Black Medicine, Nicolson Street
17 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/Edinburgh, r/espresso18 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Many people recommend Black Medicine, and one commenter calls its Nicolson Street branch great. A few people praise the atmosphere and seating, and two recommend its millionaire's shortbread, one calling it the best they have tried. A couple of people call the coffee good or decent, but one says it tastes bad. A couple like it for working on a laptop.
Address
Black Medicine Coffee Co, 2 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH, United Kingdom
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Millionaire's shortbread
- Best for
- Work
- Opinions divided
- Yes
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Black Medicine, Nicolson Street, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/WilcoClahas in r/Edinburgh · Sep 2025
Rates Black Medicine Coffee as good; says independent cafes generally beat chains for a date.
- Recommendsu/dukegonzo13 in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2024
Finds the place appealing and offers it as a suggestion.
- Caveatu/erionoire in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024taste
Says definitely not Black Medicine, coffee tastes bad every time.
- Recommendsu/Charmthetimes3rd in r/Edinburgh · Jun 2025
Simply recommends it, with no further detail.
- Recommendsu/cottagecoreloser in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2025taste
Says the millionaire's shortbread from Black Medicine was the best they've tried.
- Recommendsu/lelum__polelum in r/Edinburgh · Nov 2024
Says Black Medicine Coffee opened in 1998 and doubts there are older coffee shops.
- Recommendsu/teine_palagi in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2024ambience
Loves the atmosphere, finds it cosy with lots of seats; can't judge the coffee.
- Recommendsu/NoLifeguard780 in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2025taste
Agrees Black Medicine's version stands out, based on a past taste test.
Show all 18 cited comments
- Recommendsu/DAStrathdee in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2024ambience
Calls it nice, with a homey feel.
- Recommendsu/warmcube in r/espresso · Aug 2025taste
Visited and found the coffee decent; once had some house beans ground there.
- Recommendsu/oswyn123 in r/espresso · Aug 2024
Visited only this spot and wants to return soon.
- Recommendsu/Vivid_Ad9171 in r/Edinburgh · Mar 2026
Says this place has tables suited to laptops.
- Recommendsu/notjustmeso in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2026
Simply names Black Medicine as a suggestion for the request.
- Recommendsu/SquareFoundation9724 in r/Edinburgh · Jan 2026
Says they personally like it for working.
- Recommendsu/jbstans in r/espresso · Aug 2024ambience
Agrees, recalling they found it impressive as a new student.
- Recommendsu/MadDanWithABox in r/espresso · Aug 2024ambience
The atmosphere there inspired them to start making coffee themselves.
- Recommendsu/Chemeh4 in r/Edinburgh · Jul 2024
Says Black Medicine on Nicholson Street is great.
- Recommendsu/Ok_Wolverine6756 in r/Edinburgh · Sep 2024
Gives just the name as a direct answer to the cafe request.
More maps in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Did this page answer your question?
Freshness
Details last checked 10 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.