Edinburgh is a moody Scottish city filled with rich history and some righteously next-level coffee shops.
It’s one of the top cities in the U.K. for coffee, so it would be a disservice not to stumble into the best coffee shops in Edinburgh at least once.
When most people think of Scotland, they imagine the Harry Potter train and the myriad of fairytale locations scattered around the country, but coffee usually isn’t considered, and that’s why I created this guide.
To help you taste what coffee can be, like I did on my first trip to Scotland, and to have a little pep in your step as you walk across all the cobblestones.
Grab your raincoat, walking shoes, and tall tales, and let’s venture into the best Edinburgh coffee shops.
This post may contain affiliate links for the products I mentioned, but as always, all opinions are my own. I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you, when you make a purchase or make a booking through these links. This helps to support this space and keep me blogging, which I am so extremely thankful for.
Fortitude Coffee
4 Abbey Mount, 66 Hamilton Place, & 72 Newington Road, Newington
Fortitude Coffee prides itself in its selection of single-origin coffee beans and dedication to the quality of each cup of coffee that leaves the barista counter. If you’re growing an appetite after exploring Edinburgh, their food is delivered fresh from local kitchens and bakeries around Edinburgh. There are only a couple of seats available in this little gem, so make sure you arrive to secure a beautiful spot looking out on New Town before the place fills up.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
the source coffee roasters
4 Spittal St, Edinburgh EH3 9DX
High-end, experimental espresso and tasty, sweet pourovers is what the source is all about. They serve a very small menu, but each coffee is measured and poured precisely. There isn’t a lot of seating inside, so it’s not good for working remotely or hanging around for a bit, but it’s worth a quick stop for one of the best coffee shops in Edinburgh.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Little Fitzroy Coffee.
46 Easter Rd, Edinburgh EH7 5PJ
Little Fitzroy is one of AbbeyHill’s staple coffee shops that serves vegan-friendly pastries and other bites that rotate. Quick stops here are best; they’re takeaway only. If you bring your own cup, you can get 75 p off your coffee.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Cult Coffee Roasters
104 Buccleuch St, Newington
Cult Coffee Roasters started as Cult Espresso in 2014 and gave its name an upgrade when it delved into the world of roasting. While it’s not an actual cult, you’ll fall in love with the quality of its brews, teas, and foods. Along with their local beans, they feature seasonal roasts from the top breweries around Europe and the United Kingdom. The brick walls and overall warm design of this spot are welcoming for any type of reading, online work, or socializing that you need to engulf yourself in for the afternoon.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Twelve Triangles
90 Brunswick St, Edinburgh EH7 5HU
At Twelve Triangles, the specialty coffee has slow fermented sourdough and pastries to match. All of the jams, custards, pie fillings, and ricotta are made daily in the bakery, using local, seasonal and organic ingredients wherever possible. They’ve been named one of the best bakeries in the United Kingdom by multiple acclaimed organizations, and their coffee is made with Fortitude Coffee beans. A must-visit bakery/coffee shop in Edinburgh.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville Pl, Edinburgh EH3 7PR
Cairngorm Coffee Roasters began in the heart of the Cairngorms in 2014, and since then, they’ve expanded out of the mountains and into Edinburgh with their West End cafe and roastery. All their beans are roasted weekly and sold daily in clean espresso pulls. The menu is tiny but mighty with solid light bites to accompany.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Lowdown Coffee
40 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2LE
If the name of this place didn’t give it away, Lowdown Coffee is located in the basement of a Georgian-style complex. The shop sells roasts from Koppi, a renowned coffee roaster out of Sweden, which brings variety and spruce to Edinburgh’s ever-expanding coffee scene. If you plan on visiting in the summer months, enjoy outdoor seating with a nice, cool morning breeze to get your morning bean.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Artisan Roast
57 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3RJ
Artisan Roast was the first independent coffee shop in Edinburgh, and the Broughton Street location has been the pulse of Scottish coffee history since its opening over a decade ago. Now, they’re thriving in multiple locations around Edinburgh. Come for the coffee and keep returning for the shops’ dedication and commitment to building lasting and sustainable relationships with their coffee growers and producers.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Black Medicine Coffee Co.
2 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
For over 25 years, Black Medicine Coffee Co. has been committed to caffeinating the locals of Edinburgh with high-quality brews and roasts. They pride themselves in their sustainability practices as they don’t allow takeaway options and are moving towards less wasteful operations day by day. The wood decor and overall warm vibe make you feel right at home here and it’s a great spot for a look into decades of Edinburgh culture.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Machina Coffee
38 Marchmont Rd, Edinburgh EH9 1HX
Machina Coffee is a specialty coffee shop that’s been roasting beans in southern Edinburgh since 2013. A select group of coffee suppliers source their beans with the highest standards of ethics and fair trade practices, and they’re passionate about making great coffee accessible to all. Coffees here feature a range of espresso and single-origin beans with unique tastes and undertones. Do note that on weekends, they can’t accommodate remote work from laptops due to higher demand.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
The Milkman
52 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1PB
The Milkman is an independent specialty coffee shop in Old Town that may be the most picturesque in Edinburgh. The owner, Jaro, selects guest brews every couple of months or so to serve the best breweries and tastes of roasts across the United States and Europe. Both locations sport an aesthetic backdrop for photos. They also serve a small selection of pastries just as thoughtful as the coffee.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
MORE COFFEE SHOPS IN EDINBURGH
William & Johnson Coffee Co. (Google Maps)
Cafe Gallo (Google Maps)
Bearded Barista (Stockbridge Market in Leith)
Wellington Coffee (Google Maps)
Best Coffee Shops in Edinburgh Map
Below is a useful map of all the best Edinburgh coffee shops. Use it on your trip for a quick guide to caffeinate.
Use this map to help you locate the best coffee shops in Edinburgh! For best use, download this map to your smartphone so you can use it offline (instructions here).
If you have any other questions about visiting Edinburgh, please reach out! Otherwise, browse my other Scotland guides to help you plan your trip:
10-Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary
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