healthy vegan options!
Read morePros: Healthy vegan food, Excellent service, Beautiful venue
Guest
AncoBerrevoets
Points +16
Great place with very tasty vegan food - Edit
Great vegan diner in a very nice atmosphere. Cooked with top class fresh ingredients and setved by very nice and friendly staff.
Read morePros: Great fresh prepared food, Very nice staff, Special location( naar a graveyard)
Cons: A bit hard to find gem. A clearer sign would help
Guest
Antea
Points +18
Superb vegan dinner with outstanding flavours! - Edit
Beautiful romantic venue , very friendly and sincere service,vegan food was outstanding, we never tasted these special flavours, it is definitely a MUST if you visit Edinburgh. And when do you ever get the chance of dining with views on tombstones, we thought it was all extraordinary. Even a terrace is available!
Read morePros: Vegan food, Superb flavours, Service and atmosphere
Guest
KCadventure
Points +1385
Brilliant place! - Edit
Highly recommend this place. Really tasty, creative vegan food and very reasonably priced too.
Read moreTheir dishes sort of straddle being lunch and dinner food, so you can go for either. Fab things on toast stood out to me as particularly delicious.
Service was excellent.
Go here!
Guest
GiadaPercu
Points +76
Delicious healthy food - Edit
This cozy vegan restaurant in the heart of Edinburgh is a must. The food here is delicious and healthy. The staff and the owner are super friendly, they even gifted us a nut-ball.
Read morePros: Delicious healthy food, Super kind staff , Excellent location
Guest
RenéH.
Points +536
Auf dem richtigen Weg - Edit
Salat sehr lecker, aber kleine Abstriche bei den Falafel und beim tray bake. Die Desserts waren dafür aber wieder sehr gut.
Read moreDas Restaurant ist noch neu und auf dem richtigen Weg ein Hotspot zu werden.
Pros: Gesunde unverarbeitete Zutaten
Guest
VeganWithATwist
Points +335
Perfect spot for a healthy lunch - Edit
Everything was fresh, healthy, and beautifully prepared. I had the three salad plate, and my husband had the tray bake - both were excellent. The staff could not have been nicer. We also loved the location in the church garden. We hope to get back before we have to head home to the US.
Read moreGuest
Lunasea55
Points +170
Lovely spot. , lovely people, good honest food - Edit
Beautiful location under St John’s church. The owner was lovely and the food was healthy but tasty. Given how hard it has been to find nice fresh food in Scotland, the broccoli and lentil salad was just what I needed. The cafe is still waiting on its liquor license, so we couldn’t have a beer sadly. Guess that means we’ll just have to come back!
Read morePros: Location , Very sweet staff, Delicious food
Cons: No liquor license, yet …
Guest
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