A lovely study spot near campus, if you can get a seat! Most tables are reserved for non-laptop users (respectable), so seating can be tough to find -- but once you do, the cozy cottage vibes make it easy to lose hours in your work. read more

Black Medicine - Iced Caramel Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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On a street with a plethora of coffee shops, this one was proudly opened on Sunday morning at 730am before the competitors at 9am. The victorian (it looked victorian to me) red wooden inlay with a brightly lit chandelier which hovered above the large room as the centerpiece, which needed some paint touch up, which may have been intentional for the worn effect. The decor reeked of old Tennessee country with smooth light wood tables and stools with quirky sayings posted throughout. Chose the Salmon cream cheese bagel and Cappuccino with cinnamon and cream floaters. Both were well presented and delish, although the coffee required extra sugar. A huge 19th century Bryson Dalkeith clock was affixed to the stone wall next to a sign that pointed downstairs for more seating. Curiously headed down stairs to the toilets which were clean and had light wood surrounding the two mirrors above the sinks, which continued that country theme. Massive dining area below and a sign advised closed at 6pm daily. A artsy small chalk board was affixed to the wall behind the pay counter which said, "Soup of the Day", although it was blank, maybe just for lunch. There was a Medicine Shop which was a section that sold Black Medicine apparel and tote bags. Loved the fragrance of the fresh Goblin coffee beans next to the Black Medicine coffee bags for sale. If in Scotland, this cafe is an interesting and relaxing place with great coffee and cool decor. read more

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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 talking about. read more

Black Medicine - Entrance from interior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Wonderful breakfast cafe in Edinburgh near my hotel. Warm wood finishes throughout. Purchased a smoked salmon cream cheese bagel with a hot cappuccino. Great spot for good food and a neat rustic decor. read more

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The first time I went to Edinburgh long ago, I was able to actually visit The Elephant House, known for where Harry Potter was written. On a recent trip, it was sad to learn that this cafe had closed permanently. For whatever reason, I was Google'ing other cafes that Harry Potter might've been written at. Someone on Tripadvisor (VinaTraveler from Singapore, on September 7th, 2016) said The Black Medicine Coffee Co. was another place that J.K. Rowling would go to write the books, so I made my way here. It is indeed a cool cafe with unique quirks and good coffee (things you'd expect at a hip cafe shop). However, there was a wooden block which stated that Harry Potter was not written there. Whether it was or not, oh well. Maybe J.K. Rowling ordered a cappuccino and used the restroom here or something. Coffee is black medicine. read more

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I've been here a couple of times and enjoyed it! They have plenty of fun syrups to choose from. The inside is very cozy for a chat, especially the downstairs area. The location is right by the university which is nice! The bagels leave something to be desired, but I'm a big fan of their lattes and tea. Will be back! read more

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A decent coffee on our way to the Surgeon Hall Museum. Very cozy and the service was nice. I like that it was sort of empty when we went.

It's been a couple of weeks since we visited Edinburgh. The guy's rudeness though we still remember: We bought 3 drinks between the two of us, haven't sat for an hour yet, and the person rudely came to bus our table intending to take away our half-full drinks without asking if we were done with them. Then he said that we can't have our box of leftovers, even though we were not eating them. It was just a takeout box, sealed too, are they new to travelers? we are tourists. We honored the shop's guidance but we don't have a car (or anywhere) to put them away. He was not in a chatty mood so there was no communication just us trying to stop a guy from taking the drinks we're drinking. On the plus side: This place is homey, makes good drinks (especially for those with a sweet tooth), has generous portions. It's a beautiful place, corner store, great atmosphere, good seating. Should our experience deter you from visiting? Nope! It's still a good place to grab a coffee / drink. Maybe not my first choice in the city is all - people are much nicer to tourists in other shops in Edinburgh. read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I loved the coffee. Amazing! They had lot's of herbal tea options, which you can rarely find in a coffee shop. But unfortunately, they were out of green tea while I was there. The service was very basic. I asked for tea and got tea. It was like a robot got it, that's not bad but I would like some talk or something. The ambiance was amazing! Warm, homey, nice and sweet. Better than that industrial crap... Starbucks! A lot of the store was made from wood, which added an earthy atmosphere. The chairs, table etc were all unique and made entirely from nice, smooth, CLEAN wood too! read more

