Student life · 11 October 2026
Independent cafes, pubs and restaurants in Edinburgh: a student guide
A practical guide to independent cafes, pubs and places to eat in Edinburgh for students, drawn from verified listings across the city. Covers the Southside near the university, the Old Town, the New Town and further afield.
Edinburgh has three universities and around 60,000 students across the city. The centre is compact and largely walkable, with independent cafes, pubs and restaurants concentrated in the Southside near the University of Edinburgh, the Old Town, and the New Town. This guide covers the verified independent listings on Everything Student, starting with the areas most useful for students.
Independent cafes in Edinburgh
Everything Student lists 25 independent cafes in Edinburgh, all of them independent. The Southside, where the University of Edinburgh's main campus sits around George Square, has the most convenient cluster for students based there. 40 George Square Café (EH8 9JX) is within the university precinct on George Square itself. On Nicolson Street in EH8, a short walk from the main campus buildings, Black Medicine Coffee Co and Café 1505 are both listed as independent.
Artisan Roast is an Edinburgh-grown independent roaster with four locations in the city: in EH1 near the New Town, in EH4 in Stockbridge, in EH10 in Bruntsfield, and in EH6 in Leith as Artisan Roast/Circular Coffee. 92 Degrees Coffee is listed as an independent in EH2 near Lothian Road and Shandwick Place.
Pubs and bars in Edinburgh
Everything Student lists 25 independent pubs and bars in Edinburgh, all independent. For students at the University of Edinburgh, 56 North (EH8 9JP) is in the Southside, close to the campus.
In the Old Town, Bannerman's Bar (EH1 1NQ) is on the Cowgate under the South Bridge arches, and the Bow Bar (EH1 2HH) is on Victoria Street. Both are independent listings. In the New Town, Abbotsford (EH2 2PR) is on Rose Street, and Cafe Royal (EH2 2AA) is on Register Place near the east end of Princes Street. Bramble (EH2 1JE) is an independent bar listed near Queensferry Street.
Restaurants and takeaways in Edinburgh
Everything Student lists 25 independent restaurants and takeaways in Edinburgh, independents first. On and around Nicolson Street in EH8, close to the University of Edinburgh campus, 10 To 10 In Delhi and Beirut are both listed as independent. Angels with Bagpipes is listed in EH1 on the High Street, on the central stretch of the Royal Mile.
Getting around
Edinburgh has no underground. Lothian Buses covers the city well, and the student residential areas in Marchmont and Bruntsfield are within walking distance of the University of Edinburgh campus. Edinburgh Napier and Heriot-Watt have their own campus transport connections. The Edinburgh city hub on Everything Student lists businesses across all ten categories in one place.
Student storage in Edinburgh
At the end of term, UniMove collects from your Edinburgh address, stores your things over the summer and returns them to your next place, door to door. They operate on a scheduled weekly collection day in Edinburgh on Thursdays, and the booking tool shows your price before you pay.
Common questions
What are the best independent cafes for students in Edinburgh?
Everything Student lists 25 independent cafes in Edinburgh, all of them independent. Near the University of Edinburgh campus in EH8, 40 George Square Café is within the university precinct on George Square, and Black Medicine Coffee Co and Café 1505 are both listed as independent on Nicolson Street. Artisan Roast, an Edinburgh-grown independent roaster, has four listings across the city: in EH1, EH4 in Stockbridge, EH10 in Bruntsfield and EH6 in Leith.
Where do students at the University of Edinburgh go for coffee?
The University of Edinburgh's main campus is around George Square in EH8. 40 George Square Café is within the university precinct on George Square itself. Black Medicine Coffee Co and Café 1505 are listed as independents on Nicolson Street in EH8, close to the campus buildings. In EH2 near Lothian Road and the New Town, 92 Degrees Coffee is listed as an independent on Everything Student.
What are the best student pubs in Edinburgh?
Everything Student lists 25 independent pubs and bars in Edinburgh, all independent. 56 North (EH8 9JP) is in the Southside near the University of Edinburgh campus. In the Old Town, Bannerman's Bar (EH1 1NQ) is on the Cowgate and the Bow Bar (EH1 2HH) is on Victoria Street. In the New Town, Abbotsford is on Rose Street (EH2 2PR) and Cafe Royal is on Register Place near Princes Street (EH2 2AA).
Where should students in Edinburgh eat out?
Everything Student lists 25 independent restaurants and takeaways in Edinburgh, independents first. Near the University of Edinburgh campus in EH8, 10 To 10 In Delhi and Beirut are both listed as independent on Nicolson Street. Angels with Bagpipes is listed on the High Street in EH1 on the Royal Mile. The Edinburgh eating-out page on Everything Student shows the full list with addresses and links.
Fig. 1. UniMove student storage
When can UniMove collect your things?
UniMove collects your things from your room, stores them safely over the holidays and brings them back when you return. Door to door, packed and labelled, one price paid up front.
One all-in price covers collection, storage and return. See it before you pay.