Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP FIVE EDINBURGH CAFES
Cafe culture is firmly ensconced in Edinburgh, and it is as easy to get your daily caffeine fix here as it is in New
York or Paris. Most cafes offer some kind of food, from cakes and sandwiches to full-on meals.
Loudon's Café & Bakery
Offline map
Google map
(
www.loudons-cafe.co.uk
; 94b Fountainbridge; mains
£3-7; 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat & Sun; )
A cafe that bakes its own organic bread and cakes on
the premises, ethically sourced coffee, daily and weekend newspapers scattered about, even some outdoor tables -
what's not to like? All-day brunch (9am to 3pm) served at weekends includes eggs Benedict, warm spiced quinoa
with dried fruit, and specials such as blueberry pancakes with fruit salad.
Circle Cafe
(
www.thecirclecafe.com
;
1 Brandon Tce; mains £6-9; 8.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-4.30pm
Sun)
A great place for breakfast or a good-value lunch, Circle is a bustling neighbourhood cafe serving great cof-
fee and cakes, and fresh, tasty lunch dishes ranging from chunky, home-baked quiches to smoked haddock fish-
cakes.
Glass & Thompson
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Google map
(2 Dundas St; mains £7-11; 8am-6pm Mon-Sat,
10.30am-4.30pm Sun)
Grab a table in this spick-and-span New Town deli and sip a double espresso as you ogle
the cheeses in the cold counter or watch the world go by through the floor-to-ceiling windows (the cafe is featured
in the novels of Alexander McCall Smith). Munchies include tasty platters such as dolmades and falafel, or Parma
ham and parmesan.
Valvona & Crolla Caffé Bar
(
www.valvonacrolla.co.uk
;
19 Elm Row, Leith Walk; mains £10-16;
8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Thu, 8am-6pm Fri & Sat, 10.30am-3.30pm Sun; )
Try breakfast (served till 11.30am)
with an Italian flavour - full
paesano
(meat) or
verdure
(veggie) fry-ups, or deliciously light and crisp
panettone
in
carrozza
(sweet brioche dipped in egg and fried) - or choose from almond croissants, muesli, yogurt and fruit,
freshly squeezed orange juice and perfect Italian coffee. There's also a tasty lunch menu (noon to 3.30pm) of clas-
sic Italian dishes.
Elephant House
Offline map
Google map
(
www.elephanthouse.biz
;
21 George IV Bridge; mains £6-9;
8am-10pm Mon-Fri, 9am-10pm Sat & Sun; )
Here you'll find counters at the front, tables and views of the
castle at the back (where JK Rowling famously wrote in the days before Harry Potter was published), and little ef-
figies and images of elephants everywhere. Excellent coffee and tasty, homemade food - pizzas, quiches, pies,
sandwiches and cakes - at reasonable prices.
New Town
BRITISH
The Dogs££
(
0131-220 1208;
www.thedogsonline.co.uk
; 110 Hanover St; mains £9-13;
noon-4pm & 5-10pm)
One of the coolest tables in town, this bistro-style place uses cheap-
er cuts of meat and less-well-known, more-sustainable species of fish to create hearty, no-
