Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Western
British
Volunteer-run, non-profit arts venue and cafe with a small menu of simple vego dishes. Dishes can be requested vegan. Re-opened at this Tollcross location in 2012. Reported closed December 2020.
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141 Lauriston Place, Tollcross, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9JN
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Cash only
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 06 Dec 2020 by Guest
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Added by imogenmichel on 21 Sep 2012
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25 Reviews
First Review by OneNightStanzas
deadpledge
Points +14955
Great venue, great prices - Edit
The Forest Cafe was one of the highlights of our recent trip to Edinburgh. Both the venue and staff were excellent and it's nice to be able to suport this type of business. We ordered the vegan pancakes with chocolate sauce for just £2, YES just £2 and they were absolutely delicious. The latte I got was also excellent. Will definitely visit again.
Read morePros: Good food, Lovely staff, Cheap
Guest
MartheLamain
Points +26
Just great! - Edit
Loved that was non-profit, friendly service, good falafel wrap, and there's is free bread to take.
Read morePros: All vegan, Cheap
Guest
DouglasMcCaffrey
Points +871
Delicious healthy food at great prices! - Edit
Love forest cafe! The food is great and portion sizes are very big for the price.
Read morePros: Great vegan options, Plant milk available
Cons: Small menu
Guest
Muuuuu
Points +3318
a nice vibe - Edit
Food is ok and cheap; the place is packed and cold, though
Read moreGuest
Ghiribizzo
Points +224
Great value - Edit
Good city location and great service from the volunteer waiting staff. Portion size excellent after a long time walking in Edinburgh. Great value at £6 for a falafel meal but the Vegan options are very limited.
Read more*good to see the Staff help out an elderly couple on the street - the man had become injured and was bleeding.
Pros: Central Tollcross location, Value , Portion size
Cons: General hygiene could do with a review , Poor vegan choice
Guest
EmeseVáradi
Points +19
affordable prices - Edit
The staff are very friendly the place is cosy and very affordable prices. The coconut cappuccino was just £2. I ordered a falafel wrap too and I asked the guy to put hummus in my wrap. He said it goes with the wrap. Finally I got an extremely dry wrap and there was just a very small portion of hummus in it. The cappuccino was very nice.
Read morePros: vegetarian, vegan options, affordable prices
Cons: wraps are dry
Guest
lucy659
Points +141
Gorgeous - Edit
Great place with a laid back, no frills atmosphere. Absolutely affordable and in an ok part of town.
Read morePros: Friendly people, Variety, Budget friendly
Guest
WackyWebster
Points +186
Affordable, filling and arty! - Edit
I was originally planning on just getting a drink when I went to The Forest Café but was so impressed by the prices I decided to get a burrito! Not only is it affordable but the portions are huge! A wonderfully filling meal. The café has a lovely arty and friendly atmosphere and a few minute walk from Edinburgh College of Art. Another bonus was that it is dog friendly. I also really love the cooperative aspect of it - I noticed there were free options such as loaves of bread.
Read morePros: Big portions , Very affordable , Dog friendly
Guest
EmmaFaeEdinburgh
Points +1409
Excellent value for money! - Edit
Had a falafel meal here, which was a belly-busting plate of falafel, bread, salads and hummus for only £6. Excellent value for money by Edinburgh standards.
Read moreGuest
thecharlotte
Points +763
Alternative café with art performance - Edit
Volunteer run cafés are always fun and interesting to visit. At Forest Café they have performances in the evening with local artists. Even though this is a vegetarian café, the whole menu can be made vegan which is a plus.
Read moreGuest
BryanWoltjen
Points +335
Grungy local - Edit
Murals. Mismatched furniture. Marvellous beans on toast, veganable. Seems like a very community focused place, there's free breadbin.
Read moreGreat open windows to watch Edinburgh march on.
No breakfast menu sadly but the beans on toast can be nooched up to excellent effect.
Friendly staff.
Rough around the edges, but delightful all the same. Or maybe because it's so.
Guest
DianaTurianska
Points +22
Recommend - Edit
Really good and affordable
Read moreGuest
Davvegan
Points +70
Alternative vegetarian place - Edit
Really cozy discovered just by chance. Very friendly staff and really cheap.
Read moreVintage hippy decoration, and nice murals.
It's a pity I just discovered it on my last day, since I've not really enjoyed most vegan/vegetarian places in Edinburgh.
Politically committed, as it could be expected in a place like this.
Pros: All the food can be veganised.
Guest
findingfay
Points +191
Nice Relaxed Lunch - Edit
Went here for lunch after visiting the National Museum and got a tad lost. The Forest Cafe has a very relaxed feeling to it and is very community based. I got the vegan chili with pita, dad got lentil soup and mum got a falafel wrap - mine and mum's was very nice but dad found his soup a bit too spicy.
Read moreThe portions were really big yet really cheap! Definitely recommend.
Pros: Big portions, Cheap, Relaxed community feel
Cons: Maybe a bit 'hippie' for some people
Guest
craigmc
Points +41487
chilled community cafe - Edit
in the middle of tollcross a haven of calm.
