There are lots of new bars in Leith coming down the pipeline. Say ‘Howdie’ to Harmonium, Quay Commons and Toast of Leith.

We’ll start with Harmonium as they open to the public today.

Located on Henderson Street, in the former VDeep premises, Harmonium is the first Edinburgh outlet from the people behind Glasgow’s Mono, The 78 and Stereo.

What they all have in common is that they are vegan and do their best to operate as ethically as possible.

The Glasgow venues are also mainstays of the local music scene and hip hubs for all sorts of creativity.

I’m not sure that the Leith venue has space to put on any music beyond, say, an acoustic duo. However, if anyone can find a way then it is this outfit.

With another hat on, this scribbler has worked with Mono and they are the nicest bunch of people to deal with.

There has been a lot of excitement among Edinburgh’s vegan and veggies about Harmonium and we wish them all the luck.

New bars in Leith: Quay Commons

On a very different tip, Quay Commons opened quietly on Commercial Quay on Monday.

Billed as ‘a bakery, bar and eating space’, it’s the latest offering from chefs Dale Mailley and Edward Murray. Dale and Ed will be known to many as the chef proprietors at the award-winning Gardener’s Cottage restaurant.

Open from morning until night, the new venture serves coffee and breakfast bakes from 8am to 11am.

At lunch and dinner, the seasonal menu is based around breads, simple pasta dishes and house-butchered charcuterie.

Boutique wines are supplied by De Burgh Wines while local lads Pilot Beer will be keeping the ale flowing.

Quay Commons will also operate as a wine shop. Guests can buy wine at shop prices, enjoy a glass on-site and take the remainder home.

Co-Founder and Chef Proprietor, Dale Mailley, comments:

‘We are humbled to be opening a sister restaurant to our much-loved, Gardener’s Cottage, and that Leith will be our home.

‘As we get up and running, we extend an invitation to all, to visit us for coffee, wine or a slice of freshly baked sourdough.’

Toast Leith’s first wine cafe

Finally, Toast of Leith promises to be ‘Edinburgh’s first wine cafe’ when it opens on The Shore.

How a wine cafe is different from a wine bar, we do not know. However, we look forward to being enlightened when Toast of Leith opens in July.

We’ll tell you all about any more new bars in Leith as soon as we hear of them.