About
A modern specialty coffee basement in central Edinburgh. Daily light food menu and retail coffee too.
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks
CUISINES
Cafe, British, Healthy
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Digital Payments, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available
Reviews (277)
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256 results
Traveler rating
215
29
7
3
2
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
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Traveler rating
215
29
7
3
2
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All reviews cakes avocado toast hummus pastry great coffee coffee lovers chai latte filter coffees great little cafe light lunch city centre barista waverley
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Reviewed April 10, 2023 via mobile

Fantastic coffee, great food (fresh pastries, delicious cakes and accompaniments). What else is there to say? Oh, get there as soon as it opens if you want a table!

Date of visit: April 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed April 4, 2023

Great little spot with steps down from the street (hence the name). Super friendly staff: I got a triple oat milk cortado and the barista suggested a double due to the long pull and strong taste, and she was spot on. Sat and wrote on...a crowded early afternoon, people came and went and the vibe was quiet conversation and a nice eclectic music selection, not too loud. The pastry was good, and I left inspired. Oh also service for takeout seemed efficient and friendly.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed April 1, 2023 via mobile

Nice coffee shop. If you’re not paying attention you’ll miss it. I arrived at opening time and I wasn’t the only one, it very quickly filled up with people who know where to find good coffee.

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed December 12, 2022

Fantastic variety of filter coffees available - always beautifully prepared whether it's sit-in or take-away. Enthusiastic baristas always happy to talk about options and share preparation tips. Espresso-based coffees are also consistently excellent. This is a true coffee-lovers destination.

Date of visit: December 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed November 20, 2022

After meeting friends at Waverley, we wanted to stop for a coffee before heading on for lunch. A quick google search brought us to Lowdown, and we weren't disappointed. Two of us had hot chocolates (one with oat milk) and my other friend a cappuccino....Amazing silky, proper hot chocolate. The waitress was so attentive and lovely. Would definitely return if in Edinburgh, cakes and pastries looked amazing!!More

Date of visit: November 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed November 17, 2022

The staff are always so attentive and knowledgeable! Carefully selected coffees from the best coffee roasters in the world, they usually offer 2 to 3 choices on espresso & filter - very much catering for everyone's preferences. The menu for food is minimal which is...understandable considering the size of the shop, however, attention to detail is there and their cakes do rotate with seasonal ingredients which equally pairs well with the coffees they have to offer.More

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed November 14, 2022 via mobile

I didn’t even get to have coffee here. I went and sat down at a table for two - there was no queue at the entrance and a member of staff approached me and said I couldn’t sit there as they might be waiting for...someone to sit there. She told me to sit at a table outside and wait for an inside table to become available. She then walked off. So I followed her outside and just left. Shame as I had heard good things about the coffee. And I’m local. The place was was busy with tourists, so maybe they don’t care about how they speak to people?More

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lowdown, Owner at Lowdown Coffee, responded to this reviewResponded November 17, 2022

Updated response. We haven’t received confirmation of the date of your visit, but the situation below happened the day before your review. If this is incorrect, please email and we will amend. Someone entered the cafe and sat at a table that still needed to...More

Reviewed October 16, 2022 via mobile

We just happened across this wee place. I always like to support independent when I can. Cute cafe. Excellent coffee and a delicious cinnamon bun. Very friendly and efficient staff. Next time I’m in Edinburgh I’ll make sure I visit again.

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed October 11, 2022 via mobile

Went because of reviews. The staff deserve 5 stars very friendly woman who was super organised with everyone waiting for inside tables. But the coffee was Luke warm (I know it’s not meant to be red hot!) but we’d had better coffee earlier and the...mint tea was really sweet. Cakes were okay but nothing extraordinary. So not my favourite place in Edinburgh at allMore

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lowdown, Owner at Lowdown Coffee, responded to this reviewResponded October 12, 2022

Hi, We’re sad to read you didn’t enjoy your visit. Did you mention your issues to the team? We would have remade your drinks hotter or offered alternative cakes. We realise we can’t please everyone, but work to exact standards and feel mediocre is slightly...More

Reviewed July 2, 2022 via mobile

Great experience at this little cafe, the staff are very friendly and accommodating and the avocado toast was amazing. We also had warm banana bread with tahini and honey which was delicious.

Date of visit: July 2022
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Reviewed June 20, 2022

Was in Edinburgh for business one Friday afternoon, and had to wait around for someone before setting off home, so thought I would grad a coffee to go. Was a little late in the day as most the independent coffee shops I like close at...4pm on Fridays, but Lowdown Coffee was open. Great little cafe, with not the largest of menu's, but a great compact one where you are sure to find something you like. For 4:30pm on a Friday they were busy, and said that it would be a 5 minute wait for a coffee, but I was welcome to wait out on the street on benches they had put aside. Weather was great and was nice to just relax and people watch. Coffee was ready in no time, and their Sea Salt and Caramel Brownie was very tasty to go with it. Will most certainly be back here again in future.More

Date of visit: June 2022
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Reviewed June 2, 2022 via mobile

We had cappuccino and chai latte and the taste was absolute superb. The cakes tasted also very good. Friendly staff. Happy we found this place.

Date of visit: June 2022
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Reviewed June 1, 2022 via mobile

Perfect coffee, tea and cakes. They serve great coffees and teas. Make sure you try one of their amazing pastries! A good example for great coffee!

Date of visit: June 2022
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed May 31, 2022 via mobile

An adorable little find to get us out of the rain. We just wanted a quick bite to eat, before our next booked attraction, which wouldn’t cost £10+. Very minimalist in decor, small and concise menu and very clean bathroom! Staff were quick and welcoming...in this lovely little cozy cafe.More

Date of visit: May 2022
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Reviewed May 31, 2022 via mobile

Friendly and welcoming, lovely place to spend some time. Thoughtfully prepared and delicious food. Definitely recommend!

Date of visit: May 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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LOWDOWN COFFEE, Edinburgh - New Town - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Lowdown Coffee

Yes, Lowdown Coffee offers takeout services.

Lowdown Coffee is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 5
  • Value: 4.5