A very nice spot to have a brunch or a coffee (but how to resist to toast, eggs or waffle ?) ! The cafe is comfy and well decorated and you can have good food for a good price. Recipes are classical, with Scottish twists. The nice plus is that games are available and you seem to be authorized to spend as much time as you want in this place. It is worth it to walk from the center there :) read more

The Blue Bear - The bill, good value for money ! - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Amazing brunch spot in Edinburgh. The reviews to this little spot do not lie. The brunch food was incredibly high quality and had the right amount of Scottish twang. I had a mocha to go along with my meal which was smooth and sweet. For the main, I "built my own bear". I went with 2 eggs poached with granary toast, bacon, pork sausage, black pudding, and a hash brown. It was a large amount of food for good value. During my short stay here I visited twice. It was just that good. read more

The Blue Bear - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

We loved our breakfast meal! The cafe was lovely & charming. The food was delicious as well & the hot chocolate & coffee were amazing! Definitely a place to stop by if you're in the area. - Vacationing from California, USA read more

Came in on a Monday morning and were able to be seated right away. However, it was quite a wait for the first cup of coffee and opportunity to order. Parking is metered out front in 30 min increments, so...be prepared to wait and have coins at the ready for multiple trips to the parking meter. We are on vacation, so it wasn't an issue. If you have a schedule to maintain, plan accordingly. Today is on the back end of the Fringe Festival and it's a "Bank" holiday. In speaking with the kind lady at the cash register, weekends tend to be busy like today and the other issues previously mentioned added to today's wait. Now, on to the important stuff! The food was absolutely awesome and well worth the wait!! I had the build a bear: two fried eggs, mushrooms, hash browns, bacon and coffee- perfect. read more

See all

Food was phenomenal...we had the best french toast ever with bacon on top. Our server was awesome and oh so helpful. Thank you Scotland... everyone was so nice and friendly. My friends and I definitely want to have a longer visit next time. #goodtimes #goodfood #vacation2019 read more

The Blue Bear - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

The first thing you get when you walk through the door is a smile. The staff are super friendly and no matter how busy it is, they seem to manage a quick chat to welcome you into their fantastic cafe. I went in on the second day they opened - and returned two more times before the weekend! It's comfortable, brightly decorated, art on the walls that you can buy if you so desire, and you don't feel under pressure to gobble your food and leave. After just 4 or so months of being open, their breakfast menu is legendary. I'd recommend the Big Bear breakfast (veggie and non veggie) - it's huge, delicious and an ideal way to start your day. Today in fact, I had the lunch time special - which was a steak burger. Simple and seriously good. Hands down the best breakfast place I've been to yet. read more

The Blue Bear - The big bear. - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

I can't believe it's been over a year since I fell in love with Rebecca... So how has The Blue Bear held up in the 13 months since this first review? Well that heart that I gushed so much about? It wasn't a one off story. I have a lot of favourites in Edinburgh, but The Blue Bear remains high on the list. The interesting thing is, the food isn't life changing. Now now, don't get me wrong - it's good, it's REALLY good - but in a year that involved Michelin starred dinners and crazy culinary innovation, how has this humble little brunch spot stayed at the top? Because alongside their solid brunch mix, their encouragement for day drinking (yay brunch cocktails!) and their ever present cute as heck pooch manning the front door - this place remains the definition of Service Ninja. I honestly don't think you can find two nicer, funny folks than Ben & Jemma. Their love for the place and their wickedly great sense of humour is apparent in everything they do and there's something so lovely about walking through the door of a place and being met with an ALWAYS enthusiastic welcome. Just over a year ago, The Blue Bear was one of the first brunch places I tried in the city and 13 months later, it still strongly holds my top spot. read more

The Blue Bear - French toast - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

Absolutely fantastic! Food was perfect and the service was amazing! A bit of a wait for Sunday brunch but definitely well worth the wait! Next time we will call ahead. Love it! read more

The Blue Bear - Eggs Royale - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

