Having spotted it on the way past a few months ago, I was happy to hear that Bono Coffee on South Clerk Street was finally opening its doors.
Taking over the site of Indiba café-bar (and before that El Patio), they have worked with SPLINTR interior design to refurbish the place in a thoroughly contemporary style. The square Bono sign outside, with “coffee here” underneath, is cool and eye-catching.
I wandered along about two hours into their first day. What struck me immediately was the warmth: of the welcome, the décor, and the temperature, all very welcome on an April morning that hardly felt spring-like. The heat suggested things had not been quiet, with a healthy crowd filling the room and plenty of steam rising from the machine.
Nice waves of people
Had it been a good start? “Yeah, really good – some nice waves of people.”
Many had heard about the opening on social media and others had simply spotted it from the pavement and liked the look of what they saw.
The café is managed by siblings Daniela and Alejandro Castillo Valdes. The three-person team on duty were in full flow, putting into practice what they had been building toward in the weeks leading up to opening. The area behind the bar buzzed with activity as they found their rhythm, working through small refinements on the fly (“shall we put a box of small spoons here?”).
The space has a clean, light feel, making excellent use of the room. Particularly striking is the deep, dark wood of the bar and tables, which give the place a sense of substance and warmth without heaviness. For someone who likes to write in cafés, the tables had just the right satisfying solidity. The two sets of window seats will be in high demand from those wanting to enjoy the theatre of this busy stretch of road, and a jazzy soundtrack rounded out the mood nicely.
First impressions
This part of the city has some excellent specialty coffee options, with the well-established and highly regarded Cult and Onto (formerly Fortitude) both within easy reach. The coffee, then, has to be good. First impressions were very encouraging. Their house roast is a Brazilian Sul de Minas from Abbeyhill-based roasters Obadiah, satisfyingly dense with earthy rather than excessively fruity notes. The advertised “dark chocolate and sweet cherry” profile came through clearly in the cortado I enthusiastically dispatched, suggesting the baristas are skilled and the machine well dialled in.
When ordering I only just resisted the tempting Greek-style orange pie, one of several bakery options on offer. Alongside Obadiah coffee, Bono also serves Nudo teas.
A promising first morning for Bono.
Bono Coffee, 88 South Clerk Street, EH8 9PT
