Looking for the best coffee shops in Edinburgh? You’re in the right place. Edinburgh’s coffee scene is top-notch, and there are great cafés all over the city, whether you’re walking the cobbled streets of the Old Town, exploring The Shore in Leith, or wandering through Stockbridge on a sleepy Sunday.
This guide pulls together a hand-picked list of my favourite cafés in Edinburgh that I frequented during three years of living in the city. From speciality coffee shops serving locally-roasted, seasonal blends, to laid-back cafés with creative menus and delectable bakes, you won’t be short of places to try.
Pin this post for later!
First published: 12/10/2022 | This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Read more in my disclaimer.
Beatnik
2 Brougham Place EH3
Located just off the bustling meadows, Beatnik has firmly established itself as one of the best speciality coffee shops in Edinburgh. With a rotating menu of coffee, the team at Beatnik regularly introduces new collaborations, new recipes and new roasts to their small but mighty café. As a result, you can expect expertly-crafted espresso, filter, cold brew and other drinks, all made with precision by passionate baristas.
Perhaps the most special thing about Beatnik is its ability to shed the air of pretension that often comes along with these craft coffee spots. Always bustling with patrons, from students to locals to visitors, Beatnik manages to capture the sweet spot between quality and approachability. It’s a place where you can truly relax and enjoy your coffee, whether you’re chatting with friends, people-watching through the windows, or tucking into one of their tasty bakes.
Ante
1b Haddington Place EH7
Blink and you’ll miss Ante, the neighbourhood bakery and café nestled beneath its sister, Spry Wines, on Haddington Place. Sitting below street level, with just a handwritten sign displaying its four-letter name, Ante embraces its minimalist, nonchalant nature and lets the baking do the talking.
Keeping everything seasonal, you’ll find a frequently changing menu of sweet and savoury bakes alongside some breakfast dishes and bigger bites. The drinks are the same, and the team are regularly showcasing their signature serves – like lavender lattes through the winter and espresso sodas in the summer.
And while Ante is enjoyable at any time of day, nothing beats an early morning pastry and coffee at one of their outside tables, watching the sun burst above the terraces of Leith Walk.
Williams & Johnson
Custom Lane EH6
If your trip to Edinburgh lands you in Leith, Williams & Johnson should be the first place you venture to. Tucked under the arches of Custom Lane by the Shore, this modern café is all about great coffee that’s roasted in-house and served without any fuss. Named after the two owners, Williams & Johnson has a simple menu, with seasonal blends that are roasted on-site, plus a few sandwiches and sweet bakes.
Grab a seat outside on a nice day, and you can soak up the sun looking out over the very north end of the Water of Leith, with its docked boats and surrounding stone buildings. Or if you’re in the mood to move, take a coffee from Williams & Johnson to go and walk a little along the riverside route.
Thomas J. Walls
35 Forrest Road EH1
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled upon an optician’s after a first glance at the façade of Thomas J. Walls – the space was once a working optometrist’s, some 50 years ago. Now a thriving coffee shop, the owners have created a nostalgic gem in their Edinburgh café by choosing to keep the old-school charm of the interiors, branding and signage.
With brunch, soup and sandwiches alongside a generous menu of coffee, tea and other drinks. Thomas J. Walls is perfect for a family brunch, curling up with a cosy drink and a book, or a quick stop off to rest your legs while exploring the centre of Edinburgh. And if you’re in need of an eye test, not a coffee, don’t worry – Specsavers is just down the road.
Book some of the top Edinburgh activities before your trip!
Fortitude
66 Hamilton Place EH3 | 4 Abbey Mount EH8 | 72 Newington Road EH9
Fortitude has quietly established itself as one of the best neighbourhood cafés in Edinburgh. What started as a small speciality shop on York Place (which has now sadly shut down) has grown into a thriving brand known across the city. Now with three locations in Edinburgh, they still roast their coffee in-house and have managed to keep a friendly, welcoming vibe in all of their coffee shops.
My favourite of the three is in Stockbridge, tucked just off Raeburn Place. You can sit down for a coffee and a bite to eat after browsing the Stockbridge Market on a Sunday, or order to-go and take your drinks on a stroll along the water of Leith.
Hata
5 Rodney Street EH7
Hata is a tiny coffee shop in Canonmills that feels like a secret spot… except it’s always busy! Locals have flocked to the Edinburgh café since its opening in 2020 and have made it a community favourite in the city. There’s a fun menu of drinks, like Vietnamese coffees and seasonal specials, alongside classic coffees.
