St Magnus Community Cafe — Restaurant in Scotland

This place is cheap and has an old school British cafe vibe that’s so relaxed and pleasant compared to other, fancier places in town. I come here every week while waiting for an appointment, and I’ve got to know a few of the staff by sight and they’re just solid gold. The place is usually pretty busy, especially in the summer, but they just plow through the queue with cheerfulness and efficiency. I watched a young lady (who I haven’t seen much so maybe she’s new) explaining almost every item on the menu to a non-English speaking family, and as someone who works in tourism it was honestly a masterclass in patience and kindness. I couldn’t have done it better. There’s another particular member of staff who I’ve twice seen run out from behind the counter to carry a tray to a table for an older lady with a walking frame. The lady probably could have managed it, but she didn’t have to struggle because the lady anticipated her need and offered without being condescending. It was lovely. And then she apologised when she came back for making us wait for all of twelve seconds. Just fab staff all round, I can’t say enough nice things. I hope they read this. Also whoever does the baking, 10/10. Had the best...

I came here a year ago and the food was well priced. It’s now much more expensive - £8.60 for 2 x bacon, 1 x sausage, beans, 1 x egg, mushrooms and 1 x toast. The annoying thing is that if I’d have ordered the items separately rather than order a St Magnus breakfast it would have cost me £7.45 rather than £8.60 (I asked not to have mushrooms - last year I was offered an alternative, this year nothing) but even if I’d have had the mushrooms it costs 15p more than to order the items separately - which is madness as it’s usually cheaper to have a meal than the individual elements. It feels like the quality of the food on offer has gone down but the prices have gone up...

I just have to give it 5 stars. Probably the most underrated food place in Kirkwall. Great soups and bread, chicken and sausage rolls. Very basic cafe but so spacious and inexpensive. Get a tray, go to the counter and tell them what you like. Skip the Real Food Café a couple of doors down, they are small, very busy (why, I cannot guess) and run out of foods quickly (I was over there just now - no more soup, no...