The Blue Bear has all the makings of a five star brunch spot, believe me. And I'm literally pushing for that fifth star. I've absolutely no doubt that after a visit or two more, I'll be throwing that fifth star at you, Blue Bear. I had the baked eggs with spicy chorizo, tomato and spinach. It was a bowl full of the stuff; warming and comforting and flavourful; just what you need on a cold winter's morning. And with bread for dipping, this was my kind of brunch. I do wish the egg yolk was the glorious, oozing kind. I think that would make this awesome eggs dish completely out of this world. I was excited to dip my bread into a runny, warm yolk but, alas: there was no yolk for dipping. - The eggs were a little too far into their oven journey for that. Still, a solid brunch, no doubt about it. I've never seen baked eggs on a menu before so I commend The Blue Bear for keeping things interesting. I really loved the energy of Blue Bear this Saturday morning, and the fact that staff were still so warm and attentive despite being packed out. The variety on the menu was great, with waffles, french toast and the classics: porridge, granola and toast. Blue Bear know how to do brunch, for sure. - That's why I recommend you book a table. I'm looking forward to visiting again and (fingers crossed) living out my yolk-bursting dreams. read more

The Blue Bear - Baked eggs with chorizo. - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

The Blue Bear is obviously a bit of an Edinburgh legend. We'd heard of it LONG before moving to the city and had stopped in a few times. Our most recent visits were for brunch. After having tried multiple brunches around the city, Blue Bear is easily still one of my favs. My go-to for breakfast and brunch is the scrambled eggs with salmon on toast. Every bit of it is good. They use Scottish smoked salmon that brings just the right amount of saltiness to the eggs. The bread is freshly baked and thick cut, with real butter; perfect to be topped with salmon and eggs. I do wish, however, that they had better tea... this is a personal preference, I know, but a lot of cafes around town are using Eteaket, Suki or even Pekoe. I would love to have a pot of one of these to go along with their incredible brunch. They have a decent choice of cakes. But if you simply want a change of scenery afterwards, then you're a short walk to Cuckoo or Earthy. read more

The Blue Bear - Scrambled eggs with salmon on granary toast - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Following on from my Elite Event review (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/elite-event-yelps-brunner-the-blue-bear-edinburgh#hrid:zBpBuSai0klhs1pqXH2OzA), this place deserves it's own plaudits. Exactly what I would look for in somewhere for lunch, brunch or any other derivative of such a meal. They have board games and art for sale on the walls. Quality art at that. They have alcoholic options and a menu that is simple but holds pretty much all you could want from brunch. They have french toast and pancakes and waffles and eggs done a variety of ways. Bacon and berries and black pudding and sausage. Ooft! To top it off they have two of the friendliest founders the city could ask for. Hats off to Ben and Jemma for making the place as much about enjoying the experience and your time here, but also about quality grub. You'll see me again. Can't wait to try the Eggs Benny! read more

The Blue Bear - Scrambled eggs on buttery white with salmon. Mmm....! - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

Best brunch in Edina! A supporter of the Arts... Don't miss the 'Big Bear'! read more

The Blue Bear - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Awesome place for breakfast. The staff are pleasant, the food was good and the restaurant was clean. I really enjoyed everything. It gets really packed so I would recommend a reservation. We were lucky and got there right when it opened. read more

The Blue Bear - The Veggie Breakfast Burrito and Tea - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

