Mimi’s Bakehouse

Mimi's Bakehouse

It’s all about the cake. That’s what it says over the counter at Mimi’s and that sums up what is rapidly becoming a must-visit place in Leith. In truth, it’s always been a must-visit for me, so it’s good to see the rest of the world catching up, even if I can’t always get a table now! Naturally, the coffee’s great and, as well as a mouth-watering range of cakes, Mimi’s does excellent breakfasts and lovely lunches.

One note of caution about Mimi’s: since it’s so popular, this really isn’t a place to just sit and linger. That’s not to say that the staff are going to hassle you to eat up and get out, far from it. However, it’s busy and that means a certain level of noise and bustle. Also, Mimi’s is all about the pleasure of the food. As such, it’s somewhere I go for the coffee, cake and food rather than to spend a couple of hours and have a coffee while I’m at it.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

The thing about Mimi’s is that it really is all about the cake, just as the slogan, blazed all over the place, says. Mimi’s does cake. Cupcakes, sponge cakes, fruit cakes, cheesecakes, slices, bars, scones; you name it, Mimi’s has got it (if you don’t believe me, check out Mimi’s twitter feed, where I am tortured by a new picture of cake every day!). The choice is frankly overwhelming. So, it’s rather ironic that about half the time I go there, I don’t have any cake. That’s because Mimi’s also does very good food, ranging from breakfast (including staples such as porridge and the more exotic French toast), through excellent light lunches to a sumptuous afternoon tea (which, admittedly, ticks the cake box).

Did I mention the coffee? No, that was remiss of me, since whether I have cake or not, I always have coffee. It’s excellent of course. Because of the time of day I tend to go, I usually have a flat white (Mimi’s does the usual latte and cappuccino as well, but I’ve always preferred a flat white where I can get it).  The coffee is strong and rich and the milk smooth with plenty of body. Mimi’s also has a good range of teas (or so I’m led to believe by my tea-drinking friends). Whatever the tea tastes like, the tea-pots look good, as do the coffee cups, so that’s fine by me.

The best bit (for me) is that it’s just around the corner from my friends in Leith, so whenever I go to stay, I usually find an excuse for a visit or two (or three). Mimi’s is family-run and it shows. I love the ethos of the place and the thought that’s clearly gone into every aspect, from the menu to the décor. It’s all about the pleasure of food.

I’ve been going to Mimi’s for a couple of years now and am glad to say that it’s going from strength to strength. On my previous visit, Mimi’s had just bought the premises next door and the builders were busy doubling the size. So, on this visit, I was thrilled to have the pleasure of sitting in the new extension. Despite all this extra space, Mimi’s is still very busy. If it does have a downside it’s that it’s not always a relaxed place to come and linger for an hour or two. It can be packed, especially at the weekends, when you might have to wait for a table, and that brings with it a certain level of noise and bustle. That said, if you pick your time, it can be quiet and cosy too.

I could go on, but when it comes down to it, if I’m in Leith, I go to Mimi’s and that’s about the best recommendation I could give a place. Give it a go and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed (unless it’s so busy that you can’t get a table that is).

63 SHORE • LEITH • EDINBURGH • EH6 6RA
www.mimisbakehouse.com +44 (0) 131 555 5908
Monday 09:00 – 17:00 Seating Sofas, Comfy Chairs, Tables, Outside
Tuesday 09:00 – 17:00 Food Cakes, Breakfast, Lunch
Wednesday 09:00 – 17:00 Service Table Service
Thursday 09:00 – 17:00 Cards Visa, Mastercard
Friday 09:00 – 17:00 Wifi No
Saturday 09:00 – 18:00 Power No
Sunday 09:00 – 18:00 Mobile 3G, Voice
Chain No Visits 2nd August 2012

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9 thoughts on “Mimi’s Bakehouse

  1. Definitely worth booking on a weekend. The afternoon is brilliant value for money but you might need a doggy bag.

    • Interesting… You see, this is why I didn’t want to get into the whole definitions game when I wrote my About.. pages.

      A flat white is similar to a latte or cappuccino, but (in my experience) with less milk, making it closer to an Italian cappuccino. I had assumed that flat white was a fairly generic term and certainly known in the US, but as soon as I read your comment, I thought to myself: “I bet the Aussies came up with it…”

      A quick search of wikipedia later came up with this, which is a fairly good definition.

      From my fairly hazy memory, the flat white suddenly arrived in the UK about two years ago when it seemed that overnight all the main coffee chains were doing them. Of course, people who had always made good coffee had always made things similar to flat whites (and still do), but not necessarily by that name. For example, I always felt that a Boston Tea Party latte is closer to a flat white than it is to what the coffee chains serve as a latte (which all have too much milk in them for my tastes).

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