During our time in Edinburgh, my wife and I decided to stop in for a nice warm cup of coffee during a rainy day. The space is very cozy and I loved the design of the benches. Also, service was very friendly and water was readily available. However, my americano was definitely the worst I had while in the city. My wife was pretty happy with her latte, so it may have been an anomaly .. but when we passed this coffee shop the remainder of the trip, we kept walking. I suspect they made a full cup americano off of a single shot of espresso, but that's just my guess. There are better cups of Joe to be had in Edinburgh. read more

We had breakfast here reach morning during our stay in Edinburgh - and it was fantastic: delicious coffee, tea, and baked goods and a lovely, friendly staff. The space is amazing and historic with a fun and funky vibe. I highly recommend. read more

Good coffee and fun menu! Could definitely go for breakfast or lunch. They have lots of room if you want to sit and relax while enjoying your food! I like the gremlin mascot :) read more

Delicious food, excellent staff, great ambiance. I loved the "Harry Potter" jokes. The location to where I was staying was perfect as well as their hours of operation. People seemed to feel at ease inside as did the staff. read more

Black Medicine - Mint mocha with marshmallows, caramel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Try as I might, there's something about Black Medicine that just doesn't gel with me, and I don't know what it is. I really like the look of the place, with its carved driftwood-style furniture, the stripped stone walls, the window seats and the newspaper racks. The coffee is pretty good, although I think there are better options available these days since nearby Brew Lab opened up across the way, and maybe BM need to up their game a bit (but they did happily fill my Yelp flask!). They offer a goodly selection of tasty snacks, and although I used to struggle finding something that would suit my lactose-intolerant veggie tastes, the choices have improved recently in that department. It's got pretty much everything going for it, and I really want to like it more and give it more than 3 stars, and yet... and yet... I just find myself going elsewhere more often these days. I can't quite put my finger on why that is - maybe it's the feng-shui of the place or something? read more

Black Medicine - First outing for the Yelp mug! The pastry couldn't wait :-) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Cute, cosy interior featuring lots and lots of wood? Check. Friendly, efficient staff behind the counter? Check. Satisfying, affordable pesto sandwich? Check. Simple, refreshing fruit smoothie? Check. Free, functional wi-fi? Um... not check. Someone hit the ABORT button on this mission! Okay. Teaser of an open wi-fi signal that doesn't actually connect aside, Black Medicine's a pretty slammin' little spot to seek refuge from the Edinburgh climate, grab a cup of java, and catch up with a friend or colleague. Just don't plan on doing any work here if you require access to the internets... read more

Black Medicine Coffee Co is the kind of coffee shop I dream about opening one day. Seriously. It has rustic wooden tables and a beautiful counter that looks it was carved in a forest by a craftsman. There's big windows, incredibly friendly staff and they usually have killer music playing. The first time I went they played Arab Strap and Lambchop and last time, the incredible Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan. (Listen and fall in love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWeas2-n-HM) The thing that makes Black Medicine such a gem however, is their fine black medicine. The aroma hits you when you walk in and it tastes just as good as you're sipping it. We're talking rich and robust coffee with real depth and flavour. Make mine a double espresso, will ya? read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I REALLY enjoyed this place. The wood decor is relaxing, their food menu is comprehensive, and the coffee was tasty! It's the kind of place you wanna hang out in for a while, being right on the corner. read more

I joined yelp just to write a review on this place. That's how fantastic the coffee at Black Medicine was! I stopped by today since it was open late and seemed promising. I started off with a double macchiato, and it was so tasty I was compelled to go back and order a cappuccino! Both came with a ginger biscuit, which went really well with the coffee. The staff was very friendly and I really enjoyed chatting with them a bit, comparing the Seattle experience with Edinburgh in regards to coffee. If you like coffee, definitely give this place a try! I only wish I were in Edinburgh a few more days so I can go again. read more

Black Medicine - Double macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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What makes a great coffee shop? It's not just the coffee, thought that is obviously important. It's also something that is very difficult to quantify, takes a while to put your finger on, if ever. Black Medicine has great coffee, very friendly staff, lots of good stuff to eat, and it's always busy. What ever that mysterious little extra ingredient is, that combines all of this together, it's working here. Come to think of it it might be the extra little biscuit that comes with each coffee. Highly recommended :) read more

