
Quick info
About Southern Cross Cafe
On Cockburn St in Edinburgh, Southern Cross Cafe serves espresso drinks alongside homemade cakes and light meals made with Scottish produce. Cappuccino comes up often, poured smooth and creamy, and the cake selection, including chocolate cake and Black Forest cake, sits displayed in the window with slices cut thin. Food ranges from a full Scottish breakfast and blueberry pancakes to a smoked salmon toastie, and scones arrive with clotted cream. Seating is available upstairs on a first floor, offering a quieter spot for conversation away from the ground level. The cafe operates on a walk-in basis with no reservations. A bill note applies an optional 7.5% service charge.
Good to know
- ParkingUsually difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityWheelchair: seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
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Menu & Prices
105 dishes · mains £4–18- Full Scottish Or Vegetarian Breakfast£14.95
- Single Roll£4.95
- Soup Of The Day£7.65
- Eggs Benedict, Royal Or Florentine£12.95
- Blueberry Stackers£11.95
- Yoghurt And Granola£8.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention full scottish breakfast, cappuccino, homemade cakes and scones with clotted cream.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention full scottish breakfast, cappuccino, homemade cakes and scones with clotted cream.
Customer Review Summary
Homemade cakes draw the most mentions, with diners naming chocolate cake, Black Forest cake and peanut cake, and one saying the desserts in the window pulled them in. Cappuccino comes close behind, described as smooth and creamy without bitter notes, and the full Scottish breakfast is called hearty and delicious. Blueberry pancakes, a beef burger, a bbq dish and a smoked salmon toastie also get praise. Staff are repeatedly called friendly, and one reviewer's request to change the cappuccino cup was handled kindly. Criticism is mild and specific: the lemon cake was too sugary for one pair, another found the cake slices thin, a plain scone was so-so, and one calls the place a bit pricey, though hot, properly cooked food made that easier to accept. One reviewer objected to a service charge printed on the receipt. The quieter upper floor suits chatting with friends, and one visitor notes the scones arrive with clotted cream rather than just butter.
Customer Review Summary
Homemade cakes draw the most mentions, with diners naming chocolate cake, Black Forest cake and peanut cake, and one saying the desserts in the window pulled them in. Cappuccino comes close behind, described as smooth and creamy without bitter notes, and the full Scottish breakfast is called hearty and delicious. Blueberry pancakes, a beef burger, a bbq dish and a smoked salmon toastie also get praise. Staff are repeatedly called friendly, and one reviewer's request to change the cappuccino cup was handled kindly. Criticism is mild and specific: the lemon cake was too sugary for one pair, another found the cake slices thin, a plain scone was so-so, and one calls the place a bit pricey, though hot, properly cooked food made that easier to accept. One reviewer objected to a service charge printed on the receipt. The quieter upper floor suits chatting with friends, and one visitor notes the scones arrive with clotted cream rather than just butter.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Good place for your coffee and slices of different home made cakes. The size and the quality of the cappuccino is good, the size of the slice of cake is on the thinny side. Nice interiour.”
- Google user
“Coffees and smoked salmon toastie were good; plain scone so-so. A nice place in the city centre for a chilled afternoon chatting with friends especially on the quieter upper floor.”
- Google user
“Fantastic little restaurant. Staff are friendly and helpful. Food was delicious and came quite fast. Breakfast was lovely (had the full Scottish) so I went back for lunch (beef burger) I was travelling solo. Would absolutely go again.”
- Google user
“Great little café to grab a filling breakfast with a drink. The cappuccino is amazing, mine was smooth and creamy. My friend's coffee was also well brewed, without any bitter notes. We took cakes, rolls and pancakes. All were absolutely delicious, though the lemon cake was a bit too sugary for our taste. I recommend the coffee and peanut cake. If you spend a night at the Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel right next door, you'll get a 15% discount for the duration of your stay (and the morning you checkout as well).”
- Google user
“We stopped during lunch and this place was packed! We only had to wait a couple minutes for a table to be cleaned off. There is seating upstairs as well. We got the bbq- amazing! We also got dessert- chocolate cake and the blackforest cake. Everything was so good! Desserts are in the window and that is what pulled me in to begin with!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Serious espresso drinks, homemade cakes and a range of light meals using Scottish local produce.”
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Outdoor seating
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Vegan options
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Coffee
- Offerings· 7
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs
- Dining options· 6
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
- Highlights· 2
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for· 2
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Crowd· 3
- College students
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 1
- Usually difficult to find a space
Location
Cafes near Southern Cross Cafe
- Coffee 'N' More4.26480 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
whiskey hot chocolate, chai latte, latte
- The City Cafe4.32,8370.1 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
milkshakes, retro diner decor, caprese baguette
- Rocksalt Cafe4.69740.2 mi£10–20
cappuccino with latte art, eggs benedict on sourdough, scrambled eggs with toast
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Cross CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.52,458 | — | £10–20 | full scottish breakfast, cappuccino, homemade cakes |
| Coffee 'N' MoreOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.2648 | 0 mi | — | whiskey hot chocolate, chai latte, latte |
| The City CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.32,837 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | milkshakes, retro diner decor, caprese baguette |
| Rocksalt Cafe | 4.6974 | 0.2 mi | £10–20 | cappuccino with latte art, eggs benedict on sourdough, scrambled eggs with toast |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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