8 of the best Christmas markets for food and drink - including Bowhouse and Edinburgh Street Food

As we head into December, Christmas market season gets into full swing. But which are best for foodies?

Published 29th Nov 2023
Updated 16 th Jan 2024

The festive season has kicked off, with Christmas lights now lit and markets popping up all over Scotland.

If you're into good, artisan food and drink, you're in luck, as a few of these Christmas markets are ideal for foodies.

From a monthly market in Fife to a weekly Glasgow market that's offering festive cocktails, here are some dates for the diary.

Bowhouse Market Weekends - St Monans, Fife

The Bowhouse Market Weekends take place in the Market Hall at Bowhouse and welcome more than 30 of Scotland’s finest artisan food and drink producers, as well as a curated selection of homeware, jewellery and other local gifts from Tea Green Crafts.

Shoppers will be able to fill their baskets with fresh produce, meat and fish, dairy and cheeses, store cupboard essentials, sweet treats and craft spirits and drinks from the local region and beyond.

Hands-on festive activities including wreath making, hearty cooking demonstrations and children’s craft workshops.

A resident DJ will be spinning tracks from 12 noon to keep shoppers merry and bright, bopping along to holiday tunes and seasonal fare available from Baern Cafe and street food.

When: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, 10am - 4pm, Free to attend

Where: Bowhouse Farm, St Monans, Anstruther, Fife, KY10 2DB

Balgove Larder - St Andrews, Fife

The Balgove Larder Christmas Night Market is free to attend and will be held in the Steak Barn.

The best and worst supermarket Christmas puddings - including Asda Extra Special 6 month matured jewelled topped Christmas pudding and Tesco Finest 12 month matured Christmas pudding

A unique converted sawmill, with distinctive walls made from recycled potato crates and a wood-fired barbecue at its centre.

A choice of food and drink will be available on the day, with street food from a variety of food trucks and Balgove Larder’s barbecue menu offering visitors a choice of dishes based on produce from the farm.

There will also be a selection of tempting treats from other local producers, with baking, craft beers and gin, wine and crafts.

Those looking for fresh produce will be able to stock up on vegetables from local growers and meat from the farms prepared by head butcher James Lothian and his team to complete the perfect Christmas dinner.

When: Tuesday 5 December, 4-8pm, Free to attend

The best and worst supermarket mince pies for Christmas 2023 - including Marks & Spencer’s Classic and Tesco Finest Frangipane Mince Pie

Where: Balgove Larder, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SF

Bute Yard - Rothesay, Isle of Bute

Christmas markets food and drink

The newly launched Bute Yard will be showcasing the best local produce, art and crafts at their monthly market.

November and December markets will be filled with stall holders selling festive-themed homeware, jewellery, gifts and food and drink for those doing some Christmas shopping.

The dog-friendly contemporary space will host Santa Claus at its December market with a photographer on hand for family photos and shoppers can sip mulled wine as they enjoy carol singers.

When: Sunday 5 November - 10am to 4pm, free to attend and Sunday 10 December - 10am to 4pm, free to attend

The best and worst supermarket stollens available for Christmas - including Lidl Favorina Finest marzipan stollen and Waitrose No.1 Our Ultimate Stollen

Where: 61-67 High St, Rothesay, Isle of Bute PA20 9AU

Mitchell Street Market at August House - Glasgow

Christmas markets food and drink

Stylish Glasgow city centre venue August House will, every Saturday from 11am-3pm, be home to the Mitchell Street Market.

The weekly market brings together some of the best in fashion, jewellery, flowers and crafts.

Throughout December, Mitchell Street Market will be packed with local businesses selling their festive wares for shoppers looking for that unique gift.

August House will be serving up mulled wine and the tastiest festive cocktails.

When: Sun 10 December - 11am - 3pm, free entry and Sun 17 December - 11am - 3pm, free entry

Where: 43 Mitchell St, Glasgow G1 3LN

Christmas Mini Market - Logie Steading, Findhorn Valley

Treat yourself to crafts, jewellery and local food and drink at this mini Christmas market at the charming Logie Steading, which already has a popular cafe and shop.

Visitors can look forward to festive songs from The Highland Youth Theatre, marshmallow toasting, craft beers from Speyside Brewery, hot drinks and cakes available from the Inverness Roasting Company and hot drinks and food available from the cafe.

When: 2 and 9 December, 10am-4pm, £3 for car parking.

Where: Logie Estate, Logie, Forres, Moray, IV36 2QN

Big Feed Meet Santa - Golf It, Glasgow

This roving street food market is popping up at Golf It in Glasgow.

Kids, big and small, can meet Santa and some alpacas too.

Also well as festivities, there will be some regular street food favourites including Fire Dog and Salt 'n Chilli.

When: Saturday 16 December,11am – 2pm; Sunday 17 December 11am – 2pm; Saturday 23 December 11am – 2pm and Sunday 24 December 11am – 2pm. Tickets are £5 per child.

Where: Golf It, 1240 Cumbernauld Rd, Glasgow G33 1AH

Edinburgh Street Food Market - Christmas film nights

Edinburgh's first permanent street food market is showing a range of Christmas films throughout December.

Visitors can settle down with some of the street food and cocktails and enjoy films including Elf, The Polar Express, The Santa Clause and The Snowman.

When: Throughout December

Where: Leith St, Edinburgh EH1 3AU

Virgin Hotel Christmas market

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is offering locals and visitors a unique Christmas shopping experience this year with their inaugural Christmas Market.

The Edinburgh hotel is partnering with Support the Makers – an organisation that supports independent businesses and local makers by giving them a platform to share their creations at regular events across Scotland.

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s beautifully restored Victorian Church, Greyfriars Hall, is the location for the festive fare.

The Christmas Market will include 26 stalls from local, independent artisans, makers, and businesses, including Edinburgh’s Grace Cooper Creative, Glasgow based Facet Leathercraft and Raven Botanicals' Botanical Skincare based in East Lothian.

The festive atmosphere continues through to Eve, the hotel’s all-day dining and entertainment venue, where guests will be able to enjoy chestnut roasting with a glass of mulled cider in the sheltered courtyard.

For every dessert sold in Eve, £1 goes towards Free Cakes for Kids, which supports families who have difficulty providing a cake to mark special occasions for children.

Guests can also enjoy an extra special festive brunch that includes Scottish seafood, charcuterie meats, the finest cheeses and homemade pancakes and waffles. As well as hot brunch dishes from the kitchen.

When: 10 December, 11am-4pm, free to attend

Where: Greyfriars Hall, 2 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1JR

Location:none
Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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