A well-liked neighborhood deli-cafe for breakfast rolls, club sandwiches, flatbreads, coffee, and casual outdoor lunching, but service and consistency can wobble and prices feel a touch high for the portion size.
New Town Deli delivers solid food quality anchored by consistently praised sandwiches, breakfast rolls, and coffee that keep regulars returning. However, occasional inconsistencies in service timing and execution prevent a stronger grade, and the neighborhood cafe setting, while pleasant and bright, lacks the distinctive appeal that would elevate it further.
New Town Deli feels like the kind of neighborhood spot people fold into their routines: a quick breakfast roll before work, a club sandwich at lunch, or coffee with a seat by the window when the weather behaves. The love is real and often specific — people rave about the sandwiches, the fries, the coffee, and the friendly staff — but the place also has a definite human side, with some visitors reporting slow service, mixed orders, or a rough day when the counter got overloaded. Culinarily, this is a straightforward deli-cafe rather than a culinary lab, which is part of the appeal. The menu is built on familiar comfort-food wins — rolls, baguettes, clubs, flatbreads, soups, salads, and coffee — with enough vegetarian and vegan options to keep most groups happy. If you want a polished, sit-down meal with theatrical cooking, this is not that. If you want a dependable, casual feed with a few standout hits, it lands well enough and sometimes very well indeed. For families, it is workable rather than built specifically for kids. The current menu has plenty children will recognize — breakfast baps, toast, sandwiches, fries, soup, porridge, smoothies — but there is no dedicated kids’ menu mentioned in the reviews. That means it is fine for an easy daytime stop, especially if your child likes simple food, but less ideal if you need a fully kid-centric dining setup or guaranteed speedy service during the lunch rush.
Area vibe: Georgian, shopping and professional district with cultured daytime activity.
Safety: Generally safe with good lighting and steady footfall into the evening around major streets; quieter side streets can be calmer.
What's nearby: Close to Charlotte Square, Princes Street shops, Edinburgh Playhouse, office buildings and tram/bus stops.