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. Closed Mon-Wed.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
-
Lothian Rd and Princes St (at St John's Church, Garden Terrace Level), Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 4BJ
-
Loading...
-
- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
-
-
Last update on 21 Nov 2025 by A&M
Update business info -
Added by craigmc on 29 Nov 2022
-
-
135 Reviews
First Review by Jessthetics
aglioeolio
Points +133
Fresh and delicious - Edit
We have been trying to go here for ages and finally visited for lunch. It is a very special place. The menu was very creative and full of plant foods. The staff were lovely and gave really good introductions to the menu. We ordered two of the smaller plates and two salads. It was very flavourful, you can tell they care about the ingredients. I can’t wait to go back and try more. My new favourite restaurant in Edinburgh!
Read morePros: Menu, Ingredients, Staff
Guest
johanncrowe
Points +34
Yhe best in Edinburgh - Edit
This has got to be the best plant based food I have had in a city .the vibe the staff the food it's incredible we ate there twice over our weekend stay do not miss this experience
Read morePros: Everything, The staff, The vibe
Cons: None
Guest
liesj
Points +191
Wonderful - Edit
We were welcomed very nicely and it was hard choosing from the very divers menu. That is why i took the three salads on one plate. My partner took a gingery veg and rice.
Read moreThe taste was really wonderful and everything was fresh en delightfully prepared. After that we took the tiramisu and a desert with pears and a sweet sauce. Very nice too! A pity they were closed on Monday (we only stayed for two days) otherwise we surely would have visited them again. Also the price was absolutely reasonable.
Pros: All vegan, kind staff, nice place, location
Cons: nothing
Mark27
So kind of you to express your goodwill here! An absolute pleasure to host you. You both entered with such a positive energy and the broadest of smiles. Thank you for supporting a small independent business and naturally thank you from all of us here at PULSE-these comments along with others here on Happy Cow are very much appreciated by us all. 😊
Read moreGuest
RacerDean
Points +252
Excellent! - Edit
Went there for breakfast while on a business trip. Was so impressed I went back the same day for dinner.
Read morePros: Quality of food, Nice dining area
Cons: Limited hours. Breakfast only on Sunday
Guest
bloep
Points +983
💚 - Edit
Do yourself a favour and go to pulse, if you can!
Read moreTheir servers are absolutely lovely and the food was incredible!
I wish I could've come here more than once.
Guest
RGilliam
Points +38
Gorgeous food, Excellent service - Edit
I love Pulse. It covers all the bases: sustainable, friendly staff, local food, freshly made from real plants. Wonderful tastes to delight your palate.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-10-05
Mark27
This is such a lovely, thoughtful, kind response/acknowledgment of what we’re trying to achieve @ PULSE! We have a fab team and this has made their day-thank you!
Read moreGuest
Amina&Fabio
Points +1012
Excellently Cosy And Delicately Healthy - Edit
Tucked away, Pulse boasts healthy and delicious vegan food. Our arrival was met with great customer service. The sauces and care on each dish was excellent. Do stop by in search for healthy vegan options in this central and great spot.
Read moreGuest
SaraNorlin
Points +3958
Adorable - Edit
What a beautiful place! Both the church arched interior and the tree shaded outdoor patio are lovely. And the food was fresh, simple, and delicious
Read moreGuest
Wendolin
Points +326
A joy to find this place! - Edit
This lovely vegan restaurant has a great menu u. I had the leek and mushroom flan with salad— so delicious!
Read morePros: Delicious and varied menu , Excellent service, Central location
Guest
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 +72
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 +67
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 +152
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 +161
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 +83
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 +43
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 +5209
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 +11650
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 +2930
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
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business
See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 0 times.