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    Black Medicine

    3.8 (114 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea
    Closed 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Black Medicine Photos

    BLACK MEDICINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed
    Good for working

    Recommended Reviews - Black Medicine

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    Reviews With Photos

    Laura R.

    Wonderful breakfast cafe in Edinburgh near my hotel. Warm wood finishes throughout. Purchased a smoked salmon cream cheese bagel with a hot cappuccino. Great spot for good food and a neat rustic decor.

    Marlon T.

    The first time I went to Edinburgh long ago, I was able to actually visit The Elephant House, known for where Harry Potter was written. On a recent trip, it was sad to learn that this cafe had closed permanently. For whatever reason, I was Google'ing other cafes that Harry Potter might've been written at. Someone on Tripadvisor (VinaTraveler from Singapore, on September 7th, 2016) said The Black Medicine Coffee Co. was another place that J.K. Rowling would go to write the books, so I made my way here. It is indeed a cool cafe with unique quirks and good coffee (things you'd expect at a hip cafe shop). However, there was a wooden block which stated that Harry Potter was not written there. Whether it was or not, oh well. Maybe J.K. Rowling ordered a cappuccino and used the restroom here or something. Coffee is black medicine.

    matcha latte
    Dk M.

    I've been here a couple of times and enjoyed it! They have plenty of fun syrups to choose from. The inside is very cozy for a chat, especially the downstairs area. The location is right by the university which is nice! The bagels leave something to be desired, but I'm a big fan of their lattes and tea. Will be back!

    Maria D.

    It's been a couple of weeks since we visited Edinburgh. The guy's rudeness though we still remember: We bought 3 drinks between the two of us, haven't sat for an hour yet, and the person rudely came to bus our table intending to take away our half-full drinks without asking if we were done with them. Then he said that we can't have our box of leftovers, even though we were not eating them. It was just a takeout box, sealed too, are they new to travelers? we are tourists. We honored the shop's guidance but we don't have a car (or anywhere) to put them away. He was not in a chatty mood so there was no communication just us trying to stop a guy from taking the drinks we're drinking. On the plus side: This place is homey, makes good drinks (especially for those with a sweet tooth), has generous portions. It's a beautiful place, corner store, great atmosphere, good seating. Should our experience deter you from visiting? Nope! It's still a good place to grab a coffee / drink. Maybe not my first choice in the city is all - people are much nicer to tourists in other shops in Edinburgh.

    Mint mocha with marshmallows, caramel latte

    Delicious food, excellent staff, great ambiance. I loved the "Harry Potter" jokes. The location to where I was staying was perfect as well as their hours of operation. People seemed to feel at ease inside as did the staff.

    First outing for the Yelp mug! The pastry couldn't wait :-)
    Grahame G.

    Try as I might, there's something about Black Medicine that just doesn't gel with me, and I don't know what it is. I really like the look of the place, with its carved driftwood-style furniture, the stripped stone walls, the window seats and the newspaper racks. The coffee is pretty good, although I think there are better options available these days since nearby Brew Lab opened up across the way, and maybe BM need to up their game a bit (but they did happily fill my Yelp flask!). They offer a goodly selection of tasty snacks, and although I used to struggle finding something that would suit my lactose-intolerant veggie tastes, the choices have improved recently in that department. It's got pretty much everything going for it, and I really want to like it more and give it more than 3 stars, and yet... and yet... I just find myself going elsewhere more often these days. I can't quite put my finger on why that is - maybe it's the feng-shui of the place or something?

    Sarah-Jane B.

    Black Medicine Coffee Co is the kind of coffee shop I dream about opening one day. Seriously. It has rustic wooden tables and a beautiful counter that looks it was carved in a forest by a craftsman. There's big windows, incredibly friendly staff and they usually have killer music playing. The first time I went they played Arab Strap and Lambchop and last time, the incredible Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan. (Listen and fall in love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWeas2-n-HM) The thing that makes Black Medicine such a gem however, is their fine black medicine. The aroma hits you when you walk in and it tastes just as good as you're sipping it. We're talking rich and robust coffee with real depth and flavour. Make mine a double espresso, will ya?

    Double macchiato
    Phillip P.

