Where to get the best salads in Edinburgh

This venue is a longstanding favourite and veteran of Edinburgh’s culinary scene, having been in business since 1962. For many decades, it was the go-to vegetarian and vegan healthy eating restaurant, before others began popping up all across the city. And Hendersons’ deli bar is legendary. Order a platter for £13 and you can add your choice of up to four different salads, all of which are freshly made from scratch on the premises, by the talented in-house kitchen team. The ingredients used are organic wherever possible, seasonal and sourced locally to ensure a commitment to sustainability.

The clue’s in the name here. Roots involves lots of ingredients that have, well, roots. With a focus on sustainability, well-being and the community, the venue has a super colourful salad bar, packed with superfoods. It has an eat-in area (kid and dog-friendly), provides takeaway and picnic boxes, and runs a catering service. The super imaginative list of dishes changes daily, but you can expect the likes of barbecue roast cauliflower and broccoli with pinto beans, buddha bowls, spiced beets with mixed tomatoes and balsamic oregano dressing, red cabbage slaw with apple cider vinegar and gherkins, and raw rainbow salad with dill and dijon dressing. And you can wash it down with some of the delicious juices.

A wine bar may not be the first venue that comes to mind when searching for a salad, but this award-winning one serves up some of the best in town, particularly when it comes to value for money. Alongside traditional French fare like snails and raclette, you can order a warm chicken salad for just £8.95 or the smoked duck, pear and blue cheese salad for £9.50. As you’ve saved on the main, you can add some extras like marinated Provençale olives or a smoked salmon platter. And with salad and wine making a surprisingly good pair, you can select from a range of excellent crisp white vinos to complement your food.

Gastropubs have put salads firmly on the menus of the 21st century and as Holyrood 9A is one of the best in the city, it doesn’t disappoint. Known chiefly for its juicy burgers, the bar offers plenty of choices for the lighter eater. Order a Piri Piri chicken salad at £11.95, made with spiced chicken breast, crispy bacon, roasted red peppers, tomato, salad greens, lemon mayo and a bloomer; a vegetarian grilled halloumi salad for £11.95 with red onion, pomegranate, cherry tomatoes, salad greens, chipotle mayo and a bloomer; or a vegan avocado salad priced at £11.95, accompanied by roast red peppers and ripe tomatoes.

If you’d rather not venture into the city centre and live in the Gorgie/Dalry area, you simply must make this stunning little wine bar your new local. The menu is divine, with lots of healthy options. We especially love the shell-free seafood salad that’s served on a bed of Greek-inspired coleslaw and grilled pita; the capresina (baby mozzarella with roasted cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, oregano and pita); and the Carciofi (a warm artichoke salad with garlic, lemon and rosemary). The bijou Mediterranean-style venue has proven a mega hit since its opening, so booking is highly recommended to secure a table.

Those of you bored of more traditional salads should undoubtedly invest in a poke bowl. This culinary revelation is a healthy Hawaiian dream, layered with ingredients that are good for your body and soul. Once purely the stuff of street food pop-ups in the city, now there’s a permanent place to get your South Pacific fix — say Aloha to KauKau Poke on South Bridge. First you choose a base like sushi rice or kale, then a protein such as tofu or yellow fin tuna, and then you add a flavour plus extra toppings, finished with lashings of soy or ginger based sauces, creamy vegan mayo, flavoured oils, or teriyaki.