Fortitude Coffee

One of the best coffee shops in Edinburgh. Small and perfectly formed! The staff are very knowledgeable of their coffee and very friendly. It’s a serene place to watch the world go by or indulge in a book while drinking delightfully good coffee. Beautiful building with lots of natural light — making the absolute best of classic Edinburgh townhouse architecture.

I came back in early March 2023 and I could not be happier. The staff was very kind, professional and helpful. I asked a few questions about coffee (types and ways of making it) and I learned a few interesting things. Fortitude Coffee is a great place to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee with a yummy piece of cake. I would return to read, work, and meet some friends. Shortly, highly recommended!

Petite and perfect unless steps are a challenge for you as there's no other way up. The centre of town feels dominated by huge franchise coffee shops but look around and you'll find indie darlings like Fortitude. I know there are now several Fortitude cafes but it feels and acts indie to me. I ventured up those stairs because Fortitude was taking part in the charity 358 rally of local eateries and I wanted to support. I also wanted power for my tech and was pleased to see some small one and two people tables inside and some power outlets. A friendly greeting welcomed me inside, my order swiftly taken, table wiped clear and I was comfortable. The coffee arrived slightly later and was delicious. I didn't try and food and I think there's light baking and lunch on offer but, gosh, that coffee. Friendly staff make a difference but Tell Friends About It coffee is a delight. The presentation was delightful too. A petite mug, no handle, of near perfect brew. The lack of a coffee mug handle may be a safety and accessibility challenge to some, so please take note, but for my arthritis it's a blessing. It means I can wrap my hands comfortably around the cup. You can buy bags of beans here, and I wish I had. I thought I was at carrying capacity at the time but regret being so timid. Oh well, that's an excuse to go back even though this York Place corner is a little off my usual beaten path.

If you're looking for some specialty coffee in edinburgh, then this is your spot. There's 3 locations which if you're a tourist you will visit both while wandering around for sure. Great filter coffee options and some tasty espresso. Staff is helpful and relaxed as well as the environment inside. Highly recommend grabbing bag of beans to take home.