The City Cafe is an American styled diner on Blair Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town. A favourite with locals and visitors since the early 1980s, it combines retro decor with music, pool and an informal welcome. Long daily opening hours make the cafe useful from breakfast through to a late evening meal.
All day breakfasts are a signature, providing a substantial option well beyond the morning. Burgers, fries and other familiar diner dishes form the core of the later menu, including an Ultimate Burger Challenge for unusually large appetites. The broad, accessible food suits a quick stop as readily as a longer gathering.
The room’s casual pace works well for friends, families and visitors moving through the Old Town. A new menu may change individual dishes, so current choices and dietary requirements should be confirmed with staff when ordering. The emphasis remains on generous, recognisable food rather than formal dining rituals.
Beer, cocktails, soft drinks and hot drinks support the menu across the day. A karaoke venue operates below the cafe, while music and a pool table give the main room its own social character. The City Cafe’s longevity comes from bringing the easy energy of an American diner into a central Edinburgh setting.
Address: 19 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR, United Kingdom
The City Cafe Menu
Burgers
Cheese Burger
With lettuce, tomato, gherkin and fries
Apache Burger
Beef burger with BBQ sauce, cheese & bacon, lettuce, tomato, gherkin and fries
Buffalo Chicken Burger
Chicken, buffalo sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomato, gherkin and fries
Vegan Chilli Burger
Vegan patty, veggie chilli, jalapenos & vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, gherkin and fries
Sides
Onion Rings
Coleslaw
Guacamole
Chilli (Beef/Veggie)
Calamari
Skinny Fries
Chunky Chips
Ultimate Burger Challenge
Take on Scotland’s biggest burger challenge and try to beat the legendary @beardmeatfood time of 24 mins | secs. Rules: challengers sit in the hot seat; no sharing, no bathroom breaks, no cheating! 3 x beef burgers, 1x BBQ chicken burger, 1x spicy chicken burger, 2 x spicy bean burgers, BBQ sauce, bacon, pineapple, mozzarella, Monterey Jack cheese, mushrooms, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, gherkins. Side of coleslaw and chunky chips. Served in a massive bun.
Ultimate Burger Challenge
Desserts
Go on just a bite…
Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone
Soft Serve Ice Cream Tub
Add Flake
Doh!nut Milkshake
Vanilla and strawberry milkshake topped with a delicious donut & whipped cream
Cafe Sundae
Ask your server for this week’s flavours
Banana Split
Banana, ice cream, topped with whipped cream, cherries and a Biscoff crumble
Oreo Knickerbocker Glory
Heaven in a glass. Ice cream, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, Oreo cookie pieces
Eggs
Breakfast served all day
Scrambled Eggs on Toast
Eggs Benny
Ham, poached eggs, hollandaise, breakfast muffin
Eggs Royale
Smoked salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise, breakfast muffin
Eggs Florentine
Wilted spinach, poached eggs, hollandaise, breakfast muffin
Breakfast Rolls
Choose from: bacon, fried egg, sausage, Lorne sausage, scrambled egg, cheese, haggis, black pudding, veggie haggis, veggie sausage, hash browns, potato scones.
Single
Double Decker
Triple
Full Scottish Breakfast
Full Scottish Breakfast
Fried egg, bacon, sausage, haggis, black pudding, beans, hash brown, potato scone, toast, mushroom, tomato
Veggie
Fried egg, veggie haggis, veggie sausage, potato scone, hash brown, beans, grilled tomato, mushrooms, toast
Vegan
Smashed avocado, wilted spinach, hash brown, grilled tomato, mushrooms, potato scone, baked beans, toast
Bagels
Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese
Bagel with a side of hash browns
Scrambled Egg & Cheese
Bagel with a side of hash browns
Something Sweet
Pancakes
With maple syrup & strawberries & cream
Bacon & Pancakes
With maple syrup
Waffles
With maple syrup & strawberries & cream
Chicken Strips & Waffles
With maple syrup
French Toast
Vegan Pancakes
Maple syrup & vegan cream
Grains & Granola
Porridge with Berry Compote
Granola with Natural Yoghurt and Berry Compote
Nachos
Vegan nachos available on request!
Classic Nachos
Tortilla chips, cheese, jalapenos, salsa, guac, sour cream
Haggis / Veggie Haggis
Tortilla chips, cheese, jalapenos, peppercorn sauce plus Scotland’s finest – haggis
Buffalo Chicken
Tortilla chips, cheese, jalapenos, buffalo sauce, chicken
Chilli (Beef/Veggie)
Tortilla chips, cheese, jalapenos, chilli, guac, sour cream
Hot Dogs
Classic Dog Meat/Veggie
Served with fries, onions, ketchup & mustard
Chilli Cheese Dog
Served with fries
Dirty Fries
Vegan dirty fries available on request!
Haggis/Veggie Haggis Fries
Peppercorn sauce, cheese, skinny fries
Buffalo Chicken Fries
Breaded chicken, hot sauce, skinny fries, cheese
Chilli Cheese Fries
Beef/veggie chilli, cheese, jalapenos, skinny fries
Sandwiches
BLT with Fries
Bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
Fish Finger Sandwich with Fries
Lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce
Cheese & Tomato, Lettuce with Fries
Vegan cheese available on request
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Chicken fillets, cheese, buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato served with fries
Classics
Chicken Strips, Fries & Coleslaw
Chilli Con Carne
Sour cream, grated cheese, corn chips, rice
Veggie Chilli (V)
Served with rice, corn chips, guacamole and cheese