Elm Rose Cafe and Diner

Hyped place but lowkey worth it. We went in the afternoon and it wasn't too busy which was nice…read more The small snacks are the real hero here, had the earl grey pound cake which was fab.

The Milkman is a very overrated coffee shop. It is recommended in almost every social media video…read moreabout Edinburgh, but I feel like choosing this over some other options was a waste. The iced latte is standard; okay. Their almond croissant was crazy sweet, the type that makes your stomach a bit sick. I didn't appreciate that half of their pastries were laid out/stacked in the open air. When you're ordering, you're having to speak over them (doesn't seem sanitary).

0.6 mi•Royal Mile, Old Town, Newington

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The Edinburgh Larder

4.5(347 reviews)

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.

0.5 mi•Royal Mile, Old Town

Table service

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Latte and a husband

Procaffeination

4.3(19 reviews)

Absolutely yummy coffee and pastries. Service was excellent and ambiance is cozy and relaxing.read more

Our goto morning coffee and tea hangout. Great homemade pastries and yummy spanakopita! Thank you!read more

0.5 mi•Royal Mile, Old Town

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Forsyth's Tea Room

4.4(20 reviews)

This hit the spot on a rainy cold afternoon in Edinburgh. We especially enjoyed the spiced scones…read moreand clotted cream with earl grey tea. Also, the chocolate cake that looks like a volcano is divine. It's actually more ganache than cake. The other chocolate cake was rather dry and lifeless. The roast beef and horseradish sammies were better than the egg salad.

Cute little place down a close. 2 sweet little ladies greeted us. We had afternoon tea with…read moresandwiches and scones. They were attentive but not bothersome. They had delicious looking desserts in their case but they only take cash so we were unable to add those on to take away.

0.6 mi•Royal Mile, Old Town

Inside the tea room.

Crochet sugar bowl covers!

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I recommend the oaties

Smoov

4.7(12 reviews)

The gelato stuffed donut sign wont me over. I was pleasantly pleased with the doughnut. It was very…read moredelicious, warm, and tasted fresh. The staff was very nice and I actually went back for a second one :)

What a great stop after climbing Arthur's seat! Refreshing iced cappuccino and a waffle hit the…read morespot. The Smoov cream was delicate and refreshing with no after taste. Love this spot. Comfy couches and music playing in the background. Clean bathroom and free WIfi! What else can I ask for?

0.6 mi•Old Town, Royal Mile

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Speciality coffee, Kalita Wave pour over

Southern Cross Cafe

4.3(120 reviews)

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.

Inside

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Brew Lab

4.3(125 reviews)

0.8 mi•Newington

A place with both coffee and alcohol available? I'm sold! We went twice during our trip to…read moreEdinburgh. I got coffee one time and chai the other time. Both drinks were excellent and the staff was friendly! A plus is that the wifi works quite well! If you want to eat/drink there, you may have to wait a bit for a table, but you won't regret it. Fear not though, takeaway is available if you're pressed for time!

World class espresso drinks. The shots are sweet and full bodied. The milk is foamed to a silky…read moreperfection. The service can be a little slow, but the servers are friendly and quick to respond once you flag them down.

0.5 mi•Royal Mile, Old Town

Doughnut win.

Olive bread that came with the soup. That juicy olive!

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Pastry selection

Clarinda's Tea Room

4.3(67 reviews)

**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!

Treats!

Inside

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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

Artisan Roast

4.6(151 reviews)

0.2 mi•New Town

Landed in Edinburgh from an early flight and found on yelp as our first stop, so glad we did. It's…read morecozy and inviting, and I was offered samples of the brewed before ordering, which was awesome. I went with the Ethiopian drip and was impressed a single cup did the job.

Was a wee bit early for an appointment this morning so I went searching for a coffee shop. Found…read morethis awesome spot with great pastries, amazing coffee, super friendly staff and a Cozi little spot in the back to sip and eat.

0.6 mi•Old Town, Newington

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Duckers (center) is explaining to his new friends from London he is on an adventure.

Joanna's Place

4.4(5 reviews)

Joanna's Place is a decent café just off the Royal Mile. We popped in due to the lack of scones in…read moreour regular next door, the Edinburgh Larder. Joanna's did indeed have scones, so we were delighted to give it a try. The place is very quiet. I was surprised at how quietly I was speaking so as not to be heard by others all over the café. This isn't a positive or negative point, it just stood out to me. There was also music playing in the background, which seemed unnecessarily loud, probably due to the relative silence across the room. We both had tea and scones. The tea came in a lovely large pot, and with nice cups to drink from. I really liked the tea. A+. The scones were significantly less appealing. Mine tasted burnt, the whipped cream provided was poor (especially compared to clotted cream in other places), and the jam was only okay as well. I love scones, and was definitely quite disappointed with this one. The place does seem good for lunch, with a decent selection of soups and sandwiches etc. but I can't comment on these as of yet. Service is pretty quick and friendly. Overall though, there are better cafés in the immediate area.

What a cute little coffee place! You can get everything for a sweet tooth but also for the savory…read moreheart! I had a freshly baked scone and it was delicious!