A student’s guide to Edinburgh’s coffee shops
By Isa, from Texas U.S.A., studying Developmental Science (MSc)
As an avid coffee fan, I’ve spent a good deal of time trying coffee shops all around Edinburgh. This is a list of some of my favorites, in no particular order! I’ll talk a little about their coffee and whether or not they provide an ideal environment for study sessions!
Wellington Coffee (33A George St, Edinburgh EH2 2HN)
Wellington is located in the New Town and provides a cozy indoor environment with a small outdoor space. The coffee here is super smooth (great if you’re not a fan of bitter coffee) but the shop itself probably isn’t the best place to study. It’s small on the inside and doesn’t have any place to plug in any devices. However, this place serves the best coffee in Edinburgh (in my opinion) and definitely deserves a visit!
Inside Cult Coffee
Cult Coffee Roasters (104 Buccleuch St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NG)
Cult Coffee is located close to central campus and provides a lively space with plenty of seating. It’s got a good environment to study in and great coffee! The coffee is a bit bitter but very balanced. This place also has a ton of filter coffee options from all over the world!
The Milkman (7 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1BP & 52 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1PB)
The Milkman is located just off the Royal Mile and has 2 locations on Cockburn St (one at the top and one at the bottom of the street). The environment in both of these shops is immaculate and they have great coffee. However, it is located very close to some of the busiest parts of Edinburgh. It can be tough to sit-in during tourist season. However, during the off-season, it’s a great spot to sit and do some reading!
Exterior of Black Medicine Coffee
Black Medicine Coffee Co. (2 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH)
Black Medicine is somewhat of a staple amongst Edinburgh students. It’s got the most seating out of all the coffee shops on this list and is probably the most “student-friendly” coffee shop within close distance to central campus. I wouldn’t rate the coffee as highly as the first 3 shops on this list, but it’s very convenient and the environment is great for studying.
Thomas J. Walls Coffee (Forrest Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2QN)
Thomas J. Walls is also located very close to central campus and has plenty of seating. The coffee here is more on the bitter side, but the shop has lots of natural light and a great environment for reading and studying when you’re close to campus.
Upland Roast (University of Edinburgh EH8 9LD)
Located right behind the Main Library facing the Meadows, Upland Roast is another student favorite for a caffeine boost. The shop is entirely outdoors and doesn’t have seating, but if you’re studying in the library (or anywhere near George Square), it’s the perfect shop to step out to for fresh air and a quick drink. Their hot chocolate is perfect to combat the cold Edinburgh winters!
Modern Standard Coffee (49 Barclay Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4HW)
Modern Standard is located in Bruntsfield and is perfect for anyone living on the south side of the Meadows. Their coffee is super strong but smooth and their shop has a bright and cheery vibe and a good amount of seating away from the super touristy areas of Edinburgh. I love to come here when I have a lot of reading to do!
Hopefully you get a chance to try some of these coffee spots yourselves! Studying in cafes isn’t for everyone, but shops like Upland Roast and Cult Coffee are particularly close to campus and provide a great spot to take a break during long study sessions.
Want to find out more?
Can you recommend which one is the cheapest from your list? I am interested but i am afraid some of the prices are too expensive for us students.
Hello, I would say most of these will be a similar price. If you’re looking for something a little more reasonable then a lot of the Uni’s own cafes will be worth a look too.