Pep & Fodder in Edinburgh, City of

Overpriced tourist trap. Staff quite rude

Excellent breakfasts with a varied offering. Cozy environment and friendly staff!

Nice little coffee shop. Only had a couple of cappuccinos but they were spot on. Service was good and seated promptly at the rear. Nice & cosy.

Nice place, nice food (panini and bagel) only thing that spoiled our visit was the man taking our order. No manners whatsoever, no thank you or goodbye. Also not very friendly or welcoming with anyone. I won’t be returning.

Looovely cute little cafe near Waverley station. I was looking for something a bit homely and not decorated to the heavens. The food was good and cafelike which was what I was after. Staff were lovely too - I got a free hot choc xx

Nice place to get a snack and a coffee. Not so expensive, possibility to add salad to the sandwiches.

Great Scottish coffee shop, got a Haggis breakfast sandwich takeaway with a cappuccino.

Horrible place. You can piss yourself while placing an order because toilet is only for customers who already paid. And you’re not enough of a customer to seat if you didn’t order food (which doesn’t look good) The price difference between seat in and order is not normal too. The barista was rude and unwelcoming, side eyeing us the whole time we were in a queue to the toilet. We wanted to order lentil soup but after that took our business elsewhere. Not surprised that the whole place is half empty.

Maybe their food is not bad, but I didn't have a chance to try, it because a male barista said that we should order food to sit (the cafe was more than half empty). We just wanted to buy some water, sit and order food, but after so horrible response we took our water and left. Before that, we wanted to go to the toilet, but the guy was angry staring at us because we sat waiting in the queue.

Friendly employees, fresh and good selection, clean toilets.

it's ok Reasonably priced for being Edinburgh, quite authentic with locals. Good food, and very good coffee.

Expensive and not great. The bacon ciabatta (£5.95) had been flattened in a griddle and needed ketchup to give it any flavour. The coffee (£3.45) tasted burnt and barely drinkable. The staff, whilst friendly enough, appeared stressed which led to a stressed environment. A real shame, I would like this cafe to be good and really hope they improve, but there are better options elsewhere.

Very nice little place besides city centre where you can get a good selection of sandwiches and soups for a reasonable price (£12.75). The chicken, bacon and cheese sandwich I got and the spicy chickpea and tomato soup that my girlfriend got were very tasty.

Went in hear to get a snack and drink and was rushed to leave our table even though there were plenty free. Went in again the following morning and wanted to sit down and given takeaway bag for food and carry cups even though we told them we were staying. Didn't feel welcome and was expensive

Coffee and food ok but quite an officious owner. “You can't sit there it's reserved” and others being told to vacate very soon.

Unfortunately just not very friendly people. Wouldn’t come back as a result of this. Latte wasn’t incredible either.

Found the staff quite rude with customers.

Nice cafe. However was told straight away they were closing in 30 minutes so would be told to leave if not finished. We only had tea and coffee didn't have time to order food. Would not go again not friendly.

Great food. Just had Haggis Panini with Black coffee, and my wife had Granola bowl with mixed berries. Great restaurant!

VERY unfriendly! Huge poster outdoor, that they are a coffee, when you come in and you don‘t order food, they ask you to leave within 20 min. Unfortunatly no good coffee, very bitter

Great paninis, the best chai tea latte we’ve ever had, and scrumptious desserts particularly the caramel shortbread bar. Friendly staff and fast service too!

I was super starving, and thankfully, here has delicious food that is really quickly prepared. The staff are really patient and always on their feet getting the orders in. Limited spaces to dine-in, but the staff quickly noted when someone left and we were able to slip into a comfy seat. Really well done! Thanks for the great service.

Exceptional coffee - rich and full bodied flavour… 🤩

Best cappuccino and porridge I've ever had when I Visited here on my 2018 Edinburgh vacation and this was 5 stars. Back in 2024 and it's completely different. Triple the price and tastes terrible. £9 for terrible granola and coffee.

