Between home renovations and finalising the content for Issue 02 of our printed journal, August is passing in somewhat of a whirlwind. We have a number of interviews in the pipeline, which we are so excited to share in the upcoming weeks. As always, thank you so much for being here and for reading our words — we so appreciate your support.
It will be no surprise to anyone that I have a deep affection for bakeries and neighbourhood cafes. I’m drawn to places that foster a sense of community and that produce bakes made with care, skill and heart. Recently, I’ve been asked by a few friends for a list of places to visit in Edinburgh, which I love to curate. Creating those lists was really the inspiration behind this Substack today.
I’m conscious that food is hugely personal and choosing where to eat depends on so many things — what you’re in the mood for, your budget, where you’re based, what you have time for. Because of this, a travel guide or a list of the best bakeries to visit in Edinburgh didn’t sit quite right with me. Partly because it’s such a subjective topic but also because there’s then an implication that if a cafe or bakery isn’t on that list then it’s not deserving of a visit, which is definitely not the case. We are also blessed with a thriving cafe culture in Edinburgh so making your way through every single cafe and bakery would be quite a feat. This Substack today then, is less of a guide and more of a curation of places that have come to mean something to me. It is not an exhaustive list to Edinburgh’s cafe scene or places you must-visit but more of a collection of places that have become part of the fabric of my life here - places I’d happily wile away the weekend in and that you perhaps, might like too.
Leith
Leith is arguably one of the most exciting places to be in the city right now. It’s undergoing somewhat of a food revolution, with new places increasingly springing up. If I’m visiting Leith, it’s usually because I’m going onto Portobello or into the New Town and so I tend to lean towards places where I can take something away with me. I can’t seem to walk past The Pastry Section without stopping for something sweet. It always feels like an act of self-love when I buy something from there - Lesley and her team do a spectacular job of producing a consistently high and varied offering of sweet treats. I’m forever torn between the morning buns topped generously with frosting and their miniature cakes. At Christmas-time, their mince-pies practically call to me through the steamy windows, along with their chocolate yule-log slices.
Just around the corner from The Pastry Section is Hobz Bakery, which has quickly gained an excellent reputation for its outstanding viennoserie. They do one of my favourite pain au chocolates in the city - beautifully laminated flaky pastry wrapped around high-quality chocolate. It’s open-planned so you can watch the team produce bread, pastries and sandwiches for the day ahead as you order your coffee.
Then, further up Leith Walk sits Ante, conveniently placed near two brilliant bookshops — Typewronger and Toppings. I love the aesthetic of Ante; it’s clearly been made with an incredible attention to detail - from the clean, minimal design to the weighty, skilfully-crafted ceramic mugs. I always find it has a beautiful flow about it, making me willing to overlook their slightly higher price points.
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