Edinburgh’s Mexican scene has changed a lot since 2024. A tiny taqueria now sits on the old El Cartel site on Thistle Street, a fully plant-based cantina cooks inside a Southside bar, and a long-running Leith Walk favourite serves nothing that contains gluten.
This guide sorts 12 Edinburgh places by area, with what each one does best, the address and a link to its own site. Our picks cover authentic Mexican cooking, Tex-Mex comfort plates, fast burritos and late-night bars with a serious agave list.
Updated 26 October 2026. We re-checked every venue on its own website. Chorrito Cantina closed in March 2026 and has been removed. Opening hours change often, so check before you go.
Mexican Restaurants in Edinburgh at a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Known for | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariachi | Old Town (Victoria St) | Long-running cantina, cocktails | EH1 2HE |
| Antojitos Cantina | Southside (Paradise Palms) | Plant-based, quesabirria | EH1 1HB |
| The Auld Hoose | Southside (St Leonards) | Gigantic sharing plates | EH8 9QN |
| Paz Taqueria | Thistle St | Small menu, cooked from scratch | EH2 1EN |
| Cabo | Hanover St | Soft-shell tacos, lunch menu | EH2 1DJ |
| Taco Libre Bar | Rose St | Casual bar, quesadillas | EH2 3DT |
| Miros Cantina Mexicana | Rose St | Open 7 days until 11pm | EH2 4BA |
| Wahaca | St Andrew Square | Private spaces, set menus | EH2 2AU |
| The Basement | Broughton St | Late kitchen, 3-for-2 tacos | EH1 3RH |
| Tortilla | St James Quarter | Quick burritos, delivery | EH1 3AD |
| Topolabamba | Lothian Road | Coeliac menu, near the Usher Hall | EH3 9AW |
| Bodega | Albert Place | Coal-fired BBQ, BYO wine | EH7 5HN |
Postcodes are from each venue’s own site, a Food Standards Agency listing or a local directory. Hours and menus at Edinburgh restaurants change often, so check before you go.
How to Choose: Taqueria, Tex-Mex or Chain?
If you want simple, carefully made dishes, start with the small specialists. Paz Taqueria cooks everything from scratch, and Bodega grills over hot coals and avoids gluten across its menu.
For a relaxed night with fajitas and a cocktail, the larger dining rooms on Rose Street and Victoria Street are good bets. Wahaca and Topolabamba are dependable chains with menus that suit a crowd, and Tortilla is the fastest lunch in the centre.
Old Town and Southside
The medieval centre of Edinburgh and the student streets south of it have the city’s oldest cantina, its only plant-based one and a pub with a famous sharing plate.
Mariachi
On the curve of Victoria Street, Mariachi describes itself as a local favourite for over two decades. This Edinburgh restaurant pairs classic plates with cocktails and makes an easy stop after the Grassmarket or the castle.
It gets busy with visitors in summer and during the Festival, so book ahead for a weekend evening.
Address: 7 Victoria Street, EH1 2HE
Antojitos Cantina at Paradise Palms
Founded by John and Louise Kelly in summer 2020, Antojitos won Best Scottish Street Food just 11 months later. Everything is plant-based: quesabirria with a dipping consommé, a baja “fish” taco made with hearts of palm and loaded nachos are the dishes to order.
The kitchen runs daily until 10pm inside Paradise Palms, walk-ins are welcome and children can stay until 8pm. There is a second counter at Edinburgh Street Food, the food hall by the Omni Centre.
Address: Paradise Palms, 41 Lothian Street, EH1 1HB
Visit the Paradise Palms website
The Auld Hoose
This dog-friendly Edinburgh pub on St Leonards Street is famous for nachos. The regular plate is £21 and the Gigantic version, £31, is meant for four to six people. There is also a vegan burrito at £12.50, a 10% student discount on food and a Tuesday quiz at 8pm.
The kitchen closes at 9pm, so arrive early if you want to eat.
Address: 23–25 St Leonards Street, EH8 9QN
New Town and City Centre
The Georgian grid between Princes Street and Broughton has the widest choice, from a taqueria with a handful of tables to a big chain dining room on St Andrew Square.
Paz Taqueria
Paz opened in 2024 on the former El Cartel site. Everything is made from scratch, the restaurant is tiny and the bar focuses on Mexican spirits.
It opens 12pm to 10pm seven days, with a set lunch from Monday to Thursday. Book ahead in the evening.
Address: 64 Thistle Street, EH2 1EN
Visit the Paz Taqueria website
Cabo
Founded in 2024, Cabo is a New Town restaurant about five minutes on foot from Waverley. Soft-shell tacos are the focus, and a separate lunch menu makes it a good midday option between the shops.
Address: 99 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ
Taco Libre Bar
A casual Edinburgh bar on the site of a former Greggs, run by Mezcal Edinburgh Ltd. Expect tacos and quesadillas in a casual space that works for a quick bite between pubs.
We could not confirm its opening hours, so check before you go.
Address: 85–87 Rose Street, EH2 3DT
Miros Cantina Mexicana
Further along the same lane, Miros is a cheerful Tex-Mex dining room known for generous plates, fajitas and sangria. It opens 11:30am to 11pm every day, which makes it one of the most reliable restaurants in Edinburgh for a late meal.
