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Vegan
Mediterranean
British
European
Middle Eastern
Coffee shop which turned vegan in 2019. Serves coffee with multiple plant milks. Has a variety of vegan cakes and vegan sandwiches. Also serves a vegan sausage roll and smoothies. Cashless. Open Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-17:00.
243 Reviews
First Review by MrTea83
stahrchild
Points +156
Never impressed - Edit
I’ve been about 15/20 times in the last few years and the food has only ever just been okay. I’ve kept going because everyone needs to support local vegan places!! But always disappointed, sadly. They’ve been busy every time I’ve been in which is great
Read morePros: Good size menu , 5 min walk from haymarket
Cons: Food isn’t tasty!
ChapterOneCoffee
Aw, so sad to hear you were disappointed! There are loads of other fantastic vegan places in Edinburgh - we love Black Rabbit, Sora Lella, Rabbit Food - maybe they'll be more to your liking?:)
Read moreGuest
VeganToby
Points +44
True love at first bite - Edit
Transcendent and delicious! A triumph of vegan cuisine 🤤😍 But seriously so amazing - had the full breakfast as my first meal in Scotland and I’m in love!
Read morePros: Food, Atmosphere
ChapterOneCoffee
Wow, that's incredible, so very grateful!:)
Read moreGuest
Braceface
Points +280
Wow! Hit the spot like nothing else! - Edit
Cold, rainy and dreary day has been completely turned around by the warm delicious porridge, haggis, full breakfast and a steamy Cappucino!
Read moreRed velvet cake was also mouth watering!
I can stay here for hours and hours….
ChapterOneCoffee
Thanks for your incredible review, that made our day!:)
Read moreGuest
leestone8
Points +446
Nice place to get breakfast or lunch - Edit
Loads of choices, reasonable prices and worth a visit
Read moreGuest
khugs
Points +92
Amazing French toast - Edit
My husband and I came here for brunch and we were really impressed with the menu, there is so much on offer. My husband had a delicious falafel and mango chutney sandwich and I had the French toast - it was so delicious! Prices aren’t bad and the service was very good, I would definitely recommend it.
Read moreChapterOneCoffee
So glad you loved the French toast! Thank you for the review:)
Read moreGuest
Niu-Niu
Points +145
Amazing vegan selection - Edit
I got the French toast with bacon, banana and maple syrup and it was absolutely delicious! They used 2 thick slices if sourdough bread with crispy edges and a fluffy interior. It was a very large serving and would defintly fill you up for the day. I also had the passion fruit smoothie which I would highly recomment too. There's always an amazing selection of sandwiches and cakes too.
Read morePros: 1. All vegan, Really tasty and high quality, Nice interior and vibe
Cons: A little pricey for some things
ChapterOneCoffee
Thank you so much - what an incredible review! :)
Read moreGuest
keavih
Points +437
Nice little place - Edit
Shared a croissant and a pain au chocolat - both fantastic. Was excited for the sweet chilli chicken sandwich but wasn't to my taste, couldn't taste any sweet chilli sauce and the cheese was a bit overpowering, bread was lovely though! Maybe come earlier in the day to ensure sandwiches are fresher and that there are more options! 😊
Read moreChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much for the review! We're also super happy to custom make sandwiches!:)
Read moreGuest
Edlay
Points +146
Lovely Cafe - Edit
Great options and all sandwiches are warmed up and served with salad. Dog friendly too 😊
Read moreChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much! Yes, please bring all the dogs!:)
Read moreGuest
KatharinaMK
Points +1342
Favourite Café 💕 - Edit
We‘ve been in Edinburgh for a week and had breakfast here every morning. Now back home we already miss it 😉
Read moreMany absolutely delicious options, very nice staff, clean and cute all over ☺️
Best value for money!
Literally can’t wait for the next visit!
Update August 2023:
Still love it! Amazing options, super delicious and friendly staff. Always something new to try and definitely still 10/10! 😁
Updated from previous review on 2019-11-03
Pros: Everything
Cons: Nothing 🤷🏻♀️
ChapterOneCoffee
Wow, we're humbled by this amazing review! Thanks so much for sharing this and the photos! Hope to see you again soon!:)
Read moreGuest
Whitos
Points +54
Delicious fresh food - Edit
We had the biscoff cinnamon bun, Nutella croissant and brie/cranberry/spinach baguette which was delicious!
Read moreWould definitely recommend visiting. Fully vegan and delicious!
