From our Rose Street bolthole we wandered down to Urban Angel on Hanover Street for breakfast. While living in Edinburgh I’d never ventured down it’s steps and assumed it was a little sandwich joint based on the small space I could see from the street, however I was wrong!
There is a small space you enter through, where there are fresh bakes and panini to grab and go and a healthy menu of smoothie and juice options, however there are a few steps down into the main rooms of the cafe with plenty of tables to take a seat at. We were seated in the back room, where the old kitchen ranges still sit graced by candles rather than copper pots of old.
Front shop at Urban Angel
Back room seating area
The menu has a cover note explaining that they love food here, carefully sourcing the finest produce locally, every day including a lot of organic produce, but they choose local over organic to save on carbon footprint. I get that, and I like that along with their recycling ethos.
The freshly baked Almond Croissants brought through to the display cabinets looked epic and very tempting, along with the glossy, regular croissants.
There are a good variety of brunch options, from the obvious eggs and porridge to a few interesting items such as rainbow trout (living in NZ, this is unusual to us now!), also there are gluten free and vegetarian options. The Kiwi ordered Kedgeree and i stuck with an old fave of French Toast, and we downed these with smoothies.
Sunshine smoothie
Kedgeree
The Kedgeree had generous pieces of smoked fish through it with lentils and a lovely poached egg on top. I enjoyed my French Toast, the brioche was lovely and airy so it had soaked up the eggs nicely and it tasted like real maple syrup that was provided, rather than the fake sweet stuff some places palm you off with. A banana with the french toast may have made a healthier plate, though.
My Sunshine Smoothie was fresh and the orange could clearly be tasted through it along with the berries and banana. The Kiwi’s Green smoothie did exactly what it said on the tin, and you could taste the green goodness! Coffees were good too.
Friendly staff, efficient service along with the quirky, historical venue make this a worthwhile stop.
Urban Angel, 121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, 0131 225 6215
