Edinburgh Brunch Spots


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The Haven Café

The Haven 9 Anchorfield EH6 4JG

This is where you will find The Reporter on many Sundays, enjoying the Scrambled Eggs or their fabulous pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. Proper coffee, comfy seats, a view and wifi. This cafe lies at the end of the cycle path which makes it all the more perfect. What more could you wish for?

Contini (formerly Centotre) 103 George Street EH2 3ES

Yes this is a real favourite among the Edinburgh breakfast community. You can book a booth during the week for business meetings, although the lack of soft furnishings can make it a little difficult to hear if the place gets busy. The choice for all kinds of breakfast from porridge to full cooked is very good and well presented. The coffee is great and the wifi superb.   On Fridays at 8a.m. the networking group, Edinburgh Coffee Morning, meet to discuss all things technical. You get your own breakfast and talk to as many people as possible. But avoid that time if you are looking for somewhere quiet!

King’s Wark 36 The Shore EH6 6QU

This is where to go for a grown-up Sunday brunch. You have to book because it is so popular, but you will not be disappointed when you get there. The food is exquisite and we particularly like the smoked haddock… yum! On a recent visit however we were a bit disappointed in having to ask several times for toast and extra tea. The service was not just as good as it has been in the past.

Loudons Cafe 94B Fountainbridge EH3 9QA

Great cafe with loads of light from their floor to ceiling windows. Easy to get there with a bus stop right outside. Sometimes there are too many babies and buggies, but a good place of an early morning to have a nice coffee and a choice from their goods baked on the premises. More granola and fresh fruit than the full Scottish. Good wifi and lots of electric points.

The Square 17 North St Andrew Street EH2 1HJ

This little restaurant does a roaring takeaway business for the offices at the East End, but it is a very good place to sit and have your rather more leisurely fare. All freshly cooked and served up with a smile. Particular favourite is the scrambled eggs on toast (lots of toast!)

Taste of Italy 9 Baxter’s Place EH1 3AF

Great for a quick coffee or poached eggs and smoked salmon. Good quality fast food and good attentive service.

Toast 146 Marchmont Road EH9 1AQ 

Quite a small restaurant this, so essential to know that you may sometimes wait for a table. Opens at 10 every day including Sunday so perfect for those of you who manage to have a long lie as they serve brunch till 3. Everything from the full breakfast backwards. Includes a couple of vegetarian options too. We have recently had a less good experience here – serving Eggs Benedict with a cold sauce is not our idea of your ideal dish….

Caffe Luccano 37 -39 George IV Bridge EH1 1EL

Great Italian cafe with superb coffee and great seats at the window to watch the world going by. Good any time of the day.

CJ’s Dalry Road 

We have been to this cafe many times. It has a loyal local clientele, good basic food and a nice seating area with great tables for spreading the newspaper out on. It is opposite Maplin and the Coop on Dalry Road and we like it very much. If you like your coffee strong then be sure to ask but the traditional breakfast rolls are fabulous.

The Harbour Take Away 42 Harbour, Port Seton, Prestonpans, East Lothian, EH32 0DS

We hope we may be forgiven for including this on on the list but we can cycle there fairly easily from Edinburgh so that is why we have included it here. There are some seats outside making it a very easy place to stop when you are feeling a bit hot from cycling, order coffee and a roll and bingo you have the makings of a great brunch stop.

The Old Chain Pier 32 Trinity Crescent EH5 3ED

The best views in Edinburgh of the Forth. Great place to watch the world go by at sea, but room on a Sunday can be a bit short.  All the traditional dishes are on offer.