    I joined yelp just to write a review on this place. That's how fantastic the coffee at Black Medicine was! I stopped by today since it was open late and seemed promising. I started off with a double macchiato, and it was so tasty I was compelled to go back and order a cappuccino! Both came with a ginger biscuit, which went really well with the coffee. The staff was very friendly and I really enjoyed chatting with them a bit, comparing the Seattle experience with Edinburgh in regards to coffee. If you like coffee, definitely give this place a try! I only wish I were in Edinburgh a few more days so I can go again.

    Em C.

    Black Medicine certainly works its black magic on you. It's got a lovely free and easy vibe, tasty, healthy food, and is one of the edgier coffee shops I've seen in Edinburgh. They offer the usual Mediterranean style of panini and melt for a really good price. For a fiver you can get a delicious hot chocolate (with marshmallows splashed in for good measure), a melt and a muffin all for a fiver. I went for the chorizo and pepper melt which was magnifique! Zesty without being too spicy. So the food is similar to other menu offerings you'll get from coffee shops, but it's done really well! What really sells Black Medicine to me is its style. I liked the darkened atmosphere, with the irregularly shaped tables and old brick wall exposed at the back of the shop. The staff are super laid back (it's the kind of place everyone talks about going travelling, especially customers), and they seem to genuinely enjoy their job. The music was kicked back Spanish acoustic and it was a great place to sit and read my book in peace for a while. I like how quirky and free spirited this place is. It transported me out of Scotland for a while, which refreshed my tired mood. But beside from attracting the young dudes for its cool quirks, there were families and businessmen also dining when I was here, showing that it's appealing to lots of groups and of a high standard. It seems to turn over a lot of business which is even more proof (like I need it) that this is without a doubt one of Edionburgh's best coffee shops. I'd recommend you visit it once - and while you're there, check out the old medicinal bottles and book exchange scheme they've got going on! Love.

    image courtesy of www.blackmed.co.uk

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    2 years ago

    A decent coffee on our way to the Surgeon Hall Museum. Very cozy and the service was nice. I like that it was sort of empty when we went.

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    7 years ago

    Excellent coffee. Stopped by on the way to the show and picked up a cappuccino. Delicious

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    Black Medicine Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Black Medicine

    This relaxed cafe is located just opposite the Old College on South Bridge and has a very rustic feel to both it's exterior and interior.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    People searched for Coffee & Tea 123 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

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    The Edinburgh Larder - Scottish Breakfast

    The Edinburgh Larder

    4.5(347 reviews)
    0.2 miRoyal Mile, Old Town, Newington
    ££

    Wow... this was one of the best breakfast spots on our 2-month trip! We were there in early…read moreSeptember and had to wait only about 5-10 minutes for a table. The food was absolutely delicious! My porridge was so hearty and yummy, I wanted to lick the bowl. My spouse's eggs benedict dish was also fantastic, and you can tell they use very fresh, high quality ingredients. The way they serve the meals in little stainless steel lunch boxes is adorable. My chai tea latte with oat milk was fantastically spicy and not too sweet. The server was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and always nearby, so it was easy to ask for our check when we were ready. And the inside of the restaurant had a warm, cozy feel. I would gladly eat every breakfast here the next time we're in Edinburgh!

    This place seems to be very popular and know it. At first glance, it's a cute, cozy, and humble…read morecafe. Everyone there was very nice; service was good. When it came to ordering, I got an Iced Latte and a Buttery Bap. The menu is a bit difficult to decipher, as it was confusing how much or how little can be added to it and at what cost. The menu said I could only pick one filling, but when I asked I was informed that I could pick an unlimited amount. I'm glad I trusted my instinct and went with just two: Veggie Haggis and Tattie Scones. Both of these were truly delicious. However, there was an extra charge for the second filling. Prices for additions are listed at the bottom of the menu as if they were sides you could order separately. On the receipt, I also saw that I was charged 0.50 extra for ice. I don't understand why places charge extra to make an iced drink when overall you're actually getting less of the drink. Overall, everything tasted good and I'm glad I was able to try numerous Scottish classics.

