In the catalogue of Marchmont coffee shops (which is not extensive), Empire Café is often overlooked, perhaps because it's not as hip and studenty as Black Medicine, nor as memorable as Café Artista with its tempestuous owner; not as posh as Toast, nor as quaint as the newly opened Ephemeris.
It's hard to know what adjective to use for Empire Café, actually. Nothing really stands out about it. And yet, it is pleasant and reliable, a small, sunny café on the corner that provides all the usual café items cheaply and well, such as fresh croissants and orange juice in the morning, strong coffee, milkshakes and a good range of sandwiches and paninis.
Which is probably why, despite the competition from more flashy establishments, Empire Café unobtrusively survives, the chosen destination for businessmen buying coffee on the way to work, hungry schoolchildren at lunchtime, and idle types like myself who like to sit in the window and read the paper. read more