Edinburgh is famous for many things,
from its historic cobbled streets lined with vintage shops, acting as
inspiration for acclaimed novelists, and of course its castle which
was built on top of an extinct volcano. It’s known globally as one
of the most beautiful cities in the world so it only makes sense
that it has gorgeous cafes to match. From revamped sweet shops in
the heart of the Old Town serving espressos and local bakes to
wholesome Swedish hangouts marrying cardamom buns with silky flat
whites, we’ve put together a list of our favourite
Edinburgh coffee shops so you're never too far
from a cool caffeine kick.
The Milkman
You’ll find The Milkman, one of the best cafes in Edinburgh city centre, perched on Cockburn Street, housed within a refurbished confectionary store. Born from a tribute to founder Mark’s great grandfather, the last horse-drawn milkman in Huntly (Aberdeenshire), the cafe opened in 2015 with his silhouette as the logo. Sustainable coffee from local roasteries is the name of the game here: sip on beans from the likes of Five Elephant, Cloud Picker and La Cabra and pair them with a peanut butter cookie from Fieldworks while soaking up the cosy interiors.
Unfortunately, you won't find any iced coffees delivered by a horse-drawn carriage here.
Söderberg
For Swedish coffee in the heart of Scotland, Söderberg has everything you need, from golden swirls of cinnamon buns to cool sips of signature Fika Martinis (espresso martinis made with Lake Vättern vodka and homemade Obadiah coffee liqueur). It has seven Edinburgh cafes in the likes of The Meadows, Stockbridge and Broughton Street (as well as two in London) serving authentic food made with high-quality ingredients. In suitably minimalist, Scandi-inspired surroundings, look forward to wrapping your hands around a warming flat white before pulling apart fluffy cardamom buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream.
Got buns, hun? Söderberg certainly has.
Twelve Triangles
It won’t be hard to stumble upon Twelve Triangles in Edinburgh as there are multiple outposts across the city, including Brunswick and Portobello, whipping up slow-fermented sourdough and pastries from scratch. Its entire ethos is centred around a cold/slow process that takes three to four days, and everything is made by hand - including the deliciously tart jams, creamy custards and ricotta. Head to the dog-friendly space decked out with low-hanging lighting and cute wooden tables to scoff grilled cheese toasties, croissants and fresh sandwiches filled with cured meats and pickles, alongside a delicate latte made with beans from Machina.
Fun fact: Twelve Triangles is owned by former costume designer Rachel Morgan.
LOWDOWN
This George Street basement cafe is award-winning and for good reason; the contemporary space serves some of the finest, small-batch roasts, wooing the tastebuds of coffee aficionados. The spot founded by Paul Anderson has a minimalist feel to it, thanks to its simple exposed walls and kitsch furniture inspired by Japan. If you’re in pursuit of a decent cup of joe, then LOWDOWN is undoubtedly the cafe for you; pair a long black with a little sweet or savoury pick-me-up before venturing out into the city, delighting in the enticing selection of cakes and toasts.
Let us give you the LOWDOWN on this cool spot.
Cairngorm Coffee
Panoramic windows, beautiful interiors and cosy cups of flat whites? Cairngorm Coffee on Melville Place and St James Quarter ticks all the boxes. Among walls fixed with framed line drawings, glossy white tiles and dainty plants you’ll find the low hum of happy coffee connoisseurs enjoying a fresh brew. Established in 2014 by Robu Lambie (who grew up inspired by his dad’s cafe), it’s become an integral part of Scotland's coffee culture, delivering dusted almond croissants, crumbly granola bars and frothy cappuccinos to the masses.
Cairngorm Coffee is the place for delicious brunch dishes.
Fortitude
Fortidude was set up in 2014 and is a small, exceptional Edinburgh coffee shop with three locations dotted around, all delivering speciality brews. The warm space is made up of shelves lined with sealed bags of beans ready for you to take home, a tiny counter presenting tempting treats from local bakers (jam doughnuts, anyone?) and high-top stools tucked underneath a dark wooden table. For a quality-controlled cortado or a rich and flavoursome cup courtesy of passionate baristas tending the humble V60, venture over to Hamilton Place, Newington Road or Abbey Mount.
The best cafes in Edinburgh? Fortitde's got to be on the list.
Machina Coffee
If you’re on the hunt for the best coffee shop Edinburgh’s got tucked up its sleeve then you’re going to love these top-notch roasters. With designated laptop areas (perfect for working) and a cool, laid-back eating and drinking place complete with dangling foliage, Machina Coffee is a trendy hangout, whatever your needs. It’s been delivering exceptional sips since 2013 and is the unlikely brainchild of an ex-DJ and A&R Manager with a passion for all things coffee. The beans are roasted on traditional Probatone drum roasters using old-school German engineering with modern tweaks, and the food is all down to local businesses, such as Company Bakery, Fieldwork, Kilted Donut and Pie Dolly, providing their signature eats.
With a name that's Latin for machine, it's obvious these guys are serious about their coffee.
Thomas J. Walls Coffee
What was once an opticians’ office is now a vibrant coffee spot within proximity to the University of Edinburgh and the National Museum of Scotland. It comes from Jonathan Sharp (previously of Kilimanjaro and Project Coffee) who preserved the original design and lettering and opened Thomas J. Walls Coffee in 2016. It's a sophisticated cafe that comes complete with pillars, soft orbs bundled together to make pretty light fixtures and large windows - it’s here you can sit to muse at the world passing by while digging into brunch dishes like avocado toast and washing it down with a cappuccino or Americano.
Take a break from studying or exploring with an elegant brew.
Pantry
It’s simple at Pantry: good food combined with good coffee is the way to their heart and, since opening in 2012, it's been spreading the love with hungry visitors, with its acclaimed eggs Benedict drawing people in alone. Found in North West Circus Place, the walk-in-only cafe is complete with shinty white tiles, silver lighting and crisp furnishings making it pretty easy on the eye. Organise a meet-up with your mates or take your partner to brunch the day away with a menu packing brie toasties, the ‘no small fry’ featuring posh pork sausages and streaky smoked bacon, plus dirty chai lattes and even an iced Nutella version. Phwoar.
A Nutella iced latte? Don't mind if we do.
Room & Rumours Coffee
Don’t be fooled by the neon pink signage reading ‘blah, blah, blah’ sprawled across the wall, as Room & Rumours Coffee has a lot to say in terms of matcha lattes and Instagram-worthy doughnuts. The East Market Street-based cafe puts speciality coffee at the forefront and is a scrumptious, dog-friendly ‘donutterie’. Prepare drool as soon as you cast your eyes on dusted buns filled with various creams such as raspberry or chocolate marshmallow. If you have more of a savoury tooth, fear not as the Turkish eggs are just as exceptional and quite the looker when photographed alongside a spot of latte art.
Have you heard the rumour? Doughnut heaven really does exist.
For more sweet treats, check out our guide to afternoon tea in Edinburgh and sign up to our newsletter for all the latest.
