We know how easy it is to drop by your local Starbucks or Costa for a quick coffee but Edinburgh is full of great, independent coffee shops that are well worth taking a visit to. But with such a vast amount of options, where should you start? Take a look at our list of top 5 coffee shops across the City (which are backed up by some strong TripAdvisor reviews) from relaxed brunches to brand new vegan options, there is something for everyone.
Southside – Kilimanjaro Coffee
This Southside institution has been serving fantastic coffee to students and locals for years and it’s no wonder that it is a firm favourite in the area. With its distinctive red front, this relaxed coffee shop, complete with comfy sofas and rustic tables is the perfect place to hang out with friends or settle down with a good book.
With some fantastic coffees and a great selection of teas, this place is sure to be a regular haunt for those looking for their caffeine fix. With great brunch options as well, both meat and veggie, we can’t fault this place. Sitting on Nicolson Street, Killimanjaro Coffee is a short 5-minute walk to the central University of Edinburgh campus at George Square.
Old Town – Edinburgh Larder Cafe
Nestled in the Old Town, just off the Royal Mile, sits the Edinburgh Larder Café. This spot has gained a reputation as one of the best cafes in town, famous for its brunches. Edinburgh Larder like to keep things local, using coffee beans that have been roasted nearby, along with tea blended by Edinburgh based Eteaket.
They are rightly proud of their brunches, whether you are after a full fry up (including veggie options) or porridge, you are sure to find something you will love here. And to top it off, their cakes are all baked in-house and are well worth the visit alone, their dark chocolate and nut brownies are a speciality.
Leith – Word of Mouth
Sitting just off Leith Walk is Word of Mouth, one of the best coffee shops in Leith and well worth a visit. These guys roast their own beans in-store every day to make sure your coffee is as fresh as it can be and with blends from across the globe, you are sure to find your favourite coffee here, as well as experiment with new blends.
Along with great coffee, Word of Mouth have a reasonable menu offering breakfast and lunch options all day. Whether you fancy their speciality eggs benedict or a croque monsieur (or a sweet or savoury crepe) Word of Mouth has plenty of food options to go along with your coffee.
With only eight tables inside and a few outside, Word of Mouth isn’t the biggest coffee shop on our list but it certainly is well worth a visit.
Bruntsfield – La Barantine
One of the top-rated coffee shops in Edinburgh on TripAdvisor (and we’d have to agree), La Barantine is a gem of a coffee shop in the laid back area of Bruntsfield. While the coffee here is fantastic, this little French café is famed for its cakes and pastries baked on the premises each day. Husband and wife duo Celine and Vincent sold their boulangerie-patisserie in France and opened up shop in Bruntsfield in 2010. Since then they have opened three more cafes across Edinburgh - Grassmarket, Stockbridge and another in Bruntsfield.
They offer a range of breads, croissants, macarons and cakes that are all baked on premises every day as well as afternoon tea options if you feel fancy. La Barantine is well worth a visit if you want a cake with your coffee, you won’t be disappointed.
Tollcross – Black Rabbit
Black Rabbit is one of the newest places on our list and is Edinburgh’s only 100% vegan deli and coffee shop. As with all the coffee shops on our list, the coffee at the Black Rabbit is outstanding (we would recommend an oat milk latte), the focus here is on all things vegan.
Their small but perfectly formed menu offers all-day breakfast options including sweet and savoury bagels and breakfast rolls. Lunch options include tasty toasties and burgers. And you can stock up your cupboards with their huge array of vegan meats and cheeses from their deli.
This list doesn’t even scratch the surface with regards to coffee shops in Edinburgh but we think it’s a good start. There are fantastic independent coffee shops tucked into all sorts of corners of the City, meaning you are sure to find a favourite coffee shop just around the corner from where you live, no matter where you are. Edinburgh is made for coffee lovers.