LOWDOWN Reviews Summary

Coffee Quality

Pros:

• "The coffee was unbelievably good (I had the flight), it was served and discussed with passion and love."
• "Fantastic coffee just off the main street of Edinburgh."
• "Hands-down the best coffee in Edinburgh."
• "The filter coffees are amazing and always have some unusual ones to try."
• "Baristas who are incredibly talented and at the top of their game."
• "The coffee that arrived was complex, unusual, refined and sublime."
• "This is without a doubt the best flat white I’ve ever had."

Cons:

• "I tried their coffee yesterday (flat white - take away) but unfortunately wasn't as I expected. Its taste was a little bit sour."
• "Carrot cake was great but the coffee was terrible."
• "When asked we were told they were using a fermented coffee at the moment. The flavour was distinctive and not to our liking."
• "However the coffee blend was nice but have a funny after taste."
• "Came solely for the coffee with my partner and we were extremely unimpressed. Thousand people, thousand tastes, but this was incredibly acidic and had a generally horrible taste in our opinion."
• "Unfortunately my decaf cappuccino was like muddy water (filter coffee?) with some milk. Zero resemblance to the real MacCoy."
• "The coffee was a bit overpowering for me taste wise and they don’t have the biggest selection."

Food and Baked Goods

Pros:

• "One of the best cafes in Edinburgh. They have amazing coffee and great food."
• "Had breakfast, coffee and a cinnamon roll which was killer."
• "The food is really good, I had a nutritious lentil soup with a chicken sandwich + pot of tea for £8 so I'm pretty happy."
• "Avocado toast was really great - with humous and pomegranate seeds."
• "Food is great, cakes are delicious, staff are friendly and attentive. Minimalist Scandi/Japanese vibe."
• "The sourdough toast dishes we both ordered were incredibly balanced flavor profile wise."
• "The food and cakes are fantastic, my favourite is the vegan chilli and my daughter loves the salted caramel brownie!"

Cons:

• "The food was a little underwhelming. I got the brioche bun which ended up being very dry, and the chicken sandwich which barely had anything in it."
• "But the coffee and date cake I had was a little dry."
• "They seem to have stopped trying to provide gluten-free menu options."
• "And it was simply a bread not a cinnamon roll. A huge disappointment."

Service

Pros:

• "Really accommodating service, and delicious veggie options."
• "The rest of the staff were very welcoming and warm."
• "The lovely staff at the counter made sure we were in and out of the rain."
• "The barista there was extremely nice!"
• "Staff were lovely and helpful."
• "The staff here are always lovely and this is one of my favourite places for a quiet coffee in Edinburgh."
• "The staff are really friendly and you're made to feel very welcome."

Cons:

• "Weird experience... staff behavior made for a tense atmosphere."
• "Luke warm welcome (at best) from the young girl at the till."
• "Then when I went to seat in one of the 3 empty tables, the overweight older man looked at me as if I was doing something wrong and couldn't sit there."
• "Not recommend, they will kick you out just because there are people waiting outside."
• "Very disappointed with their service when I came yesterday for brunch."
• "However, my friend and I encountered extremely rude service today because one of the staff (cd be the owner) randomly had a go at my friend just because he accidentally left a paper cup on the table outdoors."
• "Bad service. The staff is very rude."

Ambiance and Location

Pros:

• "Ample seating and cosy setting, music is nice on the ear."
• "The space to drink it was beautiful and wonderful refuge from the Edinburgh rain."
• "As stylish as it gets, immaculately clean, effortlessly cool."
• "This place is great! Right in the centre of town, but tucked away in a cellar on George street."
• "This cafe is really thoughtfully appointed, with minimalist decor and offers a calm retreat away from the world above."
• "The café exuded a warm and welcoming ambiance, a testament to the owners' passion for their business."
• "The cafe's bright, modern, and minimalist design creates an enchanting atmosphere that's simply magical."

Cons:

• "Needs more sign to show off their latte art."
• "Perhaps the position on the dark side of the street is not ideal in the good season."
• "Cold barren atmosphere in the minimalist basement."
• "Vibe is quite minimalist inside. And it's not a huge cafe so you may be turned away."