The Best Coffee in Edinburgh – chosen by a fully fledged caffeine addict
It’s officially Autumn and you know what that means: It’s Pumpkin Spice Season! And in honor of the Pumpkin Spice Latte returning to the cafes of the northern hemisphere, we’ve created a list of some of our favourite cafes in the city so you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee no matter where you are in the city.
Hideout Cafe
Just a 5 minute walk from Edinburgh Castle and only a few meters from the magical Victoria Street lies one of the best kept secrets in the city: Hideout Cafe. The decor is bound to make you want to stay tucked away there for hours and their selection of cakes, sourdough sandwiches and top quality coffee will keep you satisfied all day. They’re also part of our Hostel Discount Programme, so if you show them you’re a guest of Castle Rock or High Street you’ll get yourself a wee discount. How’s that for a deal!
Find them at 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2JN.
The Watershed Coffee Boat
Everyone who visits Edinburgh heads to The Castle, The Royal Mile and Dean Village; but a true local knows that the Union Canal is one of the best places in the city to go on a sunny (or even not so sunny) day. This feat of engineering links Edinburgh’s west to Falkirk and is an extremely popular area for a long walk along the water. And what fuels these walkers? Coffee of course! The Watershed Coffee Boat is one of our favorite cafes in the city, because it’s more than just a café: it’s a canal boat turned into a café! Check them out for some tasty brews on the Canal before setting off for a walk along one of our favorite waterways.
You can find them next to the Leamington Bridge on the Union Canal, EH3 9FP.
Uplands Roast
Edinburgh is one of the greenest cities in the UK and one of our largest and most visited parks is The Meadows, just a 10 minute walk from our Edinburgh Hostels. The Meadows is often referred to as the lungs of the city and Uplands Roast is the breath of fresh air the area needs to turn it into a truly wonderful green space. The coffee shack has a wide range of sweet treats and hot drinks, with their Proper Hot Chocolate being a favorite of many a local looking to warm their soul. The team at Uplands is also environmentally focused, offering a free coffee to anyone who brings them enough trash from around the Meadows. We’d highly recommend a visit to these guys for all your coffee needs!
You can find them on North Meadows Walk near the University of Edinburgh EH8 9LD.
Black Medicine Coffee Co
Some people can’t live without a cup of coffee and we’re pretty sure that was the thinking behind the name of Black Medicine Coffee Co. Exploring the foodie delights of Nicolson Street wouldn’t be complete without popping into Black Medicine. The team serve a variety of freshly prepared hot food, tasty salads and one of the best Pumpkin Spiced Lattes in the city (as voted for by a very Fall-Obsessed American, so you know it’s got to be good). The wooden, comfortable décor and friendly staff make this one of our favorite coffee spots in Edinburgh and we’re sure you’ll agree once you’ve had a visit.
Find them at 2 Nicolson Street, EH8 9DH.
Sam’s Coffee Box
Once upon a time Edinburgh’s police forces would be stationed across the city in tiny 4×3 meter boxes to allow any distressed citizen to quickly and easily get help from the city’s officers. Nowadays these police boxes have been converted into coffee boxes, giving Edinburgh’s decaffeinated population their first coffee of the day. We’ve visited a lot of these, but our favorite has to be Sam’s Coffee Box near Bruntsfield. Not only is his coffee delicious, but Sam always has a massive smile on his face and is great for a chat. We’d highly recommend checking out this cute red coffee box if you venture towards Bruntsfield on your next visit to Edinburgh.
Find Sam’s Coffee Box at 99a Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4HG.
Edinburgh Larder
Just across the road from our High Street Hostel you’ll find the extremely popular Edinburgh Larder. You may find it difficult to get a table at times, but that’s for good reason. Their local, organic produce and seasonal menu are the envy of many of the cities cafes and their coffee is delicious. We’d highly recommend getting there early and trying their Veggie Breakfast with an oat milk flat white in order to start your day in the best possible way.
Find them at 15 Blackfriars Street EH1 1NB.
There you have it. A great selection of the best caffeine dealers in our fair city and all within walking distance of our 3 Edinburgh Hostels! Go check them out the next time you’re in Auld Reekie and let us know what you think.