Great experience! We turned up with a pretty large party for a coffee shop, but they quickly accommodated us and provided stellar service!

Although bean type is not to my personal preference, the flat white was one of the stronger coffee I have tasted in Scotland, not sure whether is it because I asked for less milk. Overall ,worth trying. Also, they have tables with electrical plug points which is helpful.

Great experience! Lovely coffee and special toasts. Lovely staff

Close to our hotel, we came here one morning for breakfast. I had a good flat white and a bacon, cheese and tomato in ciabatta, pressed panini style, which I really enjoyed. My wife loved her Greek yogurt and honey over granola and her tea and her sister enjoyed her pressed croissant sandwich and her latte. We were lucky to snag a table on a Saturday morning because it got quite busy. Staff were friendly, efficient and helpful Prices were just right for us. As crowds subsided and more tables became available, we lingered over our meal and had a great start to our day.

Have just returned from Pep and Fodder and so disappointed with the service. We came in and I genuinely did not see the sign to wait to be seated as I was concentrating on getting my husband who suffers from Parkinson's a seat. The cafe was only half full. I was told abruptly that we had to wait to be seated. I helped my husband up and we stood waiting to be seated. We were the only ones waiting to be seated as a couple of other people were waiting for takeaway. When she asked what we wanted I said just coffees she was obviously not happy that we were not wanting anything to eat looked to find a seat as far away from the front as possible up beside the toilet. My husband by this time had sat down at a table near the front to which the server said we could only have it for half an hour untill 12md as obviously we were in a table that they wanted people to order food at. We quickly had our coffees and left. We felt humiliated at the way we were treated. Obviously they want the oversees tourist for profit while us born and bred Scottish citizens who just want a seat and a coffee are made to feel unwelcome. I see that other reviews echo our sentiments and maybe the staff should have training in customer service. We will never be back. The cafe was half empty when we left just before 12.

Food is fine, overpriced though. The service was mid too, we got kicked too for sitting too “long” in not the nicest way

Excellent service and very friendly! We went for breakfast 3 times during our stay in Edinburgh! Very good coffee and excellent bakery!!!

Great little spot to pop into for a quick bite - breakfast or lunch! Great coffee too! The folks working at Pep & Fodder were very helpful & kind!

Strange and passively hostile service by the older man working there. Told us group of 4 that we couldn't sit at the window table because they needed access to the fridge - 10 mins later that same table filled with 4 other poeple. He acted weird when we only ordered 3 items (€5+ for a coffee) and told us that because we didn't order food we could have the table for 30 minutes only. Not hospitable at all.

Such friendly staff and chef. Delicious food. We had smashed avocado on toast. Loads of avocado, beautifully presented. Yum yum

We visit this establishment regularly. We get the bus from home which stops outside the cafe. Aprox 09.30. We arrived this morning as usual only to be refused service for coffee, which we do regularly. We were told that we we would not be able to have coffee as they we only serving breakfasts. This is not the way to treat regular guests regardless of what they wish to order. Bums on seats means cash in till. We are so disappointed with the treatment we will not return.

Coffee and cake nice but very unfriendly service. As soon as a plate or cup are empty they swoop even if others at the table are still eating/ drinking. As soon as we had finished and were about to leave anyway the surly man (owner?) asked us to go as he needed the table. Thought this would be a nice regular place but other places more welcoming so won't be back or recommending.

I cannot comment on the service or atmosphere as we did not eat drink or stay here, so I have given them 3⭐️, for false advertisement they get 1⭐️. We decided to go here as google list this as a dog friendly establishment. IT IS NOT DOG FRIENDLY!!! Well it is if you consider sitting out on the street. I would recommend you walk to the corner of Leith street and go to Society.

I have no problem when gluten free food is not available, although thankfully that's rarer now What there's no excuse for is staff who don't understand allergies. It all looked very delicious but the staff (3 of them) gave me no confidence that I wouldn't end up ill after eating there. So I went elsewhere

Walked in here for a coffee and a snack with my wife and baby in a pram as it looked quite. 3 empty tables had signs saying only 4 people can sit here. We went down to the only 2 seater table at the back, waitress rushed out to say we can't sit there as the toilets are down here. I asked can we sit in any of the other empty tables to which she said we can't. Rather than argue we just said thanks for your help and left. If the food is as good as the waitresses manners, I'd give it a miss.

