Edinburgh, Festival City

All those heading to Edinburgh this festival season Need To Know the following food facts, which come courtesy of Scotland's greatest food writer, Joanna Blythman.

Old Town Coffee Roasters

32 Victoria St

On site coffee roasting by Scotland's top indy grocer Iain Mellis. Papua New Guinea, Jav, Kenyan AA, Honduras etc. Buy coffee or choose real expresso from La Pavone machine or filter. Charcuterie or cheeseboard plates featuring artisan UK and Euro imports from his grocery next door. Raspberry cranachan icecream from Doddington farm dairy, Northumberland

Valvona and Crolla

19 Elm Row

UK's top Italian food and wine emporium and food lover's heaven, also Festival Venue. Weekly deliveries from fruit and veg market in Milan so Amalfi lemons, San Marzano tomatoes, violet aubergines etc The Café Bar serves down the line casa linga style cooking .... a frittata omelette focaccia for breakfast, Lanark Blue lamb roasted with rosemary, courgette flower fritters with salsa verde and rocket.... lemon polenta tart to kill for. Only snag - festival queues and no booking tables policy.

Café Odile, Stills Gallery

23 Cockburn Street

The art of the tart at its Gallic best, savoury and sweet are the mainstay at this modern photographic gallery venue. The 'Choc'Odile' is legendary.

Plaisir du Chocolat

251-253 Canongate (near New Street)

New acclaimed Salon de Thé... staggering range of collector item teas, classy patisserie and rustic French cooking... rilletes with Poilane bread, confit, pot au feu. Expensive but value. Perfect for take out and presents to take home.

Bann UK

Hunter Square (off Royal Mile)

Really good vegetarian outfit with a happy repeat clientele.... Thai potato fritters, memorable layered tostado, organic bread and the celebrated crispy 'mock duck'. Snack or full meal. Civilised atmos.

The Kalpna

2-3 St Patrick Square

Longstanding authentic Indian 'Indian' restaurant with a strong, loyal clientele.... proper south Ind dosa masalas etc good value and cheap.

The Atrium

10 Cambridge Street

For a blow out, although £25 dinner menu is great value. Intelligent use of raw ings both native and imported artisan ones. Fabulous cassoulet, risotto.

Rogues

69 Morrison Street

Another blow out place though there are cheaper options on menu, which can cut cost. New and beautiful, stunning interior from Ed's most int restaurateur ... brilliant crab, squid good pudds.

PS all v. central or no more than 5 mins walk from Princes Street

Joanna Blythman is a contributing writer to the Guardian and the Sunday Herald, and is author of seminal, must-have books "The Food We Eat" and "The Food Our Children Eat" as well as "How to Avoid GM Foods".