Edinburgh and bookshops just make sense together. With the city’s literary history and strong reading culture, it’s not hard to find independent bookstores and big chains tucked into historic buildings. I always try to visit at least one bookstore when I travel, and in Edinburgh, Waterstones was the obvious choice after seeing several TikTok posts about it.
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| view of Edinburgh Castle |
What makes this particular branch stand out is the café upstairs with views of Edinburgh Castle. I had read beforehand that it can get quite busy, especially during peak hours, so I went in expecting to struggle for a seat. Somehow, I got lucky and managed to grab a table right by the window. It’s easily the most coveted spot in the café because the castle sits directly in your line of sight.
I ordered an iced coffee since it was a warm summer day, along with a pastry, and settled in for a bit. The coffee was quite good, and the pastry was good too, but nothing exceptional. If I’m being honest, I didn’t go there for a groundbreaking café experience. I went for the view, and on that front, it delivered.
Overall, Waterstones in Edinburgh is worth visiting even if you don’t plan to buy a book. The combination of shelves, a relaxed café atmosphere, and a castle view is hard to beat. It’s a simple experience, but sitting there with a coffee, looking out at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, felt like a very Edinburgh moment.
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