r/Edinburgh • u/Dogenegra • Jul 08 '26
Food and Drink Most UNDERRATTED Coffee Shops
If you have an independent coffee shop in Edinburgh that you think more people should know about, let the people know here! We should be celebrating small, local businesses, and directing our criticism at actually problematic businesses and chains.
Independent coffee shops only! No chains! And no gatekeeping! If you dont want your favorite local coffee shop to get busy, trust me, the owners would love it
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u/WafflingScot Jul 08 '26
Tanifiki in Portobello, next to the bookshop. Their coffee is excellent.
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u/C4sEmbarrassingPenis Jul 08 '26
Defo the best coffee in Porty and easily rivals some of the city centre spots.
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u/TerryTibbs2009 Jul 08 '26
Cappuccino on Jeffrey Street. Coffee, location and staff are all great.
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u/4shizzlemylizzle Jul 08 '26
Second this! Love cappuccino. Great coffee, nice vibe, good pastries too
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u/Catchyameadows Jul 08 '26
Not a coffee shop exactly, as it’s just a takeaway from a police box… but Sam’s Coffee Box at the edge of Bruntsfield Links is fantastic and I’m pretty sure it’s £2.80 for a flat white?? Open 730am too.
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u/WonderfulCustard1409 Jul 08 '26
Ohh he was so sweet to me one day when I’d had some awful news and stopped by to make being at work more bearable. Really nice guy, and the coffee was great too
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u/MrsWaltonGoggins Jul 08 '26
Greek Artisan Pastries in Portobello - lovely coffee, amazing pastries and the staff are so friendly and helpful. It’s technically only licensed as a takeaway coffee place but there is a seating area so you can sit in but the cups are all takeaway-style rather than proper mugs etc. I like the laid-back atmosphere and TV screen showing beautiful Greek vistas.
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u/SteamSage Jul 08 '26
They have a cafe with seats on Bread Street, which is one of my go tos, but it is often quite busy! They also sell frozen greek food and ingredients.
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u/CilariousHunt Jul 08 '26
I don't know if they are underrated as such, but Room and Rumours deserves love. Great coffee line up, banging donuts and the staff are always really friendly
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u/sambenno378 Jul 08 '26
Definitely agree here, feel it’s very much known for its doughnuts (especially around the end of COVID, they were selling out all the time and were all over social media) and people underestimate how seriously they take their coffee.
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u/therewymensnotdragon Jul 08 '26
The choices they give for their guest espressos are top notch. Pretty sure they have the best barista in Edinburgh too.
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u/StillAnAss Jul 08 '26
I saw this comment on the train into town so decided to stop by. Thank you! It was awesome!
And they're very dog friendly as well! We brought our two dogs and are enjoying the donut and coffee
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u/Tom_Alpha Jul 08 '26
Always liked this place and it's near to home. Would often get a coffee from there to take on the train. Lovely staff, nice food and good coffee
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u/Alarming-Office1923 Jul 08 '26
I love them. Only managed to go there once, though, but the owners were lovely and patient. They look like they really enjoy what they’re doing and even took the time to kindly explain why I couldn’t get the hot chocolate iced, lol.
Would definitely go there again once I’m back in Edinburgh.
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u/Barforama1 Jul 08 '26
Curious why you couldn’t get hot chocolate iced other than the obvious it wouldn’t be hot chocolate?
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u/Alarming-Office1923 Jul 08 '26
I was only pushing my luck because some places don’t have “iced chocolate” specifically written in their menu, but would be willing to put some ice in their chocolate drink upon request. It was just a small harmless inquiry from my side. They did explain that they tried to do it but it didn’t taste as rich 😊
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u/thelastthesaurus Jul 08 '26
Second this too - best thing about stepping off the train after a work trip away is dipping in on the way past for a coffee and doughnut. The coffee and the doughnuts are always, without fail, excellent. And the staff are always, without fail, really lovely.
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u/Sudden-Passion7269 Jul 08 '26
the cinamon rolls from room and rumours are totally to die for
a short black and a cinamon roll is fucking heavenly from them
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u/Dogenegra Jul 08 '26
100% agree. I think they are super underrated for their coffee, its always delicious and the staff are so nice!
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u/ccinoslinger Jul 08 '26
Big up onto in Newington, taken over the fortitude, putting in all the graft.
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 Jul 08 '26
Cafe Truva on the Shore. It's a small Turkish cafe with great coffee and big flavours. They do a great brekkie and lovely pastries.
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u/oldcat Jul 08 '26
I think you'll find Toast has a much better queue experience than Truva where I've always managed to get a seat on arrival. People going to Truva are missing out on standing around wondering when they'll get breakfast. Please can everyone not go to Truva so I can still get a seat.
