The Best Coffee Shops To Work In Edinburgh

Edinburgh is home to some of the cosiest coffee shops in the world. They’re the perfect place to meet up with friends, have some quiet time to yourself, and, of course, get some work done. Working from a coffee shop is great for a change of scenery and spending some focused time on a particular project, especially when you’re travelling for business.

Getting out can be great for productivity and loads of people in Edinburgh like to take their laptops and tablets to coffee shops for a few hours every day. We’ve listed the best coffee shops to work from in Edinburgh for those who are all about that remote working life.

Edinburgh’s Best Work Friendly Cafés

Working from coffee shops has become increasingly popular over the last few years with more and more people opting for remote working jobs. There are certain criteria a coffee shop needs to meet to be a good space for productivity. As a city that’s home to a world-renowned university and several businesses’ headquarters, there are several cafes in Edinburgh that make ideal work spots when it comes to crunch time.

The Red Kite Cafe

The Red Kite Cafe is a great place for the workers’ change of scenery. The cafe offers its patrons seats by large windows so there is plenty of light for those busybodies. Their WiFi has a stable connection and is free for anyone to use. 

Aside from having a great atmosphere to work in, the food and drinks are fantastic with the bacon and egg brioche bun being a particular favorite amongst the locals. The cafe also offers a wide range of tea, coffee, and freshly made cakes. 

If you decide to try out working at the Red Kite Cafe, you need to make sure your devices are fully charged. Power sockets are limited so charging up your laptop while working may be a bit tricky.

Lovecrumbs

Famous for their cake, Lovecrumbs is a must for anyone who needs a bit of sugar to kickstart their day. The cafe has free WiFI that provides workers with a reliable internet connection, and the friendly staff will keep you well topped up on drinks to keep you going. 

Because of the central location, Lovecrumbs tends to get quite busy in the later half of the morning. To get yourself a comfy seat, head to the cafe early and order yourself your favourite drink and, of course, a slice of delicious cake. 

Those looking for working spots around Edinburgh should also take note that Lovecrubs does not allow anyone to bring their laptops with them on weekends. This is due to the cafe becoming busy and tables are generally in high demand.

Castello Coffee

Castello Coffee is a great place to settle down for a day of grafting. Locals and tourists have praised the coffee shop for serving “real espresso” and great coffee. If you’re planning on spending a working day here, make sure you don’t take up a four-seater table when sitting alone. 

There is free WiFi that is password protected, but the staff there will be more than happy to give it to you if you ask for it. There are also several power sockets so you’ll be able to charge up your laptop or tablet while working away.

The Wall Coffee And Design House

With free WiFi and seating at a long table, the Wall Coffee and Design House is the perfect setting for remote working. The cafe has received rave reviews on their food, especially their bagels with avocado and smoked salmon being especially popular. 

The coffee shop gets quite busy around lunchtime, so it’s recommended you get there early to set up your workstation for the day. Given the seating arrangement, there are limited power sockets to plug in your devices. Make sure you’re all charged up before settling into this coffee shop gem. 

Coffee Angel

There are two branches of Coffee Angel in Edinburgh, but the franchise delivers quality coffee shop delights in both of its central locations. The large windows and light decor within the shops make them great spaces for anyone wanting to set up there for work. 

Coffee Angel is also usually quiet, as they are located slightly off the beaten track in Edinburgh Old Town and also close to the Royal Botanic Garden. There is free WiFi in both of Coffee Angel’s branches with plenty of seating. There is a shortage of power sockets, however, Coffee Angel makes a great location for a break from your office. 

Why Work From a Café?

Whether you’re a student or a professional looking for a change from the library or the office, or if you just need to get out of the house, working from a café is a great way to freshen up your work routine. 

The atmospheres in coffee shops are often lively and have a low hum of general chit-chat. This white noise can actually improve some people’s level of focus on their work. 

The change of scenery also makes your job feel more dynamic. Going out to a coffee shop adds variety to your routine and you’ll be happier working from somewhere other than your normal desk. There’s also less chance that you’ll be interrupted while you’re working as café staff and fellow patrons will most likely leave you alone when they see you have a laptop in front of you. In spite of needing to focus, working from a cafe can also reduce the feeling of isolation that sometimes comes with working alone. 

Working from a café also opens doors of opportunity for collaboration. Being in a social environment with people from different professional backgrounds may lead to conversations surrounding different projects. It also gives you and other people the chance to swap ideas, strategies, and maybe even business leads. You never know what chance meetings have in store.

Conclusion

With so many coffee shops dotted around Edinburgh, we’re sure you’ll soon find your local spot that you’ll just love to work from. Edinburgh is the perfect city to feel inspired in your job as it’s a thriving hub of cultural and professional diversity. Not to mention, the food and drink scene in the Scottish capital’s coffee shops is absolutely out of this world.