    Photos
    The Edinburgh Larder - Table service

    Table service

    The Edinburgh Larder
    The Edinburgh Larder - Latte and a husband

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    Latte and a husband

    Southern Cross Cafe - Chicken ciabotta and chili

    Southern Cross Cafe

    4.3(120 reviews)
    0.3 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    This was such a cute little coffee shop just off the mile. Clearly they know how to attracts…read morecustomers in with the fresh baked cakes on full displays. Scotland's weather is basically all season daily. You never know what you'll get...lol... Of course the rain started and we happened to be right here. Just to get warm as well, this place seemed very cozy. Inside you feel the warm homey cottage feel. Fresh baked cakes, smell of coffee and tea. They also serve food as well. There's the main dining area along the entrance with the cakes on full display for everyone to see. A small room in the back as well as a loft and downstairs. Of course restrooms are downstairs. All the staff were amazing and very friendly. All so welcoming. The cakes were amazing and paired very well with a coffee or tea. I'm not sure if it's baked in house but the selections they offered, it was amazing. So many too chose from. It's not a crazy big place but the warm cozy feeling right when you walk in was amazing. Friendly smile and anything with fresh baked goods will bring people in.

    This cafe is just steps away from the Milkman and the royal mile. It has lots of seating options:…read moreoutdoor tables perfect for people watching, and 3 floors of indoor tables. The three of us chose a table outside, since the weather was nice. Service was attentive and friendly. As we were there, another party left but forgot one of their bags. An employee ran out after them and returned it. So nice of them! We ordered 2 cappuccinos and 1 latte. I wasn't able to finish my cappuccino because it was quite large and got cold a little quickly. Nevertheless, it was good while I was drinking it. We could see plenty of pastries in the window which looked like they could be tasty, but we didn't try any of them. Finally, there were several individual bathrooms that were clean downstairs and upstairs.

    Photos
    Southern Cross Cafe - Inside

    Inside

    Southern Cross Cafe
    Southern Cross Cafe

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    Clarinda's Tea Room - I liked the hanging teacups

    Clarinda's Tea Room

    4.3(67 reviews)
    0.5 miRoyal Mile, Old Town
    £

    **March 2024: Weekday Morning Visit**…read more A couple of things to note -No reservations -Hours: Tues-Fri: 10am-4:30pm; Mon: Closed; Sat/Sun: 9:30am-4:30pm I saw this tearoom featured on a youtubers channel and thought it would be a great breakfast option as Clarinda's is known for their scones and baked goods. I came pretty close to the opening and was able to select my choice for seats. I picked a table near the window for natural lighting. They have a table of a lot of tasty treats and while I didn't get a chance to try them all, I can attest to the scone being very tasty! I ordered the Cream Tea (I think I ordered the Lemon and Elderflower) which comes with a freshly baked homemade scone (I chose a fruit one), and a cup of tea €6.80. I decided to upgrade to a pot of tea (€7.75) and added a bowl of porridge (€5.50) with jam as I usually prefer savory breakfasts. This was more than enough to eat for one, but I just enjoy trying different items - does anyone else have this problem? lol I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here as the ambiance, food and tea were homey and intimate. This would be such a fun place to converse with girlfriends for tea time!

    If you make it down to the bottom of Royal Mile you MUST stop at Clarinda's Tea Room, a small…read morehole-in-the-wall place with so much personality. We had breakfast here on our first day in Edinburgh. It's cozy and the walls are covered with paintings, antique cups, and plates. To be honest the walls are quite chaotic but that's where the personality comes in. We ordered the eggs with toast and the full Scottish breakfast. Food was great, coffee hit the spot, and service was excellent. Even with the chaos they keep the place clean. Also, BEWARE they do not have hot sauce here LOL. I asked the server and she said "No, but it was worth a try to ask" Respect lol. We sat by the window and people watched and awed at the beautiful architecture of Edinburgh. It's a chill spot to rest and refuel. Would love to come back for their afternoon tea!

    Photos
    Clarinda's Tea Room - Treats!

    Treats!

    Clarinda's Tea Room - Inside

    Inside

    Clarinda's Tea Room - Vegetarian haggis toastie my love. And to think I thought I wouldn't find haggis I could eat in Edinburgh. LOLZ

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    Vegetarian haggis toastie my love. And to think I thought I wouldn't find haggis I could eat in Edinburgh. LOLZ

    Black Medicine - coffee - Updated May 2026

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