(Last updated in October 2023)
Working from home has its perks. But it can be pretty isolating when your desk is only a few feet away from your bed. One solution is to set up shop in a café around the corner. If that’s something for you, here are a few of Edinburgh’s best work-friendly cafés for small businesses.
(Another solution is to get yourself and everybody you work with a desk in a shared office or co-working space. Have a look at these co-working spaces in Edinburgh or my own creative studio/shared office Co/Space, they’re ideal for small businesses!)
Why work from a café?
When I was still working from home, I loved surrounding myself with people every now and then. And even better: I still got lots of work done and felt less lonely. Networking events can only get you so far.
A local café is also a great place to meet clients or work with other freelancers on joint projects. And Edinburgh has a lot to offer when it comes to working remotely.
And here’s a list of Edinburgh’s best work-friendly cafés to get you started on your journey of remote working. All thoroughly tested by me, of course!
Please note: Many of these cafés are small, local businesses who might restrict the use of laptops during busier times of the day or at weekends. Please look out for signs or ask at the counter just to be sure.
Levels Café & Lounge
12 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AJ
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun closed
Busy time: around 1pm – 2pm
Quiet time: morning, afternoon
This is a unique space when it comes to Edinburgh’s best work-friendly cafés: Levels Café & Lounge is part of Edinburgh University but is open to everyone.
They have several different areas: You can, for example, sit on a stool by the front window, lounge on their sofas and armchairs in the back or work on one of the many comfortable tables in the centre of the café.
They even have three work desks complete with desk lamps and extra sockets! The wifi is free, fast and has so far worked flawlessly.
Additionally, they have a good selection of locally sourced and seasonal food, drinks and fair trade coffee.
Red Kite Café
7-8 Cadzow Place, EH7 5SN
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5.30pm
Busy time: around lunch, weekends
Quiet time: morning, afternoon
My absolute favourite café in the Abbeyhill/London Road area: The Red Kite Café. Apart from their amazing coffee and tea collection, it’s a great place for lunch, some cake – and work.
They have stools by the window, large and smaller tables and the free wifi works well. It’s a lovely bright space and so far it has never been too busy to work.
Somehow they managed to create a large space that feels cosy without feeling cramped. It’s worth noting that they don’t allow laptops at the weekends, but it’s a great place to get some work done during the week. Definitely one of my favourites among Edinburgh’s best work-friendly cafés!
Brew Lab
6-8 College Street, EH8 9AA
Open: Mon-Sun 8am-6pm
Busy time: lunchtime, weekends
Quiet time: morning
Another great place to work from is Brew Lab. Especially if you get there before lunchtime you have the choice between stools, large or smaller tables either by the window or in the back.
They have some extra sockets throughout the place, free wifi and a very nice vibe. If you like coffee, you’ll love Brew Lab but they also offer really nice teas for the non-caffeine faction.
And their pastries, soups and baguettes are great, too. With its four different areas, there’s plenty of room although it might get a bit noisy around lunchtime.
Lovecrumbs
155 West Port, EH3 9DP
Open: Wed-Mon 9am-6pm
Busy time: between 1pm – 3pm, weekends
Quiet time: morning
If you need cake to boost your workday, then you should consider working from Lovecrumbs. It’s a lovely little place in West Port with comfy seating.
(They also have cake. Far too many cakes for my own good. And then some more cake. And, did I mention the cake?)
With it being so close to uni and the Old Town, it can get quite busy but mornings are usually a good shout.
Their free wifi works well and their teas and coffees are delicious. (And, you know, cake.)
August_21
89 Causewayside, EH9 1QG
Open: Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am – 4pm
Busy time: between 1pm – 3pm
Quiet time: morning
August_21 is a little café, tucked away in the Southside of Edinburgh. It’s not very big but at off-peak times it’s not a problem to get a seat.
They have free wifi, extra sockets and the food is awesome: pastries, baguettes, soups and other fresh dishes – there’s something for everyone.
Their drinks selection is great, too, but most of all it seems to be the staff that makes this place: They’re super friendly and certainly adding to the nice vibe of the café itself.
Castello Coffee
12 Barclay Terrace, EH10 4HP
Open: Mon-Fri 9am – 4pm, Sat & Sun 9.30am-4pm
Busy time: lunchtime
Quiet time: morning, afternoon
Castello Coffee‘s Bruntsfield café is the perfect place to enjoy some peace and quiet. There are usually plenty of tables during the week. Grab one by the window to admire the beautiful view of the Bruntsfield Links. They don’t allow laptops at the weekend, but during the week you’re welcome to use them (as long as you don’t take up the 4-person tables!).