Black Medicine certainly works its black magic on you. It's got a lovely free and easy vibe, tasty, healthy food, and is one of the edgier coffee shops I've seen in Edinburgh. They offer the usual Mediterranean style of panini and melt for a really good price. For a fiver you can get a delicious hot chocolate (with marshmallows splashed in for good measure), a melt and a muffin all for a fiver. I went for the chorizo and pepper melt which was magnifique! Zesty without being too spicy. So the food is similar to other menu offerings you'll get from coffee shops, but it's done really well! What really sells Black Medicine to me is its style. I liked the darkened atmosphere, with the irregularly shaped tables and old brick wall exposed at the back of the shop. The staff are super laid back (it's the kind of place everyone talks about going travelling, especially customers), and they seem to genuinely enjoy their job. The music was kicked back Spanish acoustic and it was a great place to sit and read my book in peace for a while. I like how quirky and free spirited this place is. It transported me out of Scotland for a while, which refreshed my tired mood. But beside from attracting the young dudes for its cool quirks, there were families and businessmen also dining when I was here, showing that it's appealing to lots of groups and of a high standard. It seems to turn over a lot of business which is even more proof (like I need it) that this is without a doubt one of Edionburgh's best coffee shops. I'd recommend you visit it once - and while you're there, check out the old medicinal bottles and book exchange scheme they've got going on! Love. read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

What a lovely spot to curl up with a cup of hot tea (or the titular black medicine if that's more your style) to escape the Edinburgh rains. The atmosphere and decor is just amazing. It's a bit like your rich uncle's hunting lodge, minus the animal head trophies - all blonde woods, cozy window seats, tiny tables tucked into alcoves where you could catch up with your mates or read the paper on your lonesome. There's free wi-fi and a great tea selection - and a little biscuit with every cuppa! Love it. read more

Inexpensive cafe with good coffee, music, and vibes Latte on the lighter side; complementary ginger biscuit on the sweet side. Enjoy. read more

This branch, on the corner of Nicolson Street and Drummond Street, is the original member of the Black Medicine family. For this reason, it retains a lot more of the charm so lacking in their other 2 branches across Edinburgh. There is a good range of sandwiches, bagels, cakes and cookies on offer to go with any one of their coffees, teas, juices, milkshakes and smoothies, but even so i was hardly blown away on my latest visit here. The décor is cosy, relaxed yet quirky, with exposed stone walls and unique wooden furniture. However, there isn't much about this place that makes it stand out from the crowd of coffee places in the area. The coffee is nice, although the 'regular' size of cup holds little more than an espresso shot. Similarly the free wi-fi comes in very handy, but its precisely because of this that people stay there for hours occupying the tables, and so it is very often hard to find a seat. I gave this 3 stars because, whilst there's nothing hugely wrong with it, there's nothing to really make you love it either. read more

Black Medicine - image courtesy of www.blackmed.co.uk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Intentions have always been the best when going in here, I always want it to be the indie/hippy experience I know it can be. Being in the centre of town without it feeling like it is a huge plus point, only a few minutes walk from Princes Street do live the alternative lifestyle to shopping and corporate spending. A sea of dreadlocks and hemp clothing make you feel right at home. While the coffee is a bit bitter it's still a nice, cosy place. The place is a lot better on a sunny day rather than a dull (where isn't?) because the light streams in and makes you feel like you could stay there forever. read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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For a couple of months, I called this place Black Magic and have a feeling that name will be stuck in my head for a while. This relaxed cafe is located just opposite the Old College on South Bridge and has a very rustic feel to both it's exterior and interior. Inside, the tables and chairs are made of what looks like hand carved wood, and the music frequently puts me in a bit of a happy stupor! I sometimes wish it were bigger, as it's sometimes difficult to find a place to sit in here! I'm a big fan of their menu, and have had some great paninis, smoked salmon bagels, and oreo smoothies during my lunch breaks. The staff are extremely friendly, especially an Australian guy with long hair who is probably the most laid back person I've ever come across! I've found Black Medicine to be a really comforting place, and I'd definitely recommend it! read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

1 star for vegan options and atmosphere. But my sandwich was mediocre and the coffee was HORRENDOUS. My cappuccino tasted like water... awful. Honesty I'm questioning whether there were even any grounds in the machine when they brewed the espresso or if they forgot??? Simply the worst coffee I've ever had read more

Hooray, downstairs is finally open!! The basement is quiet & cosy with ample seating. The bar isn't open down here yet so you wait for your drink before heading down but that's no biggie when the lattes are so fabulous! The chirpy staff are the icing on the carrot cake :-) read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

