On a Saturday afternoon the escalators in St James Quarter run full in both directions, and by about 1pm the question in every second group is where to eat. Some people head upstairs. Others step outside, cross Leith Street and walk the few minutes to the top of Leith Walk, where it’s quieter and the coffee is Italian.
This is a practical guide to eating around St James Quarter and the Omni Centre: what’s inside each, what’s just outside, and how to pick depending on how much time you’ve got.
St James Quarter and the Omni Centre: a quick map
The two shopping and leisure centres are a short walk apart in the east end of Edinburgh’s New Town.
- St James Quarter sits at the top of Leith Street, between St Andrew Square and the east end of Princes Street. It opened in 2021 on the site of the old St James Centre and mixes shops, restaurants, a food hall, a cinema and a hotel.
- The Omni Centre is on Greenside Place, at the top of Leith Walk, right next to the Edinburgh Playhouse. It’s mainly a leisure centre, with a cinema, restaurants and a car park.
Between them is a five-minute walk along Leith Street. At the Omni Centre end, at Baxter’s Place where Leith Walk begins, is Taste of Italy.
Eating inside St James Quarter
St James Quarter has a wide range of places to eat across several levels, from quick counters to sit-down restaurants and a food hall with lots of different stalls under one roof. If you’re with a group who can’t agree, a food hall is a decent compromise.
The trade-off is that the centre gets busy at weekends and during school holidays, especially between 12.30pm and 2pm. If you’re carrying shopping and want a proper seat, it can be easier to step out.
Eating at the Omni Centre
The Omni Centre’s restaurants are mostly well-known chains. They’re convenient if you’re going to the cinema there, or to a show at the Playhouse next door, and if you want a menu you already know.
On show nights they fill up early with theatre audiences. If you’ve got a Playhouse ticket, our guide to restaurants near the Edinburgh Playhouse covers timings and options in more detail.
Just outside: the top of Leith Walk
Step out of either centre and within a few minutes you’re at the top of Leith Walk, one of the city’s best streets for independent food. The road runs all the way down to Leith, and the top end, around Picardy Place, Baxter’s Place and the start of Broughton Street, has cafes, bars and small restaurants.
Taste of Italy is here, at 9 Baxter’s Place. It’s an all-day Italian cafe, bar and takeaway, and it’s part of the Vittoria Group, the Crolla family’s group of Italian restaurants in Edinburgh.
Why shoppers end up here
- It’s open from 8am, early till late, every day. You can stop for breakfast before the shops open, lunch in the middle, or a drink once the bags are in the car.
- There’s no booking. Walk in when you’re ready, which is how most shopping trips work.
- It’s quick. Panini, pizza and pasta come out fast, so you can be back in the shops within the hour.
- It’s good value. Panini are £7.95 and most pasta dishes are between £12 and £14.50. Prices are from the current menus and may change.
What to order on a shopping day
A quick lunch
Panini are made fresh with toasted ciabatta or focaccia. The Parma (Parma ham, fresh mozzarella, vine tomatoes and basil pesto on focaccia) and the Modena (grilled chicken, bacon, romaine and Caesar dressing) are both solid lunches at £7.95. Add a mug of the soup of the day for £3 more.
For something lighter still, the caprese salad (£7.45) or the smoked salmon and cream cheese half ciabatta (£9.45) won’t slow you down for the afternoon.
There’s more on midday options in our guide to lunch in Edinburgh on a budget.
A proper sit-down meal
If shopping is done and you want to sit for a while, the pasta is the best of the a la carte menu. The durum wheat pasta comes from Gragnano near Naples, and the sauces are made with double cream rather than a béchamel shortcut.
- Ravioli funghi (£14.45): filled with porcini, with sautéed wild mushrooms, rocket, parmesan and truffle oil.
- Gnocchi gusto (£13.45): potato dumplings in a creamy goat’s cheese and leek sauce with pancetta.
- Lasagna (£12.95): layers of pasta, minced beef, tomato and mozzarella.
Sharing with kids or a group
A couple of 12-inch pizzas and a bowl of chips go a long way. The Margherita is £11.95, and you can build your own from there with toppings from £1.50. The Vegan pizza (£13.95), with roast peppers, artichokes, aubergine, courgette and vegan mozzarella, is a good option if someone in the group is plant-based.