As said in the check-in, if feeling 'blue' was a good feeling then i'm feeling VERY blue right now!" // L O C A T I O N // Being a 10 minute stroll from the Leith side of Queen Street, there isn't really an excuse to not visit this place. // B L U E B E A R // Less than a year old it is one cafe that is bursting with potential. From their very thoughtful framed sign in the bathroom saying that they know the toilets don't look that great, but they are planning on giving them a revamp in the near future, quoting the 'ugly duckling' phrase, they show that they are dedicated to having a great looking place. And to be honest, I've seen worse gents toilets. \\ M E N U \\ Having the blinkers on again and not noticing the clearly labelled "Available Mon - Fri" on the top of the first section of the menu we starting looking at the very pleasing "1/2 sandwich 1/2 soup options" which would of went down nicely. But after discovering that this was midweek only we verged over the page to another world of options that had to get the approval of our disappointed soup and sandwich taste buds! Having heard great things and reading great reviews from Jenny L, Kirsten B, and Elizabeth G to name a few I knew we were in for great things to come whatever we ordered! So...yeah. We got a Spinach, Pepper, Onion omelette, and a Salmon Bagel with cream cheese, salad and potato chips. Glass of Apple Juice & Cranberry Juice to sweeten the deal. The food was tres YUM and very filling. On their website they even had the websites of where they source their food from, listing their suppliers http://www.cafebluebear.co.uk/#/our-food/4572958614 \\ G E N E R A L O P I N I O N \\ The whole place very bright, allowing a lot of natural light to shine through which really compliment the decor. The cakes and pastries at the counter look indulgent also and can be taken away in a bag for postponed munchin' \\ C L I E N T E L L E \\ A lot of different folks here, young pros, laptop Larry & Lucy, middle aged peeps, and even some chilled out soon-to-be OAPs - which is an awsome mix. And their isn't any sense of this mixture affecting your cafe routines, for example, chats, working on a laptop, having children around - it's not a LIBRARY! it all goes :D Definitely be a regular spot for me! read more

The Blue Bear - Spinach, Onion, and Pepper Omelette. Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese, Salad and Chips. - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Blue Bear, marry me and I shall bring forth all of your little blue cubs. The Blue Bear's my kind of place - board games stacked high, newspapers to read while you wait, and the chirpiest, chattiest service imaginable. I could easily begin to nest at The Blue Bear if it were nearer to my house. I need to talk about the tea. I ordered a breakfast tea, and couldn't believe the size of the pot that arrived! It came with a super-adorable Noah's Ark design on it and was, by my estimate, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits tall. It was an OCEAN of tea. All for me me me me me! I also had my first-ever French toast, and discovered that this thing people talk about is what we straight-talking folk of Yorkshire provenance call "eggy bread", which sounds far less sophisticated. Nevertheless, it was stunning; the maple syrup was spot on and the bacon just how I like it (i.e. not overly crispy). It's a pretty good portion for the price (£6.45) too! Finally - if you're coming for brunch, book a table! The Blue Bear's reputation as a super-hot spot for brunch precedes it and you don't want to be left out when there's so much fun and goodness to be had inside. read more

See all

I loved Moo Cafeteria and was sad to see it go. I was curious to see if The Blue Bear could fill the void and they have managed that difficult task. There are a lot of cafes in this area and you might wonder what set this place apart. Waffles and pancakes and all day brunch. Amazing. I love what they have done with the interior, nice and cosy with a lot of photos/art on the walls themed around Edinburgh and its surrounding areas. It is run by a very friendly and always smiling young couple. It was my second visit this morning to check out their takeaway breakfast roll for our Friday office roll (Well, that's my excuse). We have a winner. Very good Lincoln sausages in a possibly the best rolls in the area. Their coffee is from Illy and cakes from Lovecrumbs. read more

See all

This place was a fantastic Sunday brunch spot. Very cozy and food was a really good price and very good as well. Omelet, beans on toast and lemon loaf were all excellent! read more

The Blue Bear - Omelet with bacon and ham! And spinach - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

This adorable spot, central to nearly everything in Edinburgh, is a gem. Tasteful decor. Good ambiance, plenty of energy, but not obnoxious. Friendly waitstaff. Good music. The owner (we think) is an Aussie dude. He made sure I didn't get glutened (I'm a celiac, so that would have ruined my trip). The coffee is top notch. The food is completely delicious. Perfectly salted. read more

The Blue Bear - Delicious Scottish Breakfast. Seriously good food. - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

Located about a mile from Waverley Station, away from the hustle and bustle of tourists, yet still in the midst of lovely Edinburgh, The Blue Bear cafe is a great option for a pleasant meal. We decided to go to The Blue Bear for Sunday lunch and it didn't disappoint. The vegan selection was quite extensive, I feel that there was more to choose from than what I had read online. The staff was friendly and attentive and the food was great. All in all, it was a lovely brunch! My cousin, who is not vegan, was also very satisfied with her meal. When in Edinburgh, I will definitely return. read more