Amazing little cafe with haggis and mozzarella paninis.

Came here for brunch around 11am. Counter staff were busy taking another customers order so I went to walk to an empty table to be told to wait and stand in the entranceway to be seated. So we waited and when it was our turn, we were told to sit in the same empty table I was going to sit at originally. We were then told to order at the counter (like the customer was before us). So, if we had to order at the counter anyway why were we ordered to wait to be allowed to sit down? It made no sense as there was no table service. Couldn’t fault the food, decor and speed of the service but strange and borderline rude customer service.

Good to meet people arriving at Waverley. Bigger tables reserved for bigger groups which is fair enough. Reasonable coffee and nice looking pastries etc. the staff were lovely I thought and bring coffee ordered at the counter to the table.

Fine for a stop off, it did seem they had to much staff for the size of venue.

Went into Pep & Fodder before getting the bus home. I have passed this place more times than I care to remember but I’ll not be passing it again. Staff are just lovely and swear they could read my mind as when I asked for sausage panini, she asked if I’d like a bit of cheese and onion, just what I needed after being on the go all morning. I had a flat white and have to say…one of the best coffees I’ve had in a long time. What can you do different…absolutely nothing! 😃👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Excellent coffee and very friendly staff

Visited twice during a weekend visit to the city. It was very convenient to our accommodation and directly opposite the starting point for the Hop On Hop Off bus tours. Nice coffee, savoury croissants & sandwiches. Service was speedy.

Had an amazing toasted sausage ciabatta sandwich for breakfast, and the coffee was great too. Nice environment and lovely staff

I popped in with my dog as research had suggested they were dog friendly. Initially, the first person I asked was unsure so I immediately said it was fine and went to leave. However, someone else (manager?) said it was fine as long as the dog was quiet and out of the way. Understandable but definitely more ‘dog tolerant’ than ‘friendly’. I tried to order just a drink but was told I couldn’t sit inside if I didn’t order food. Again, there were several tables free and no queue. At this point, I had walked a long way and was keen to give my dog some water and decided to get some lunch there. I was then sat right at the back of the cafe by the storage and the toilet despite there being other tables, presumably because of the dog. Food was average and choices seemed limited to sandwiches, panini, soup etc. There are much more welcoming cafes around with more varied menus as I discovered over the next few days.

They make a good coffee and some decent sandwiches, but the soups are where it's at really. Nice chill vibes inside and super handy for Waverley station.

Por malas reseñas llegue con una mala expectativa, pero todo me pareció muy rico y muy buena atención.

Popped in for coffee and cake. Small cafe, still had good amount of seats. Great Coffee in a welcoming atmosphere. All staff very friendly.

Queued for ten minutes mid morning when they had four empty tables only to be told I couldn't have a table because they were only for food orders. Used to be my regular coffee stop before going into Scottish Government meetings over the road, but never again.

Un Lloc on parar per fer un break.

Popped in here on my own to grab a tea and a slice of cake, it was 11:50 am. I was asked if I wanted to sit in or takeaway, I decided to sit in. There was then some commotion wherein a lady behind the counter came forward (a member of staff) and explained I couldn’t sit in any of the empty 4 tables at the front as its approaching lunchtime and they might get more guests in. Instead they offered me a stool at the back. I was a little taken aback but didn’t say anything, she then continued to explain how I would be taking up tables for other guests if I sat at the front as I was only one person. At this point the message was clear and I’d heard enough, I felt unwelcome so I said “don’t worry about it” and left. Given the location its clear the operation focuses on tourist traffic and want parties of a certain size, maximising profits takes priority over customer experience. I guess there’s enough tourists for them to not care about repeat business. I went to Starbucks instead and bought my lunch tea and snack there. The latter was hassle free.

