Cornerstone Café

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

Starting with the knowledge that it’s impossible to have a completely Fairtrade café and then committing to try and get as close as they can, the Cornerstone Café comes highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the ethical sourcing of the food they eat. About as central as it gets, on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, but set away from unwelcome road noise in the cosy stone vaults of St John’s Church, the Cornerstone is another of those venues which welcomes its customers from all age groups and walks of life. The three hot daily specials are usually all – or at least two-thirds – vegetarian, while home-made soup, thick-filled toasties and a standout coffee and walnut cake are just-like-mum-used-to-make treats. ‘Gone are the days,’ says owner Sarah Stuart, ‘when all you could get was one Fairtrade coffee and it wasn’t very good.’ The Cornerstone stocks Fairtrade coffees, teas, beer and wines (including an elderflower white, an elderberry red and a raspberry rose), and quiche, baked potatoes and sandwiches are priced to compete, rather than to incorporate an ethical tax.

• High point: Strong commitment to the use of Fairtrade products
• Low point: The main hot selections are only available between noon and 3pm