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Checkpoint

3.6 (22 reviews)
ModerateBars, Cafes
Open 9:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

Checkpoint Photos

CHECKPOINT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Checkpoint

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Avocado/lime cheesecake desert thing. Definitely had lime in it.
Stuart B.

On paper Checkpoint seems like the kind of place I should love. It's really going for the hipster thing; there's a shipping container inside the restaurant that you dine inside. I usually love a good gimmick like that. There is quite a lot to like. I really enjoyed a nice cocktail there before dinner. I didn't have any but the coffee looked like it was of decent quality. The space has a pretty chilled out kind of vibe. The dining room is big and spacious (and dimly lit at the back). For a Friday night though it lacked a bit of a buzz but I suspect come festival time it will feel a bit more alive. The menu is pretty appetising and there were some good dishes but overall they sounded slightly nicer on paper than they did in reality. I couldn't really fault the steak with chimichurri which was suitably tangy. The chickpea fritter salad was really just falafel, which was fine. I wasn't a fan of the lime/avocado cheesecake desert - it was *really* limey and straying a bit to close to guacamole territory. The bread and dip to start was essentially some toast served in a overly large baking tray. I mean the dips were pretty nice but the presentation was trying a little too hard and didn't quite pull it off. I feel like this is 3.5 star territory. If I came for brunch or lunch and got a coffee I think I'd probably enjoy it more. For dinner on a Friday I think the food just didn't excite me as much as I'd hoped and some elements need refinement. I wouldn't say not to a cocktail though.

Interesting container with seats inside #underdog
Tanya L.

I came here for a work meeting, and it was great that Checkpoint was close to the University but also had a lot of seating available and was a little funky. It was really conveniently located but felt like it was miles away from things because like others said the pace slowed down when inside. My colleague said that he felt this place was too cool for him, but although it has a cool vibe it didn't seem pretentious. It's a quirky place with lovely big windows in the back and some seating essentially in a shipping container with a window cut out of it. They had table service which was slightly confusing since they didn't come round too often, but you could always go up to the coffee bar to ask for things and it was certainly fastest to pay there rather than at the table. Checkpoint had a great but somewhat small mocha and my colleague's lemon tea with honey looked fantastic as well. This place not only does the coffee shop thing but I've heard it has good brunch and it also sells alcohol so you could come in for a glass of wine or a beer later in the day. #underdog

Salmon-ratatouille lunch dish. Beautifully plated, a bit smaller than expected. Delicious.
Ana Maria F.

Their service is a bit casual, it is true. However, I find that I don't mind this. Some menu items are a bargain while others are pretty much what you'd expect for, say, a casual-upscale dining experience of a casual bistro at about £10. I don't think it's a bad thing, but I think in this area they may find that students will tend to the more casual/hearty/cheap fare. Again, not necessarily a bad thing. The HUGE thing for me is that this place is open until midnight. Having a place to go and drink coffee OR beer with friends after work that isn't a pub is MAJOR in Edinburgh. It basically doesn't exist in this kind of atmosphere. Even better, if you are a student who needs a change of scenery from the library and a break from your flat and you want a stimulating place full of strangers casually chit chatting in the background while you drink your lattes until midnight, HELLO CHECKPOINT. I love this concept and I really hope it does well for them. This area has long needed a good late-night wifi and work-friendly coffee spot. Large tables too, and food for when you are peckish and the beer you need when your work session is over. It's the perfect "other living room" that your flat isn't.

Barbecue Pulled Pork Po'Boy
Jessica X.