Pros: Pastries , Coffee
Cons: Dark hot chocolate wasn't great but still nice
ChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much for your lovely review!:)
Read moreGuest
AndreaMarchettini
Points +92
So good!! - Edit
Staff was super lovely, and the food wasn't any less than that. We got a bree and cranberry roll (it had been so long! Shame not many places make vegan ones), a reuben roll, a biscoff and cranberry tart and a maple pecan plait. Everything was absolutely top notch! Prices very decent as well
Read morePros: The foooood, The driiiiink, The staaaaaff
Cons: None :)
Guest
Link246
Points +131
Vegan lunch oasis - Edit
Lovely coffeeshop with great sandwiches (tip: get them toasted) and very friendly staff. Much recommended!
Read morePros: Good portions , Nice coffee, Friendly staff
Guest
EmmaAndersson22
Points +74
Good coffee and chai - Edit
Chai latte was really good
Read moreCarrot cake dry and crumbly
Biscoff cake, delishiously fluffy and moist
Pros: Biscoff cake, Good portions, Cozy
Cons: Carrot cake - dry
Guest
Jaadde
Points +74
Great sandwich and cake - Edit
Hard to find decent vegan sandwiches sometimes so this was great. Lovely vibe, interior and cake!
Read moreGuest
noochnosh
Points +56
Excellent Corner Cafe! - Edit
Convenient to Haymarket Tram stop, where we stayed. Friendly baristas, several signs made it clear all offerings were dairy free, egg free, etc. amazing selection of premade sandwiches and pastries. Want to go back and try everything.
Read moreGuest
catandcupcake
Points +9263
A must visit - Edit
Everything I've had is delicious!! High quality ingredients and excellent taste. Working my way through the sandwiches! The soup deal is good as sandwiches can be £8 and the deal is £8.50! Coffee smoothies are lovely!
Read moreGuest
eveikigai
Points +772
This café is vegan and proud! - Edit
I loved that there were plenty of novelty items on the menu, we had some iced pistachio lattes and a bounty bar and took away a toasted sandwich. All were delicious. The beautiful animal liberation artwork and the dairy is scary educational milk sign, among other details, didn't go unnoticed!
Read morePros: Close to Haymarket station , Good sized and accessible bathroom , Lots of options
Guest
avocado_jess
Points +3209
Delicious sandwiches - Edit
Gorgeous spot. We have been every day for breakfast and takeaway lunch. We loved our blueberry, raspberry and Nutella croissant / breakfast roll breakfasts and the takeaway sandwiches for lunch were great! So far we’ve tried the Reuben /pepperoni, mozzarella and tomato / sweet chilli “chicken” with cheese and tomato / almond pesto and mozzarella. All have been delicious! Good coffee too, lovely fruit smoothies and delicious salted caramel brownie. We are big fans ☺️
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-06-08
Pros: Lovely staff, Fresh sandwiches full of lots of toppings, Gorgeous houseplants
ChapterOneCoffee
Thank you for this incredibly generous review! Very much appreciated.
Read moreGuest
Simsimsims
Points +2415
Very nice wee café - Edit
Had a great time! Very chill vibes, good food and pretty art on the wall!
Read moreGuest
KellyDonaldson
Points +22
Lovely staff and such tasty food! - Edit
We live in Edinburgh so have eaten at Chapter One many times, but it's been a few months since we visited and I'd forgotten just how good it is! It's entirely vegan, so no need to worry about cross-contamination etc.
Read moreOne of us had a full breakfast (served all day) with (fake) sausages, haggis, scrambled tofu, tomatoes, beans, potato scone, toast and spinach, the other had a soup (Thai green lentil) and a baguette (they have so many lovely rolls/baguettes to choose from - we had the 'brie' and cranberry with spinach). Followed by a slice of chocolate cake and an oat latte (oat is the default milk here). Everything was delicious!
The staff are very friendly and there's a nice atmosphere. It's not huge (room for about 20 customers) but there are large windows, so it's always nice and bright, with pretty fairy lights and plants adding to the decor. It's about 5 minutes' walk from Haymarket Station, so easy to find. Highly recommended.
Pros: Great selection of filled rolls, cakes etc, Tasty all-day breakfast and smoothies, Lovely atmosphere
Cons: Limited opening hours
ChapterOneCoffee
Thank you so much for this amazing review - that made our day!:)
Read moreGuest
JacobDawson
Points +200
Good for an occasion - Edit
Fantastic to see a fully vegan coffee shop - especially with a good range of food options. However it's ever so slightly over-priced and could use a bit of maintenance.
