i am shocked that i seem to have not yet reviewed this lovely place!! i'm actually rather disappointed with myself as The Blue Bear is a fantastic wee brunch place that serves brunch all day! in fact it specialises in all things good about breakfast: waffles, pancakes, full breakfasts, omlettes, and eggs benedict! they also have some amazing brunch cocktails, the breakfast martini is delicious :) i've sadly only been here twice, once for an AMAZING elite event where the friendly owners seemed to bring a never ending supply of delicious breakfast foods out to us. and very kindly for me they mixed up a special bowl of fruit and yogurt since i was celebrating passover and couldn't eat bread. i swore to myself i'd be back here as soon as i could have bread again but then months passed before i got a chance to go. luckily ms kelly f suggested brunch here a few weeks back and i was in! i was also late in meeting kelly which the owner joked about as she was waiting for ten minutes. but that's the sort of place this is, where the owners are friendly and genuinely happy to see you and chat about life or make a joke to keep their customers smiling. it gives such a great vibe to the restaurant and makes it a real pleasure to go. then there is also the food! the menu is all brunch all the time, love it!! i had the full veggie when i went and throughly enjoyed it. fluffy scrambled eggs, roasted cherry tomatoes, veggie sausages, potato scone, toast, and beans. a massive portion for a small price. i think it was only about £8 including my pot of tea! brilliant value for such tasty food. just writing this review is already convincing me that i need to go back soon!! next time it's the eggs florentine i'm after!! read more

Delicious food. Fast and excellent service, very kind all of them. Relax and good atmosphere. read more

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Visited based on previous reviews, for a spot of brunch with my girlfriend. It was busy but there where tables free, however the host seemed nervous about seating us and after some time said he could 'sneak us in under radar' as there was some reservations made, he didn't seem particularly warm and welcoming and we felt like we where an inconvenience to be frank. Food was decent and well priced, I had the French toast and my other half had the veggie breakfast. Coffee was solid, although I asked for a cappuccino and got what looked and tasted like a latte, my girlfriend got a hot chocolate which was cold. Overall the food was decent, service wasn't great, the saving grace was it wasn't that expensive. read more

This a nice place and very VERY popular with the locals. It's not massive inside so at busy brunchy times you really want to book otherwise you'll be one of the fools stood at the window drooling over the French toast with bacon ;) I had my daughter with me who was in a little mood shall we say so I can't give this place a thorough review but from what I had experienced this is a lovely place. They have high chairs but not massive swathes of space to put them which can be a little stressy if it's super busy like the day I went in. Breakfast/brunch seems to be their specialty. The menu has plenty of choice so you definitely shouldn't have a problem choosing something you like. The French toast and bacon with maple I ordered was nice but I'm unable to give it 5 out of 5 because I was eating it cold out of a box in the car (cute lil daughter couldn't get through the whole brunch affair). Everyone else (locals) at my table loved the food they were served so that's why I'm giving it a four. It's definitely worth squeezing your butt into a seat here. read more

Vegi friendly, including a vegetarian hagis. Staff is attentive without being obtrusive.

The simple decor and seemingly straightforward menu might undermine the first appraisal of what you are expecting, and while you are gingerly sipping on your Steampunk coffee, thinking to yourself what a damn good cappuccino that is, you have no clue that despite that kid drawings on the wall you are about to have one of the best breakfasts in town. Then out comes the French toast with huge slices of bacon on top, the eggs florentine, the big bear breakfast stack, and you and your frowns exchange looks that make it clear that this is going to be a family style meal. And as you taste all of the flavours, and savor the sweet and savory combination you have exposed your tongue to, you know that you will crave this for days, possibly forever. So, yeah, I live nearby. I have enough self control to only casually walk by and decide "by chance" to eat here about once a week. But if my body could handle the mass amounts of food I find a way to consume here, I'd come more often. read more

Yum! Amazing breakfast and coffee. I had the eggs benedict-delish! And my partner had the 'big bear'- great Scottish breakfast. Great place to visit before a walk around the royal botanic gardens. All day breakfast- great for those that wake late! Friendly staff :-) read more

This spot is wonderful! My girlfriend and I visited Edinburgh for a few days, and we serendipitously stumbled upon the Blue Bear. We knew right away that this was where we wanted to eat. 1) they were still serving breakfast and we're late risers and 2) the inside/decor was really welcoming. The staff was super-friendly and more than helpful with our questions about the menu and other items we weren't used too (being from another country). My girlfriend ordered the Veggie Bear, and proclaimed it the best breakfast she's ever had. I went for the breakfast staples, and they were also excellent. I really wish there was a place like this in my neighborhood - it's worth the trip back to Edinburgh just for the Blue Bear! read more

