Nestled in stunning farmland at the foot of The Pentland Hills, The Secret Herb Garden Café & Bistro offers a unique experience to drink and dine among grapevines, fruit trees and herbs in a beautiful glass house all year round. (Photo: Secret Herb Garden Cafe)
Edinburgh has seen a boom in cafes, pubs and quirky shops stocking plants. Since the pandemic, when green spaces proved a lifeline for many in the city, many have sprung up and taken root in local communities across the city.
Whether it’s an idyllic spot for coffee enthusiasts escaping the rush of city life, a quaint green space in which to enjoy brunch or a place to get tips on how to best look after your houseplants, the Capital is blooming with all things botanical and a happy haven for houseplant lovers.
Grow Urban has two shops in Edinburgh – in Grove Street and St Vincent Street. The shops are packed full of plants, pots and accessories. You can enjoy coffee with cake while you peruse and the shops, which are dog friendly, also do houseplant deliveries. (Photo: Supplied)
The Keller Taproom in Broughton Street Lane is a public house selling German beers. They have their own brewery on site and the decor has a warm, solid feel. The bar is made from planks of wood, a wood-burning stove plenty of plants dotted around. Plants are also on sale – and there’s a cool pair of swinging chairs by the window. (Photo: Supplied)
Plant Bae in Easter Road is a quirky cafe with with indoor and outdoor seating. Most of the food is vegan and they have a changing menu of sandwiches, toasties and brunch items like granola and French toast. They serve baked goods galore, including a creative selection of pastries and vegan brownies. (Photo: Google)
Plant shop and cafe Urban Jungle Brunch Room is an oasis in Leith Walk. Inside the former supermarket you can find houseplants, gifts and food, with a shop adjoining the Brunch Room. The cafe specialises in casual dishes, cake and coffee. (Photo: Supplied)
Deacon’s House Cafe on Lawnmarket is a semi-hidden gem with an outside terrace. It serves up homemade scones, organic tea and other local specialities served in quaint, historic quarters of the real Jekyll and Hyde’s 15th century house and workshop. It’s dog friendly too. (Photo: Steffen Zahn)
Cafe Panola at Pentlands Plants Garden Centre serves up coffee and food in bright surroundings overlooking the Pentland hills, using locally sourced ingredients. The plants are grown at the in-house nursery. (Photo: Supplied)
Quirkys plant shop in North Junction Street sells affordable houseplants. There’s beautiful pavement drawings outside the shop and they also sell their greenery at the local Leith market. (Photo: Jolene Campbell)
Hilda’s plant shop in Ferry road and on the corner of Newhaven Road is Edinburgh’s first ‘‘houseplant hospital’ where plant-lovers can get encouragement and advice on how to keep their plants thriving. Customers can book a 30-minute slot giving them access to tools, compost and friendly guidance. (Photo: Jolene Campbell)
Following the reopening of the revamped old tennis pavilion on Leith Links, The Hingabootery Café and farm shop The Hearty Bùth have opened selling fresh produce from the market gardens. The cafe is open to all and sits beside growing plots, which are thriving with forest gardens, edible flowers, kale and a variety of vegetables and fruits – including apples that taste like champagne. (Photo: Jolene Campbell)
