Where to sit, sip and slow down in Edinburgh.
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Edinburgh lingers in over a cortado.
Artisan Roast on Broughton Street in Edinburgh, opened 2007, the city's third-wave coffee pioneer roasting on-site in Glasgow and pouring filter and espresso.
DrinkFilter coffee
TipOpen from 08:00 weekends and busy by 10:00; the back room takes laptop users for longer sessions and stays open till 18:00.
Cafen on Dundas Street in Edinburgh New Town, a flagship speciality brew bar a few minutes walk from Waverley Station that rotates a short bean list.
DrinkRotating single-origin filter
TipOpen from 8am every day; the cushioned window seats fill first for morning filter pours, the rotating menu changes when a new lot lands from the roastery.
Brew Lab on South College Street in Edinburgh, opened 2012, a third-wave coffee bar pouring filter and espresso into a long basement room near the University.
DrinkV60 filter
TipTheir training arm runs Saturday public cuppings at 11:00; sign up online for a week or two ahead.
Machina's Marchmont cafe in Edinburgh's south side, a bright sit-in space pouring single-origin espresso and filter from their own roastery.
DrinkEspresso
TipMornings until 11:00 are quietest; rotating lunch pop-ups land midday.
Cairngorm Coffee on Melville Place in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2014, a basement third-wave coffee bar pouring rotating UK and European roasters.
DrinkFlat white
TipTheir Frederick Street branch is brighter and busier; the Melville Place original is the quiet workspace.
Williams and Johnson roastery cafe on Customs Wharf in Leith Edinburgh, opened 2017 by two former Square Mile baristas, an in-house roaster and cafe.
DrinkFilter coffee
TipTour the roaster on the public Saturday morning slot; check the website calendar two weeks ahead.
Twelve Triangles bakery-cafe on Brunswick Street in Edinburgh, opened 2015, a third-wave coffee counter making the city's most popular doughnuts.
DrinkFilter coffee and a doughnut
TipOpen from 07:00; the day's doughnuts sell out by 11:00 on Saturdays. The Brunswick Street site is takeaway only.
Lovecrumbs cake shop on West Port in Edinburgh, opened 2010, a tea-and-cake counter in a Grassmarket-adjacent townhouse with a sun-filled bay window.
DrinkFilter coffee and a slice of cake
TipTheir daily-changing cake counter is a one-glass-each affair; the upstairs nook seats four for quiet sessions.
The Company Bakery on Easter Road in Edinburgh, opened 2018, a coffee bar and sourdough bakery serving filter coffee, fresh pastries and a small lunchtime.
DrinkFlat white and a sourdough sandwich
TipThe cinnamon morning bun sells out before 11:00. Order ahead via their website for collection most days.
Urban Angel on Hanover Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2003, a basement organic-leaning all-day cafe serving breakfast, brunch and light lunches.
DrinkFlat white
TipThe kitchen closes at 15:00 on weekdays and 16:00 at weekends, so treat it as a breakfast and lunch stop rather than an afternoon one.
Edinburgh Larder cafe on Blackfriars Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, opened 2009, a Scottish-provenance all-day cafe serving breakfast.
DrinkFilter coffee and a Stornoway black pudding roll
TipCloses 16:00 most days. The cafe on Blackfriars Street is calmer than the larger bistro round the corner.
Valvona and Crolla caffe on Elm Row in Edinburgh, opened in the 1990s at the back of the city's longest-running Italian deli, pouring espresso and serving.
DrinkEspresso and a Pugliese pastry
TipStand at the bar for the proper Italian experience. The deli at the front is open till 17:30; shop on your way out.
Leith Walk Police Box on Pilrig Street in Edinburgh, opened 2016 inside a 1950s blue police box, a 3-square-metre coffee counter pouring filter and espresso.
DrinkFlat white
TipThere is no seating; coffee in hand on the Leith Walk central reservation. Cash only on most days.
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