Fortitude Coffee

Fortitude Coffee is a specialty coffee shop at 3c York Place at the east end of Edinburgh's New Town in Scotland. York Place runs between the St James Quarter and Picardy Place, near the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art's central collections and the Playhouse Theatre, and the cafe is a handy stop for visitors walking between the Georgian New Town and the east end of the city. The focus is on carefully prepared specialty coffee, with the flat white, priced at about £3 to £4, as the signature order, alongside espresso drinks, filter coffee and a small range of baked goods. The shop is compact and informal, with a relaxed, neighbourhood feel, a moderate noise level and a mix of commuters, locals and visitors passing through. There is no dress code. Drinks beyond coffee typically include tea and soft drinks, and beans are often available to take away for those who want to brew at home. Fortitude operates on a walk-in basis with no reservations, and the shop is most active in the morning, when commuters and visitors queue for a first coffee of the day. Opening hours run from morning to afternoon, and current times should be verified on the website before a visit, since hours can change by season. Seating is limited, so many customers take their coffee away and drink it while walking to nearby sights, including Calton Hill, Broughton Street and the Royal Mile. A mid-morning or mid-afternoon visit is usually quieter than the early-morning rush. The cafe suits visitors who want a quality coffee at a modest price without the crowds of the busier Princes Street area.