My band and I stopped by Black Medicine for a well-deserved break during a recent busking session in Edinburgh! Black Medicine is cosey and homely, with a rustic feel. I liked the quirky chalk boards and handwritten signs! I really wanted a milkshake, the flavours sounded delicous! (Oreo, mmm!) But the singer inside of me opted for a large hot lemon with honey and ginger. And they didn't scrimp on either! Lots of honey and lots of ginger. And lemon to boot! Fit for the vocal chords of an angel! And just what I needed! I would say £2.80 is a little pricey for some hot water, some lemon, a little honey and ginger but these guys truly did spoil me in lemon-honey-ginger form! I would prefer if the staff brought your drink to your table rather than shouting your name for you to collect but maybe that's just me being a little picky! I'd love to give a fourth star but I think I'd have to come back and spend a little longer than I did to really take in Black Medicine! Nonetheless, I did really like Black Medicine and I'm sure that I'll be back to try some food and a milkshake if I'm in the area! read more

I really enjoyed Black Medicine during a recent trip to Edinburgh. I had the strawberry tea and the ham and cheese croissant-- both equally delicious. I sat in the window as it rained, it was such a cozy setting. I enjoyed my time at Black Medicine so much that I came back the next morning for another buttery croissant and tea. I hope to be back again soon next time I'm in town! read more

As has been said, Black Medicine has a lot of elements which make up good things, but the sum total of the experience left me wanting. I've been in a couple of times in the past but yesterday was actually the first time recently and I decided to give it a review. When I arrived around 3pm it was heaving - full of, I'm assuming, Edinburgh Uni students who were looking for a warm, dry place to work and a steady supply of caffeine to keep them going. The decor is woody and interesting and it's actually much larger than you expect it to be. I feel like the back room hasn't always been there but I could be making that up. I was thirsty and wanted some tea to take away, but spotted a sign for hot lemon with honey and ginger which sounded like just the ticket. The queue was long but fast moving and soon I was placing my order. The board lists two sizes for the lemon, regular and large. I ordered a regular and was answered with a sharp and unfriendly "so you want a SMALL???" Um yes? Just using the terminology on your sign.... While I waited for my drink at the bar, I observed a girl receiving a gorgeous looking coffee. When she didn't take it and step away from the bar, she was glared at by the barista until she explained that she was waiting for a second drink. The barista sighed audibly and moved the coffee to the side. So yeah, on encountering two members of staff there were two instances of rude behaviour. I get that it's busy and that customers can be REALLY annoying but come on guys, way to behave like stroppy teenagers. I received my lemon/honey/ginger drink and frankly it was just warm lemonade (the non-fizzy kind). If there was any ginger in it, I certainly couldn't taste it. It was sicky sweet due to the addition of honey into an already sweet drink (I was picturing just fresh lemon, honey, ginger and water) and did nothing to quench my thirst. So in the end, thanks but no thanks Black Medicine. IYou can keep your hot lemonade and your irritable staff. I'm definitely not going to go out of my way to visit here again. read more

A-OK is a good description for Black Medicine. The place looks really nice, has a nice atmosphere, good staff, and lots of seating. These are all positives. However, I've been disappointed by the drinks I've bought on all occasions. The eternal problem that I experience at cafés in Edinburgh- the "hot" chocolate tends to be lukewarm. It's just not good enough. Coffees are fine, nothing special. Portion sizes are quite small compared to other cafés in the area. There is a nice selection of sweet things and treats, so I do recommend trying these. Overall, this is somewhere you should try for yourself and decide whether you like it. I probably won't be rushing back again. read more

Given the overwhelmingly good experiences that Yelpers have had at this cafe, I was very surprised with my experience here. It's not often that I go to a cafe and sincerely dislike the place. It happened this time around. Well, what was so incredibly unforgivably wrong, you might ask? I ordered a cappuccino. There was NO COFFEE in it. Okay, you might say perhaps the staff made a mistake, forgot the shot of espresso in the off-tasting screeching hot milk (with skin on it). Could be. Either way, the staff was, unfortunately, too stoned to pay attention to me, or they were too busy with foreplay outside while smoking a cigarette. Am I a wee bit bitter about this? You bet I am. When I order a cappuccino, I don't think it's too much effort to be spoken to without staring over my left shoulder, and I want there to be coffee in it. If you forget, correct your mistake, don't let the customer down. I will not, ever, go back here again. Ugh. read more