Imagine this--savoury, delicately pulled pork; topped with perfectly seasoned chili slaw, wrapped in a warm, grilled french baguette all accompanied by a side of homemade sweet potato fries. Yeah, please excuse me while I salivate alone. I was running low on fuel and needed something delicious to satiate this hunger of mine, when I walked into Checkpoint. As soon as I walked in, before I could even take note of the beautifully industrial decor they donned, I was greeted by the friendliest barista I've met in Edinburgh (but I've only been here a few weeks, so I can't give him too much credit). He immediately told me there would be a wait, but I was reeled in by their set-up that I said I wouldn't mind as long as I had a brownie to wait. Yes, ladies and gentleman, I had a dessert appetizer and as an adult, I have no shame. The brownie was absolutely delicious. Rich, dark, and moist. We all know the word moist isn't have the best connotation, but in this case, it's a word that perfectly describes this pastry. Now, I did warn you I was hungry, so my review on this little brownie might be a little over the top. But who doesn't need a little dramatization once in a while!? And that's why you will continue reading... and salivating. I ordered one of their Po' Boy's, the cayenne barbeque pulled pork, their take on a classic Louisiana sandwich (£7). It was absolutely delicious. The bread was amazing--perfectly baked and grilled to perfection, with just the right amount of crisp to buttery soft. Now on to the main event: the pulled pork. Pulled pork is difficult to master, or as a taster, I feel like it is. I've never tried to cook it, but 8/10 times, my pork is dry or overcooked and unless it's doused in sauce is it even the slightest bit edible. Checkpoint's pulled pork, however, was cooked beautifully. The pork could be easily pulled apart with a fork and was absolutely amazing. My tastebuds were having a party and the pulled pork played the perfect host. A must try if you're ever in for a visit! To top it off, their staff are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and accommodating as well. While I was waiting, they kept reassuring me that they would find space for me, to which I said I was happy to wait because I was queuing with a brownie in hand. I think I deserve brownie points for having control on my hanger (pun-intended)! I will definitely be back, perhaps for a nice Sunday brunch, and you should too! We'll share a table.

Eggs florentine

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9 years ago

Fresh food, edgy atmosphere and excellent friendly staff! Always recommend to people traveling to Edinburgh staying city centre.

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Review Highlights - Checkpoint

It's a quirky place with lovely big windows in the back and some seating essentially in a shipping container with a window cut out of it.

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The Edinburgh Larder - Scottish Breakfast

The Edinburgh Larder

(347 reviews)

££

Royal 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.

The Garden Cafe - O restaurante é muito bonito, Domo é maravilhoso.

The Garden Cafe

(7 reviews)

££

New Town

Had to visit this place for a drink, after passing it on a tour and the tour guide highly…read morerecommended it. It is amazing to see! Beautifully decorated, very expertly run and very welcoming. Sampled a 14 year old Oban, the Honey had a glass of wine and we shared a cheese plate. An excellent experience! The server who took our order was very knowledgeable, efficient and courteous., as was the server who brought us the drinks. The entire experience was very satisfying. Must stop here when possible!

The Dome is made up of three different restaurants, and they're all so different I thought the…read moreGarden Café definitely deserved its own review. Slotted in on Rose Street, at the back of the huge and imposing columned Dome buiding, this gorgeous little city-centre oasis is the perfect place to rest your shopping-weary feet and have a tasty lunch. It's only open from april to early september, and although it's tucked down a narrow street this place is a great little suntrap. You can get wraps, salads, soups, burgers, that sort of thing here - not a full á la carte lunch, but the portions are fairly generous so you'll only need one course. The service was ok, but our waiter didn't even bother to bring us our change back. We had been planning to leave it as a tip for him, but we thought it was a bit cheeky of him just to assume, especially when service is already included in the prices. For a salad and a soft drink you'll spend just over £10 a head, which makes it slightly pricier than a lot of other lunchtime cafés nearby, but this setting is just so gorgeous I'd happily pay the difference.

Tasty Buns Bakery - We had toasties and soup.

Tasty Buns Bakery

(13 reviews)

£

Old Town

Oh my goodness! Everything looks amazing from the happy…read morecolorful window to the amazing baked goods. I love that Tasty Buns is a bakery on Bread Street. I adored the lime, poppyseed, and blueberry roulade! It was gone before the soup and toastie sandwich arrived. Crispy on the outside and so very soft and tasty on the inside. The cookie pie was impressive, but I honestly liked the roulade so much better. The soup today was broccoli and it was delicious! I had a ham and cheese sandwich lightly grilled in a panini press. Mom had a chorizo sandwich. The ladies at the bakery were lovely! Friendly happy folk always make food taste better! The bakery was quiet and not busy at 12:30 pm. It wasn't empty, just not busy. We got a table for 3! It was funny (and also a sad commentary on humans) that the still water available said "Please turn the tap off." Silly people. Thank you so much for a wonderful lunch! Mom said very good! Very different!

I was walking along the street and happened to past Tasty Buns. I thought it looked really cute and…read moremade it a point to return. They had a glass display case loaded with yummy goods. My very first time I came I tried a vegan cinnamon bun. It was warm, soft, and had that sweet caramelization from the sugar on the bun. It was soooo good. After that, I kept coming back about once a week to grab a treat and sometimes a drink. Everything I've tried has been so delicious and the staff is always very kind. If you follow them on Instagram they even sometimes release what goods are in the shop since they switch it up! Tasty Buns definitely became a go to of mine and I think there is truly something for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Checkpoint - bars - Updated May 2026

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