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This cafe is just steps away from the Milkman and the royal mile. It has lots of seating options: outdoor 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.
We were on a walking tour and this was one of our tour guide suggestions. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. I ordered a club sandwich which was just sooo good. Also my latte was delicious. I wish I could have stayed longer and enjoyed one of the yummy looking treats in the window of this cozy cafe.
Do not miss this cafe, it is so cozy and cute!! Inside it is two stories with a cute overlook for the second floor. All the freshly baked pastries in the window look so decadent! We got the yogurt and granola and a chai latte. The yogurt and granola was so good! It came topped with fresh fruit and plenty of honey. The yogurt itself was light and creamy. The chai latte was a bit light on the chai spice flavors but it was still good. A sweet milky treat with hits of chai. The service staff was friendly and the food came out quick! Loved the chill and cozy atmosphere.
Delicious food, friendly service and a cute little place on my favorite street... Had breakfast here three days in the week and was great every time!
The cafe is located in the heart of town close to the castle. They have a wide array of options, plus some very tempting pastries. I wound up getting the vegetarian breakfast which includes eggs, toast, baked beans, mushrooms, roasted tomato, potato scone and hash brown. Very filling to keep you going on a long day of sightseeing.
Super cute Cafe!! We went for breakfast early enough so we could start our day of walking adventures. When we arrived we were promptly greeted and asked to go upstairs for seating. Once upstairs we were seated immediately. We ordered water and cappuccino's right away. We had to flag down our waitress to put in our food order. She was definitely very busy but remained polite. We received our cappuccino's after about 10-15 minutes and our food approximately 15 minutes after that. The food was hot, but bland. We never received our waters. The seating area was tight and they seated 5 people at a 4 person table next to us which made it even tighter. The guests at the table next to us were playing music videos obnoxiously loud and the staff never asked them to turn it down. Would go back in a pinch but after being here for a week we found other lovely establishments.
This is one of my favorite cafes I stopped at during my time in Edinburgh. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I sat outside since it was a beautiful day. They have beer and wine here as well. They have a nice lunch menu. I had the haggis spring rolls and the halloumi salad. Both were excellent and reasonably priced. The server was friendly, and it was fun talking with her. This is a great location by many great shops. I ran into several people I'd met during my time in Edinburgh while I sat and had lunch. They have many different homemade baked goods. I tried the carrot cake which was great! It was not at all too sweet and paired nicely with a flat white. I highly recommend coming here if you're in Edinburgh. Next time I am in town, I will be sure to go here!
Busy and vibrant with lots of tight comfy places to sit. Our waitress was sweet and we were seated and had our orders in befor you could say, Scottish Breakfast. Lovely and a great place for breakfast!
Fantastic breakfast spot. Came at 9 am and was seated right away. Ordered a blueberry stack with a flat white and both were delicious. Waitress was attentive and friendly. Ambiance was nice as well. Do yourself a favor and try this place!
Not sure if It's due to the rain but this place was packed. I ordered the flat white and chicken quesadilla. Both were mediocre. The chicken Qes was overwhelmed with chicken and a bit bland. It barely had any cheddar cheese in it. The chicken was a bit dry too. Service and vibe were great though. I came alone and was seated at the corner which is perfect for a solo traveler. Not a lot of places are attentive enough to seat solo travelers at the "right" comfortable table.
From the street, it doesn't appear to be a very roomy place but there are two levels and loads of seating. The staff are very friendly, and make you feel welcome to stay as long as you'd like. I had the Eggs Royal (smoked Scottish salmon and poached eggs atop a split English muffin), which was fantastic. Their coffee is also incredibly good. I highly recommend this place if you're in the Royal Mile area, and I'll be back!
Delicious food and great service. There is seating outside, on the first floor and upstairs. Would highly recommend.
