I've been to this Costa five times or so, and I have not yet had a single pleasant experience. The…read moreemployees make me feel like there are twenty impatient people queued behind me, even when I'm the only one at the counter. Fewer than half of them offer a smile. Not that they're paid to smile - I'm paying for coffee, not craic - but basic human decency says that you're allowed to smile if somebody smiles at you first. Bonus points: today there was a label in the pastry display for "Chocolate Twists". I asked for one and I got a curt "we don't make those here." Ok, cheers, I'll be on my way then. Their coffee is adequate and affordable. So I reluctantly end up returning.

Unlike Sam C, I'm not quite liberal enough to tolerate sitting across from a group of lactating…read moremothers as I sip on an extra milky latte. That can often be a problem at this particular branch of Costa, but the comfortable seating and excellent opportunity for people watching in what is one of the city's most pleasant areas almost makes up for it. Coffee is hit and miss, often unbearably bitter, but that's the case pretty much everywhere.

It felt like this had the potential to be a great little shop to have a drink , some snacks and…read morerelax a bit. The location is great, right in the heart of the Royal Mile. But the service here was, shall we say... less than great. It was lunchtime, but there were very few people here. We grabbed some items from the fridges and went up to the counter to pay. The gentleman working at the counter saw us come up, but he was having a great conversation with either a colleague, or a buddy who came in for a chat, not sure. In fact, that conversation seemed so enjoyable that he didn't really want to bother with us. We didn't require any work beyond accepting our payment, yet still we stood there waiting for assistance.He could have at least said, "I'll be with you in a moment." But no. He finally, reluctantly, came and accepted our payment. Based on that man, this review would be one star - terrible. But there was a female worker that came in and she was friendly and nice. And combine that with the fact that you have the nice upstairs seating, use of the bathrooms and free wifi, I'll take it up to 3 stars. I would say, however, that there are amazing coffee shops close by; try one of those. They may appreciate your patronage more than they do here.

The experience was as generic and forgettable as the name. Americanos so weak that they tasted only…read moreof hot water, and I watched them restock the case by dumpling out a bag of pastries from the store. Given all the other great options just steps away, it was a disappointing choice.

Wonderful little casual coffee place right next to The Shore tram stop. Family owned, they seem to…read morehave true pride in their shop. Well chosen, high quality, ethical and interesting suppliers. Fast service. Support this shop!

Edinburgh has a lot of really great coffee shops but Leith is the one part of town which I think is…read morelacking in this area. Printworks has the word coffee in their name and are at least making an effort to take it seriously. It uses Monmouth beans and it's better than average but it doesn't really come close to the more serious Edinburgh coffee places such as Artisan Roast, BrewLab etc. Flat white had good flavour but just lacked a bit of depth and precision. I'm always willing the coffee to be great and I'm always just a tad disappointed. There is a selection of paninis and soups. It would be nice if they had a few healthier options, but my chicken and pesto panini had a nice golden crunch. Cakes and pastries from local bakeries looked tempting. Its a small but bright space, pleasant enough for a spot of lunch provided it's not too busy. It's not perfect but for now it's still probably the best coffee your going to get in this part of town so it edges into 4 star territory.

Starbucks was my saviour on Boxing Day for a bit of peace and quiet after the Christmas Day events…read morebut it wasn't too peaceful as a door was being constantly slammed making me jump out my skin. There wasn't much on offer to eat but the staff were lovely and can't complain when they are providing a service a day after Christmas! At least I got a cuppa!

Ah, Starbucks. How the mighty have fallen. Once the bright blazing new star that tried to convert…read moreus tea-drinking Brits into caffeine-fuelled maniacs, now you are nothing more than a tawdry tarnished tinsel-clad fairy lying forlorn and forgotten at the bottom of the tree. At half past four in the afternoon on Lothian Road and desperate for some coffee, the options are a bit limited around here, so Starbucks with their prime corner position seemed the safest choice. How wrong I was. The place was in need of a good clean, there was only one person doing everything; they'd run out of clean mugs for those sitting in so I had to make do with a paper cup instead, and when it finally arrived I ended up leaving half of it as it was so pathetically watery. Please would somebody open a Caffe Nero or a decent independent coffee emporium here? Pretty please?

Basic café that meets your needs if want a quick bite between shows. I appreciated that they had a…read morelot of cheesy sandwich options. Fine for what it is, but not a destination. Halloumi Pesto & Sun Dry Tomato Wrap: Nice meaty halloumi gives a strong squishy chew to this wrap. The pesto and sundried tomato make it taste a bit Italian and perhaps even better than a mozzarella version. Bacon, Brie & Cranberry Sauce Panini: Generous portion of gooey brie dominates the crunchy panini. There's bacon, but it's more subtle. A really nice sandwich.

You have to stop in Holyrood Coffee Shop if you're in Edinburgh! Cozy cafe serving up many yummy…read morebites and tasty sips. We took a seat by the window, perfect for people watching as we ate. We ordered at the counter, and the friendly staff brought us our nibbles relatively fast. I indulged in an Americano and the Full British Breakfast, which came with hash browns, tomato, beans, toast, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, egg, and black pudding. Everything was lovely, and you definitely won't leave hungry!

