Restaurants, Cafés, Child friendly, "Edinburgh"

Meaning ‘home’ in Swedish, Hemma is the latest addition to Mike and Anna Christopherson’s string of Scandinavian style bars. And with its soft furnishings and quirky interiors, it does indeed have a laidback, homely atmosphere, despite the modern feel…

Sitting atop the Royal Mile, and home to the International Festival box office, it is not surprising Cafe Hub is popular with tourists. Recently it has also been trying to attract locals with a mix of takeaway deals and increased emphasis on their own…

The Treehouse Café, facing Bruntsfield Links, feels bright, summery and welcoming to anybody breezing in from Leven Street for a sit-in breakfast or lunch, or a take-away picnic on the Meadows. The eco-retro décor of cheerful pot plants and vintage…

There are lots of places to get a panini and a cup of soup in the studenty heart of Edinburgh and an awful lot that serve lacklustre lunches from the sandwich conveyor belt. Global Deli has locals so regular they don’t need to bother giving their order…

Circus has a relaxed, hangout vibe with original art hanging on whitewashed walls, chunky wooden furniture and colourful Turkish lamps. Food serving hours run from breakfast right the way through to dinner, making this a popular place with folk staying…

Bang in the middle of studentville, Kilimanjaro has a laid-back vibe, conducive to whiling away an afternoon reading and nattering or making a start on that essay. The chunky tables, worn wooden chairs and leather sofas are comfy and inviting and the…

Bruntsfield doesn't suffer from a lack of sociable coffee venues, but that hasn't deterred relative newcomer Project Coffee. Like sister businesses Kilimanjaro, Press and Wellington Coffee, they use beans from small artisanal roasters to make their…

This newcomer to the Southside café scene is a cheerful and unpretentious place to pass an hour or two. Having opened its doors just before Christmas 2011, Tea at 94 still feels as if it's finding its feet somewhat in terms of the fare on offer. While a…

Occupying a prime double shop front on Portobello's main drag, Skylark is just what the neighbourhood has been crying out for, since evening eating options are somewhat thin on the ground. A daytime café with toys, books, food and events for kids (check…

While it might be primarily geared up to cater for visitors staying in one of its 77 rooms, Ten Hill Place has enough individuality to make it worth a visit for those who already have a bed in the city to call their own. The plum and white dining room…

Andrew and Fiona MacInnes, the brother and sister duo behind Porto & Fi, have a knack for views: in Newhaven they offer the Firth of Forth, and from this buzzing branch on the Mound all of New Town is laid beneath you. This is partly why booking is…

Ensuring bookworms with a caffeine habit can feed both their addictions, this amiable ‘booktique’ café boasts its own lively literary scene, hosting a stream of reading groups, author events and kids' storytelling sessions amid shelves stuffed with…

The characteristic Black Medicine carved natural wood chairs and tables may not invite the possibility of slouching around for hours, but nevertheless bring an individuality and quirkiness that chain coffee shops often lack. Lunch is the standard…

Visiting the Bruntsfield café-emporium Pekoe Tea is an enlightening and entertaining experience – no surprise for a teahouse inspired by Glasgow’s boho Tchai Ovna. Pekoe’s décor may be plusher than a Nepalese yurt, with calming green shelves of exotic…

A short stroll from Leith’s busy Shore area, the Water of Leith Café Bistro enjoys a bright corner site and offers one of the most relaxed and friendly dining experiences around. Classically trained French chef Mickael Mesle prepares a menu that’s a…

Skillfully combining healthy with tasty, it is unsurprising that this juice bar is frequently packed out. With around 40 people sat in between the main room and a snug at the back, as well as a steady stream waiting for takeaway, service remains…

Cafe dining doesn't come more sustainable than when the pork and most of the vegetables come from your own plot, and Gorgie City Farm's pleasant, old-fashioned cafe has the added advantage of bringing the countryside – and animal visits, if you've got…

Two Thin Laddies is a friendly neighbourhood café on High Riggs, the kind of place that feels sunny even when it's raining, decorated with paintings from the nearby Art College and alpine furniture worn smooth by years of hands and feet. Dishes are…

Disguised as an old warehouse, Earthy Market Café is a surprising hidden gem for those who love all things wholesome and hearty. Earthy, which also operates a bistro-café and small shop in Canonmills, is an operation run by people who care about food…

Indoors and out, Café Modern One is heaving with art-lovers, tourists and locals alike. The gallery is in a glorious setting, with the neat sculpture and herb garden round the back providing an ideal spot for outside lounging. The simple menu offers…

Situated in among the pubs and clubs of the Cowgate, Bar 50 is an ideal place for students and backpackers to relax over a pint and a game of pool during the day, or kick start a great night out on a budget. With large pitchers of cocktails for under a…

With a name like Angels with Bagpipes and a location opposite St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, this restaurant is a tourist magnet. The upstairs area is compact with a pretty Edinburgh street view – but fear not, there is extra room on the lower…

Situated in the heart of student-heavy South Clerk Street, this recent opening is a good choice for those in need of reasonably-priced classic café fare done well. The décor is still evolving behind the bright stack of teapots in the window: Starbucks…