Some of My Favourite Spots in Edinburgh
Some of my favourite cafes and brunch spots, pubs & bars. Google Maps and Instagram links included.
I live in Edinburgh and this is a collection of some of my favourite spots in the city. This post is great for both locals and tourists, and if you have more places to add please share them in the comment so others can see them too. Let me know below or on Instagram (@ponytella.travels) if you have found this guide useful!
Also, if you’re visiting Edinburgh and would like an idea for a 3-day itinerary, check my free Edinburgh Itinerary on Thatch.
Clicking on a title will take you to Google Maps, clicking on the image will take you to their Instagram profile (if they have one).
My favourite cafes in Edinburgh
Argonaut Books
This is a bookshop that also serves hot drinks. There are only a few seats, but it’s peaceful and quite, a great place to read your books or bring your laptop to work from there.
Printworks Coffee
Very busy on a weekend morning, they have a lot of food and cake options. During a weekday you can read, work or study from there.
Söderberg - The Meadows
Swedish café, I go here any time I crave cinnamon or cardamon buns. I lived in Sweden for one year, and I still believe the best cardamon bun I even had was at this cafe in Edinburgh.
Starbucks on Princes Street
I know it’s a Starbucks, but it has an amazing view of Edinburgh Castle and it’s a great stop to relax while visiting or to come and work for a few hours.
Project Coffee
Cute café serving good coffee. It’s quite busy so you’ll be lucky to find a seat. Also included in the brunch list.
Kuna Café & Bakery
Nice cafe with great window seating for people watching. They don’t want people to use laptops so if you’re looking for a place to work from, this is not the one.
BAM Coffee
Hidden café on Salamander Street, serves great coffee and their brunch options are tasty.
Levels Café & Lounge
Great student café, it has plenty of seats and food options at a reasonable price. Good place to go to study or work.
Artisan Roast Leith Walk
Good coffee, pastries and focaccia sandwiches. I like the rustic vibes of this café, however it doesn’t have a lot of seating unless you’re happy to sit on a stool. Great place to come to read, study or work, and I love their chocolate, pecan and banana bread.
My favourite cafes without indoor seating
Bearded Barista
You can find them at Leith Market on Saturdays and at the Stockbridge Market on Sundays. Probably my favourite coffee in town!
Little Fitzroy
Cute little coffee shop only serving coffee to go. There is normally a queue but they are quite quick and have lots of sweet options too.
Écosse Éclaire
This café has won awards and serves the best Eclairs I’ve ever had in my life. If I remember it correctly on top of my head, the owner is Turkish, grew up in The Netherlands, lived in France and Sicily to learn about food, moved to London and years later moved to Edinburgh (luckily for me). There are three stools in his café, but I’m still including it in the list without indoor seating as it’s quite small.
My favourite Edinburgh brunch spots
Dishoom
A mix between Indian and British cuisine, Dishoom has interesting brunch options, from naan rolls to Full Scottish Breakfasts with an Indian twist. My favourite is the bacon and egg naan roll. It comes with yummy chilli tomato sauce on the side.
The City Café
This is the spot I recommend to anyone coming to Edinburgh for the first time and who wants to try the typical Full Scottish Breakfast. American diner style, it offers great Scottish food at a reasonable price, considering it’s right in the heart of the city.
Urban Angel
Great coffee and filling food options. I have tried their French toasts and the breakfast bake. Both very good.
Roseleaf Bar Café
I really loved Roselaf, it felt very traditional with its wood interior. The Scottish Breakfast was amazing and my favourite part was the Stornaway black pudding, it’s so much tastier than any others I’ve tried before. They also serve cocktails in tea pots which I found quite cute.
Project Coffee
I love Project Coffee. I have been going there since I first moved to Edinburgh. They have always serve great coffee and huge, yummy sandwiches. They renovated their interior a few years ago and they kept their great quality once they reopened. Great for brunch but also for lunch.
Montpeliers
Right in front of Project Coffee, you can go to Montpellier if you want more brunch options and drinks.
My favourite pubs & bars in Edinburgh
Brewhemia
A bit pricey but I love the interior and the atmosphere. They often have live music shows and the choreographies and costumes are always spot on.
Stramash
Great place for both tourists and locals, they have live music most nights. It used to be a church and I think it’s a place that definitely worth visiting. Sometimes they organise Ceilidh dances.
The Hanging Bat
I like this pub for their wide selection of draught beers and their window seatings for people watching or reading a book.
The Dome
Apart from its incredible facade, the main bar is beautifully decorated with huge flower bouquets and is just majestic. Great bar for a drink or afternoon tea.
Tempo Perso
Lovely bar offering a great food selection too. Really nice atmosphere and good wine.
The Lioness of Leith
I looove this place for its interior, their beers and their burgers, yum!
Cask Smugglers
If you book in advance, you can reserve a glass igloo and enjoy the view of the Castle and Royal Mile from just above Waverly Station.
The Caley Picture or The Standing Order
These are part of Wetherspoons, a UK chain. If you’re a local they’re your OGs for cheap drinks, if you are a tourist you should visit them because Whetherspoons always use cool locations. The Caley Picture House used to be an old cinema theatre, and The Standing Order an old bank. Fun fact: you will never find two Wetherspoons with the same carpet pattern.
Dirty Dicks
Great name for a pub, this place has interesting decoration on the ceiling.
Canny Man’s
I like this pub because similarly to Dirty Dicks, it has an interesting interior.
I hope you’re going to try some of these places and let me know in the comments of any you think should be here and I should visit! :)
And for a 3-day itinerary, check my free Edinburgh Itinerary on Thatch.