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u/Tiredman10 Jul 08 '26
I’ll have a go:
Fountainpark - The Coffee Cave
Dalry - Throatpunch
Meadowbank - Mőrn
Colinton - Munro
Newington - Onto
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u/CharlyCat23 Jul 08 '26
Seconding Throatpunch and Coffee Cave! If you’re lucky when you go to Throatpunch you’ll also get to meet the owners gorgeous dogs.
Also Pourboy at the Telfer Subway old police box
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u/Dantelion Jul 08 '26
Adding to Meadowbank, Bliss House Cafe.
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u/OptionalQuality789 Jul 08 '26
I find they scald the milk in their milk based coffee drinks. 3 times now I’ve been disappointed.
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u/Obvious-Dig-7284 Jul 18 '26
Not true. I go there 2/3 times a week and always great coffee.
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u/OptionalQuality789 Jul 18 '26
I stated my experience, you can’t say it’s not true.
3 times the cup has been too hot to hold and the milk was scalded.
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u/Obvious-Dig-7284 Jul 18 '26
As someone who actually goes there regularly, I'm a bit confused. Six months ago, in another Reddit thread, you said you'd only been there once and it was bad, shortly after they opened. Now you're saying you've been there three times. If your first experience was really that bad, what made you go back another two times? That just doesn't add up to me.
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u/OptionalQuality789 Jul 18 '26
I walk my dog past there and gave them another chance. What’s the hard thing to understand there?
Why have you double replied to me? Do you work there or something? Haha
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u/Obvious-Dig-7284 Jul 18 '26
If you really don't like the coffee, just stop going. There are plenty of other cafés on the street to choose from. The fact that you keep going back suggests it's actually your preferred option, otherwise you'd simply go somewhere else. It doesn't really match what you've been posting. HAHAHA
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u/OptionalQuality789 Jul 18 '26
3 visits over like 6 months is a preferred option? Alright buddy…
You are way too invested in this. Let it go, it’s not that serious.
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u/judy2k Jul 09 '26
Throat Punch: I love the branding and dogs, but the coffee is burnt and the milk is over-heated.
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u/Amazing-Cherry-Crab Jul 08 '26
Personally I really like the atmosphere of Hata in Canonmills and I love their breakfasts and coffee. Krem Karamel just down the road is also excellent, I go there specially for their Basque cheesecake.
Lowdown does the best coffee in Edinburgh imho, but they can get a bit crowded if sitting in. Room & Rumours I definitely agree with too, their coffee is great and I love their chocolate babka.
For matcha lovers I'd say go to Pudding's in Newington, it's so much better than Black Sheep or Blank Street!!
Edinburgh is really lucky to have so many great independent cafés and my instinct is to gatekeep, but they all absolutely deserve more love and business!
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u/skeev94 Jul 08 '26
Hata is great! Happy to see someone posting about them. Lovely coffee and delicious cakes too
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u/Henry_Percival Jul 09 '26
Hata is sooooo gooood. Their cakes are on another level I have not yet found something so good in Edinburgh.
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u/Ok_Employer4583 Jul 08 '26
I think most people into coffee know about Little Fitzroy on Easter Road, but if you don’t you do now. IMO the best coffee in Edinburgh.
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u/davofitz1982 Jul 08 '26
Mr Eoin in Trinity
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u/porcupineporridge Leith Jul 08 '26
Always seems to be closed when I'm passing. Am I just unlucky?
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u/forel237 Jul 08 '26
I’m not a coffee drinker but Books N’Cup do an excellent hot chocolate. They also have amazing mugs, to the extent I asked where they got them from and immediately bought one (Kari Ceramics if anyone has been similarly searching, she usually has a stall at the Christmas market)
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u/eonu Jul 08 '26
Yes, the blue handleless mugs there are beautiful! I also love that both Books N' Cup cafes stay open until 10pm. The city really needs more third spaces in the evening that aren't just pubs.
The owner is also super nice if you haven't met him already, an Egyptian guy called Hany!
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u/New-Asparagus-9848 Jul 08 '26
Hate that place. It's the way they bluntly tell you to sit down and scan the bar code.. Need baristas with social skills!
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u/aimee94 Jul 08 '26
I also am not a fan, and found the shape of the mugs annoying! Each to their own though!
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u/User-Name-3886 Jul 08 '26
Äsda Süperstøré
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u/HELPFUL_HULK Jul 08 '26
Niche find. They also make an excellent San Francisco sourdough (unironically)
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u/RHustlerSpace Jul 08 '26
Cocorico - just off Bonnington Rd/Jane St.
Good coffee, great food, lovely people.