At the heart of Hata is their vegan-friendly porridge dishes, which change weekly, with new and exciting combinations always appearing. You’ll also find a delicious menu of other breakfast and lunch dishes – and the cakes are some of the best I’ve had in Edinburgh.
Söderberg
Söderberg is a Swedish-inspired bakery and café in Edinburgh, allowing you to embrace the art of fika from Scotland. And with 7 locations across the city, you’re never far from sipping on a coffee alongside a delicious Swedish bun.
The team at Söderberg created their coffee blend to perfectly pair with their classic cardamom buns, so it just makes sense to try these two together! However, you’ll also find many other Scandinavian bakes, like mazarins, cinnamon buns, and seasonal semlas.
Each location has its own vibe, but they all share the same laid-back, Scandi style. Visit the cosy bakery on Broughton Street, soak up the sun with a sourdough pizza at the Pavilion, or grab a window seat and people watch in Stockbridge – the choice is yours!
Little Fitzroy
46 Easter Road EH7
Little Fitzroy brings a slice of Australian culture to the Edinburgh café scene, particularly their love of early mornings. Taking its name from the popular Melbourne neighbourhood, the tiny takeaway spot opens at 7 am on weekdays, perfect if you’re up early to explore before the rest of the city wakes up.
You’ll find a steady flow of locals popping in for their regular orders, whether that’s a flat white, filter coffee or a delicious vegan bake. The vibe is warm and upbeat, and with reliably great coffee, it’s quietly one of the best coffee shops in Edinburgh.
The Milkman
7 & 52 Cockburn Street EH1
Few people come on a trip to Scotland without having heard of The Milkman – it’s easily one of the most popular cafés in Edinburgh. With two locations on Cockburn Street, in the heart of the Old Town, The Milkman offers a welcome break from the cobbles and crowds of the Royal Mile. Set in beautifully restored old shopfronts, both spaces blend effortlessly into their surroundings with exposed brick, vintage signage and rustic, wooden accents.
If you’re lucky, you can grab one of the comfy window seats for a spot of people watching while sipping on a cosy coffee and a delicious bake (I recommend the morning bun).
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville Place EH3
Bringing locally-roasted coffee and high-quality brews to Edinburgh’s West End, Cairngorm Coffee is a bright, laid-back coffee shop that suits both a quiet, solo coffee and catching up with a friend. They source beans from around the world and then roast them at their own roastery, just outside the city, before they’re sent to the café to be brewed.
Not only is Cairngorm Coffee known as one of the best cafés in Edinburgh, but they’re also famous for their cheese toastie. Among their menu of breakfast and lunch dishes, the grilled cheese (with a three-cheese blend and chilli jam) is a standout crowd favourite! Make sure you grab one alongside your coffee.
Wellington Coffee
33a George Street EH2
Tucked below Penhaligon’s perfumery on George Street is Wellington Coffee, most probably the tiniest of Edinburgh’s cafés. And with fierce competition from some of the biggest coffee chains all around, it all feels a bit David and Goliath… but we know how that story goes. So when you find yourself in the centre of Edinburgh, skip Starbucks and head straight to Wellington.
Despite the limited space inside, you’ll find a few seats, with cosy, vintage interiors to entice you in. But even better, there’s a generous terrace with both above and below ground seating, and it’s a great sun spot on a nice day. There’s coffee, tea, and cold drinks here – but whatever you do, don’t leave without trying one of their famous scones with cream and jam.
Location |
The Alibi
13e Norton Place EH7
The Alibi is a one-woman show, with owner, baker and barista extraordinaire Frances on centre stage. She runs this charming Edinburgh coffee shop in the Abbeyhill neighbourhood – a little outside the centre, but well worth a visit to come here! There’s a special sense of community, with regulars popping in daily to chat with the owner and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat.
With homemade sourdough ciabatta that’s turned into delicious filled sandwiches, delectable cakes and pastries displayed on the countertops, and locally sourced coffee, you’ll love what’s on offer here. And you’ll love the homely, welcoming vibe of the café even more.
Cowan & Sons
33 Raeburn Place EH4
Cowan & Sons is a bit of an all-rounder – you’ll also find it in my guide to the best brunch in Edinburgh. The local favourite serves up brunch and lunch alongside delicious coffee. It’s always bustling here, a testament to their community vibe and welcoming atmosphere, and on the weekends, you’ll often find a queue!
If you can’t get a seat inside the café, grab a drink from their takeaway hatch and take it to the nearby Inverleith Park. You can take a stroll around the ponds, enjoy some amazing views over Edinburgh, and even head over to the Botanic Gardens.
