John Lewis Cafe

John Lewis Café. Practical, family oriented. At least that’s how it felt on my last visit. I usually go there only with a John Lewis voucher offering free hot drink and cake. And I almost always take a cappuccino and a fruit tart — the tarts are super yummy though I did spot some chocolate orange cake as well, perhaps something for next time.
The café is almost always busy. Even on a Saturday morning, when everybody is buying a scone with their hot drink. Having said that, they do also have that hot food counter where you can buy yourself a full breakfast if you wish to do so (but why would you?)
Anyway, having mentioned Saturdays — the afternoons are very busy. Prepare for packed tables. Prepare for empty tables with previous occupant’s trays still waiting collection for harassed waiting staff.
I managed to secure myself a seat away from all the madness and enjoyed my drink and tart. The cappuccino was quite good actually.
If you manage to get a window seat, enjoy the view.

If you join the John Lewis loyalty card (free and it is just a points card not a credit facility or anything) then they send you a book of 6 tickets to have any hot drink and any cake once a month for 6 months all for free! I guess they hope that you see nice things whilst you are in the shop and purchase them.
So I was using my voucher, I love freebies! The latte was very smooth and I had a slice of delicious carrot cake too.
The café was busy and there were plenty of staff around but the table I got was dirty and there were lots of food on the floor under my table that was squished into the carpet, not the best.

So this place is across the road from a number of places I go with the wee one and so I always end up in it with other mums with buggys… it’s a staple and I can’t help it.
There’s a fabulous baby changing room which is a massive draw but I agree with the other Unilocalers that as soon as you get out of that glass elevator boy do I want to run someone over with the pram. You find yourself instantly dodging tables with people eating or someone carrying a tray with hot tea… seriously JL SORT IT OUT. I don’t want to have to play dodgem’s with other customers whilst trying to figure out which counter I have to stand at in order to get what I want…
Saying that though the food aint that bad…
I do truly go here though because it’s convenient, there’s parking underneath, it’s central and I can shop before and after :)
It wouldn’t be somewhere I would take anyone to impress them put it that way.

This place gives me the rage whenever I come here, but for some ridiculous reason I keep coming back.
First of all — how the **** do the lines work? I feel like I’m cutting in front of someone if I go directly to the section containing the food I want, but if you don’t do that you’re left queuing past things you have no interest in. Secondly, the pricing has a tendency to be ridiculous for the quality and quantity of food. And the drinks? Why are they warm? And WHAT TAKES SO LONG TO BRING OUT THE FOOD???
Last time I came here, The Man and I were starving and exhausted and just needed something in our bellies. Big mistake. The place was packed full of people taking their SWEET time on their tables after finishing their lunch. I opted for a quiche while The Man got penne carbonara. My quiche was miniscule, but to be fair, the carbonara was super tasty and was prepared fresh (ish) instead of just sitting under a heat lamp, turning to mush. However, this fresh prep (using pre-​made sauce) meant that we waited FOREVER for his food to come. This ended working on our favour because we had to hover over loads of tables to guilt people into leaving in order to get a seat.
This place is good in theory but awful in practice. Never again.

A canteen, basically. I’ve been in other John Lewis Cafes in other cities (sshhh, don’t tell Edinburgh) and they were cleaner, brighter and better laid out than this one.
I wandered for a minute or two before I got my bearings. I was then slightly annoyed that everything was separated. You needed to get coffee on one side and pancakes on the other. And if I’m honest I didn’t really figure out where the sandwiches came from (I din’t look too hard for them though.)
It does the job, it is a café in a department store so you get what you expect.
I must say that the view is quite spectacular, though somewhat blocked by the architecture (In the words of the OH ‘You have to stand to really see it’ and he is not a small man.) also I really wish they cleaned the windows a bit more often so you could really admire it.
The coffee wasn’t great for my tastes, but it was passable.
In my honest opinion, if you’re here, you’re about a thirty second walk from Broughton Street… just saying.

Escape the busy crowds of Princes Street and head for the roof top café /​restaurant in John Lewis. This is a kind of food court layout with lots of different counters. So don’t expect silver service, just grab your tray and whatever else you want.
With panoramic views of Edinburgh this is the idyllic place to sit and relax. The rice crispy cakes and hot chocolate with marshmallows, scushie cream and anything else you can get on top are a particular treat.