Their Lentil soup is really nice for cold weather.

Very cute staff. Lovely place to pick up some quick breakfast or lunch when you don't know where to eat.

Excellent food and great service 👌

We stopped by this little place on our walk about, they had a new barista, and she was phenomenal! We both had lattes with a cranberry danish twist. Bathrooms, single stall, were clean. I took the opportunity to visit with the manager, thanked him for their service, let him know the danish was delectable, and how much we appreciated their little shop. This is a great little place, if you’re in the area, be sure and stop bye for a bite and a coffee. !

I ordered a takeaway flat white which was decent and mellow.

Well priced spot for coffee and a quick bite close to all of the attractions of the city center. Highly recommend, pictured are the BLT and flat white

We stopped for a quick coffee as we were walking nearby, the staff were really nice and the coffee was great, prices are good and it was made very fast. Even the outdoor seating is very chill.

Staff were rude. The atmosphere was chaotic. Not a pleasant place unfortunately.

Low quality coffee and weird counter server.

Excellent coffee and tea, calm atmosphere, great location. Being run like clockwork, churning through lots of customers very quickly! Great food for breakfast, panninis with sausage, bacon, veggie options etc.

Staff were extremely rude. No manners and overallyl quite disrespectful

Had an excellent vegetable soup and a _big_ coffee A lovely place

Good location, service was good. Food was ok but maybe just a little expensive for what isCoffee was decent.

Tolles kleines Kaffee in zentraler Lage, gemütlich eingerichtet. Sehr guter Kaffee, tolle Suppen und auch süße Kleinigkeiten. Immer einen kurzen Abstecher Wert.

Best brunch restaurant in Edinburgh! Their thai chicken noodles soup is a must! This is our go to in edin!

The cafe is cozy and the staff is very nice, however I was disappointed with their porridge and lack of consideration for my time. They use microwave to make it and it came out grainy and a bit starchy. I asked to try and fix it and maybe just heat it a little longer, but instead she prepared a new portion - why did she throw away a batch of porridge that just needed a little reheating?? And it tasted exactly the same as the 1st. I then asked to reheat the same one, and it was finally edible, but since it took so long to wait for a decent bowl of porridge, unfortunately I couldn’t eat it as it was too hot and I had to leave for the train, and didn’t have time to finish my coffee either. I arrived with plenty of time to spare, but left still hungry for my train ride. £8 wasted. If you’re looking for a delicious creamy porridge, go to Rabbie’s instead.

Pastries were nice , good service and great coffee . Slightly expensive but it's in a prime location and the festival so understandable. Knowledgeable staff . Its nice to receive a proper machiatto for once aswell .. so many places get this simple coffee wrong .

Super nice café with really nice staff! If you want a relaxing coffee with a scone/ciabatta/sweet pastry while visiting the area, this is the place to go

Klein maar fijn tentje, gezellig sfeertje en vriendelijke mensen!

Food very low quality, staff useless and service slow

Perfect for a quick bite to eat. Open for breakfast and lunch. Perhaps supper as well.

Popped in for a cuppa and cake before train, empty table available but as we were only 2 people they refused our custom, preferred to wait for 4 people to come in. Not good business and seemed very unfair. There was another table being used for interview, blocking out another table. Do you want customers??

At the end of our four day cycling break we arrived in Edinburgh absolutely drenched. While awaiting our transfer we needed drink and food and warmth - the cafe welcomed us in and promptly served us, allowing us to use their faciltiies even to change! Excellent staff, extremely accommodating. I'd really recommend such an unusually friendly cafe, especially in a large city. Great staff.

Very average coffee, and yesterday's cold bacon on my avocado toast.

It's OK, not bad but by no means great. If you're after a quick coffee or bite yo eat then it's fine. It seems to he a place for tourists before getting into the main part of Edinburgh to avoid higher prices. The coffee is average, and the bacon isn't great. It's clearly reheated and not cooked fresh. A choice of sauce to go in the bacon ciabatta would be helped.

