Living abroad is never easy, and trying the local cuisine can be a cultural shock – especially for Latin Americans. My Colombian stomach can attest to this, especially since food is a passion of mine. Edinburgh is a global city, and I have tried food from around the world since landing here. But still, I miss the unmatchable sensation of eating food from my home country. Luckily, there are some spots in the city where you can taste a full spoon of authentic Latin American cuisine that will fill your heart.
BARUNO
“Authentic Latin Bar” is Baruno’s motto, and they certainly mean it. Situated in a basement on George Street, they offer dishes and drinks based on different Latin American countries.
Baruno was founded in August 2024 by Camron and Lais, a husband-and-wife team with a vision of creating a place where every Latin American can relate, regardless of where they’re from. They’ve created a bar where everybody is uno (one), hence the name “Baruno”.
The bar welcomes its customers immediately to the atmosphere of a party. Loud Latin American music, a bar with countless drink options and a wide space next to the booths and tables emulating a dance floor – as you would see in any disco place in South America.
Although primarily based on Brazilian cuisine, the menu also offers starters and main courses from other countries, such as the Dominican Republic’s national dish, sancocho (a stew of large pieces of meat and root vegetables served in a broth), and the only place in Edinburgh to serve one of Colombia’s most representative meals, bandeja paisa (red beans cooked with pork, white rice, ground meat, pork crackling, fried egg, plantain, chorizo, avocado and arepa).
Every time you look at the menu, listen to the music, or speak to the staff, you can experience Baruno’s combination of Latin American cultures, which creates a connection from Edinburgh to home for every Latin American person.
Baruno is located at 115 George Street, and they welcome customers every day of the week. It’s open from 3 p.m. until 3 a.m., so people can drink and dance all night.
SABOR CRIOLLO
Sabor Criollo (meaning “flavours from our land”) is a restaurant in Stockbridge where you can taste a meal rich in many flavours that show what food is all about in Latin America.
The menu offers dishes from Venezuelan and Mexican cuisine, including filled arepas (flatbreads made of maize dough stuffed with savoury fillings) and enchiladas (tortilla bread wraps topped with tomato and cheese salsa).
The restaurant has been part of Edinburgh’s food scene since 2001, when its founder, Mercedez Liendo, decided to offer proper South American food to the city at a time no one else did. Mercedez has since kept the promise of authentic cuisine from her home country, Venezuela.
You can also find other exotic dishes on the menu, like empanadas (a fried pastry filled with meat and vegetables), with Sabor Criollo’s version turning it from a traditional starter into a complete meal.
Thee Venezuelan national dish of pabellón criollo, a plate full of shredded beef, simmered black beans, fried plantain, and rice, is also delicious. The shredded beef stands out on its own as one of the best I’ve had in my life.
The restaurant’s design takes you inside a South American house, where decorations, music and furniture create an ambience of Latin American culture to be immersed in.
Sabor Criollo opens daily and is located at 36 Deanhaugh Street.
PAZ TAQUERIA
Paz Taqueria recently opened in the city centre, and while it may seem ordinary from the exterior, there’s an impressive atmosphere inside the small venue.
Paz Taqueria introduces a fresh perspective on traditional Mexican flavours with a menu created by chef Daniel. With just seven antojitos (starters) and seven taco selections available, you won’t spend much time deciding what to order. Everything on the menu is ideal for sharing.
One of the starters is frijoles refritos (slow-cooked and mashed black beans with sheep cheese and homemade tortilla chips to dip in). The tortilla chips (called totopos on the menu) are crunchy and perfect for scooping up generous amounts of the delicious beans. You can sense the Latin American hand involved in the creation of that dish.
From the list of options for tacos, there is taco de carne (a corn tortilla topped with confit pork shoulder, smoked chipotle mayo, and crispy pork skin) and pico de gallo (chopped tomatoes, onions and peppers with lime juice and cilantro).
You can tell a taco is how it should be when the juices start running down your hand while you enjoy it! There are also vegetarian tacos worth trying, one of which is a delicious combination of mushrooms, walnuts and cashew cream.
You can enjoy a beer or a tequila-based beverage while indulging in tacos, the proper Mexican way. Every table also has a bowl of freshly chopped lime and two hot sauces to enhance your dish, reminiscent of many eateries in Latin America.
Paz Taqueria offers traditional Mexican food, the same intense but genuine flavours that can tickle your Latino heart.
Paz Taqueria is located at 64 Thistle Street. It is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
GUAJIRA CAFÉ
Guajira Cafe is the perfect place for a cup of coffee and a slice of Latin American cuisine.
Indhira Fermín from the Dominican Republic opened Guajira in 2022 to achieve her dream of owning a café in Edinburgh. It is a place where you experience the ambience of a French café with the flavours and sounds of Latin America.
The little café with only six tables is decorated with paintings referencing different cultures. You can appreciate the impressive landscape of Cocora Valley (located in Quindío, Colombia), portraits of people from the Caribbean, and even animals from Africa framed on the wall looking at you while drinking a freshly made cup of coffee.
All this is woven into the design of a traditional French café of wooden tables, books on shelves, exotic pieces of art or decorations, and even macarons displayed on the counter, tempting you to buy one.
Different bags of ground coffee are displayed and offered for sale. The origin of the coffee available varies occasionally but usually comes from Peru, Guatemala, Kenya, Costa Rica, Brazil or Colombia.
Guajira offers more than just coffee; it also serves various meals and desserts. From soups, bowls, and sandwiches to cakes and pastries, all inspired by Latin American cuisine and European desserts. There are also many vegetarian and vegan options to enjoy.
Their Dominican bowl dish consists of rice, beans, minced vegetables and chicken or beef, and every bite you take is a trip for your mouth to a place full of flavours that any Latin American can relate to. The freshness and savoury taste of the dish trigger the nostalgia of past meals, like a homemade meal at your mum’s house.
You can find Guajira Café at 18 St Mary’s Street. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.