Read morePros: Peace of mind - everything's vegan!, Good vibes & decor, Dogs allowed 🐕
Cons: Needs a bit of mould treatment!, A tad overpriced - even the great food!
ChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much for this lovely review!
Read moreGuest
Loafbnb
Points +89
Worth the walk. - Edit
On a recommendation, I walked right across the city, & past lots of non-vegan cafes serving vegan options, to try the vegan food at Chapter One. It was worth it. The creamy soya latte was one of the best coffees I had all week. Tasty pastrami & vgn cheese seedy cob w/ spinach, sunflower seed & balsamic salad, & a wee red velvet cake.
Read moreA good, filling lunch.
Just a heads up that the cafe looked closed from outside. No 'open' sign & all the windows steamed up. Tried the door on the off-chance & it was busy & welcoming inside!
Pros: Spacious loo! Unusual for a small cafe.😄, Everything's vegan.
Cons: Seeds go everywhere biting into seedy cob., Felt bad for staff having to clear all the seeds!
ChapterOneCoffee
Thank so much for this lovely review!:)
Read moreGuest
hellohappyvegan
Points +933
Being gracious with 2 stars... - Edit
THE GOOD:
Read morePESTO PRESSED SANDWICH - mozzarella, almond pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach.
I love pesto, and this was pesto perfection! The pesto was fragrant, it packed a bold basil flavor, and they used a generous amount! The pesto was made with almonds instead of pine nuts. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference. The multi-grain bread was a good, hearty choice. I liked that they gave me the option to have the sandwich pressed. I gladly said yes, as nothing brings a sandwich together better. ;)
The side salad was a pleasant surprise. It was a spinach salad with balsamic vinegar and sunflower seeds. It was a great way to squeeze in some extra veggies!
The only thing I would change is to add more sun-dried tomatoes. Vegan cheese doesn't always have the best melting abilities, but I was okay with that.
THE BAD:
The cupcake was dense and flavorless. The only good thing about it was the icing. The cappuccino tasted burnt. It was the worst I've had during my entire European trip.
My sandwich was good, but unfortunately my overall experience was terrible. I have never had worse customer service than I did at Chapter One Coffee Shop. The disrespect I received was flabbergasting. It truly made me feel awful. I wanted to leave, but my need for caffeine overpowered my desire to walk out. After I sat down to finish my cappuccino, I thought maybe it was just me, maybe I was overreacting. However, shortly after, an employee came to my table and apologized on the other employee's behalf. That was nice and validating. It confirmed my feelings and experience. Trust me, I get that working in the service industry is difficult. Nevertheless, there's no excuse for that type of behavior. It put a sour taste in my mouth, and everything I ate was tainted.
You can watch my visit to Chapter One and see all of the vegan food I ate in Edinburgh on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw-0mh0q3iM&t=1s
Updated from previous review on 2023-03-31
Pros: Pesto
Cons: Dense Cupcake, Burnt Cappuccino, Worst service ever experienced
ChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much for the review! Very glad you enjoyed the sandwich. I can only apologise for the service you received that day. That particular member of staff no longer works with us - we can only hope you're able to see this as an issue with one person, as opposed to the whole shop. Please pop in whenever you're next around - we're confident we can make a better impression this time. Have a great day!:)
Read moreGuest
scrippz
Points +134
Great Sandwiches - Edit
I had the mozzeralla pepperoni sandwich. Was great
Read moreChapterOneCoffee
So glad you enjoyed our sandwich! Thank you!
Read moreGuest
LaraLemons
Points +1720
Sooooo good!! - Edit
Firstly, lovely friendly staff and great food (although it makes it difficult to choose). I haven’t had French toast since being vegan but this was great. And the bacon was scrummy too. My partner had the full English which was exceptional - in particularly the haggis! Great sweet options too!
Read moreChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much for appreciating our food and leaving a review!:)
Read moreGuest
LoisBoyd
Points +44
This is the daddy of vegan cafés in Edinburgh. Get a loyalty card. - Edit
Sandwiches and dogs. So yummy and the sweetest staff. We love to see it.
Read morePros: Always adding new items to the menu , Peanut butter espresso smoothie, Student discount on drinks
Cons: It’s a little place so there’s not much seating
ChapterOneCoffee
Thank you so much for this lovely review! We're very happy over it!:)
Read moreGuest
rainonseven
Points +514
Brilliant spot for brunch - Edit
Amazing sandwiches and cakes and delicious coffee
Read moreChapterOneCoffee
Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Read moreGuest
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