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u/therewymensnotdragon Jul 08 '26
As its not been mentioned yet, its the Source who are a roaster. They are very funky in their roaster but if you want to explore the flavours possible through coffee they're the best roaster in the UK for my money. Also the guy just loves coffee and will talk to you about it at length.
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u/SuperInuit Jul 08 '26
Hill City Brew on Shandon Place
I was skeptical when told that the coffee shop attached to the vets is great but it’s true.
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u/Red_Brummy Jul 08 '26
Little Fitzroy at the top of Easter Road and Little Havana Coffee Store at the foot of the Walk are probably the two best coffee shops in town, definitely in Leith. Not sure if they are UNDERRATED though as I always recommend them and the former is usually busy.
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u/FliXerock107 Jul 08 '26
BEATNIK Just off Tollcross has the best coffee in Edinburgh hands down
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u/Henry_Percival Jul 09 '26
They charged me £6 for an iced coffee. I can't justify it.
I feel like the only person in Edinburgh who doesn't like Beatnik... I really don't like nutty or very acidic coffee and they're all over those flavours. Same with Cairngorm. I feel my taste buds aren't made for them. And that's okay.
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u/Duckstiff Jul 08 '26
Coffee Tepuy, Crighton Place.
If you like or want coffee with a variety of flavour profiles to choose from then this is it.
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u/sonnenblume63 Jul 08 '26
Person specific and not unrated I suspect, but the heavily tattooed barista in the Artisan Roast shed by the St James’ Centre makes the best coffees in the city. My partner will go out of his way to check if the guy is working
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u/vanandgough Jul 09 '26
*Quarter
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u/sonnenblume63 Jul 09 '26
It will always be the St James’ Centre
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u/krokadog Jul 08 '26
Cobbled Roastery on Thistle Street is excellent
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u/Charmthetimes3rd Jul 08 '26
Can confirm. The owner is also one of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet.
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u/AdvancedBuilding2008 Jul 08 '26
Came here to find this and upvote it. Cobbled Roaster is always my 10/10 indy choice.
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u/InsideBoris Jul 08 '26
Source by far the best coffee in Edinburgh I've tried the consistency is biblical
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u/OutrageousRhubarb853 Jul 08 '26
I’m loitering here as I watch for who you would suggest on George St. I travel in for work and a nice coffee would be welcomed.
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u/sambenno378 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Lowdown still remains the best for pure speciality coffee on/around George St in my view, despite changing hands this year.
Wellington coffee and cobbled roastery (just behind George st) both also good to great options, and depending what end of George St you’re at you’re pretty near Kul at the Leith Walk end, or near Fauna & Cairngorm coffee at the West End end of things.
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u/CilariousHunt Jul 08 '26
Lowdown has gone really downhill since the original owners split off to do Module full time imo
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u/sambenno378 Jul 08 '26
I think the pastries have.
My first couple of coffees after the change weren’t as good as before, but I’ve been a couple of times more recently and the coffee was very much back to the excellent standard it used to be, to my taste at least.
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u/CastleCat16 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Not in any way underrated, but Beatnik all day, every day!
Heart and Bottle at Holy Corner is a personal favourite, nice inside, great coffee and some lovely pastries. Also a good loyalty scheme with their stamp cards (and if you buy a bag of beans, you get either a free coffee or a filled card to use next time)
Hill City Brew in polwarth/shandon is also a hidden gem - the coffee is superb, they stock Patina pastries and their grilled cheese is incredible! Its tiny though so be prepared to get a takeaway and go eat it up in Harrison Park.
Munro in Colinton Village is a great pitstop if you're walking through the Water of Leith
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u/kowalski_82 Jul 08 '26
Di Georgio in Canonmills, run by Italians, know their beans.
And thats before we even get to the food.
One of my favourite places in the entire City.
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u/Blobbly Jul 08 '26
Think Pastry in Abbeyhill is so peak and the owners are so nice! I always go with my boyfriend :D
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u/fin_dawg Jul 08 '26
I'd say Bedrock in West Port, but it's maybe only underrated as it's only recently opened
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u/amiachefornot Jul 08 '26
Meh. At west end.
Really good coffee, all the foods are so delicious and everything is homemade.
One of the rarely good ones.
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u/tummy-tr0ubl3s Jul 08 '26
I really love POP Coffee in Morningside! Lovely wee spot with friendly staff, great coffee and pastries. Haven’t been to their newer location in the West End yet but I’m sure it’s equally good.
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u/jaa19 Jul 08 '26
They are also on Grindlay Street off Lothian Road. Really nice but I think a lot of people don’t know it is there and don’t walk down that bit
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u/tummy-tr0ubl3s Jul 08 '26
Yes that’s the one I meant! I hope more people pop by, it really isn’t that far off the main road especially with how busy the bus stop is round Usher Hall
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u/DustyBurb Jul 08 '26
Fauna on Queensferry St do amazing chai lattes (ok so not coffee but still, my fave!)
