The Milkman: Picturesque gem in Edinburgh
The Milkman is a picturesque and characterful coffee shop in Edinburgh, Scotland.
This architectural gem forms part of the group of buildings, dating from 1859.
The independent speciality coffee shop is located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The Old Town is the name popularly given to the oldest part of Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh.
The area has preserved much of its medieval street plan and many reformation-era buildings.
Together with the 18th/19th-century New Town, and West End, it forms part of a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You will notice that the layout of Edinburgh’s Old Town is quite unusual, because of the land that it is built on.
The city lies on what’s known as a ‘crag and tail’ formation, with an extinct volcano at the top (the ‘crag’), on which you will find Edinburgh Castle, and a glacial ridge running downhill (the ‘tail’), which is now the Royal Mile.
All around, you will see the tall buildings and narrow alleyways, which are the remnants of vast overcrowding in the past.
You should head to Calton Hill for one of the best views of the eclectic Old Town, where you can capture some of the most iconic photos of Edinburgh’s skyline!
The Milkman opened its doors in November 2015 when Mark, the owner, completely transformed what was an old candy shop into a stylish and cosy coffee shop.
The name of the shop is imbued with memories and carries the story of Mark’s great grandfather.
He was the last horse-drawn milkman in Huntly, up in Aberdeenshire, to deliver milk to the town and surrounding areas.
The shop frontage of The Milkman remained largely intact before Conservation work began in 2016.
It is one of a number of shops within the terrace in which its timber panelled shutters still exist in use, sliding down into slots beneath the windows during the day.
The hand painted fascia with signwriting reveals its former function as a confectioner.
The reviews on TripAdvisor are brilliant - there’s more than 300 five star reviews!
One recent customer said: “This was on my list of places to visit and it did not disappoint.
”It is very small, only seats maybe 10 max, but we were lucky to get the window seat. Great service, great coffee, great atmosphere.”
Another added: “Very popular coffee spot but for good reason. Delicious mocha and latte as well as an amazing snickerdoodle cookie and chocolate sea salt cookie.
”However, very minimal seating - if you want to sit and enjoy, don’t order until you have staked a claim on seats.”
As much as we all love coffee, they know that most of the time people crave something to pair it with.
That is why, along with a morning selection of flaky pastries, they also offer customers a range of cakes from local bakeries that is sure to appease even the more difficult of palates.
If you’d like to visit, their address is: 7 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1BP.
If you find yourself in Edinburgh, don’t forget to check out Edinburgh Castle.
This magnificent fortress is one of the most exciting historic sites in Western Europe.
Set in the heart of Scotland's dynamic capital city, it is sure to capture your imagination.
The scenery will take your breath away!
if you enjoyed this blog post, please follow Exploring GB on Facebook for daily travel content and inspiration.
Don’t forget to check out our latest blog posts below!
Thank you for supporting Exploring GB.
