La Barantine Victoria — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

La Barantine on Victoria Street in Edinburgh is a hidden gem that exudes charm and sophistication, offering an authentic French patisserie experience in the heart of the city. Stepping into this quaint bakery, you're greeted by the delightful aroma of freshly baked goods and a warm, inviting atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home.

The sandwiches are a particular highlight, crafted with the finest ingredients, combining freshness and flavor in every bite. Whether you opt for a classic ham and cheese or something more adventurous, the quality is impeccable, and each sandwich feels like a gourmet creation.

However, the real showstoppers are their macarons, especially the pistachio and blueberry varieties. The pistachio macarons have a rich, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with their light, airy texture, while the blueberry ones are bursting with fresh fruitiness. Both varieties are perfectly balanced, not overly sweet, and provide a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth experience that will leave you craving more.

To top it all off, La Barantine serves some of the best coffee in Edinburgh. Whether you're in the mood for a creamy latte or a strong espresso, the baristas here take pride in their craft, ensuring each cup is brewed to perfection. The coffee's rich, smooth flavor perfectly complements their pastries and sandwiches, making it an ideal spot for a relaxed morning or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Overall, La Barantine offers a stunning, cozy ambiance combined with outstanding food and beverages, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking a touch of French elegance...

Very rude staff. I have been in Scotland for 13 years and have never been treated that way. I have wanted to come to this place for a while after seeing their social media, it looked great and I miss French pastries. We had some family visiting on Sunday 2nd March and decided to stop for some pastries/ coffees. We were 5 including a toddler and were first greeted to seat at a table of 4, which was perfectly fine for us. However as soon as we started getting comfy, we could feel we were not welcome because of the pram, a rather small pram since it's a travel pram. As we were getting our toddler out of the pram and putting the pram away, my partner asked the staff if they were okay for us to stay, to which we were answered by with a complete silence. This is when we understood that we were not welcomed and we left. I completely understand the shop is small, it's on a busy road and we would have happily got our pastries to take away if the staff would have been welcoming but the fact they completely unanswered and ignored us was very unpleasant. I have been to many small places with my toddler and his pram and have never felt so unwelcomed. Their customer service has completely ruined the experience.

We ended up finding a place close by (L'étoile) and the owners were so much more welcoming and pleasant, it was night and day. They actually did everything they could for us to have a pleasant time, they even offered some pens and colouring books to keep our little one busy. And the pastries...

Can the owners please contact me? You really need to manage this place better : it has so much potential.

We waited quite a while to get in because the queue was hectic. The four staff at the till were busy training a new girl (poor thing), while also arguing with a customer about whether his mocha counted as part of the £5.50 coffee-and-pastry deal. Instead of resolving it quickly, they spent ages debating it, which held up the entire line.

When I tried to get the attention of other staff who weren’t involved in the argument, I was ignored. When it was finally our turn, we ordered two sandwiches to take away. The barista seemed completely overworked, having to make coffee and serve the outside tables alone. If that lady wasn’t the owner, then she’s being seriously overburdened.

We were also told we couldn’t sit down while waiting for our takeaway sandwiches because of their “operating procedure,” and were given a wooden spoon with a number on it — which honestly just felt unnecessary and messy for a café that wasn’t even that busy.

And the final straw: the “one napkin per customer” rule. Really? After spending almost £25 on two sandwiches and two bottles of water? That’s just ridiculous.

The staff themselves didn’t seem particularly motivated, but I don’t blame them — it’s clearly a management issue. The owners need to rethink the training, the attitude towards customers, and these overly strict, pointless rules. This place could genuinely be great with better...