As the Travelodge had no restaurant, we were recommended to visit this cafe, next door. It is small but we found a table easily. We ordered plain porridge as we didn't want the cinamen topping plus toast each. The porridge came with the topping. I sent mine back and it was begrudgingly re[placed. the toast was thick and tasty. I did think that £21.50 was a tad expensive though.

Rude worker. Try to treat customers with some semblance of courtesy.

This is one of our favorite stops over the years. Wonderful place

The owner yelled at me when I was on the sidewalk saying he's closed, simply for stopping to read the menu (when their door was open). I didn't even go inside. Ironic considering the description says unpretentious. So rude. Go anywhere but here.

1 Espresso zu trinken , reicht der Dame nicht aus ...ich hätte mich gerne hingesetzt. SIE SAGTE , NUR TO GO..Es sei gerade zu busy. .sowas geht garnicht ...sehr unfreundliches Personal ....kann nicht jeder die Speisekarte rauf und runter trinken ..es gibt soviele nette andere Cafés in der Stadt...Da kann man sein Geld lieber woanders ausgeben...

Lovely spot for breakfast - sat outside in the sunshine and watched the world go by

Coffee was ok and toast was, well, toast. Had to sit down the back opposite the toilet due to the “reserve table for four” policy even though there was no one sitting at either of the tables for four. My danish was inedible and days old.

Lovely little bistro with great food and atmosphere.

Just spotted for a coffee and cake. Perfect spot before continuing my walkabout in Edinburgh. I sat outside as it was almost full and clever people had reserved seats. Nice long black coffee and a piece of pecan and raisin tart.

incredibly rude waitstaff. ordered a tea for takeaway and sat down for a minute before staff was hassling me for sitting in while having bought a takeaway cup. who does that? is trying to save 30 pence worth souring the atmosphere of the entire room? incredibly cagey and hostile interaction. I would not go. And the owner should step in to retrain staff.

Todella maittavia vege-leivonnaisia

Porridge was good, I like it made with honey and cinnamon! Staff very hard working and friendly.

Found by chance near our hotel tasty food and helpful service l

Cold soup and Luke warm toastie charged me 11 quid. Has this place changed hands?

Great location. Staff were very accommodating. Relaxed whilst vibrant atmosphere.Service was swift. Lovely coffee.

I had a wonderful panini and tea is great a great environment and enjoyed staying there.

Simply great place to have nice coffee and panini, and soups there are fantastic what you can say more just pop up and check by yourself

I popped into Pep & Fodder this morning to buy a coffee. I'd walked past it regularly but never gone in, which is my loss. Normally if I buy a coffee it is average or disappointing compared to what we make with a cheaper machine at home. Pep & Foddee though make a damn fine cup of coffee and will be part of my train to London routine. I was really impressed and wish I had another to enjoy just now. I don't need more coffee but their's is that tasty. The staff were great too - bright, friendly and funny but professional and extremely good at their trade. Looking forward to my next visit.

Cosy and cute atmosphere with great baked goods and coffee. Staff were really nice and prices weren’t overly priced.

Really good food - had lovely soup and panini. Staff very friendly. Bit pricey.

This cafe is the perfect spot to relax and watch the city go by, the staff are very friendly. You are made to feel welcome the moment you walk in. Their sandwiches are delicious…I’m always torn between chicken,bacon & cheese or chicken, Brie &cranberry. They have delicious coffee as well, it would be nice to have a choice in size but the regular is definitely a decent size but if you want bigger coffee fix then you are going to have to travel elsewhere. Their pastries are Devine, my favourite is the chocolate torsade. Price wise they are a little on the high side but I feel the service that they provide as well as quality of the food served is worth the money. I particularly like to stop by on my way to university. I really appreciate the fact that they offer highland spring water. Unfortunately I have no pictures as the food was too appetising and I was rather ravenous. I will always make time to stop at this cafe, it is also a cafe I recommend to my guests at the hotel I work in.