A new coffee house with a long history is open now on The Royal Mile.
John’s Coffee House and Tavern is being reintroduced after 200 years with an investment of £500,000 by Andrew Landsburgh of CoDE Concepts, the place to stay at the Mercat Cross.
The new space has been completely renovated accentuating the history of the coffee house and creating a warm and inviting place for people to enjoy from breakfast to late night drinks.
This is the place where David Hume and Adam Smith used to frequent, perhaps dreaming up some of the most important ideas of the Scottish Enlightenment. Although the original coffee house was a victim of the Great Fire of Edinburgh in 1824, there are still historical connections to draw on. Trading was done in John’s Coffee House with coffee, fine wines and Royal Bank of Scotland stocks changing hands.
With a nod to the historical background the menu will include signature drinks such as the “Cauld Cock & Feather” – a glass of brandy with raisins, which was once a favourite during the 18th century. The Enlightened Irish Coffee contains Highland Nectar Scotch Whisky Liqueur blended with freshly brewed coffee, maple syrup and topped with whipped cream.
The suppliers to the new coffee spot are local with tea and coffee from Edinburgh Tea Company and Common Coffee, haggis from Hall’s of Scotland, baking from Le Petit Français and The Edinburgh Scone Company. Beer from Bellfield Brewery and cider from Edinburgh Cider Co will complement the sharing platters.
Andrew Landsburgh, Director and Founder of CoDE Concepts said:“This is one of Edinburgh’s most fascinating and storied buildings. Walking through the old cells and courtrooms back in 2019, when opening the CoDE The Court, was eerie, yet inspiring. Our vision was to modernise the space while paying homage to its extraordinary history.
“Coffee was at the heart of John’s Coffee House and Tavern for over a century, fuelling debates, shaping ideas and bringing people together. Now 200 years later, we’re proud to continue this tradition, serving exceptional coffee and drinks in a space where history is written on the walls.”
Located in a Category A-listed building within Edinburgh’s Old Town Conservation Area and World Heritage Site, the new John’s Coffee House and Tavern invites visitors to step into history while enjoying the best of Scotland’s culinary offerings.
