Edinburgh is a beautiful and historic city known for its stunning architecture, festivals, and rich culture. It’s also home to some of the best coffee shops in the UK, making it a haven for students looking for a cosy spot to study. Edinburgh has something for every coffee lover, from quaint, independent cafes to bustling chains. In this guide, we’ll take you on a tour of the top coffee shops for studying in Edinburgh, where you can enjoy a warm cup of coffee while immersing yourself in the charming atmosphere of this vibrant city. So grab your books and explore some of the best places to study over a delicious cup of joe in Edinburgh. So, whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to focus on your studies or a lively atmosphere to get inspired, Edinburgh has got you covered. Let’s dive in and discover the best coffee shops for studying in this picturesque city.
Mayvn
Mayvn is one of my favourite coffee shops I’ve visited in Edinburgh in terms of décor; located in the lobby of a hotel in Den Locke, the whole shop is enormous. The shop’s colour scheme is light green in the Morandi palette, and the greenery, lighting and wicker chairs are all very designer. Also, the hotel has a lot of floor-to-ceiling windows filling the whole shop with warmth, texture and natural light so that it will feel very relaxing!
?127 George St, Edinburgh EH2 4JN
?Sunday-Wednesday: 7:30-21:00
?Thursday – Saturday: 7:30 – 22:00
Cafe Milk
Milk is a more niche coffee in Edinburgh. They have three branches in Edinburgh. The largest one is a bit far away from the city centre, and the other two are in the city centre of Edinburgh. Milk’s overall shop design is refreshing, and the delicious coffee is more recommended for the latte. In addition to coffee, their Brunch variety is also very wide and very popular, toast with two half-cooked loose eggs and spinach; it is very suitable for lunch directly after eating to stay in the shop to study, but the city centre of the two smaller less ideal for study.
?Hawthornvale, Newhaven, Edinburgh EH6 4JT
?Monday- Thursday: 9:00-14:00
?Friday-Sunday: 9:00-16:00
Söderberg
Söderberg also has several branches in Edinburgh. The closest to the University of Edinburgh is The Meadows. The most distinctive feature of their coffee is the two dots on the logo, which look like two big eyes. If you buy a cup of takeaway coffee that happens to have their logo on it, you can add a mouth underneath the two dots yourself, which is super cute, and that’s why many students buy their takeaway coffee and then take photos in front of the shop. Söderberg has a wide range of coffees, and the baristas look very professional. I recommend the latte; it’s very smooth. Don’t forget to grab a heated signature cinnamon roll after ordering your coffee. You’ll fall in love with their cinnamon rolls once you’ve had one!
?27 Simpson Loan, Edinburgh EH3 9GG
?Monday-Friday: 7:30-18:00
?Saturday-Sunday: 9:00-17:00
The Milkman
Besides the Elephant Cafe, Milkman is the most famous cafe in Edinburgh. Because Milkman’s frontage is very cinematic and the street it’s on was the setting for the Grand Staircase of One Day, it’s a casual film to shoot in the rain or at dusk, so many people will be hitting it up. I recommend the iced Americano and hand-brewed coffee because their beans are perfect, so they can reflect the coffee beans’ flavour more. Of course, if you’re not used to bitter coffee, lattes and cappuccinos are also good choices. The shop also sells some pastries, like Oreo brownies, which can counteract each other’s sweetness and bitterness together with the coffee!
?52 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1PB
?9:00-16:00
No.33
No.33 Cafe is named directly after their shop number, and although the shop is small, the staff are very enthusiastic! They have a superb selection of breads and pastries in front of the shop window. I recommend their oatmeal lattes, which are served with a nice feathery pull and oatmeal milk to make the latte even more flavoursome. There’s also a bench at the entrance to No.33 Café, so if the weather’s nice, you can buy a cup of coffee and drink it by the door, which is a lovely touch.
?33 Deanhaugh St, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1LR
? 9.30-16.00
Urban Angel
Urban Angel is a coffee shop more famous for its Eggs Benedict brunch than its coffee, and most people come here because of it. If you want to hit up their brunch, try ordering an Eggs Benedict with bacon and a burger; it tastes excellent! Urban Angel also does a great job with their coffee! I recommend the Flat White and the Turmeric Latte, which is perfect for winter. The Flat White tastes light and smooth, while the Turmeric Latte has a light turmeric and coconut flavour, which makes your whole body feel warm after drinking it!
?121 Hanover St, Edinburgh EH2 1DJ
?Monday-Friday: 9:30-16:00
?Saturday-Sunday: 9:30-17:00
Spoon
Spoon Cafe was formerly known as Nicolsons Cafe, the “original birthplace” of the Harry Potter books. At that time, the owner of this place was Rowling’s brother-in-law, who let Rowling, who didn’t have a lot of money, drink coffee there for free and always left the window seat for her. Spoon’s shop decoration is more like a home than a cafe, with family-style round-table chairs and leather sofas, which make you sit down and relax like you’re at home, and the wide shop makes less noise, which is very suitable for studying. In addition to coffee, his family will also provide some meals and study to learn that you can order a hunger if you are hungry.
?6a Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
Wellington Coffe
Wellington Coffe’s location is very secretive, tucked away in the negative half of the corner, requiring half a flight of stairs down to get to the door, and from the front, it looks like it’s nestled in the bottom right corner of the shop next to it. Wellington Coffe’s entrance is relatively small, but the area inside the shop is quite large, probably because it is in the negative half of the reason, they also have a small courtyard, when the weather is good you can drink coffee in the courtyard, eat pastries, chatting with friends, or quietly reading and studying, are very comfortable! The flavour of the coffee inside Wellington Coffe is quite good, and it’s worth mentioning that the barista’s hand is very steady, so the flowers are gorgeous.
?33A George St, Edinburgh EH2 2HN
?7:00-18:00
FAQ
What makes a coffee shop suitable for studying?
A good study spot should provide a calm and comfortable environment, free Wi-Fi, accessible outlets for charging devices and most importantly, good quality coffee. The best coffee shops in Edinburgh offer all of these and more.
Are the top coffee shops in Edinburgh expensive?
Not at all! There is a wide range of options available to suit every budget. From independent cafes to well-known chains, you can find a spot that fits your wallet and your taste buds.
Do any of these coffee shops have outdoor seating?
Yes.