I bought my lunch here about a week ago and I thought it was decent, value for money food with…read morequality service. Admittedly, I should have had one of their trademark lattes, but I just wasn't in the mood for coffee. The decor inside feels relaxed and stylish and the staff are friendly. The 'layzee' part of the name refers to the chilled out atmosphere, rather than a poor standard of service. I went for a cheese, ahm and tomato sandwich (wasn't on the menu, but made it up for me anyway) and a can of coke, which came to only £3 altogether. I thought this was a great deal and the bread was tasty along with decent quality ham, cheese and fresh tomato. I'd certainly come here again as it's a great coffee shop which offers nice, quicm service and brilliant food.

Having sprung up out of literally no-where, Lazy Latte's is making a reputation for itself among…read morethe locals and students of the Newington area it serves. Firstly, I have tasted them, and the Lattes are great - but maybe Lazy Lattes should have been named Not So LAzy LAttes, as this little cafe has a huge range of things to offer from sandwiches to soups and salads - all of which can be taken out or enjoyed in the tiny sitting area for customers. The cost of all this? Well not much, as regular teas and coffe can set you back around a pound - but the infamous Lattes aroun £1.50. A tiny amount compared to the chain coffee shops.

This is one of my favourite branches...nae my favourite coffee shops full stop! Big statement, eh!…read moreLet me explain... This particular street is much less hustly and bustly from the rest of the area because it's pedestrianized (well, most of it is). There are no cars so it's quieter, safer and all round more enjoyable. The shop itself is really nice, your bog-standard Costa but with a little more attention to detail in the layout. The quality of the coffee and food goes without saying, I think this branch serves some of the better coffee compared to other high street branches. In the summer this place is always packed oot! They have a lovely outdoor seating area. Whenever I go shopping, I start at the far end of Princes Street at Frasers and make my way across, and this Costa is in prime position for my 11am coffee.

I know, I know! Five stars for a chain coffee joint? Have I thus embraced my basic-ness, or sold…read moreout entirely? (Dons Costa hat and sips out of Costa mug.) Well folks sit down and let me tell ya about my first Costa cuppa joe. No, really. I may have mentioned in my prior reviews that I commute to work via bus. Recently I was asked to come in to work early, resulting in a 5 AM alarm blaring to start my day. After the first of my two bus stops to work, I realized that I had somehow arrived to find myself with a 30 minute wait for my next bus... all at the lovely hour of 6:30 AM. So what, pray tell, is a girl to do in such a quandary on a chilly morning? Naturally to consult her Yelp app and desperately hope a caffeine-filled location exists somewhere close! Let's begin counting our stars here: Costa on Hanover straightaway earns one for location (just off of Princes Street), the second for HOURS. Any coffee shop open early enough for a 6:30 AM visit merits that. Queue star number three! When I ventured up the stairs into the main foyer of Costa, I was pleasantly surprised. This place is stinkin' cute. I've seen a lot of coffee shops, but this one is not only spacious but really nicely decorated, with tasteful furnishings and giant quirky lamps and such. AND--even better--it has an amazing view of Princes Street and subsequently the castle. (Side note: when arriving at 6:30 AM it's all but abandoned in there, which allows one to enjoy said view of castle in utter peace. Bliss!) Star number four goes to, naturally, the coffee itself. You've got your standard coffee prices to be found here (perhaps cheaper than Starbucks? hard to say!) and the coffees themselves are just what the doctor ordered. So far I haven't had anything that didn't set me straight for a day of work. The flat white and hazelnut latte I've had were both lovely, but I don't exactly consider myself a coffee snob, so I'm not one for comparisons in that regard. I like coffee in just about any form! Star number five goes to the gentleman barista who greeted me my first time stepping inside. He was extremely friendly for such an early hour, taking the time to cheerfully acknowledge the great view I was marveling over, and when he asked if I was taking my coffee away, he instantly proffered a Costa bag for me to hide my coffee in so as not to be told to throw it away before boarding. Funnily enough, I'd experienced that very trouble just days prior, and it all but ruined my morning when I left to find a bin and was subsequently left behind by my bus. So when my barista told me that--well, I could have just given him a bear hug for his little gem of helpfulness (and wily coffee-drinking ways!). It's the little things! And that's the tale of how Clarissa was won over by (one of) a particular coffee chain. No joke--it's a lovely joint, and you'll definitely see me there on early mornings in the future!

gets the job done!…read more Early morning train ride before most of the city was even awake. Costa Coffee is located in the train station before you enter into the platforms. Quick and easy service for a cup of Joe.

This is a lovely big bright costa coffee in princess mall that for some reason I have never visited…read moredespite the amount of times I've shopped there but it was very pleasant and the staff were just as bright and cheerful and helpful. On a sunny day though which isn't to often your likely to melt as it gets to be like a sauna because of the glass roof but definitely worth a visit.