Good service and very well made brunch. Went for the "Build-a-bear" twice with three different "add-ons" both times. Tasted very good. The eggs were perfect, the bacon well done, hand sliced, not too crunchy, just a tad soft but that made it actually really good (I do this myself now and then). Black pudding lovely, portobello's nicely fried, etc. everything very tasty. The freshly pressed orange juice and the filter coffee was also good. The staff was very friendly. The atmosphere although busy at peak hours, cosy and warm. All in all highly recommended. read more

Very disappointed. I ordered waffles expecting lovely fresh Lyonnaise waffles, not Liege waffles out of a packet. Maybe it's my fault and I should have asked what kind of waffles they were serving, as I do not like Liège waffles. They also came with far too much cream and very little fruit. The service was however good and fast. I may go again but will sure order something different. Quite pricy too. My local café charges 70p less per San Pellegrino lemonata, so go figure... read more

The breakfast was amazing! I came with a group of 5. We all ordered different things off the menu and we were all impressed with our dishes. Can't go wrong at this place. Best cappuccino I have had in Europe. read more

Excellent food and coffee!! Atmosphere was reminiscent of a small town diner. Fantastic breakfast burrito, the salsa in the side tasted like they harvested the vegetables that morning. Highly recommended location!! read more

I came here for the first time yesterday and I am writing this review as I currently eat food here again today. It is very good. Today I ordered the chili nachos. As a guy born and raised in Southern California I can honestly say that these nachos are giving some south of the boarder cuisine a run for its money. read more

Good food, black pudding is my son and husband favorite. Haggis is very real and taste. Portobello mushroom, sausage yum yum, the best is scramble egg, soft and juice. The way they made the toast is fantastic. lovely environment, kids friendly. Also has kid meals. Surely come back again before we leave read more

...yes I too was a big fan of Moo, but as my fellow poster highlighted the Blue Bear has more than filled the void. 2 Highlights , The service - I take on board that its new cafe, they are always busy when I have been at the weekends - but everyone is smiling and its a great atmosphere. Its just a fun place to hang out. The Food - The Big Bear Breakfast. its great .... Having lived in Canada for a number of years I take my breakfast seriously, and the food here is good. If you are a lover of breakfast its time you hung out at the Blue Bear...pancakes, waffles, French toast... need I say more. Check it out, you wont be disappointed. read more

Great food and service. Would definitely come back. Had the omelette and salad which was a perfect size. My companion had the granola. Presentation was well done. My mushroom omelette was filled with mushrooms which I loved. The granola was served parfait style in the bowl with yogurt and jam. Great colors. Both were delicious. The service was friendly and speedy. We sat in the back with sunlight. Would definitely come back. read more

Great quick breakfast. The waffles with bacon and maple syrup were great... but would ask for the syrup on the side as there was a large amount of syrup all over the plate. read more

I love this place so much it is inspiring me to post my first review ever on Yelp. I had a breakfast roll with egg, bacon, and hash browns. Ridiculously good. Also had a piece of caramel cake to die for. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Go - you will not regret it! read more

Love this place! Fresh, homemade, hearty food, cozy and quirky ambience. Super nice staff. We came here after a walk along the Waters of Leith Path, all together a sweet escape in Edinburgh. read more

Eggs benedict - yum! Bacon was cooked very well (I was nervous it would come out undercooked). Nice place for brunch.

The food is exceptional. The service is great. They have lots of options and lots of vegetarian choices. We came back multiple times and the toughest pay was deciding what to get. Highly recommended! read more

Great place for breakfast and they had very good gluten free options. Americano coffee is served by the cup. There is good menu variety and baked goods. read more

I was really excited to see a menu specialising in breakfast and eggs, and the service upon arrival was excellent. However, the food itself was very lack lustre and poor value for money. The portion sizes were very small for the price that was charged. Two poached eggs on two small slices of toast, barely larger than the eggs, set me back almost £6 and my friends omelette was an equally small serving with an accompanying 'salad' that consisted solely of lettuce for the same price. The food was such a disappointment in contrast to the service. There are so many great cafes in the Canonmills area. I think Blue Bear needs to redress either its portion sizes or its prices to come close to what else is offered nearby. read more

Wonderful! I met friends for brunch here and was very impressed. They were extremely accommodating with our group during a busy time; and the service was impeccable - attentive and genuinely friendly. We were all coming from different places, so we arrived at different times - they seated the first of us (we had made a reservation), and made sure we were served water or tea while we waited for the others to arrive. The tea was of high quality and the fresh, home-baked goods were perfect. The breakfast fare is cooked to perfection, with ample portions presented artfully - there just seems to be pride and care put into every aspect of this little cafe; the food, the decor, and the service. My friends and I had not seen each other in a long while, so we spent a lot of time catching up - the staff never once made us feel rushed and in fact, assured us we were welcome. I will certainly be back, and highly recommend this little gem. read more

