Mary Hillard: graduate and owner of Mary’s Milk Bar, obviously did and spent her time there to good effect. Her retro Grassmarket shop with its pretty pistachio and vanilla décor has queues out the door. Mary makes everything from fresh ingredients with inventive seasonal ice cream and sorbet flavours like Assam tea and milk biscuit, lavender and honey or chestnut choc chip – changing every day.

Mary’s Milk Bar is the best gelateria in Edinburgh—maybe in Scotland—so there's almost always a line here. There will always be the stalwarts—vanilla, chocolate, and the like—but your best is to go for some of the more creative flavors, like ginger and rhubarb; strawberry and elderflower; damson ripple; or tea and biscuits. There are even savory options.

On Grassmarket, Mary’s Milk Bar is renowned for its outside-the-box flavour combinations, from gorgonzola, pear and honey to pickled bramble sorbet, while Holyrood’s Moo Pie has gained a cult following thanks to its small batch gelato and soft serve cookie sandwiches. If you’re not feeling quite brave enough for ice cream in Edinburgh’s decidedly changeable climate, head to Kilted Donut for weekly-changing flavours (also available as adorable ‘kilties’, aka doughnuts in miniature), or to city stalwart Sicilian Pastry Shop which has been serving up exceptional cannoli for over four decades.

You might already be familiar with Mary’s Milk Bar; it’s been featured in Buzzfeed a few times, and it’s not uncommon to see queues snaking out the door and down the street on a sunny day. The Buzzfeed hype is well deserved though – the gelato is exceptionally rich, and handmade every morning with fresh and ever-changing ingredients. The traditional flavours are just as tasty as some of the more unique and outlandish flavour combinations, like dill, soda bread & whisky, or spicy Sriracha almond.

A few minutes’ walk from Edinburgh Castle on the Grassmarket, Mary’s Milk Bar has the central location of a mainstream joint but the flavour selection of a backstreet hidden gem. Owner Mary Hillard, a former chocolatier, trained in Italy at Carpigiani Gelato University – yep, there genuinely is a university dedicated to the art of gelato-making – and makes the ice cream for her kitsch bar every morning. The flavours change every day (sometimes more than once) and they’re never pedestrian.

We’re celebrating International Women’s Day by showcasing three leading women in Edinburgh’s hospitality industry: Roberta Hall-McCarron, chef and co-owner at The Little Chartroom; Virginie Brouard, owner of La P’tite Folie and Le Di-Vin Wine Bar; and Mary Hillard, owner and artisan chocolate/gelato maker, at Mary’s Milk Bar. These female-led venues are some of the best-loved fixtures on Edinburgh’s culinary landscape, imagined and owned by some of the most inspiring ladies in the city.

Mary’s Milk Bar is one of those spots where you’ll be taking photos before you even reach the doorway. Here it’s all about the freshest (and most delicious) scoops of gelato in Edinburgh, as Mary dedicates each and every morning to churning up her ever-changing flavours until 11am to ensure they live up to their soft and creamy reputation. While the outside is clearly incredible Instagrammable, the unique and unusual gelato flavours are also well worthy of a photo, too.

A post shared by Mary’s Milk Bar (@marysmilkbar) on Jul 5, 2019 at 1:39am PDT. Step back in time and enjoy a freshly made ice-cream at this cosy parlour reminiscent of the traditional National Milk Bars, supported by the Government, that served the British public from the 20’s – 60s’. Mary is a Gelato graduate, having trained at the prestigious Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy and has worked as a chocolatier for the last five years – we’re impressed!

Mary’s Milk Bar in the city is not just adorable; it’s a taste sensation. Mary, a graduate of Caprigiani Gelato University in Italy, crafts perfect gelato, decadent milkshakes, and beautifully wrapped chocolates. Inspired by mid-twentieth-century National Milk Bars, Mary’s Milk Bar serves up unique flavors like tea and biscuits, fig sorbet, goat’s cheese and honey, rose, cardamom and thyme, salted caramel and rosemary, and lemon curd.

At the bottom of Victoria Street, you’ll find the Grassmarket, a square of pubs and outside seating that boasts some more epic views of Edinburgh Castle. Here, you’ll also find some more dairy-based goodness at the ultimate treat, Mary’s Milk Bar. If you have a sweet tooth and an addiction to Ice Cream like me, you might try to fit in more than one visit here on your foodie weekend in Edinburgh.

The gelato at Mary’s Milk Bar is literally some of the best gelato/ice cream I have ever had. It’s located across the street from Cold Town House in the Grassmarket area of Old Town Edinburgh and it often has a line forming out the door (for good reason). Mary, the owner, trained in Bologna, Italy at Carpigiani Gelato University at makes the gelato fresh each morning until 11 am.

On a warm summer’s day, it’s not uncommon to see a long queue of people waiting outside this small retro ice cream parlour, but once you’ve tasted one of their cones, you’ll understand why. While you can still get the classics here, if you fancy being a bit more adventurous they also serve exciting flavours such as elderflower with lemon curd, and walnut and figs.

Mary’s Milk Bar, located in the historic area of Grassmarket and only four minutes from Edinburgh Castle, has the best quality gelato and chocolate in the city. But what makes it even better is the fact that they regularly change the flavours. During the summer months, you can expect long queues to get ice cream, so you better get there early as they open.

On any sunny day in Edinburgh, you’ll find a queue snaking around Edinburgh’s Grassmarket that leads to Mary’s Milk Bar. The charming gelateria is a cult favourite among locals and a must-visit spot for tourists, thanks to its top-tier gelato and innovative flavours. Owner Mary posts the daily selection of flavours on Instagram and in the shop window.

