The 11 best coffee shops and cafés in Edinburgh

Head down a few stairs to a basement on George Street and you’ll encounter some of the best coffee in Edinburgh. This stylish little café has rightly accrued a merry gang of loyal followers thanks to its speciality coffees and delicious pastries. Lowdown’s design is minimal and its menu small, but everything is thoughtfully prepared and served with care.

With seven coffee shops across Edinburgh, you’re (thankfully) likely to find a Twelve Triangles bakery in your neighbourhood. Alongside punchy, life-invigorating cups of Fortitude coffee, each venue offers up a selection of mouth-watering pastries, sandwiches, salads and ferments as well as their signature slow, cold-fermented sourdough (alongside other cracking loaves of bread). Their mantra is ‘simple things done well’; favourites include their seasonal-changing croissant loaf (think blackcurrant and dark chocolate then soaked in custard) and lemon and cardamom morning buns.

A small-scale café with a big heart and bigger ideas, this friendly little space offers up six homemade soups every day – all presented with a large wedge of suitably dunkable artisan bread (from local bakery, Dough Re Mi). Keen to source from nearby independent businesses and cafés, they source their tea from Eteaket and coffee from the ubiquitous Artisan Roast. 

Söderberg has a number of locations around Edinburgh, which is helpful considering their cardamom buns are hard to resist. As well as coffee, cakes and pastries, different branches of the café serve everything from Swedish-style open sandwiches and sourdough pizza to ice cream and classic cocktails with a Scandi twist.

Artisan Roast have been operating as Scottish speciality micro-roasters since 2007, so it’s safe to say that they know a thing or two about coffee. Fortunately you don’t have to look far to find a spot to drink a cup of the good stuff as they have five shops across the capital. Our favourite? The sun-filled branch on Leith Walk, perfect for people watching. But whichever you choose, make sure you grab a sticky cinnamon bun. 

Café Portrait has quickly become one of Edinburgh’s best art venue cafés. And with its striking gothic windows, consistently good food and creative buzz, it’s easy to see why. The menu is seasonal and changes daily, but the likes of Moroccan spiced salmon on a bed of chickpeas and spinach, or goat’s cheese roulade won’t disappoint. 

Based in Leith, Williams & Johnson Coffee Co. are known for their seasonally curated coffees and regularly changing selection of beans. All of their coffees are single origin and roasted in small batches in their café and if you decide to grab a takeaway drink, you can enjoy it while having a gentle wander along the Shore.

Aside from the great name, there’s plenty to like about Lovecrumbs. This delightful café embraces not only the sweet stuff, but savoury options like sausage rolls and hearty sandwiches too. The ever-changing cake options are the real highlight though, with flavours like chocolate and lavender and raspberry and rose, plus plenty of teas, coffees and rather tasty hot chocolate.

Cult is the place to go if you’re looking for a chilled-out space to enjoy an expertly brewed cup of coffee. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the various single-origin coffees they have in stock, as well as the speciality equipment, if you fancy brewing your own at home. There’s also food on offer like avocado toast, hefty filled baguettes and delicious baked goods.

If there’s one thing the well-to-do area of Stockbridge isn’t short of, it’s decent spots for a sup and a nosh. Opened in 2012, The Pantry has found its place among the pack. The menu is seasonal and the owners and staff are notably friendly. Wooden tables, quirky tiles and assorted wall art complete the look and feel of the place. In short, this is a relaxed neighbourhood hangout.