A large, solid green circle on a plain white background.
An elderly woman wearing glasses and a colorful apron serving soup at a communal dining event with other older people seated in the background.

Beneath the church, The Undercroft Café offers something a little different on George Street. Run by a team of volunteers and known for its famous scones and homemade food, it is a place for good coffee, simple dishes and a warm, genuine welcome.

In a street of familiar high street names, this is a space to sit, take your time and enjoy something made with care. More than a café, it is part of the life of the church and the community around it.

Opening times:
Monday to Friday 10.30am – 2.00pm

Taste good. Do good.

A man and a woman cook together in a kitchen. The man is stirring a pot while the woman holds a handheld blender.

Everything we serve is prepared with care and offered with purpose. The café is run by volunteers, with a focus on fairness, sustainability and community.

We use Fairtrade products wherever possible and aim to keep things simple, generous and accessible. When you visit, you are not only enjoying good food, you are supporting the wider work of the church and the people it serves.

What’s on the menu

Our menu is simple, fresh and homemade, with soups prepared from scratch, sandwiches made to order and a daily selection of baking from the kitchen, including the café’s much-loved scones and traybakes.

Families are warmly welcomed too, with free small portions of soup or sandwiches available for children under 10.

View Menu
A young boy wearing a striped shirt is drinking water from a glass at a dining table. On the table, there is a bowl of soup, a spoon, and a plate with sandwiches.

At the Undercroft Café, you are not just a customer, but a guest.

Take a seat, settle in, and let our volunteer team look after you. There is time for conversation, space to pause, and a sense of ease that is often hard to find in the middle of the city.

Whether you come alone, with friends or with family, you will find a place that feels relaxed, friendly and open.

A different kind of welcome

Six women standing together in a room, wearing aprons with colorful patterns, smiling at the camera.

Café Life

  • A woman in a red jacket handing a paper napkin to an elderly woman in a striped sweater at a counter with coffee cups.
  • An elderly man smiling while preparing food in a kitchen. He is wearing a green apron and has a notepad and a knife in his hands. There are sliced sandwiches on a white plate and various kitchen tools and containers on the counter and shelves behind him.
  • A priest in black clerical attire with glasses smiling and talking to an elderly woman with white hair and glasses in a crowded room, surrounded by other elderly people engaged in conversation.
  • A man wearing glasses and a checkered apron is smiling while looking down at a green tray in a kitchen environment.
  • A woman wearing a black top and glasses is talking, while another woman with short gray hair is sitting at a table with a bowl of food and glasses of water. A man in a dark jacket is leaning over, shaking hands or greeting the woman with short hair. Several people are in the background, some smiling or clapping, in a dining or event hall decorated with framed photos on the wall.
  • A gathering of older adults in a restaurant or community center, with people sitting at tables, eating, drinking, talking, and some standing and chatting. The setting has decorated walls with framed pictures and string lights, and a clock on the wall showing early evening.
  • A woman in a light blue sweater is handing a paper or certificate to a man with glasses, smiling, at a gathering or celebration. Several seated and standing people are in the background, some smiling and clapping. The setting appears to be a restaurant or event hall with framed photographs on the wall.

Read our reviews!

Leave a review on Trip Advisor

“The warm welcome and good home cooking was a treat today. The Jerusalem artichoke soup was delicious. A great cafe in the centre of the city open Monday to Friday 10.30am til 2pm”
— Pat P
“We dropped in on a cold morning and had a vegan cauliflower soup which was out of this world and along with the gluten free bread was much enjoyed. The service was excellent, the staff friendly and the whole experience very enjoyable. Do visit them. Thank you.”
— Dawn
Trip Advisor

Part of something wider

The café is part of the life of Edinburgh New Town Church. It plays a small but important role in creating a place of welcome, connection and care on George Street.

Many who first visit the café return for other reasons, for conversation, for events, for worship, or simply to spend time in the building. In this way, the café acts as a gentle introduction to the wider life of the church.

Visit Us