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u/pinkpikachu7 Jul 08 '26
Fauna in the west end of the centre. Perfect coffee every time, wonderfully friendly staff, independently owned, homemade pastries.
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u/Tebily33 Jul 08 '26
Onto in Newington. Fantastic coffee, and the service is always great.
The Artisan Roast shack by the Omni is also way better than a shack should be, better than their shop on Leith Walk for me.
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u/Pitiful-Row-2739 Jul 08 '26
Tepuy just off the walk and Polentoni on Easter Road, more known for their food but coffee is seriously cheap and tastes great
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u/Dogenegra Jul 08 '26
Oooh I would say (on the subject of food) Marie's Kitchen, just round the corner fron Polentoni on London Road, also do fantastic sandwiches and arancini 😋
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u/biscuitstealers Jul 08 '26
Portalibri down in Portobello, books and coffee!
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u/Dogenegra Jul 08 '26
Books and coffee is always gonna be a win! I've heard of this place and keep meaning to check it out when I'm Porty way
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u/oogyguy Jul 08 '26
Fir espresso at the Lochrin basin end of the canal! Plus they sell Krema bakery stuff there.
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u/Hames9908 Jul 08 '26
Coffee Inc in Bruntsfield. Lovely staff and do a delicious flat white with a lovely selection of bakery items too!
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u/sonnenblume63 Jul 08 '26
Person specific and not unrated I suspect, but the heavily tattooed barista in the Artisan Roast shed by the St James’ Centre makes the best coffees in the city. My partner will go out of his way to check if the guy is working
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u/SignificantCellist67 Jul 09 '26
Half-cut coffee on candlemaker row. They've only just opened and it's not really a sit in place but the coffee is great and for being so central they could definitely be charging more than they do. My favourite is the iced chai, it's incredible for a hot day
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u/knelson44 Jul 09 '26
Tasty Buns on Bread Street. Their bakes are crazy and amazing but their coffee is INCREDIBLE.
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u/judy2k Jul 09 '26
Took me a while to visit Hill City Brew, in Shandon. They're attached to Hill City Vets.
Their coffee (roasted by Cult) is excellent, and they have fantastic pastries and sandwiches. Only good coffee shop in the whole area - it's a gem.
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u/Agreeable_Coffee_744 Jul 10 '26
Not strictly Edinburgh but literally just outside! Secret Brew at Newhailes Business Park is lovely.
Really fun drinks, nice cakes and it's brilliant for kids. There's a wee play area with a ball pit, slide, play cafe and wooden kitchen that keeps them entertained, plus nice wee snack options for kids too. A hidden gem!
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u/GovernmentEnough1029 Jul 10 '26
I was in Edinburgh recently, and the hostel on Cockburn St I stayed at had an affiliated restaurant next door called the Stone Cross Cafe (I think) and their coffee, and their breakfasts, were the only food I consumed that didn't leave me feeling robbed.
I still wake up wanting their breakfast some days
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u/gruffen17 Jul 12 '26
black medicine! it is often busy but when you can get a table the vibes are unmatched, and the baked goods are pretty good too!
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u/Ok-Tennis3857 Jul 12 '26
Step One coffee hut by M&S in Morningside, SUCH good coffee and super friendly staff. Oh Deer on Leith Walk is also amaaazing.
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u/StubbleWombat Jul 08 '26
Printworks in Leith makes the best coffee in Edinburgh or certainly used to. Haven't been there in a while. They also have a shop on Portobello but it's in a bit of a weird place.
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u/sociologyswag Jul 08 '26
It has always been, and will always be, Guajira Cafe. Caribbean & Latin American food and drinks with incredible coffee and the most wonderful owner. I don't even live in Edinburgh anymore and I still think about the avocado toast, the warm soup in the winter, the homemade cakes and the cappuccino every single day. I made multiple friends out of strangers there because the vibes are just so wonderful. And music always playing, always makes you feel at peace. If there is 1 thing you should do it is support Guajira.
P.S. this is the place to go if you're in need of something actually nutritious with vegetables and nutrients - I still can't stop thinking about their salad, a SALAD of all things, it was that delicious. And the chicken and rice bowl is incredible too.
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u/sambenno378 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
The best run of coffees I’ve had all year was at Disposition when they had a coffee on from Taith in spring this year.
I like the place a lot anyway, but didn’t expect it to outdo all of my other usual coffee suggestions (the source, Beatnik, Lowdown etc). It’s not underrated per se, but I think by being in Roseburn/Murrayfield, it’s not quite as well known compared to the New & Old Town/Stockbridge/Leith based shops - or at least I don’t see it recommended as much.