Read morethis could be regarded by many as a stereotypical hippie veggie place, and it is kind of. If i had the hair, i might have the dreads also.
really nice staff, you can tell the food is homemade which is good, and not from the supermarket packet.
there are performances of various kinds and you can buy local artists work which are displayed. Even the tables have been painted by people locally. a really relaxing place, a good coffee machine would really improve the cafe, although there filter is good.
run by volunteers, has a real community feel.
on a recent return had the falafel meal and would recommend as was filling, tasty and had a variety of salads with it.
The menu is limited but to have as many good reviews says everything about it. Food shares, options to buy pople a coffee....the forest rocks
Updated from previous review on 2015-07-11
Pros: staff, location, value
Guest
kuni
Points +252
go forest! - Edit
An affordable heaven in a town where everything is expensive.
Read moreLovely people here serving simple but good food. The world needs more places like this, so go and support them!
Pros: friendly staff, great atmosphere, affordable
Cons: simple food
Guest
Bluesticker
Points +32
limited for vegans - Edit
love the concept of this place but unfortunately very limited options for vegans. A real shame as this place has so much more potential.
Read morePros: great atmosphere, cheap
Cons: limited vegan options
Guest
imogenmichel
Points +2748
Great place to have in Edinburgh - Edit
I don't come here that often since the move from Bristo Place, mainly because the vegan food options are less good in the new location. However, it's still a great place to have in the city that does a lot of good things.
Read moreGuest
heywood100
Points +334
Great Atmosphere - Edit
I'm a little biased because my housemate works there, but The Forest is a great place to sit down for a cheap and filling burrito and do some people watching. Don't expect it to be quiet though, as the place is always full with a very wide range of people and events. Definitely the number one choice in Edinburgh if you're looking for a politically alternative kind of place.
Read moreGuest
Adlerbaby
Points +302
nice - Edit
Nice alternative atmosphere
Read more3 cakes, unfortunetly only one was vegan
Nice savory und hot dishes (soup falafel hummus etc)
Guest
Ryecatcher
Points +2222
Come and see for yourself - Edit
This is a local project which really is worth supporting. Voluntary nice people who make a small but important difference.
Read moreI wasn't stunned by the location or the food (although they were quite alright), but I felt really comfortable both with location and with the other guests.
If I would live in Edinburgh, I would go there all the time. Come and see for yourselves! But be aware that it's an eased cafe, not a restaurant.
Pros: helpful staff with good attitude, boosts local community, good Wi-Fi connection
Cons: only complain, if you can do it better
Guest
anka_gollas
Points +146
old / new forest - Edit
i went to the forest while my brief visit to edinburgh where i used to live. i was surprised to see the new location but it didnt loose the old cozy atmosphere. the staff is super friendly and food freshly self made. i had a delicious soup (potato lentil orange pumpkin ?) and set of salads. another day yogi tea. the place is welcoming to stay longer sit read or have a chat. there are many delicious vegan options unfortunately not that many gluten free. ill definitely go back
Read morePros: inexpensive, friendly staff, excellent food
Guest
jencompgeek
Points +311
Decent food in a nice atmosphere - Edit
We came here for lunch on a recent visit. The menu was small, indeed, maybe about 5-7 options. Only a few of the options could be made vegan, but we ordered the falafel plates and they were pretty tasty. I also tried the vegan chocolate cake, which was not the best I've had but certainly not bad. We really enjoyed the coffee and the laid-back artsy vibe. I think I would eat here again next time I'm in town. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
Read morePros: good value, good coffee, friendly staff
Cons: limited menu, limited seating
Guest
Stevie
Points +11765
The Forest Cafe, Edinburgh - Edit
This venue is different from any of the other all vego places I have been to in Edinburgh.
Read moreThe menu doesn't offer the biggest choice but this place is run by volunteers for the benefit of the community - good for them. The things on the menu are simple such as sandwiches and nachos and also soup of the day. Sandwich of the day today was tofu and caramelised onion served with cous cous and green leaves salad. Decent value at £4. 1 coffee and 1 ginger and lemon tea was £2.50. Very inexpensive in my view for Edinburgh.
There's a cafe policy printed off and stuck on the wall re no racism, no sexism etc etc. The clientele were very casually attired.
Pros: Vegan vego friendly, Inexpensive
Guest
OneNightStanzas
Points +127
Please Come Home. We Love You. Forest. - Edit
Forest -- now in its brand spanking new location at Tollcross Junction -- is an Edinburgh institution, and although its old home is sadly missed, there are some great things about the new one. You sit surrounded on all sides by windows, so while you sip your cup of tea (you can choose from tons of varieties!), you can watch the bustle of Tollcross happening around you. The place is full of funky artworks and artefacts, and cool (often copyleft) music drifts out of a huge 80s boombox on the wall. There are tomato plants on all the tables, and they all have name labels and want to talk to you! Tea and coffee are served in huge, mismatched mugs by utterly lovely staff, all of whom are committed volunteers. The atmosphere is totally laid back and chill. It's lovely.
Read moreThe food menu is still being worked out in the new premises, but I am super happy to see the legendary Forest burrito (vegan option available) back on the cards. You can also get a sweet salad (the choices change regularly so it's never boring) or a slice of delicious cake. There are almost always vegan cake options and the staff will bend over backwards to accommodate vegans' needs. Hooray!
Forest is an old place still trying to find its feet in a new location, but so far it's doing pretty darned well. Highly recommended for any vegan looking for a tasty snack in Edinburgh!
Pros: Lovely staff, Cool and quirky, Vegan cake
Guest
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