Black Medicine Coffee Co — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Finding genuinely good coffee can be surprisingly challenging, but thank the caffeine gods for colleagues with taste - this place delivers on every front that matters.

The coffee alone would be worth the visit, but they've managed to nail the holy trinity: amazing coffee, solid food, and that indefinable great vibe that makes you want to linger even when you shouldn't.

The staff deserve special recognition for maintaining their friendliness during the final days of the Edinburgh Fringe. I have to imagine locals were reaching their limit with the annual invasion of tourists, American producers, and various media executives descending on their city like caffeine-seeking locusts. Yet the team here remained genuinely welcoming rather than just professionally polite.

The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between energetic and comfortable - busy enough to feel alive, relaxed enough for actual conversation or quiet work. It's the kind of coffee shop that reminds you why independent places will always have an edge over corporate chains.

If you're in Edinburgh, especially during festival season when decent coffee becomes a precious commodity, this should be high on your list. Sometimes the best recommendations come from people who know what they're...

There was a time, around the turn of the century, when Black Medicine was cool and exciting. The coffee (Illy) was great, the food varied and delicious and the staff quirky but friendly. Something went wrong.

The coffee changed a few years ago and while some don't mind it I find it undrinkably bitter. The food selection has somewhat stagnated and, considering the changing expectations of the general public, it's rather lacking in options for those with dietary intolerances. The interior, once appealingly eccentric, has remained unchanged, perhaps unwashed. The staff, in my experience, are surly at best. [Once, having a few minutes spare I ordered a coffee to sit in but in a takeaway cup because I wouldn't be there long; argument ensued, along with a diatribe about how wasteful takeaway cups are. A few minutes later I had to ask for one anyway as I was leaving...]

And yet it keeps going and people seem to enjoy it. Clearly not everyone's cup...

Definitely the best café in Edinburgh! I’ve been a loyal customer of Black Medicine for years — even back when they didn’t serve food yet. What first drew me in was their beautiful wooden African-style interior and their unique syrups – I love their Americano with gingerbread syrup!

Their smoothies are amazing too — the Pink Floyd is my all-time favourite. And if you happen to be sick, they’ve got you covered with a hot lemon, ginger, and honey drink that works wonders.

As a student I loved going for a coffee to study on my laptop. It was so convenient that I could just grab my lunch at the same place and continue studying. They offer a great variety of food, including vegan and gluten-free options, such as homemade soups.

I still miss the old Morningside location that closed over 10 years ago, but I was so relieved to discover their other café, and I’ve been coming...