The Milkman

The Milkman is an independent speciality coffee shop on Cockburn Street, the curving street that links the Royal Mile with Waverley station. It describes itself as a relaxed break from the city centre, and its location makes it one of the most convenient good coffee stops in the Old Town for visitors arriving by train or walking between the Royal Mile and the New Town. There are two branches on the same street, at 7 and 52 Cockburn Street.

The menu centres on speciality coffee and cakes. The baristas are happy to help customers who are new to speciality coffee, so it is a friendly place to try a filter or a single origin if you usually order a latte. The shops also stock products from independent makers, chosen for being ethically produced, which makes for a few gift ideas.

The café opens Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Early morning is a good time to visit, before the day's sightseeing crowds reach the Royal Mile.

The Milkman suits solo travellers, couples and anyone needing a good coffee between sights. It is not a place for a full meal, but coffee works well alongside a slice of cake, and the second branch further up Cockburn Street gives you another option if one is busy. Opening at 8am on weekdays, it also suits early risers heading for the castle before the crowds, and as an independent business it offers a more personal alternative to the chain cafés nearby.

Cockburn Street is lined with independent shops, and it is a direct walk down to Waverley station and Princes Street. From the café, St Giles' Cathedral and the Real Mary King's Close are a couple of minutes uphill on the Royal Mile, and the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens are just across Waverley Bridge. Climbing Cockburn Street after arriving at Waverley, The Milkman makes a natural first stop before heading up to the castle or down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood. The café's website lists its products, shipping information and environmental initiatives for those who want to buy online.