Address: 184 Rose Street, EH2 4BA
Wahaca
The Edinburgh branch of the Mexican restaurant chain founded by Thomasina Miers sits just off St Andrew Square. It is a safe bet for groups, with set group menus and private spaces that can be booked.
Hours are 12pm to 9pm Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and 12pm to 10pm Thursday to Saturday. It closes on Christmas Day.
Address: 16 South St Andrew Street, EH2 2AU
The Basement
At the top of Broughton Street, The Basement has a large mezcal and tequila collection behind the bar. Midweek there are 3-for-2 tacos, weekends bring live music, and there is a late-night kitchen for anyone heading on to the bars of the east end of the New Town afterwards.
Its Patrón Sunday Brunch, 12pm to 5pm every Sunday, is billed as the first of its kind in the city, with a Full Mexican Breakfast and a Scottish Burrito. Dogs are welcome in the bar and outdoor areas.
Address: 10a–12a Broughton Street, EH1 3RH
Tortilla
For a quick lunch, the St James Quarter branch of this chain does California-inspired burritos to eat in or take away. It also delivers through Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo.
Address: 107 St James Crescent, EH1 3AD
West End
Lothian Road, below the castle, is handy before a show at the Usher Hall or the Lyceum.
Topolabamba
A Scottish chain of Mexican restaurants that began in Glasgow in 2014, Topolabamba has a separate menu for coeliacs. Hours are 12pm to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and until 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
Address: 93 Lothian Road, EH3 9AW
Leith Walk
Head down the hill from the east end of Edinburgh city centre for one of its most loved small Mexican places.
Bodega
Bodega has been on Leith Walk since 2013. Everything on its menu is gluten free, tacos sit alongside BBQ cooked over hot coals, and you can bring your own wine or fizz.
It opens 5pm to 11pm Tuesday to Friday and from 12:30pm on Saturday. Book ahead for weekends.
Address: 14–15 Albert Place, EH7 5HN
What to Order: Tacos, Birria and Agave
Most Mexican menus in Edinburgh are built around small plates that you order two or three at a time and share. Soft corn tortillas are the classic base; flour tortillas are more common in the Tex-Mex dishes and in burritos.
Quesabirria is slow-cooked meat in a chilli broth, folded into a griddled tortilla with melted cheese and dipped in the broth; Antojitos makes a plant-based version. Al pastor is marinated pork, usually served with pineapple, and a tostada is a crisp, flat tortilla with toppings piled on top.
At the bar, tequila is made from blue agave, while mezcal can be made from many types of agave and often has a smoky taste. A good restaurant will let you try a small measure neat before you commit to a cocktail, so ask the staff for a recommendation.
Recently Closed
Older guides to Edinburgh still list several places that have shut. Chorrito Cantina on Leith Walk closed on 15 March 2026. Viva Mexico on Cockburn Street, open since 1984, closed in January 2024, and every El Cartel site in the city has also closed. Paz Taqueria now trades from the former El Cartel address on Thistle Street.
Tips for Eating Mexican in Edinburgh
- Book small places. Paz is tiny and Bodega is popular, so reserve for evenings, especially on a Friday or Saturday.
- Go midweek for deals. The Basement runs 3-for-2 tacos midweek and Paz has a set lunch from Monday to Thursday.
- Coeliac? Bodega’s whole menu is gluten free and Topolabamba has a dedicated menu. Tell staff about allergies when you order.
- Plant-based? Antojitos Cantina is fully plant-based and The Auld Hoose has a meat-free burrito.
- Eating late? Miros serves until 11pm every day and The Basement has a late-night kitchen.
Mexican Food in Edinburgh: FAQ
Where is the best authentic Mexican food in Edinburgh?
Paz Taqueria on Thistle Street and Bodega on Albert Place are strong choices: Paz cooks everything from scratch in a tiny room and Bodega grills over hot coals. Both are small, so book ahead. Mariachi on Victoria Street is the long-running Old Town choice.
Where can I get vegan Mexican food?
Antojitos Cantina at Paradise Palms is fully plant-based, with quesabirria, baja-style hearts of palm and loaded sharing plates. Its second counter is at Edinburgh Street Food.
Is there Mexican brunch in Edinburgh?
Yes. The Basement on Broughton Street runs a Patrón Sunday Brunch from 12pm to 5pm every Sunday, with a Full Mexican Breakfast and a Scottish Burrito on the menu. It is a popular weekend plan, so reserve a table in advance.
Which places suit groups?
Wahaca has set group menus and private spaces, and the Gigantic plate at The Auld Hoose feeds four to six people. Book ahead for a big table on a weekend and ask about set menus when you call.
Is Chorrito Cantina still open?
No. Chorrito Cantina closed on 15 March 2026 and its Edinburgh site has passed to a new operator. Viva Mexico and the El Cartel sites have also closed.
Can I get Mexican food delivered?
Tortilla in the St James Quarter delivers through Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo. Other venues use delivery apps too; check the apps for your postcode.