The Forest Café
This restaurant has ceased trading.
- Food served: Mon–Sun noon–9pm
- Bar open: Mon–Sun 10am–midnight
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Wheelchair access, Live music, Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Unsigned, non-mainstream artists, from folk to electronica
- Opening times: Mon–Sun 10am–11pm
- Capacity: 70
- Largest group: 20
- Open since: 2000
Tell us more about this place.
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the 2011 edition.
In late 2010 the The Forest's dusty carpet was pulled from under its feet with the financial difficulties of its landlord, Edinburgh University Settlement. However, the well-loved and well-established community-run Forest Café has kept up its game into 2011. Unhindered by the ‘for sale’ sign above its door, the flourish of activity continues: both day and night see the space animated with varying artistic, political and social endeavours. The kitchen still cooks up a mean ethical curry for just over a fiver and you can still bring along your own bottle of booze. With its lease coming to an end in August 2011, however, the Forest Café is looking like it will soon uproot. But this doesn’t necessarily mean the end. They are currently running a fundraising campaign to buy back the building, and failing that, the powers that be hope to relocate the space to a location nearby. In the mean time, top up your karma and nip in for a cup of tea whenever you happen to be passing.
- High point: A unique, open-minded organisation
- Low point: It has never been spick and span
Alternative Fringe hubs: The Forest Cafe
Edinburgh's soon-to-be dearly-departed hippy haven
17 Aug 2011
Reviews of The Forest Café (3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh)
- 2. Kevin – 12 August 2010, 4:58pm
The Forest CaféReport -
Filthy, full of cliquey trustafarians and the toilets are disgusting!
- 1. seon – 29 November 2009, 8:53pm
The Forest CaféReport -
Toilets are horrendous though. During busy events, expect to find dozens of men and women queing for the same 2 cubicles downstairs.
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