See all

Well, shoot. I think the Blue Bear is some mighty fine food, folks. Mighty fine indeed! I was playing permanent-tourist-turned-hostess to my two American friends over for a visit when we decided to take the plunge and scope out the Blue Bear. We were meandering our way down to the Botanics, and considering just how crazy close the B.B. is to the East entrance of the gardens, well. Why not?? Now that I've discovered this little gem, I think I'd be hard-pressed not to tip-toe on in when I'm snooping about the gardens in the future--or as a go-to for a FANTASTIC breakfast meal when any future friends are in town----or really for any damn excuse one could come up with to pop in! Our service was laid-back but prompt. By no means did we feel rushed or overlooked during our stay at the Bear. Our server was helpful and joked at the sheer volume of food we ordered: what can we say? Some stereotypes are just true (Americans freaking LOVE to eat). Coffees and cocktails were delicious. No worries folks--no one at the B.B. will judge you for ordering a wee cocktail at half past noon! Not only that, but the whole place has a very relaxed, cozy feel to it. It's not overdone, not too fancy, but not shabby either. And there's lovely art of Edinburgh for sale on the walls. (One day, maybe I can justify such a piece for myself!) But obviously the clencher of the B.B. is undoubtedly the food. And what a meal (and then some) it was! Between the croque monsieurs, the Bear breakfast, the banana-and-honey french toast, the ham-and-cheese croissant, and a sharing platter of Camembert, we were stuffed to the rafters by the end of the meal. All the better to explore the gardens with, m'dear! Seriously. What a meal. All in all, one of my new favorite joints in Edinburgh. So pleased to have an establishment like this in Edinburgh! read more

The Blue Bear - Banana, honey, and creme fraiche french toast, Camembert sharing patter lurking behind the giant bread, and a croque monsier! - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

Originally I had given this place only 4* , but having been back a few times now, it became my favourite "diner". Its perfect for a brunch party on a Sunday. I had a few brunches there with friends from out or from town. They all loved it! Last time I ordered waffles with maple syrup and additional banana and strawberry stripes. Excellent. I also tasted parts of the English Breakfast feast from my friend. There were sausages, bacon, mushroom, beans and all perfectly cooked. The coffee is good too (not Costa nor Starbucks, but definitely good). I think my mouth is starting to water :-) From 12.00 midday you are able to consume alcohol and you might try the Bloody Mary or their special Martini cocktails. Just one tiny remark: I really hope they will start offering pancakes, as during the last Elite event, the pancakes served were "manifigue". I will be back soon, very soon. x read more

After a lovely toddle along the Water of Leith we stopped off for (a rather late) brunch at The Blue Bear. Hooray for all day breakfasty goodness! I had the scrummy Eggs Royale and the boy went for The Big Bear brekkie. Both were tasty. We also had a nice big pot of tea in a rather elaborate tea pot. The cafe itself is lovely and bright and on a nice day like yesterday was very appealing with tables outside in the sunshine. They had some nice photos and artwork up on the walls and the staff were very attentive. Would definitely stop in again- it's a great location for lunch, just by the botanics and the Water of Leith. read more

The Blue Bear - Pot of tea at Blue Bear - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

We were looking for breakfast places in Edinburgh and my husband found The Blue Bear on Yelp. The reviews looked promising so we decided to give them a try. It's a cute café close to the Royal Botanical Garden which worked out well for us. When you first walk in, you're greeted with the smells of their freshly baked goods which they conveniently have on display. The vibe is relaxed and the walls are filled with art by local artists. They also have a variety of board games you can borrow while you eat or drink. We were greeted and seated immediately. The menu was much larger than I had anticipated; they have plenty of options for breakfast and brunch. We both ordered coffee (my husband ordered a mocha and I an American) and then our meals. I ordered a bagel sandwich with smoked salmon and cream cheese and comes with a salad and potato chips; my husband ordered the full Scottish breakfast. Our coffees came out first then our food came a short while later. Our food and coffee was delicious. My husband enjoyed his breakfast, even the black pudding. I love my sandwich and it was very filling. Both of our coffee were delicious and well made. Service was very good throughout our meal. Our server was friendly and made great recommendations for where we should go for dinner. We loved our experience so much that we came back again for breakfast the next day. On that day, my husband ordered the French Toast and I ordered the sausage roll with fried egg. Both dishes were just as delicious. read more

