SUMAC - Lebanese Bakery Cafe

If you're after a Lebanese bakery in Niddrie, SUMAC is the kind of place to head to when you want a proper sit-down breakfast or lunch with real bakery roots. The bread is baked fresh on site, and we hear the zaatar is noticeably better for it. One regular who drops in most second weekends put it plainly: the quality for the price is hard to beat.

The menu leans well beyond loaves. Falafel, manoush and cheese pie are standouts, and one visit brought platters with dips, fatoush and tabouli that were extremely fresh. The mixed grill has its fans too, and one local who tried it called the portions and quality both generous. For a lighter start, there's a breakfast wrap with egg, tomato and pickled vegetables that someone described as delicate and very tasty. SUMAC is also known for its pies, and the food comes across as handmade and authentic rather than fussy.

It's a full-service spot, with table service inside and out and room for a good crowd. We've heard it gets busy at lunchtime, which is usually a good sign. Coffee is part of the picture, and so is a yoghurt drink if you want the whole experience. If you'd rather not stay, takeaway and delivery are both on offer.

Staff get a lot of warm mentions for being friendly and welcoming, and people describe the place as clean. Value comes up often, with one group who ordered most of the menu calling it fair next to inner-city cafes. One visitor came away unhappy with the food and the service, but the broader word around Niddrie is strongly positive.

Practical bits: there's free parking out the back and on the street, the entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible, and cards and tap payments are accepted. They open early every day, so it suits a breakfast stop. Check the hours before you head in, especially if you're planning lunch on a weekend.