Bono

Siblings Daniela and Alejandro Castillo Valdes opened Bono on South Clerk Street in April 2026, taking over a former cafe bar and building the idea together, Alejandro having moved to Edinburgh from a small town in Mexico to study and stayed on for years after. Studio SPLINTR designed the room around clean, light walls set against dark wood tables and a bar, with two window seats looking out over the busy street and a corner table warmed by afternoon sun.

Espresso runs on a Brazilian Sul de Minas from Abbeyhill roaster Obadiah, a dense cup with dark chocolate and sweet cherry running through it, poured alongside Nudo teas and a case that includes a Greek style savory tart and vegan pastries. Some tables stay laptop free to keep the room built for conversation rather than solo work, and jazz plays low enough that people can still talk over it. Alejandro sums up his approach to the competition nearby with a Mexican saying, the sun rises for everyone.