The Best Places to Spend a Slow Morning with a Coffee in Edinburgh

Some cities are made for hopping between sights. Edinburgh is a city made for taking your time. Between walks along the Royal Mile, afternoons spent exploring galleries and museums, and hikes up Arthur's Seat, there are plenty of reasons to slow the pace. Fortunately, Edinburgh's coffee scene is just as inviting as its historic streets. Whether you're after a quick flat white before a day of exploring or a cosy corner to settle into for an hour or two, the city is full of independent cafés worth seeking out. Here are a few of the places we return to again and again.

Cairngorm Coffee

Ask locals where they go for consistently excellent coffee and Cairngorm Coffee is likely to feature near the top of the list. This popular independent roastery has built a loyal following thanks to its carefully sourced beans, knowledgeable team and relaxed atmosphere. The Melville Place café is a favourite, with large windows perfect for people-watching and plenty of space to settle in with a book, a laptop or a second cup. The coffee is superb, but it's the relaxed feel of the place that keeps people coming back. If you're looking for somewhere to pause between exploring Edinburgh's neighbourhoods, Cairngorm is well worth the detour.

Tip from The Resident Insiders: Pair your coffee stop with a wander through nearby Stockbridge, one of Edinburgh's most charming neighbourhoods.

Meh Coffee

Small, welcoming and refreshingly unpretentious, Meh Coffee is one of those places that feels more like a neighbourhood secret than a city-centre café. Tucked away in Edinburgh's New Town, it's known for excellent specialty coffee, friendly service and a menu that changes regularly. The space itself is compact, creating the kind of atmosphere where it's easy to lose track of time. If your ideal coffee shop is somewhere that favours top quality beans, Meh Coffee should be firmly on your Edinburgh list.

The Pastry Section

Just outside The Resident Edinburgh, The Pastry Section is one of the city's most charming coffee spots. Operating from a beautifully restored former police box on St Andrew Square, this tiny independent business is proof that good things come in small packages. Freshly baked pastries, expertly made coffee and an undeniably photogenic setting have made it a favourite with both locals and visitors. There are only a handful of places where you can collect a warm pastry and great coffee from a historic police box before popping back up to your hotel room, and that's part of what makes it so memorable. On a crisp Edinburgh morning, it's hard to imagine a better takeaway breakfast.