Beatnik

Husband and wife team Sarfraz and Jemma opened Beatnik on Brougham Street in November 2022, building a community focused room around a deliberate absence, no wifi, no laptops, loud music instead. The rule set has shaped who shows up, conversation and community taking priority over the work from home crowd more common at other Edinburgh cafes.

Rotating roasters and curated pastries run through the coffee program, one Tuesday a week extending into the evening while the rest of the week keeps to a tighter daytime schedule. The Tollcross setting gives it a genuine neighborhood feel, closer to a living room than a work space.