A Coffee in Edinburgh VIII: Peter's yard [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Hey, I got the body of a taught, pre teen, Swedish boy

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Wait Out”)

Peter’s Yard is an artisan Swedish bakery opened by Peter Ljunquist in Edinburgh. With now two locations and online presence, Peter brings a dominating minimalistic sun lighted place with glass windows, great baked goods, and lovely coffee.

Coffee Time

We got the usual formula, a flat white and a macchiato, both were excellent, great balance, perfect extraction, and top latte art.

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Beans: Artisan Roast

Score: 5/5

A lovely Nordic bakery with amazing coffee.

Peter's Yard

T: 0131 228 5876

Swedish Bakery

Approx Damage: £10pp

Area: Southside

Edinburgh
Twitter: PetersYard

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Sweet time in Edinburgh [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Yes it is. Well let’s see what I have today. Darn it! It's ham and cheese again and she forgot the fancy mustard. I told her I like that fancy mustard. You could put that fancy mustard on a shoe and it would taste pretty good to me. Oh! She made it up with a cupcake though. Hey look at this! You know I got a new system for eating these things. I used to peel off the chocolate now I turn them upside down, I eat the cake first and save the frosting for the end

George Steinbrenner (Seinfeld episode “The Jimmy”)

While wandering around New Town we bump into a lovely bakery. Bibi’s Bakery offers hand made cakes, cupcakes, macaroons, and other sweet stuff. The idea came simply from bringing cupcakes that taste as good as they looked.

Macaroon time

As their promise, the cupcakes we had not only looked beautiful but tasted great, We also indulged with some macaroons that were great.

Sweet Take Away

If you want a sweet treat while in Edinburgh just pass by Bibi’s, also they offer baking courses so you can make these amazing cupcakes at home.

Few Survivors

Bibi's Bakery

T: 0131 226 5563

Bakery

Approx Damage: £10pp

Area: New Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: bibisbakery

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Angels in Edinburgh [On The Road: Edinburgh]

No, Lindsay, it was not in the garbage. It was above the garbage. Hovering like an angel

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Gymnast”)

Angels with bagpipes is a modern fusion restaurant serving European and Scottish cuisine. Nice décor with a bit too warm dinning room. Opened in 2010 in the heart of the Royal Mile just in front of St Giles Cathedral.

Tartare

We got the lunch menu, for start a salmon tartare and a beef carpaccio. The tartare was delicate and nice, but the beef carpaccio was superb an explosion of flavours, great execution.

12 Hours Braised Beef

For main we got the 12 hours braised beef, really nice and tender. The onion risotto was creamy and well executed. Overall a nice lunch.

Angels with Bagpipes

T: 0131 220 1111

Scottish Cuisine

Approx Damage: £20pp

Area: Old Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: angels_food

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A Coffee in Edinburgh VII: Kilimanjaro [On The Road: Edinburgh]

No, no. He's pretending he's got gonorrhea so med students can diagnose
 it

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Burning”)

Kilimanjaro is a nice coffee place in Edinburgh. Same owners as Wellington Coffee. Located near the University so expect to be full of a young student crowd. A noisy and packed café, vintage look with the obvious life in Kilimanjaro pictures. They are serving breakfast, paninis, soups for a bite, and for a drink a nice Square Mile coffee.

The place

We went at breakfast time, the place was completely packed, we got a couple Flat Whites. Really nice, strong coffee, great balance, creamy, and top latte art.

Flat Time

Espresso Machine: Synesso

Beans: Square Mile

Score: 4/5

Kilimanjaro Coffee

T: 0131 662 0135

Coffee Place

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: Southside

Edinburgh

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A Coffee in Edinburgh VI: Wellington [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Now I remember, as I jumped over the hole I heard like a jingling sound

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Pothole”)

Wellington Coffee is another lovely hole in the ground kind of place in Edinburgh. Located in New Town, small, cozy, and warm. You can get cakes, brownies, scones and a lot of coffee.

Downstairs

I got a Flat White, creamy, top latte art, sadly a bit mild and unbalanced, the coffee was a bit over the edge on bitterness. Probably a bad extraction as all the reviews and posts praise the place. 

Flat White

Espresso Machine: Synesso

Beans: Square Mile

Score: 3/5

Wellington Coffee

T: 0131 225 6857

Coffee House

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: New Town

Edinburgh

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A Coffee in Edinburgh V: Cairngorm [On The Road: Edinburgh]

He's back. And I knew he would be someday. Man that's some tart cider!

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Race”)

Cairngorm is a small lower ground coffee place, classic offerings of treats, grilled cheese, soups, baked tarts, some pastries, obviously coffee plus Venezuelan chocolate.

Coffee time

Espresso Machine: Faema

Beans: Mr Eion

Score: 4/5

Latte art?

Same poison as usual a macchiato and a flat white. Strong in your face coffee, really nice, they created their unique blend with Mr Eion, lovely balance for the blend. Latte art work in progress.

Cairngorm

T: 0131 629 1420

Coffee House

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: New Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: CairngormCoffee

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Breakfast in The Larder [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Eggs are eggs. That is very profound

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Stand In”)

We went for breakfast to the Edinburgh Larder. You can have either breakfast and/or lunch in this small no frill no fuss spot, just a few steps away from the hassle of the Royal Mile. Homemade food including amazing scones makes the Larder a perfect spot for breakfast.

Baked eggs

We got the baked eggs with cream and cheese. They were superb, a small portion but full of flavour and goodness. I could have eaten two, loved the sharp Parmesan twist in the egg. 

A great breakfast and friendly service.