Coffee, cake and a sit down
Sometimes all you need is a break. A cappuccino (£3.90) with a slice of homemade tiramisu (£5.90) or a Ferrero Rocher cake (£5.90) is a good way to rest your feet. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the gelato sundaes are £7.40. The Golden Sunset comes with vanilla ice cream, caramel popcorn, Scottish tablet and salted caramel sauce. Full details are on the dessert and drinks menu.
A simple day out around the east end
If you’re visiting for the day, here’s an easy plan that keeps the walking short and the food good.
- 9am: breakfast at the top of Leith Walk. A cappuccino and eggs Benedict, or a full Scottish if you’re planning to skip lunch.
- Mid-morning: walk up Leith Street to St James Quarter. Shop while it’s quiet, before the crowds arrive around midday.
- 12.30pm: step out for lunch. A panini and soup takes half an hour and costs under £11.
- 2pm: walk up Calton Hill, roughly ten minutes away via Leith Street and Waterloo Place, for one of the best views of the city.
- 4pm: back down for an affogato or a slice of tiramisu.
- Evening: a film at one of the cinemas, or a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse, which is two minutes from Baxter’s Place.
It’s a day that barely needs a bus, and you’ll never be more than ten minutes from somewhere to sit down.
When it rains
It will rain at some point. Edinburgh weather changes fast, and the walk between St James Quarter and the Omni Centre is short but exposed at the top of Leith Street.
The good news is that it’s a short dash. Taste of Italy is a minute or two from the Omni Centre and a few minutes from St James Quarter, so if the sky opens it’s a natural place to wait it out with a hot chocolate (£4) or a mocha (£4.20). If you’re carrying a lot of shopping, grab a table near the door and let the worst of it pass.
Dinner and a film
Both St James Quarter and the Omni Centre have cinemas, so dinner and a film is an easy evening. Eat first at the top of Leith Walk, then walk a few minutes to the screen, or catch an early showing and come back for a pizza and a glass of Sospiro Rosso afterwards.
Because Taste of Italy is open until late and doesn’t take bookings, it’s an easy fallback if the film runs long or your plans change.
Getting around
The area around St James Quarter and the Omni Centre is one of the best-connected parts of the city.
- Tram: stops at St Andrew Square and Picardy Place are both within a few minutes’ walk.
- Bus: Edinburgh Bus Station is on Elder Street, right by St James Quarter. Many Lothian buses stop on Leith Street and Leith Walk.
- Train: Waverley Station is roughly ten minutes away on foot.
- Car: both centres have multi-storey car parks. They get busy at weekends and on show nights.
Takeaway after shopping
If you’d rather eat at home, you can order for collection and pick it up on the way back to the car or the tram. Taste of Italy also delivers through Deliveroo.
Frequently asked questions
What restaurants are near St James Quarter?
St James Quarter has its own restaurants and a food hall, and there are many more within a few minutes’ walk on St Andrew Square, Leith Street, Broughton Street and the top of Leith Walk. Taste of Italy, an Italian cafe and takeaway at 9 Baxter’s Place, is a short walk away.
What restaurants are at the Omni Centre in Edinburgh?
The Omni Centre on Greenside Place has a cinema and several chain restaurants. Independent cafes and restaurants, including Taste of Italy, are just around the corner at the top of Leith Walk.
Where can I get a quick lunch near St James Quarter?
Taste of Italy serves freshly made panini from £7.95, plus soup, salads, pizza and pasta, all to sit in or take away. Breakfast is also served from 8am.
Is there anywhere near St James Quarter that doesn’t need booking?
Yes. Taste of Italy doesn’t take reservations at all, so you can walk in whenever suits you.
How far is the Omni Centre from St James Quarter?
They’re roughly a five-minute walk apart, along Leith Street. Taste of Italy is at the Omni Centre end, at the top of Leith Walk.
A better lunch, a few minutes away
St James Quarter and the Omni Centre have plenty to offer, but the best meal on a shopping day is often just outside. Take a break at the top of Leith Walk, have a look at the full menus, and walk in when you’re ready.