Caffe Nero

Reviews

• Grahame G.

  star star star star star_border 12 September 2026

  I love this Caffe Nero tucked away at the back of Blackwell's bookshop. It's the perfect place to duck into after some book shopping to browse through your purchases and relax with a decent coffee.
  You can access it either from the street or directly from the bookshop, so it's perfectly situated if it's raining outside.
  
  Because it's not positioned right on the main street, it perhaps misses some of the passing traffic, but that's no bad thing as it means that it's usually quieter than the trendier Black Medicine coffee house the next block up. Not that I don't like Black Medicine - far from it - but I find Caffe Nero has a more relaxing atmosphere, maybe because of the proximity of all those books?
  
  Free Wi-Fi too!

• Kj J.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 5 September 2026

  Very rude servers. Lady with the short hair- if you were nice to people, they'd probably buy more ;) My sister enjoyed her flat white, sadly I wasn't in the mood for coffee or your remarks

• Kim C.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 29 August 2026

  The barista with the purple hair (which really looked great on her) should come to Texas; we serve coffee WITHOUT a side of rude remarks. We also don't judge people on sight.

• Rezzi I.

  star star star star star_border 27 August 2026

  This branch of the popular coffee chain is made doubly special by the fact that it's adjoined to Blackwells, the large bookshop on South Bridge. I've been in Edinburgh for a whole year and only realized last week that I could grab a book and read in comfort in Café Nero! It's a partnership Starbucks has had with many a bookshop, and I'm glad to have found something like that here in Edinburgh.
  
  Apart from the slightly more laid back atmosphere (for some reason books have the power to make people talk in more hushed tones), the branch is the same as any other, serving a range of coffee, tea, sandwiches, panini's and desserts! I'm especially a fan of the book sections right next to Nero, which include travel guides and cookbooks, so I really could be stuck there all day.

• Lou V.

  star star star star_border star_border 25 August 2026

  Usually I really don't like chain stores, chain cafes, well anything too branded really.
  
  However ... this place is not half bad. The fact that it's right outside my apartment helps of course. Because it is situated inside Blackwell's it's really rather nice to just spend a little bit of time reading and studying in here. It's difficult to put my finger on the sore spot with this one. The drinks are surprisingly good, the staff is friendly yet ...something's a little off.
  
  I came here a lot especially when I first moved here, been away for a while but am slowly coming back to it. The coffee is sometimes burned but mostly surprisingly good, and the staff is friendly and has good banter.
  
  If you sit here for long enough though, it does get clear that this place exists to make money. It's the difference in feel that you have between a chain store and an individually owned cafe. It's not bad, it just hasn't got much heart. Sometimes you can tell that the staff really doesn't want to be there. Well, not much heart, but good coffee. I guess that just about sums it up!