3 months ago
Accidentally found this place while we were starving and looking for somewhere to grab lunch. We loved the area, it was so nice sitting outside. Food was delicious! Our server was so friendly. We were very happy with our meal. read more
4 hours ago
This was such a cute little coffee shop just off the mile. Clearly they know how to attracts customers 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. read more
This cafe is just steps away from the Milkman and the royal mile. It has lots of seating options: outdoor 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. read more
3 months ago
We were on a walking tour and this was one of our tour guide suggestions. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. I ordered a club sandwich which was just sooo good. Also my latte was delicious. I wish I could have stayed longer and enjoyed one of the yummy looking treats in the window of this cozy cafe. read more
1 year ago
Do not miss this cafe, it is so cozy and cute!! Inside it is two stories with a cute overlook for the second floor. All the freshly baked pastries in the window look so decadent! We got the yogurt and granola and a chai latte. The yogurt and granola was so good! It came topped with fresh fruit and plenty of honey. The yogurt itself was light and creamy. The chai latte was a bit light on the chai spice flavors but it was still good. A sweet milky treat with hits of chai. The service staff was friendly and the food came out quick! Loved the chill and cozy atmosphere. read more
11 months ago
Delicious food, friendly service and a cute little place on my favorite street... Had breakfast here three days in the week and was great every time! read more
2 years ago
The cafe is located in the heart of town close to the castle. They have a wide array of options, plus some very tempting pastries. I wound up getting the vegetarian breakfast which includes eggs, toast, baked beans, mushrooms, roasted tomato, potato scone and hash brown. Very filling to keep you going on a long day of sightseeing. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
10 months ago
2 years ago
Super cute Cafe!! We went for breakfast early enough so we could start our day of walking adventures. When we arrived we were promptly greeted and asked to go upstairs for seating. Once upstairs we were seated immediately. We ordered water and cappuccino's right away. We had to flag down our waitress to put in our food order. She was definitely very busy but remained polite. We received our cappuccino's after about 10-15 minutes and our food approximately 15 minutes after that. The food was hot, but bland. We never received our waters. The seating area was tight and they seated 5 people at a 4 person table next to us which made it even tighter. The guests at the table next to us were playing music videos obnoxiously loud and the staff never asked them to turn it down. Would go back in a pinch but after being here for a week we found other lovely establishments. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
This is one of my favorite cafes I stopped at during my time in Edinburgh. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I sat outside since it was a beautiful day. They have beer and wine here as well. They have a nice lunch menu. I had the haggis spring rolls and the halloumi salad. Both were excellent and reasonably priced. The server was friendly, and it was fun talking with her. This is a great location by many great shops. I ran into several people I'd met during my time in Edinburgh while I sat and had lunch. They have many different homemade baked goods. I tried the carrot cake which was great! It was not at all too sweet and paired nicely with a flat white. I highly recommend coming here if you're in Edinburgh. Next time I am in town, I will be sure to go here! read more
Fantastic breakfast spot. Came at 9 am and was seated right away. Ordered a blueberry stack with a flat white and both were delicious. Waitress was attentive and friendly. Ambiance was nice as well. Do yourself a favor and try this place! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Not sure if It's due to the rain but this place was packed. I ordered the flat white and chicken quesadilla. Both were mediocre. The chicken Qes was overwhelmed with chicken and a bit bland. It barely had any cheddar cheese in it. The chicken was a bit dry too. Service and vibe were great though. I came alone and was seated at the corner which is perfect for a solo traveler. Not a lot of places are attentive enough to seat solo travelers at the "right" comfortable table. read more
4 years ago
From the street, it doesn't appear to be a very roomy place but there are two levels and loads of seating. The staff are very friendly, and make you feel welcome to stay as long as you'd like. I had the Eggs Royal (smoked Scottish salmon and poached eggs atop a split English muffin), which was fantastic. Their coffee is also incredibly good. I highly recommend this place if you're in the Royal Mile area, and I'll be back! read more
3 years ago
Delicious food and great service. There is seating outside, on the first floor and upstairs. Would highly recommend. read more
3 years ago
This place is the real deal. Fantastic food. I'm visiting from San Francisco and am very fired up I found this place. I'll be back a lot this trip. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
10 years ago
Delicious breakfast. I started off breakfast with a flat white which was excellent. I had the full Scottish breakfast. It came with a fried egg which was cooked perfectly, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, tomato, toast, tattie scone and haggis. The whole meal was delicious! I personally am not a fan of haggis, definitely an acquired taste. The meal was filling and wasn't overly expensive. It was about £45 for four people. When looking for breakfast in Edinburgh, this is a good stop! read more
