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Wellington Coffee's sign spans a black-painted shopfront above a stairwell down to the basement entrance, an umbrella folded by the door.
Edinburgh

Wellington Coffee

A small basement coffee bar on the corner of George Street and Hanover Street, pouring espresso since 2008, with a sunken patio beside the door.

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Welcome

On the corner of George Street and Hanover Street, a black-painted shopfront carries the name above a stairwell dropping to a basement door.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

It is easy to walk straight past.

Down the steps the room is low and snug, under a patterned tin ceiling that arches over a handful of round tables and stools. A weathered wooden counter holds the espresso machine beneath a chalkboard menu, with stools along a black-and-white floor, and two narrow window bars look up through glass etched in gold with the name and the year it opened, 2008, onto the feet of passers-by and a potted plant. Outside, below the pavement, a sunken patio has a few tables for fine days. Order at the counter, take a window stool, and watch George Street go by overhead.

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Before you go

Espresso from Square Mile, with a guest coffee and a decaf, and scones, brownies and light lunches.

It is small and popular, so expect a wait for a seat inside at the busiest times.

Where
Down the steps on the corner of George Street and Hanover Street.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
7am–6pm
Tuesday
7am–6pm
Wednesday
7am–6pm
Thursday
7am–6pm
Friday
7am–6pm
Saturday
8am–6pm
Sunday
8am–6pm

Eaten here? Tell others what to order and when to go, and the best go on this page with your name.

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Did you know

A wooden window bar with two stools looks out through etched glass onto a New Town street, a potted plant on the sill outside.
Did you know

Three grinders.

The bar is built round its espresso machine and three grinders, one each for the house beans, the guest coffee and the decaf.

Wellington Coffee, Est 2008, is etched in gold lettering on the cafe's window above a wooden bar and stools inside.
Did you know

Not from New Zealand.

Despite the name, Wellington has no roots in New Zealand.

The black shopfront of Wellington Coffee sits above stone steps leading down, with cars passing on the street behind.
Did you know

A family of cafés.

It belongs to the same small group as Project Coffee, Press, Kilimanjaro, Blackwood and Thomas J. Walls, each with its own style.

A weathered wooden coffee bar sits below a chalkboard menu, with stools set along a black-and-white checkerboard floor.
Did you know

Beans by the season.

Its house coffee comes from Square Mile, the London roaster, and the beans change with the seasons.

A patterned tin ceiling arches over an empty cafe seating area of round tables, stools and a wooden bench on a checkerboard floor.
Did you know

A view to Fife.

From the tables out on the pavement, on a clear day, you can see across the Forth to Fife.

Wellington Coffee's sign spans a black-painted shopfront above a stairwell down to the basement entrance, an umbrella folded by the door.
What is on

What is new across Edinburgh, day by day.

New places, news and stories, as we find them.

What is on in Edinburgh
01 / 06
Where it is

On the corner of George Street and Hanover Street, in the New Town.

Close byThe places nearest Wellington, on George Street.
  1. Lucky Liquor CoLucky Liquor CoA Queen Street cocktail bar named for thirteen and played on vinyl.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. TipoTipoSmall plates of fresh pasta upstairs on Hanover Street.Under a mile 2 min by road
  3. Lowdown CoffeeLowdown CoffeeA basement coffee bar beneath George Street, its coffees changed each week.Under a mile 2 min by road
  4. NotoNotoStuart Ralston's small plates on Thistle Street, inspired by New York.Under a mile 2 min by road
  5. Café St HonoréCafé St HonoréA candlelit French bistro down a New Town lane.Under a mile 3 min by road
  6. Corinthian columns wrapped in fairy lights with a red-bowed wreath at the entranceThe DomeA George Street institution since 1996, behind a Corinthian portico.1 mile 4 min by road
Directions
Neon sign reading "I like mine with a kiss" above café tablesCafeThe PantryA step away
Cowan & Sons café-bar frontage in Stockbridge, two men ordering takeawayRestaurantsCowan & SonsA step away
Avery's dining room in Stockbridge, with dark stone walls, a large black and white painting and candlelit tables laid with linen napkins.RestaurantsAveryA step away
The dark front of Skua at 49 St Stephen Street in Stockbridge, with its name in red neon letters down the wall beside the door.RestaurantsSkuaA step away
Golden Hare Books shopfront with fine books signage on a terraced streetAttractionsGolden Hare BooksA step away
Candle and cocktail on a glass table beside an open fireplaceRestaurantsThe Last WordA step away
Jorum Studio perfume bottles labelled Arborist and Medullary Ray displayed on a shop shelfShoppingJorum StudioA step away
Plate of fudge, truffles, biscuits and cake with "Happy Anniversary" piped in chocolateRestaurantsPurslaneA step away
Cobbled lane between stone cottages leads to a distant church towerAttractionsCircus LaneA step away

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near Wellington, and when each is next free.

West End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Wellington
Check datesA hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Wellington
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Wellington
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from Wellington
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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