Address: 19 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HS, United KingdomPhone: +44 131 000 0000Website:marysmilkbar.comDetails: $, Ice cream shop. Nestled within Edinburgh’s charming Grassmarket district, Mary’s Milk Bar stands as a beacon of delight for dessert aficionados. This unassuming gem has earned its reputation as the city’s finest dessert haven.

A quaint little location in Grassmarket is the home of Mary’s Milk Bar. If you’ve read my list of the best things to do in Edinburgh and have visited Edinburgh Castle, then head down here for some fabulous gelato. The gelato is made fresh every morning and I’m sure you’ll have so much fun discovering this little slice of Edinburgh heaven!

Wander down colourful Victoria Street to The Grassmarket, kids will love the shop window of Oink, and Mary’s Milk Bar does the best ice cream in town. Stockbridge has a lovely family friendly market on a Saturday morning, and some of the best brunch spots in the city, perfect after a stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway.

Moving onto dessert, Mary’s Milk Bar is another must-visit spot. While we can’t provide a direct link due to website restrictions, trust us when we say their homemade gelato using fresh local milk is worth seeking. With flavors changing daily based on seasonal ingredients availability, each visit promises a new surprise.

Mary’s Milk Bar is an absolute institution in Edinburgh, and you must visit not only to photograph the adorable storefront, but also for the gelato and hot cocoa!. It’s only fitting that a shop this cute serves cute food and drinks, too. Despite how teeny tiny it looks in this photo, it’s definitely a normal-sized shop!

If you haven’t heard of Marys Milk Bar by now, then where on earth have you been?. It is filled with classic flavours of gelato and then some completely obscure but delicious ones, like mince pie, goats cheese & plum or one of my favourites Tea and Jam. They even have a signature Milk flavour and its lush!

Outside lockdown, Mary’s Milk Bar is unmissable for its fabulous hot chocolate gelato floats. For now, though, we’ll have to make do with her inventive artisan chocolates and cakes, packed full of ever-changing flavours. New for spring is her white chocolate, saffron and nutmeg bar.

My son’s favourite treat is ice cream and Mary’s Milk Bar does great gelato; it’s a nice way to spend a sunny day with my boy when he has been well behaved. My favourite flavour is salted caramel, but Sonny is more of a traditionalist chocolate gelato man. marysmilkbar.com

While not a traditional street food, a visit to Edinburgh would be incomplete without trying the delectable ice cream from Mary’s Milk Bar. With a constantly changing menu of unique flavors, including traditional Scottish recipes, you’ll be in for a treat with every visit.

At first glance you may think, “ice cream, that’s only for summer” and dismiss Mary’s Milk Bar for other times of year. That would be a mistake. My first visit to Mary’s Milk Bar was in Autumn, just as the weather was getting chilly, and I wasn’t disappointed.

While not strictly a restaurant, I can’t talk about quirky places to eat and not mention Mary’s Milk Bar. Mary’s Milk Bar is an institution, and as well as serving absolutely delicious ice cream, they are also famous for creating incredibly unusual flavours.

You may have seen this one floating around on Instagram thanks to its pretty shopfront. You’ll find this in the beautiful Old Town of Edinburgh. If you’re looking for some more unusual ice cream flavours in Edinburgh, Mary’s Milk Bar is your new best friend.

Mary’s Milk Bar is the best place for gelato and chocolate in Edinburgh. The gelato flavours are heavenly with different ones every day. What makes it worthy to be on this romantic Edinburgh list is not only the food but also the view of the castle.

Mary’s Milk Bar is a cosy space for everyone to enjoy the best quality gelato and chocolate. The key to all Mary’s products is freshness. The ice cream is made every morning until 11am so there are fresh, ever-changing flavours to sample.

Step into a time machine of sweetness at Mary’s Milk Bar, a charming little gelato haven in the heart of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. With its retro décor and ever-changing menu of handmade ice creams, this place is pure joy in a cone.

When the craving for something sweet hits, Mary’s Milk Bar is the place to be. Tucked under the historic edifice of Edinburgh Castle, this artisanal ice cream parlour serves up the creamiest, most indulgent scoops in the city.

Amazingly delish ice cream and it’s a quirky little ice cream parlour as well. Each day there are different flavours, so an excuse to return again and again and again!. Where: Mary’s Milk Bar 19 Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Sometimes you just need a sweet hit, and Mary’s Milk Bar serves the best gelato. There’s often a queue but it moves pretty quickly and it’s always worth the wait. Mary’s inventive flavours change every day.

Mary’s Milk Bar – fantastic ice cream and gelato shop in the Grassmarket. All flavours are made fresh daily, and they have justifiably won a raft of awards. The scoops are generous so come hungry.

Where: 19 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HS. Mary makes all the gelato and chocolate every morning. The flavours change each day and each season - no day is the same. But it's always delicious.

Undoubtedly, many people will put Mary’s Milk Bar at the top of their list. I’ve been several times and never been disappointed. I am always impressed by the range of exotic flavours.

This gelato parlour makes some of the most sinful creations you’re ever likely to encounter. Gelato is made fresh every morning with the flavours changing each day and each season.

Mary’s Milk Bar in Edinburgh for the best of home made ice cream. A cosy space for you to enjoy the best quality gelato and chocolate. The key to all Mary’s products is freshness.

The cute little Mary’s Milk Bar has become an iconic feature in the Grassmarket. It is a highly popular and fabulous gelato shop. All of the gelato is handmade by Mary.

Mary’s Milk Bar in the Grassmarket makes high-quality ice cream and milkshakes in a variety of flavors. Check out the hot chocolates and floats, too!