Best cafés in Edinburgh

Eating and Drinking Guide
22 May 2019

Brochan

From tea and coffee to cake and pastries, these Edinburgh hotspots do café culture right

Edinburgh's café scene continues to evolve and remains as vibrant as ever. These day-time foodies are often a source of real innovation, from coffee roasters to artisan bakers to scientists of salad, they push the boundaries of breakfast and lunch. And with creative menus, come creative spaces as cake counters make room for supper clubs and cookery workshops. Here we share the best of the new openings, rebrands and updates as well as our coveted Hitlist.

Archipelago Bakery
This stalwart of the New Town scene continues to produce ingenious breads and bakes that keep customers coming back for more.

The Bearded Baker
Homemade doughnuts compete with freshly baked bagels for the top spot at this tiny Canonmills bakery.

Brochan
Hopelessly devoted to oats and grains, this small Marchmont café turns porridge into an unexpected treat.

Bross Bagels
It's been the year of the bagel in Edinburgh as Bross expanded their empire to three shops and thousands of loyal fans.

Di Giorgio
A rustic yet cosy interior, exemplary Italian cooking, and invariably generous service all culminate in a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Fieldwork
Personal and local, Fieldwork's food is as inventive as its welcome is warm.

Honeycomb & Co
This attractive Bruntsfield spot has really hit its stride, with excellent baking and lots of attention to the wee details helping set it apart.

Loudons
Now with two branches in the city, Loudons know how to throw a brunch.

Milk
The original Milk, this trendy café offers an eclectic menu of homemade breakfast and lunch favourites just a few minutes from Haymarket station.

Ostara
Definitely worth seeking out, Ostara is a friendly local café-bistro with a cosy atmosphere and genuine commitment to local suppliers.

The Pantry
Busy and deservedly popular spot, with beautiful options for breakfast, brunch and lunch.

Söderberg
A familiar sight around the city, Söderberg's cafés and bakery shops are an ever-reliable option for everything from a quick coffee stop to a more leisurely lunch.

27 Elliot's
Jessica Elliott Dennison's experience as a food stylist and writer helps this delightful café punch well above its weight.

Union of Genius
Just quietly making the soup year on year, Union epitomises the charm of the wee place. More power to their elbows.

A	Milk 232 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EA The original Milk, this trendy café offers an eclectic menu of homemade breakfast and lunch favourites.
B	Honeycomb & Co 1 Merchiston Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4NP Bright and sunny addition to the Bruntsfield scene with strong breakfast options, cheerful lunches and honeyed homemade baking and ice-cream.
C	Loudons Lochrin Square, 94b Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QA Bright, spacious and relaxed, Loudons is a great spot to watch the world go by over a leisurely brunch.
D	Fieldwork 105 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QE A trendy, local Fountainbridge café with communal bench seating, artsy décor, and an outstanding coffee and lunch menu.
E	The Pantry 1–2 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6ST Popular gathering spot in Stockbridge dishing up beautifully presented breakfast, brunch and lunch.
F	Di Giorgio 1 Brandon Terrace, Canonmills, Edinburgh, EH3 5AE Smart and friendly family-run deli café adding a modern twist to traditional homemade Italian favourites.
G	Archipelago Bakery 39 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QQ Artisan New Town bakery committed to delivering all the joys properly made bread can bring.
H	The Bearded Baker 46 Rodney Street, Edinburgh, Compact café in Canonmills specialising in homemade bagels and donuts with good coffee too.
I	Brochan 24 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 1HG This wee café is all about the oats – beautiful bowls of porridge and granola served with inventive and delicious toppings.
J	Union of Genius 8 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QN Edinburgh’s premier soup café serves up comforting, wholesome soups for the lunchtime crowds, while also running social initiatives to help Edinburgh's homeless community.
K	Söderberg Bakery Shop Broughton Street 45 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU A small, bright bakery serving up Scandinavian style pastries and sandwiches on homemade bread.
L	27 Elliott's 27 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1NX Casual and stylish neighbourhood eatery with inspired brunch and lunch options, and occasional supper clubs.
M	The Pantry at Dovecot Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT Creative healthy lunches and great coffee at this attractive city centre location, formerly a Victorian baths, now a tapestry studio and art gallery.
N	Ostara 52 Coburg Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6HJ Friendly Leith café/bistro with an engaged attitude to its local neighbourhood, suppliers and good, fresh food.
O	Bross Bagels 186 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1EX According to Bross Bagels, the bagel capital of the world is Montreal. But their growing legion of fans think their fabby bagels bring Edinburgh's Porty High Street in at a close second place.