My new favourite café in Edinburgh. I have been to a LOT of cafés in Edinburgh! Service - warm & friendly. Level of cosiness - high. Eggs Rebecca & Croque Monsieurs - outstanding. Owner's dog - absent. Much sadness ensued! Maybe next time Muttley will be in so we can pet him. Didn't have tummy space to try cakes - even if it IS a different tummy. Counting the days til we can go back. You're doing it right guys read more

Excited at the prospect of another foody addition to the Canonmills area, I went along for a coffee to check the place out. This is a welcoming cafe with friendly staff housed in a spacious layout and some nice artworks on the wall and plenty of daylight. The menu offering looked pretty good for breakfast and lunch, however my only criticism is that I thought it lacked imagination - it was all a bit 'plain' sounding. There isn't much that made it stand out for me and I got the impression that it wasn't written by a chef or foodie... I ordered the nachos which were average. Not a patch on the Basement bar of course. I was hoping for some nice wedges or seasonal veg dishes but it seemed like mostly soup and shandwiches and crisps. Might be a good destination for weekday lunching for nearby office workers... For me, the biggest temptations were the cakes and treats on show at the counter which made me think this could make it a good place to meet friends for a coffee and catch up. I maybe just wouldn't be tempted by a lunch here. Staff were friendly and approachable but I felt that they could have been a bit more attentive considering the place was not very busy. Little details like asking how I'd like my coffee served (sugar etc), offering a side plate with a hefty food plate, promptly clearing away empty cups and plates when finished would add to the experience. The Blue Bear benefits from being in a sunny and handy location and there's outside seating if the weather allows it! There is free wifi and the staff seem great. Overall my visit was A-OK (three star rating). I would boost it by another star if the menu was more creative and if the attention to detail was taken up a notch. I think these small things would make a great deal of difference to this place as there is a lot of serious competition in the immediate area, not to mention the wider city area! Good luck to the Big Bear, I will visit again soon and wish you every success in the future. read more

I went for a late Sunday lunch/brunch after reading good reviews on here, so decided to check it out for myself. Loved the choice for all day breakfast, as was able to choose it without a few items I dislike, beans/tomatoes, but including the essential mushrooms, Black Pudding and Haggis. You also get to choose how you would like your eggs done, scrambled, fried,etc. Sauces were brought to the table, by the bottle. no awkward sachets. Tea was served in a small china cup and saucer, which I wasn't keen on, but it did come in a proper colourful china teapot, and on asking they do also serve it in a mug if preferred, so I will know to ask for that next time. Tea was served with a cute little miniature milk bottle, which made me think of Alice in Wonderland, "drink me", I loved that quirky touch. The salt and pepper shakers were also bright and colourful, all very plesaant compared to supermarket cafes with their beige cups ans stainless steel or plastic condiments. The coffee and walnut cake was delicious, but I was surprised to see all cakes and biscuits were displayed on open plates on counter, no covers. I would have preferred them to be in see through covers for hygiene reasons, especially when summer arrives. Could not fault the staff for friendliness though, and I will be back. read more

Excellent place, really lovely staff and great food. Most impressed by the fried egg - done to perfection. Not too often do you get the combination of nice atmosphere, tasty food and great service all in one. I love stopping by for a quick takeaway roll and they are always accomodating with any requests! read more

Excellent Scottish breakfast and other creative choices. Lots of locals having breakfast. Quiet neighborhood. Worth the walk on a pleasant day. Majestic tour bus stop across the street. read more

Visiting from California and found this place online. Food was great and Mike gave us a lot of helpful tips to get around town

Can't rave about this place enough and I'm desperate to go back! I went for breakfast with my mum and we each had the big bear - it was divine! Super excited to try just about everything else on their menu! read more

A bit of a regular brunch haunt for me down in Canonmills, the Blue Bear has been a welcome addition to the area. I seem to go for one of three things every time I go - the full breakfast, the french toast with bacon and maple syrup or eggs benedict! All very tasty and filling! The staff are welcoming, though service on occasion can be a bit slow - however I'm never in a rush and the place is usually rammed full of hungry diners! If you are wanting a table for a larger group or during peak brunch / lunch times, then its best to book a table! read more

The blue bear stands out from crowd with its exceptional service and relaxed atmosphere. Situated amongst various other cafés this is by far superior. The funky tea cups and gorgeous pouched eggs is enough to get you back again. read more