There’s free wifi (just ask the friendly staff for the password). And lots of delicious pastries, cakes, snacks and coffee to keep you going throughout the day.
The Bruntsfield branch is Castello Coffee’s second café in Edinburgh. I’d recommend avoiding the Castle Street one for work. It’s small and usually very busy, so head up to Bruntsfield for a much better working environment.
The Old Spence (formerly The Hideout Cafe)
40-42 Queen Charlotte Street, EH6 6AT
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm; Sat & Sun 9am-5pm
Busy time: lunchtime, Sundays
Quiet time: afternoon
If you’re down in Leith, The Old Spence is one of my favourite work-friendly cafés in Edinburgh. The cafe is light and airy thanks to the huge windows.
And it has a really cool, relaxed decor that makes you feel instantly at home. If you’re there for a meeting with clients, make it a breakfast meeting if you can – the brunch menu is great!
Whether you’re in for a quick coffee with a freelance friend or a productive laptop session on your own, you’ll always feel welcome at The Old Spence.
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville Place, EH3 7PR
Open: Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm
Busy time: lunchtime
Quiet time: morning, afternoon
Cairngorm Coffee is another Edinburgh café with two branches. I’d recommend heading to the West End cafe which is the bigger and brighter of the two.
They do great coffee and snacks and there is a range of communal tables. You can grab a seat and not feel guilty about taking up a whole table all day! The wifi at Cairngorm is free and speedy, so it’s a great place to get some work done on your laptop.
If you just have a spare 10 minutes between meetings, they even have iPads! They’re built into some of the tables so you can quickly reply to some emails or browse the web. The Melville Street branch is the perfect work-friendly cafe in Edinburgh if you’re looking for a spot near the city centre.
Lowdown Coffee
40 George Street, EH2 2LE
Open: Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm; Sun 10am-5.30pm
Busy time: lunchtime, afternoon
Quiet time: morning
As easy as it is to find cafés to work from in Edinburgh, the centre of town is a completely different matter. It’s often simply too crowded on weekdays to get proper work done.
But if you’re looking for work-friendly cafes in Edinburgh around George Street, I’d recommend checking out Lowdown Coffee. Even though they’re on the basement level, the café feels nice and bright.
And they even have some outdoor tables if you fancy getting some fresh air while you get your work done. Don’t forget to try one of their delicious cakes to help you power through your to-do list!
Oqo Coffee Nook
19 Haddington Place, EH7 4AF
Open: Mon-Sun 8am-6pm
Busy time: lunchtime, afternoon
Quiet time: morning
Oqo on Haddington Place is another one of the great work-friendly cafes in Edinburgh. Not only is it very Instagrammable (think velvet seating, dark walls, marble tables and gold cutlery), there are plenty of places to work from as well.
There are sockets around the cafe, so you don’t need to worry about your laptop running out of battery. Grab a spot of the sofa and enjoy a slice of cake as you get to work.
The staff are very friendly and won’t mind you working in the cafe all day – as long as you top up your coffee regularly!
Thomas J. Walls
35 Forrest Road, EH1 2QT
Open: Mon-Fri 7.30am-7pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 8.30am-7pm
Busy time: lunchtime
Quiet time: morning, afternoon
With a slight hipster vibe, Thomas J. Walls is a beautiful cafe located inside a former Art Deco-style opticians. They’ve kept the same name and even some of the decor – look out for the spectacles!
With plenty of space and a buzzing atmosphere filled with chat and music at just the right volume, Thomas J. Walls is one of my favourite work-friendly cafes in Edinburgh.
If the tables at the front are all taken, head through the back where there’s lots more room to set up your laptop.
Coffee Saints
2a Little King Street, EH1 3AR
Open: Mon-Sun 9am-4pm
Busy time: lunchtime
Quiet time: morning, afternoon
Coffee Saints is a fantastic social enterprise with a wide range of coffees, cold drinks, meals, light bites, cakes and pastries.
Located near the St James Quarter, the café is light and spacious and has outdoor seating available as well.
Even better, the café is run by the Grassmarket Community Project, a charity supporting some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable citizens. So all profit goes back to the cause – coffee with a conscience!
KEEP READING
If you are interested in reading more about this topic, have a look at these:
Edinburgh’s Best Co-Working Offices for Small Businesses
Should You Work from Home or Get an Office?
7 Networking Events & Clubs to Join in Edinburgh
Co/Space – My Creative Coworking Space in Edinburgh