Im being terribly critical of this of this coffee establishment. The coffee, pastires and service is overall good! , however a few things let it down for me. Firstly its nearly always full of students, they must have free wi- fi and its often very difficult to grab a seat with so many students and laptops!!, secondly its always is very busy , cramped and occasionally i have found myself a little impatient waiting to be served by the barista. Nice inside but i think their are much better coffee places out there!! read more

This cafe has a hipster vibe to it. Stepped in for a latte and it was served hot and just right for me. If you order a large takeaway then you get a free small treat too. Employees are very nice. I recommend stopping in read more

Expected more of Black Medicine. The place has a normal café menu with all sorts of drinks, smoothies, bagels, paninis, cakes etc. on offer. I had a large cappuccino and a toasted croissant with tomato and brie. The paninis and croissants in the display counter looked quite good, however the finished article was disappointing. The croissant was supposed to be toasted, but it looked like it had just quickly been reheated in the microwave and there was hardly any filling. Coffee was ok though. Black Medicine is much larger than it appears. It has a downstairs area with lots of seating area and the décor is interesting: wooden chairs, tables, ornaments - certainly has its own style. The place seems to be popular with students especially, not surprising given the location. However I won't be returning as there are better cafes in Edinburgh. read more

Headed in here today as I was feeling rather parched. From the outside it looks like one of those too cool for school trendy cafes where they charge an arm and a leg for a cup of tea, I couldn't have been more wrong. We ordered a pot of tea, a smoothie and a cookie which all came to under £5, what a bargain! My pot of tea was only £1.40 and there was around two cups in the pot, my cookie was also great; moist and delicious. Yum. The staff seemed to genuinely love their job and they are probably the cheeriest coffee shop staff I've ever seen in my life. I guess this adds to the chilled out feel of the place and I could happily have sat there for hours had they not started blaring Paulo Nutini - his half-wit voice makes me feel physically sick I just had to leave. read more

This is a call to arms about the staff here. It's illegal how much I like coming here because of you lot. Food and coffee can be got most places... but the staff here make me feel like... "I AM the mutherf*ckin' Duchess of this place" As I sit here in Black Medicine typing my Applied Linguistics research paper on the Middle Class' perception of Working Class values and sip my 2 pound 50 latte and check my smartphone periodically (like the obnoxious middle class coffee snob that I am)... I hear Aussie accents in the background shouting names and coffee orders. I see Aussie employees enjoying the atmosphere that they usually create while on their day off. I sit on a very cool and wooden (yet totally uncomfortable) seat in the corner. I smell spicy Sweet Potato/Butternut Squash soup. I hear the staff chatting to their customers, most of the time recognizing them, sometimes even by name. I hear The Kinks playing (and then a little bit of terrible soft rock, but The Kinks first). And I love it. read more

Black Medicine's claim to fame is that J.K. Rowling wrote a few chapters of the first Harry Potter book on the first floor of a former cafe that used to be here. The current coffee shop has a very warm, rustic feel with a rock-patterned wall and tables modeled after fallen trees. The coffee smelled and looked wonderful, but we settled on trying a smoothie. The casual atmosphere is great for just hanging out and catching your breath on an otherwise busy and tiring day. read more

Black Medicine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I needed coffee. They had coffee. I went inside. There was a queue. But I didn't even care. It smelled divine and it was cozy and comfortable. The sandwiches and pastries were more than enough to drool over while I waited. The smoothies were great. I wish more than anything that I lived down the street from this coffee shop. But I don't. Sad times. read more

I am accustomed to drinking coffee every morning from a Bialetti machine that brews a thick beverage. I also enjoy dark roasts--think French roast--so you can imagine that my morning coffee is not unlike drinking tar. When I visit various cafés in search of coffee or espresso, I eschew light roasts whenever possible. You see where I'm going with this. Soy(a) milk in the UK is nowhere near as sweet as what is served in the States for which I am truly grateful. When I sipped my soy latte, my taste buds were greeted with unsweetened soy milk; and yet, there was the strangest second flavor to my latte. I couldn't place the flavor but it was light and almost nutty. Was I served coffee in place of espresso? I'm not sure if Black Medicine roasts its own beans but I was none too thrilled with the flavor profile of the espresso--too light for my tar pit taste buds. read more