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Leo's Beanery's blue frontage beneath its Coffee Food Company signage, potted plants lining the pavement.
Edinburgh

Leo’s Beanery

A basement cafe on Howe Street in the New Town, behind a teal front, where the food is made with ingredients that contain no gluten.

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Welcome

Halfway down Howe Street, the steep hill between the New Town and Stockbridge, a few steps lead down beneath iron railings to a teal-painted basement front lettered Coffee Food Company.

This is Leo's Beanery, a cafe where the food is made with ingredients that contain no gluten.

Inside, the rooms are cosy and full of character: mismatched painted chairs, tables set on old sewing-machine bases, a banquette with mustard cushions under a big round clock and a weathered mirror, and a counter crowded with cake stands under a chalkboard of the day's specials. There are breakfasts, sandwiches and lunches, a good choice of cakes and hot drinks, and a few stools at the window for watching feet go by on the pavement above.

Leo's opens every day from morning until three in the afternoon, and it caters for events as well.

Round the cornerLucky Liquor CoA cocktail bar on Queen Street from the team behind Bramble, opened in 2013, named for the number thirteen and played entirely on vinyl.1 min by roadSee itLucky Liquor Co
Before you go

Open every day from morning until three.

The kitchen uses ingredients that contain no gluten, though it cannot promise any dish is wholly free of it.

Where
23A Howe Street, Edinburgh EH3 6TF.
Telephone
0131 556 8403.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
9am–3pm
Tuesday
9am–3pm
Wednesday
9am–3pm
Thursday
9am–3pm
Friday
9am–3pm
Saturday
9.30am–3pm
Sunday
9.30am–3pm

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Where it is

Down a few steps on Howe Street, between the New Town and Stockbridge.

Close byThe New Town and Stockbridge.
  1. Entrance to The Scottish Gallery, since 1842, flanked by potted shrubsThe Scottish GalleryOne of the oldest galleries in Edinburgh, showing art since 1842.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. The salmon-pink front of Little Capo at 18 Howe Street, its name painted above a big window lined with wine bottles and a black door at the top of the steps.Little CapoA small, Italian-ish restaurant and aperitivo bar behind a salmon-pink front on Howe Street, in the New Town, open every day from noon.Under a mile as the crow flies
  3. The basement room at Capetto under Little Capo, with a long banquette, small brass-edged tables and the bar lit warm at the far end.CapettoA basement café and bar below Little Capo on Howe Street, from the same team, with coffee from 8am and cocktails into the night.Under a mile as the crow flies
  4. St Stephen Street curving towards St Stephen's church tower.St Stephen StreetA curving Georgian street of small independent shops and basement bars.Under a mile 2 min by road
  5. Fortitude CoffeeFortitude CoffeeThe Stockbridge coffee house of an Edinburgh roaster.Under a mile 2 min by road
  6. StockbridgeStockbridgeAn old village on the Water of Leith below the New Town.Under a mile 2 min by road
Directions
Bruschetta topped with cherry tomatoes, pesto and basil on black platesRestaurantsNovapizza Vegan KitchenA step away
The grey-green front of Archipelago Bakery at 39 Dundas Street, with its name in red above the door, a chalkboard outside and pink tables and chairs on the pavement.CafeArchipelago BakeryA 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.RestaurantsAvery0.2 miles
Houseplants crowd wooden shelves and hanging baskets in a plant shopShoppingGrow Urban0.2 miles
Long gallery with framed paintings lining pale grey walls above polished wooden floorboardsAttractionsThe Fine Art Society0.2 miles
Wellington Coffee shopfront beside stone steps leading down to a basement doorwayRestaurantsWellington Coffee0.2 miles
Neon sign reading "I like mine with a kiss" above café tablesCafeThe Pantry0.2 miles
Cowan & Sons café-bar frontage in Stockbridge, two men ordering takeawayRestaurantsCowan & Sons0.2 miles
Shelves of bottled cocktails at Bramble, including Affinity, Six Cylinder and Brooklyn CocktailRestaurantsLucky Liquor Co0.2 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near Leo's, and when each is next free.

A 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
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  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Leo's Beanery
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 Leo's Beanery
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 Leo's Beanery
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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