On my first trip to Scotland, I was painfully unaware of what coffee could be.
The extent of my coffee knowledge was whatever my dad had brewing in our Mr. Coffee machine, but thanks to the city of Edinburgh, my first real cup of coffee here invited me to expand my horizons all those years ago.
Nearly a decade later, and now I know what it means to appreciate a flat white that doesn’t taste solely of steamed milk or beans that haven’t been burnt into oblivion.
Upon my return to Edinburgh this year, I found that everyone tends to visit one shop: The Milkman. With a location like that, how can you blame them? I walked by the shop numerous times when I was in Old Town, and always thought to myself:
“If only they knew about all the other great coffee shops in Edinburgh that you don’t have to wait in line for.”
And thus, this guide was born.
Here are 6 fantastic specialty coffee shops in Edinburgh serving superb coffee and the occasional vibe. To fill a weekend with great espresso, or a week sauntering around the city.
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The best Edinburgh coffee shops
This is my personal (and growing trove) of favorites across Edinburgh’s specialty coffee scene. Read til the end! There are a few cheeky extras I’ve yet to get my paws on.
– cafēn
– Little Fitzroy
– Meh.
– The Black Medicine Coffee Co
– The Cobbled Roastery
– Bastard Barista
cafēn.
If you visit cafēn once, no one would blame you if you came here every day of your time in Edinburgh.
This tiny shop serves distinctive coffees from their offsite roastery just a stone’s throw from the shop. What I loved most about this coffee shop in Edinburgh is that it’s still very much a local spot, and it’s not bombarded by tourists.
If you’re walking from New Town to Stockbridge, it’s the perfect stop along the way to get your caffeine fix.
When I was there, they were serving an heirloom varietal from Peru that had notes of tropical fruit, strawberries and honey. If it’s there when you are, you’ve got to try it or buy a bag when you go.
There aren’t a lot of seats inside, so if you’re looking to do some work, you may reconsider, or be mindful if the foot traffic starts to pick up.
Address | 44 Dundas St, Edinburgh EH3 6JN
Hours | Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Notes | Very small shop with two window seats, three tables, and about three bar-style seats along the wall. Try one of their hand-poured drinks.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Little Fitzroy Coffee.
Little Fitzroy is a multi-roaster cafe that serves beans from all the best specialty roasters in Scotland. Fortitude, Unorthodox Roasters, and Santu have all been spotted here.
This little spot is tiny, but mighty, and even the locals know that the queue is worth the balanced coffee they serve.
All of the sweet pastry and savory sandwich options are vegan, but if you love butter like I do, I would get a coffee here, then head a few doors down to Twelve Triangles, where you can get a stellar, full butter croissant.
If you get there shortly after they open, you can expect pretty quick service, but I imagine it can get really busy on weekends and in the morning rush, so keep that in mind.
Address | 46 Easter Rd, Edinburgh EH7 5PJ
Hours | Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Notes | This is a teeny shop with no indoor seating and only a few seats outside (if the weather is cooperating). Bring your own cup for 75pp off your drink.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Meh.
One of the newest coffee shops in Edinburgh to join the specialty coffee scene is Meh., a mellow-mustard-toned shop in the West End.
This independent go-to serves beans from Carter Coffee Roasters based near Leith, but you can often find a new roast on rotation from time to time.
Inside, there are a handful of atmospheric window seats and a few regular tables. If you’re lucky with good weather, you have to find yourself on one of the benches outside.
I went in the morning when they opened straightaway and had no issues getting a table. You might feel otherwise if you show up later.
Sandwiches, croissants, morning buns and other bites they serve are all fresh, local and handmade, right down to the sauces.
Due to its size, I don’t think this is the locale to be parked at for a day’s worth of computer work, so keep that in mind. Four is a party inside this tiny coffee shop.
Address | 2 Drumsheugh Pl, Edinburgh EH3 7PT
Hours | Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Notes | Dog-friendly, bring your own cup for 30pp off your coffee, known best for their matcha despite being a coffee shop
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
The Black Medicine Coffee Co.
“Black medicine” is what the native people of the Americas called coffee before the modern age, and in 1998, the term was brought to life in Edinburgh with The Black Medicine Coffee Co.
This shop helped pioneer the specialty coffee scene in Edinburgh, and it’s a fine place to land yourself on the edges of the Old Town.
What I love most about it is that while sticking to its theme and overall vibe, it is still a functional coffee shop. Meaning there is an aesthetic window seat, but there’s also plenty of other tables and an entire downstairs area should you require something a little more practical for laptop work.
It’s worth mentioning that this coffee shop is a place to linger, because they charge 25p for takeaway cups. But you can uno reverse that by bringing in your own cup and getting a 10% discount on any coffee order.
Black Medicine is a staple in the locals’ coffee rotation, so arrive here early if you want to get a good spot.
Address | 2 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
Hours | Monday – Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
The Cobbled Roastery
By a landslide, The Cobbled Roastery serves my favorite coffee in Edinburgh.
You can watch the ethically sourced, specialty coffee being roasted right inside the shop, and the beans they serve are some of the freshest you can get in the city.
I think the term hidden gem is a bit overused these days, but I can confidently say this shop fits the bill. It’s on an unassuming street in New Town, and I like that the cheeky owner cares more about his coffee than having all the aesthetics figured out.
Because this is a one-man show, the menu is kept very simple with espresso-based drinks, loose-leaf teas, hot chocolate and a handful of other options. Get a hand-poured coffee from a V60 for just five more pounds.
There are only five seats or so inside, but the owner will still convince you to sit in and not have your coffee for takeaway.
Address | 48 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1EN
Hours | Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Notes | Dine-in or takeaway, not a ton of seats available, local pastries are also for sale
Find the cafe here on Google Maps
Bastard Barista
Concealed a bit by its digs, Bastard Barista is an underground coffee shop in Edinburgh with strong drinks and a moody atmosphere.
This one is bigger than most other shops around the city, with seating outside and inside at both low and high top tables. Out of all the shops I visited, this one was by far the quietest. Which is nice if you like to linger.
The main owner is a Q grader, and in the coffee world, that’s a pretty big deal. It’s someone who can grade the quality of beans using their senses, and to pass a test like that is notoriously difficult.
But it means the specialty coffee they serve is nothing short of spectacular
Address | 15 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JE
Hours | Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, closed
Notes | STRONG drinks. Bring your own cup for a 0.25pp discount.
Edinburgh coffee shops I didn’t have time to visit
There are endless specialty coffee shops to try in Edinburgh, and my focus was on hyper-local and small roasters around the city.
Some of these have more familiar faces in the city’s coffee scene and others are still to be put on the map.
– the source coffee roasters (maps) | I heard a lot of great things about this one, but unfortunately, I never wandered out here to try their beans.
– Ante (maps) | You don’t have to choose here. This coffee shop checks many boxes: quiet location, specialty coffee, and it’s a daytime restaurant and bakery incase you’re looking for a solid breakfast. If I weren’t one espresso away from having heart palpitations, I would have stopped in.
– Santu (maps) | If you love coffee from Brazil, go to Santu. The owners source the best specialty beans from farmers they have lived and worked with over the years. Try it at the roastery or at the cafe on the Royal Mile near the palace.
– Cult Coffee Roasters (maps) | Cult is another one of the resident coffee roasters in Edinburgh that has quite the cult following, for lack of a better word.
– Machina Coffee (maps) | If you find yourself wandering south of the city center, Machina is likely a stone’s throw away.
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