Limited choices for breakfast, but that's okay because what they had was what I wanted. I was tempted to go for the Scottish Breakfast or the Big Belter, but my brain overruled as I had a busy day ahead. I settled for the Croque Madame, which was kind of like two pressed ham and cheese sandwiches with a fried egg on top. Not too much fat and plenty of energy for a walking tour of Edinburgh. Delicious. I was going to have just the one cup of coffee but ended up having a second because it was just that good. For two large coffees and the sandwich, still less than £10. Free wi-fi was easy to access, after I got the password from the staff. read more
We came here by a suggestion from a local to try the haggis, and it didn't disappoint! I got the full Scottish breakfast, which was delicious and my sister ordered an equally tasty goat cheese salad. The interior of the restaurant was quite charming and the people sincerely asked us if the food was good and if everything was alright - an act I really appreciate in restaurants. The service was only a little slow with getting our check and the water we ordered never came, but we went during a busy lunch hour so it's understandable. Overall, really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere here! They also have free wifi, which is always a blessing if you don't have cellular service in Scotland. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
Wow! Love the atmosphere, the food, and the service. We came here yesterday for lunch and loved it. It's just barely off the beaten path of the Royal Mile (whose restaurants are bustling with tourists) and we got a table here lickety-split. We ended up staying for about 2.5 hours and read our Kindles. We came back for breakfast this morning because lunch was so tasty, and it looks wonderful! Their coffee is delicious! We will definitely return here the next time we visit Edinburgh. read more
5 years ago
The staff were amazing. The haggis was perfect. The view over the Avengers movie set was Wanda-ful. 5 stars. read more
I loved how the staff interfaced w people and got people seated even Though it was a popular place. Staff was diverse. Food was excellent. I got the veggie breakfast place, the mushrooms had a delicious flavor along w the veggie haggis which i have yet to figure out what it is. Brown sauce was offered in packets so I hope they change that to refillable bottle. The music was at a good level and great mix of tunes. They had a lot of different types of cakes and breads is you wanted something lighter and decadent. I really enjoyed the vine in the cafe. The bathroom is downstairs and I did feel bad for couple who sat right by stairs and can only imagine stair dust getting on their plates as people walked downstairs. But everything else was amazing!! read more
What a lovely quirky place down Cockburn street off the royal mile. The inside is bigger as it looks as it spans over 3 floors. The walls and interior is wooden and gives this place a cozy feel especially with the christmas lights hanging from the ceiling. I ordered an Americano and scone with cream and blackberry jam. One of the best scone and cream combination I ever ate. The personell is very friendly and fast service even at busy times. I will be back. read more
5 years ago
The coffee here is the best in Edinburgh (Artisan Roast, that I already left a review of), so I took my time and got a second cup. They have veg and gluten free options here, and it's in a great location. Service was friendly and food was delicious. Highly recommend! read more
9 years ago
The Southern Cross cafe is mainly visited by tourists, but I am quite a fan myself. It has good food and friendly staff. I think it has been refurbished recently too as it looked a lot sleeker than it used to today. After leaving the Apple Store, we decided to come here for breakfast as it was just across Waverley Bridge. We were seated immediately and ordered our food. The drinks arrived fairly quickly but the food did take about 20 minutes. It was a bit slow although they were quite busy with their breakfast rush. It was worth the wait though as the food was delicious. I opted for the blueberry pancakes with cream and syrup and they were some of the best that I've had! I am quite the pancake connoisseur, if you didn't know. Another thing I like about SX is it's central location - up the hill from Princes Street and down the hill from the Royal Mile. Don't bother with the Starbucks up the road. Instead, come here. It is more expensive but it is nicer and has a cute personal touch. read more
6 years ago
Loved stopping by this cafe after seeing an assortment of goodies in the window. The ones that stood out as the most delectable: the walnut coffee cake and millionaire shortbread. I ended up getting their baked to order scone and lingered nibbling, sipping tea and reading. The tea is okay- not loose leaf just hot water in a cup with a bag, but the ambiance and hospitality makes up for it. read more
Great breakfast conveniently located right in the heart of the Royal Mile. I got a traditional vegetarian Scottish breakfast, with beans, eggs, toast, hashbrowns, mushrooms, tomatoes, and veggie haggis. Honestly, the authentic haggis was much better and surprisingly delicious, so I would recommend getting the traditional breakfast. The ambiance of the cafe is also great, but the top floor is pretty cramped - we had to scoot our chairs uncomfortably close to the table about five times during the meal so the waiter and other customers could get by. read more
3 years ago
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More info about Southern Cross Cafe
63a Cockburn Street
Edinburgh EH1 1BS
United Kingdom
Old Town, Royal Mile
Directions
0131 622 0622
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Southern Cross Cafe - coffee - Updated August 2026
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