The Edinburgh Larder

T: 0131 556 6922

Cafe

Damage: £8pp

Area: Old Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: Edin_Larder

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A Coffee in Edinburgh IV: Looking Glass Bookshop [On The Road: Edinburgh]

They made me buy it. A hundred bucks this thing cost me. How dare they? I got news for you, if it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books

George Costanza (Seinfeld episodes “The Bookstore”)

The Looking Glass Books is a small bookshop with treats and coffee, lovely location, just a minute away from our hotel. You pass by and immediately are attracted by the place, lovely layout, nice sofas and armchairs and cute little checkered tables. They have events such as storytelling, book club, and launches.

The place

We got a Macchiato, Flat white, and also some macaroons. Coffee was nice, not too strong but not too mild either, good balance, ok latte art. The macaroons were really good.

Macchiato Time

Espresso Machine: Fracino

Beans: Carvetti

Score: 4/5

Lovely place, perfect to get a coffee, relax, and forget about everything else for a while.

Looking Glass Books

T: 0131 229 2902

Coffee / Bookstore

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: Old Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: Lookingglassbks

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Sea Food on Leith [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Well, Newman uses his mail truck to run fish for China Panda on the Weekends

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Pothole”)

The Ship on the Shore is a nice brasserie style located on the Water of Leith. Nice atmosphere, maritime decor, French influence, expect a seafood in your face menu, fruits de mer, shellfish platters, mussels, oysters, and fresh fish.

All Aboard

For starts we go the hot and cold salmon, really nice, the raw smoked piece was superb, the hot one just a bit surprised as it was actually cooked but cold. Overall nice and fresh.

Salmon Time

For main we shared the seafood paella with lobster. It was ok, not technically a paella, it was more like a risotto. The dish didn't work for me, the seafood on the paella was plenty and really good, but overall there was no cohesion. If I come back in the future I wouldn't order it again. My recommendation is to stick to fruits de mer platters, specially the Royale that looked superb.

Lobster Paella

Fresh seafood, big portions, lovely location, don’t make my mistake and keep on the fresh seafood side.

The Ship on the Shore

T: 0131 555 0409

Seafood / French Cuisine

Approx Damage: £40pp

Area: Leith

Edinburgh

Twitter: ShipOnTheShore

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Show me the way to the next whisky bar [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Well the sex was okay, but I threw up from the Hennigans 

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Red Dot”) 

If you are in Scotland you have to go on a whisky trial. Due to the fact that the closest operating distillery is an hour away from Edinburgh and I visited already in 2003, we decided to do a whisky bar crawl in Edinburgh to compensate. Below the highlights of our pilgrimage. 

The Unexpected One 

You will never guess that in the middle of the royal mile surrounded by tourist is this hidden gem. To get to Monteiths you just need to pass through an alley/close to get to the basement bar. A dark, modern, and fun place with a petite selection of whiskies. The highlight Balvenie double wood (Speyside) and Springbank (Campbeltown). 

Alley

Whisky Time

We also tried some nibbles, including the traditional Haggis, really nice, great execution. Just make sure you're relax and not on a rush as the service is terrible, we were ignored most of the evening. Good whisky, nice food, terrible service. 

Haggis Time

Monteiths
T: 0131 557 0330
Bar & Restaurant
Twitter: Monteithsclose



The Almost Chain on the Mile 

Whiski Bar has two locations, the original one is on the Mile. Pub style, wore wood, stag heads, live music every night, and good selection of whiskies, at least over 300. The Highlights a Glendiffich Solera 15 years (Speyside) and the Lagavulin 16 years (Islay) 

Whiski Bar

Whiski Bar
T: 0131 556 3095
Pub & Bar
Twitter: Whiskibar



The Modern One 

The Inn on the Mile is another option off course on the Mile. A modern bar part of the hotel, packed and noisy, fast paced, and great vibes. The highlight was the recommendation from the bartender, Auchentoshan three wood (Lowland). 

The bar decor

The Inn on the Mile
T: 0131 556 9940
Bar & Restaurant
Twitter: TheInnOnTheMile



The Pub One 

The Bow Bar is another lovely pub style bar on W Bow almost getting into Grassmarket, more cozy and traditional. Classic décor, real ales also if you’re tired of whiskies but as we weren’t we enjoyed their vast selection of single malts. The highlight was a Benriach 15 years with dark rum finish (Speyside) 

Decisions

We now must say goodbye

The Bow Bar
T: 0131 226 7667
Pub
Twitter: bow_bar



The Cathedral One 

The Oxford Bar is a small, full of character place, probably an institution in Edinburgh. Watering hole on Young Street in New Town. Small bar at the front full of locals having a pint and some tables at the back. The highlight Aberlour 10 years (Speyside) 

The institution

The Oxford Bar
T: 0131 539 7119
Pub


The Other Pub 

The Black Cat is another pub with nice selection of whiskies, no list but you can have a peak at the bar, and make your selection or the bartender can point you in the right direction to help your choice. Traditional pub décor, modern vibe if compared with Ox. The highlight Glenfarclas 20 years (Speyside) 

Black Cat Time

The Black Cat
T: 0131 225 3349
Pub
Twitter: theblackcatbar



The Other Room 

Whiski Rooms is the other place from Whiski Bar. Opposite to the one in the Mile this one is a modern bar, also it has a dedicated shop. Same vast selection of whiskies. The highlight Robert Burns 12 years (Islands) strong and in your face, and Lochside 91 (Highlands). 

Last call

We got some nice nibbles here, I would recommend to get the haggis roles to try something different.

Whiski Rooms
T: 0131 225 7224
Bar
Twitter: whiskirooms

Edinburgh
Scotland

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