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Southern Cross Cafe — Cafes in Edinburgh

Southern Cross Cafe

CafesEdinburgh

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5(2,458 reviews)

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Quick info

+44 131 622 0622
63A Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1BU, United Kingdom
£10–20

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

  • Parking
    Usually difficult to find a space
  • Accessibility
    Wheelchair: seating
  • Good for kids
    Good for kids · High chairs
  • Dietary
    Vegan 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
See full menu & prices →

Reviews

4.5/5
2,458 reviews

What reviewers say

Reviewers most often mention full scottish breakfast, cappuccino, homemade cakes and scones with clotted cream.

5★
1,669
4★
496
3★
145
2★
66
1★
82

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

Southern Cross Cafe
£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
4.52,458
  • 0 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options

    whiskey hot chocolate, chai latte, latte

  • 0.1 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options

    milkshakes, retro diner decor, caprese baguette

  • 0.2 mi£10–20

    cappuccino with latte art, eggs benedict on sourdough, scrambled eggs with toast

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