See all

Fabulous breakfast!!! Portions were just right and delicious to boot. We'll be back again and again! read more

The Blue Bear - Waffles, bacon, maple syrup w bananas - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

I came here with my friend after visiting the Royal Botanic Garden. I ordered an omelette with everything but meat I think, and it was really good! There was too much cheese, but other than that I have no complaints. It was pretty flavorful, and I enjoyed the salad it came with. My friend ordered a plate with a lot of meat products, which included haggis. We've heard that Edinburgh "specialty" food is haggis, and since neither of us has ever had it, we wanted to try it. I don't like it, and I don't think I would ever order it. Anyway, the service was really good and attentive, and I'd definitely recommend coming here if you're around! read more

The Blue Bear - Omelette! - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Really great for lunch! A little out of the way from the city but worth it. Tiny place that has a great menu with large portions. I am happy I took a chance on this little place. read more

This is my first time here as a Blue bear Customer, before I'd been to Moo. I was with the brunchy munchy ladies and geezers, so they managed to fit all 13 of us round a long table. I ordered a flat white and eggs benedict and i wasn't disappointed - In fact I could of done the round again it was that good. The hollandaise was creamy and the eggs were good too. Bacon was just at the crisp stage - only one crit - slighty on the cold side. BUT I WILL BE BACK FOR SURE! read more

The Blue Bear - Eggs benedict is a winner! - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

Such an adorable place. Lovely staff and quick service! Breakfast was yummy and very filling.

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Service, quality and selection were excellent. One of the few places offering breakfast in the afternoon which was great for American travelers keen on brunch. I cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed this place and the friendly staff. read more

The Blue Bear - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Pretty much everything I wanted to say has been said in other reviews, but I'll repeat it anyway: this place is awesome. I always have trouble with getting breakfasts, partly because I'm veggie, and partly because I tend to sleep in and miss out that way. But these guys serve brekkie all day, so I rocked up at lunch time and was rewarded with a near-perfect rendition of my favorite: eggs florentine. Perfectly poached eggs and cooked spinach, if I was being picky I'd just say the hollandaise sauce could have done with a bit more bite. But it was so good I stuck about for some lunch, partaking of their veggie sharing platter (if cut down in size for my personal enjoyment). I'm a bit fussy with my coffee but there's no problem here, and my two Americanos were lovely and strong, just how I like them. The proprietors are lovely- friendly and smiling to me as a stranger, and to the many regulars that rolled in while I was there. What more can I say? I'll be back! read more

Can not praise this wee place enough. I've visited a few times now with the other half for breakfast before tackling the weekend and what better way to start it. Everything about the Blue Bear I love. The decor, the staff, the ambiance and most importantly the food. I love food and eating out and this place is most certainly my new favourite in Edinburgh. The staff can't do enough for you, always making sure you have everything without being overly pushy and somewhat annoying, where a lot of places can go wrong. Hoping my next visit will be for lunch or to try one of the delicious cakes on display at the front of the cafe - I've managed to resist so far. After all, it would be rude not to :) Might be a good idea to book if you want to guarantee a seat!! Yup it's that good!! read more

This was such a sweet little cafe near our Airbnb. We liked it so much, we returned three times after discovering it! If you have a family with kids, you won't be disappointed. The brioche French toast was scrumptious--our kids ate an entire plateful (which is rare, as they are super picky and usually starve on international trips because the syrup isn't real maple, the bacon is "weird" and the eggs are "too yellow", for example). I had the eggs Florentine which was my favorite, and hubby had the omelette. The other bonus with kids was the fact that they have a selection of board games to keep them busy while they waited. You can't go wrong here as a traveling family. read more

