CAFES
list.co.uk
EDINBURGH
CAFES Edinburgh’s independent café scene goes from strength to strength. Coffee enthusiasts are never more than a few blocks away from that perfect flat white, while Chemex, pourover, direct trade and single origin coffee are fast becoming a fixture on the café landscape. Gluten and dairy-free options are becoming the new norm, with many cafés specialising in whole menus of allergy-free or plant-based options. This year, we’ve changed the way we cover cafés. In the pages that follow, you’ll find full reviews of the year’s best new openings, rebrands and takeovers, plus more Tiplists than ever before – our insight into what’s good and great in the world of tea and cake. You’ll continue to find full, up-to-date and objective reviews of hundreds of cafés online at food.list.uk Reviewers: Tara Klein, Jan Paterson, Nicola Pym, Arusa Qureshi, Caroline Rye, Claire Sawers, Megan Welford
✱ NEW Alplings 16 Henderson Street, Leith, 07527 634 964, alplings.co.uk | Closed Sat/Sun | £9 (lunch)
The food of the mountains is now available at sea level, just off The Shore in Leith. After popping up in festivals and markets Alplings now have a permanent home: a small, bright mountain hut of a restaurant with pine furniture, decorative hanging frying pans and soft furnishings in a wholesome shade of pale pasture-green. The cooking reflects owner Martin Auer’s South Tyrol roots – so as well as the signature vegetarian alplings which come in delicious beetroot, cheese or spinach varieties, there are spätzle (Austrian egg noodle) dishes with carbonara and four cheese sauces; vegan ‘kuku’ tart; pepper goulash with polenta; sweet vanilla pancakes; and soft pretzl rolls. The fresh, crunchy sauerkraut puts wishy-washy supermarket versions to shame too. For dessert, they do Viennese sachertorte, a popular house apfelstrudl or a shot of intense hot chocolate topped with a dollop of cream. Flavours are rich, portions are satisfying and the atmosphere relaxed. Take-home dumplings are a healthy lazy option for the freezer too. It may look like a
nondescript sandwich shop from the outside, but inside, the alpine menu is a breath of fresh air. + Log cabin vibes and mountain cooking - Closed at weekends, when they’re out on the food truck
NEW Boardwalk Beach Club
ciabatta come filled with the likes of goat’s cheese, honey and walnuts; seafood cocktail; or roast ham and emmental, or you can buy a baguette to shove under your arm and take home with you. Their tempting plum and almond tarts, fluffy pains aux chocolats and selection of traditional patisserie are very reasonably priced considering the quality and portion sizes. + Quality baking in a classic French style - No gluten-free options
50 Marine Drive, Silverknowes, 0131 336 2661 | Closed Mon/Tue | £12 (lunch)
NEW Colonial House
Baba Budan East Market Street, Old Town See Cafés: Wee Places
This husband-and-wife-run beach café opened in March 2016 and has grown arms and legs since – with a huge outdoor seating area (the original 30 chairs weren’t enough – there’s now room for 300), and plans to add al fresco barbecue and ice-cream facilities in time for the summer. Due to its very easy-on-the-eye location, down on the shore looking out onto Cramond island, it’s a popular spot for dog walkers, kids on bikes, tourists and general lovers of fresh air. All are made welcome – with 40 dog ties, water bowls and free biscuits for canine customers, sandwich boxes for kids and a menu of stromboli, ciabatta, wraps, panini, bacon on brioche rolls, hotdogs and a soup of the day for everyone else. Breads are from artisan bakers around Edinburgh, cakes are from the people who supply the Harvey Nichols Chocolate Lounge, and they stock a big range of Luca’s ice-cream too. Service can be slow on busy days, but you’ll probably be too busy taking in the sea air and views over the Forth to care. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for seasonal opening hours, and news of daily specials and events. + Enjoying an ice-cream with a sea view, even on a dreich day - The place can get swamped at peak times
NEW Café Praline 91 Leith Walk, Leith | £8 (lunch)
This new spot at the foot of Leith Walk comes from the couple who also run Le Petit Français, a French bakery that does wholesale and delivery out of its premises in nearby Swanfield. The café was opened in October 2016, giving customers a place to sit in and savour their homemade bread, pastries, quiches and cakes, as well as functioning as a takeaway bakery too. White subway tiles and the greenery of pot plants keep the décor simple and minimal, and there’s a beat-up antique bookcase full of children’s books, toys, chess sets and leaflets from local yoga classes if you’re looking for distraction. Their excellent poppy bagels, rosemary focaccia and
305 Leith Walk, Leith, 0131 629 0045, colonialhouse.coffee | £5 (lunch)
With influences from Africa, Colonial House shows recycling at its best. Half a dhow wood fishing boat from Tanzania takes centre stage as the counter and is surrounded by reclaimed and recycled tables and chairs. There’s further seating downstairs too, albeit via a very steep staircase. It all adds up to an inviting, welcoming space whether you’re taking time for a coffee and a slice of cake (coffee and walnut, lemon slice or chocolate macaroon) or sitting down for a filled roll and soup at lunchtime. Whatever, don’t miss the coffee mocha – it’s served in a hand-painted mug with a tiny mini grater so you can add extra chocolate. + Coffee mocha extra chocolate - Watch out for those steps
The Colony Gourmet 58 Home Street, Southside See Cafés: Wee Places
NEW Cup Tea Lounge 9 South Charlotte Street, New Town, 0131 225 5808, cuptearooms.co.uk | £13 (set lunch)
With a name like Cup Tea Lounge, you better know your cuppa from your crema. Thankfully, with around 50 specially selected and hand-blended teas on offer, Cup Tea Lounge have got the tea covered. Choose from black, fruit, herbal or special health blends, all of which are delivered with a timer (to perfectly time your brew) as well as a bone china cup. There’s a compact, if a touch pricey, breakfast menu; lunches based around salads, sandwiches and toasties; and a range of cupcakes. In the evening, the venue transforms into Gin71, where you can enjoy a drink of an entirely different flavour. + Well-sourced and interesting tea - A cuppa, toastie and cake adds up to a pricey casual lunch
NEW The Early Bird Coffee & Tea House 39 Home Street, Tollcross, 07447 933387 | £5 (lunch)
✱ HITLIST
CAFES ✱ Alplings After supplying their Austrian dumplings around the capital’s street food markets, the Alplings team now have their own restaurant in Leith’s Henderson Street. ✱ August_21 Coffee House Cool little neighbourhood café offering breakfast, lunch, hot drinks and home baking from quality suppliers. ✱ Earthy Market Café An atmospheric café and an indoor food market, Earthy showcases farmfresh, local, organic and seasonal produce with a difference. ✱ Milk More than just your average café – Milk has inventive choices for breakfast, lunch and a sweet treat. ✱ Ostara Friendly new Leith cafébistro with an engaged attitude to its local neighbourhood, suppliers and good, fresh food. ✱ Peter’s Yard Café Quartermile The home of Swedish baking, strong coffee, open sandwiches and conversation. ✱ The Roamin’ Nose Everything you could want in a neighbourhood café and bistro: delicious food, great atmosphere and a warm welcome.
A newcomer to Tollcross, the Early Bird should become a firm favourite. From the grey walls and bird wallpaper in the front room, to the green shaggy carpet and yellow beanbags in the back, the décor is pretty and modern and the atmosphere relaxed. The owners obviously care very much about what
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11/04/2017 15:11