Resources · Posted November 1, 2022
Edinburgh Coworking – Our Top 10 Local Cafes & Lunch Spots
Being so central means we have an enviable choice of local businesses to satisfy any lunch, coffee and sugar cravings.
Below, we’ve listed our top 10 – and highlighted where our coworkers can receive exclusive Potters’ Perks discounts, simply by showing their Melting Pot membership card.
1. Platform 41
Where: 41 Leith St, EH1 3AT (2 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Discount for Members: 10% off all food and drink
Platform 41 Coffee is a small, but cosy, coffee shop that offers both sit-in and takeaway options. It is the closest coffee shop to The Melting Pot and one of our absolute favourites. Whether you are looking for a spot of breakfast, lunch or just a quick coffee, you will get a great experience at this little cafe as the staff are very friendly and accommodating and their food is amazing and thoughtfully prepared. Their menu isn’t the largest but has a great variety of sandwiches on fresh bread, paninis (including gluten free options), breakfast options and sweet treats. So, if you love great coffee and genuine, tasty food, this is the place.
2. Pep & Fodder
Where: 11 Waterloo Place, EH1 3BG (4 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Discount for Members: 5% for all food and drink – including alcohol
We recommend Pep & Fodder for delicious sandwiches, paninis, homemade soups and hot drinks. The convenient location and welcoming atmosphere make it a perfect place to meet a friend for lunch during working hours. They also offer a variety of breakfast options such as porridge or avocado on toast. If you’re up for a sweet treat, go for their very scrumptious carrot cake! They also offer takeaway options if you prefer to enjoy your delicious lunch at The Melting Pot’s kitchen.
3. Coffee Saints
Where: 2a Little King St, EH1 3AR (5 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Website: coffeesaints.co.uk
Discount for Members: 10% off all food and drink
Coffee Saints is a lovely and relaxing spot for lunch and coffee. The decor is modern which gives the place a bright and happy vibe, and the place itself is spacious and airy, which is very calming to sit in. Also, Coffee Saints is dog-friendly and even offers wee treats for your pooch. Their food is freshly prepared with a variety of options for brunch and lunch, e.g. eggs benedict, pancakes, burgers and sandwiches – including vegan and gluten free options. We love supporting this cafe especially as it is a social enterprise, with all their profits donated to Grassmarket Community Project. So you can feel really good about tucking into that bowl of fries or slurping that decadent, luxury milkshake… it’s all in a good cause!
4. Noon Bistro & Bar
Where: 1 Waterloo Place, EH1 3BG (4 minutes walk from TMP)
Website: atnoon.co.uk
Discount for Members: 20% off your bill when you spend over £15
This is a relatively new spot with a modern interior, interesting menu and buzzing atmosphere. If you’re in search of a delicious lunch or a late breakfast, this place is what you need. Some of the highlights of their menu are salad bowls, salmon/avocado on toast, ‘Club Sandwich’ and fresh pizzas. It’s great for people-watching with views of the busy streets of Edinburgh while enjoying a coffee or a smoothie. You will get 20% off your bill when you spend over £15, so why not share a lunch with a colleague from The Melting Pot? See you at Noon!
5. Loudons New Waverley
Where: 2 Sibbald Walk, EH8 8FT (5 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Website: loudons.co.uk
Discount for Members: 30% off food and drink – excluding alcohol
Loudons in Holyrood is a great place to have lunch if you’re wandering around the area. It’s got loads of yummy food on offer – soups, salad bowls, English muffins, burgers, and many more – all fresh and served by friendly staff. If you need a gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan option, they’ve got you covered. The menu offers a wide range of hot and cold drinks too, as well as cocktails if you’re visiting during the weekend or after work.
6. The Banh Mi Bar
Where: Unit 2, Number 3, The Arches, East Market Street, EH8 8FS (7 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Website: thebanhmibar.co.uk
Discount for Members: 15% off food and drink
If you’re up for trying something different for lunch, we recommend going to The Banh Mi Bar on East Market Street. This place offers generously filled and tasty Vietnamese inspired sandwiches including vegetarian and vegan options. Sandwiches come in many different flavours with a good level of spice made to order by friendly staff in a relaxed atmosphere. Some of the highlights of their menu are ‘The Fishy One’ with homemade wasabi mayo or simple sandwiches with extra add-ons, e.g. cashew nut paste or homemade pickles. If you’re stuck in a bit of a lunch rut, this is the place to tickle those tastebuds.
7. Bross Bagels
Where: St James Deli, 4 Little King St, EH1 3AR (6 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Website: brossbagels.com
Bross Bagels is the perfect lunch option for those in a rush. Their menu might look small, but the bagels are big, delicious and filled to the brim. You can find a unique selection of fillings, with vegetarian and vegan options, served on American inspired, fluffy bagels. Our favourite is the McBross Bagel, with haggis, onion and potato filling. Would recommend to anyone looking for a quick and tasty bite.
8. OQO Your Coffee Nook
Where: 19 Haddington Place, EH7 4AF (10 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
OQO Your Coffee Nook is a trendy, wee coffee shop close to Elm Row with a wide selection of excellent coffee and cakes. All their food is homemade and reasonably priced. The interior is very relaxed, yet elegant with a lot of attention to detail. There is an outside sitting area if you feel like watching the traffic or people passing by on Leith Walk. Also, the place offers plenty of large and small spaces with plugs if you need to do some work outside The Melting Pot’s opening hours.
9. Gordon St Coffee
Where: 6 Market Street, EH1 1DE (5 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Website: gordonstcoffee.co.uk
This is a small cafe at the south end of Waverley Station that roasts coffee on the premises using traditional methods to ensure the best quality and freshness. If you’re into grinding your own coffee, you can buy their beans to enjoy at home. Gordon St Coffee has a lot to offer – the coffee is excellent, the decor is modern and the staff are very friendly. The cafe is also a dog-friendly place – water is provided and often dog treats too. The highlight of their menu are the freshly baked scones served with homemade jam. Nom nom nom!
10. Santu Coffee Bar
Where: 126 Canongate, EH8 8D (8 minutes’ walk from The Melting Pot)
Website: Santucoffee.com
This spot has a great selection of coffees so if you’re in search of a really good brew, this place is just for you. They also offer a lot of baked goods – their almond croissants and pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) are particularly delicious. Santu on the Canongate is primarily a takeaway cafe, but there is a comfy armchair and a bench if you prefer to sit in, especially if it’s a rainy day. However, if you stop at the bar for a coffee to go (and the sun is out), have a wander on the Royal Mile or go to see Dunbar’s Close Gardens, which is an ideal quiet spot to admire the stunning views of Calton Hill.
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Fancy having all this on your doorstep during your working week? With a coworking membership at The Melting Pot, you have access to our beautiful new shared office facilities in Edinburgh’s city centre. We’re a social enterprise and care about creating a community – not just a flexible place to work.