Came here for brunch the other week. I'd been before for a yelp event but was pleased to finally be able to head back for a proper brunch. They were fantastic considering how busy they were and they moved chairs about to get us sat down in the window seat. Had the Blue Bear Breakfast which had all the yummy treats you'd expect to have (namely BACONS and SAUSAGES and HAGGIS and BLACK PUDDING) The beans came in a little separate bean tray which was pretty exciting as it allowed me to keep the beans seperated out from the rest of my breakfast. Other items included: coffee- solid water - wet Girlfriends french toast - Looked amazing - didn't get a taste :( Girlfriends mates omelette - huge and tasty looking! I felt it'd it weird if I tried some. JUICE - tasty also All in all a very pleasant sunday morning visit. Probably worth booking just in case they're super rammed, read more

I came here to enjoy a brunch that I won as a prize during a Yelp event. I had already had the chance to meet the owners and be impressed by their dedication and the philosophy behind their work: they put great care not only in providing the best food possible, but also in delivering the service in a friendly and enthusiastic way. Today I experienced the benefits of such philosophy put into practice: the staff were incredibly nice and ready to satisfy any request, they catered for me as a vegetarian and for my girlfirend who is also gluten free and often feels as if she is missing out considering the gluten-free options in most places. Not so at the Blue Bear. The brunch was very well presented, with generous portions and finely cooked food. It left me complitely satisfied, and definitely full. The prices in the menu are proportionate. The place is very clean and in a quite nice area. read more

Great little cafe! Excellent lattes and cappuccinos. Large breakfast selection. Incredible service.

Great cafe/bistro - best brunch in Edinburgh, lovely quirky place with nice chilled staff. Great value. Can see why it's award winning. read more

The Blue Bear - Amazing brunch, mini milk bottles, brand & awards ... - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Really affordable and so cute! The meaty breakfast burrito is so good and the service is quick. I would recommend this to anyone looking for fantastic food and an affordable price read more

This is a great place for brunch and exactly what I've been searching for since moving to Edinburgh. The staff are super friendly and attentive, while the ambience is vibrant but very casual, comfortable and relaxed. More importantly the brunch is great. We have been twice now and on both occasions I had the Eggs Benedict, while the other half had the vegetarian omelette. On both occasions, the food was excellent. The coffee was also good, but is probably the one area for improvement if your a bit of a coffee critic. But overall this is a great place for brunch and we will definitely be back! read more

I can not believe I haven't re-reviewed this place since I had lunch here two years ago! CRAZY! We've had brunch here a few times and I must say the Brunch is a MUST! It's amazing!! Its offered all day... I think! I LOVE their eggs royal , such a delicious and generous helping of hollandaise sauce and delicious smoked salmon. Their scramble eggs with salmon and thick granary bread is so delicious! Really love this place .( lunch food is good but breakfast is best! ) read more

The Blue Bear - Waffles and berries - Cafes Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

I have been back to the Blue Bear twice since my original review, so after trying a couple more dishes and being able to see the yummy dishes that other Yelpers ordered at brunch today, I'm upping my rating from 4 to 5! French toast with creme fraiche and berries was on the menu for me today and it went down a treat. Perfect size and a nice amount of berries - lip smacking good. I didn't order a drink today, but could smell the Illy coffee, which I am told was quite strong and definitely does the trick, so good to know if I am ever in need of a caffeine hit. And the omelette opposite me looked amazing, so that will be the next dish I try. Last time I was here for another work lunch, I had the soup and sandwich combo. It was tasty, but nothing amazing and my soup was lukewarm. However, I still enjoyed it and today's brunch totally made up for it. I was also eyeing up the sweet treats at the counter today - scones, croissants, flapjacks, tiffin, apple loaf, banana loaf etc. So also a great destination for coffee and cake as well as brunch or lunch. Friendly service as always from Ben, Jemma and co. I will be back :) read more