SoftCore sells artisanal ice cream and desserts like soft centre cookies at the Edinburgh Street Food court attached to the Omni Centre. You might even catch some cheesecake if you’re lucky, but I never have.
I’ve been to SoftCore several times, lots of times, and I’ve even made use of their late-night opening to walk there, visit ESF and go specifically and exclusively for SoftCore. That, though, is the hardcore option, and I think SoftCore is better as part of an ESF experience.
SoftCore’s ice cream and cookies
There’s no questioning the quality. I don’t believe SoftCore’s attention to excellence is just a question of flavours, and SoftCore has served the likes of miso and a ‘wee smoky’ limited whisky flavour in the past (and is changing their menu again), but quality, too. It’s absolutely possible to taste the difference.
SoftCore offers up their artisanal ice cream in cones and tubes. I don’t think there’s a wrong choice! Cones, I find, are wonderfully whimsical and nostalgic, but tubs are practical and more straightforward to do with food from elsewhere in ESF’s busy and welcoming hubbub.
I’m calling SoftCore an ice cream parlous because of its soft serve, but I’m sure they see themselves very much as a full dessert option and with the same attention on their handmade cookies as their ice cream.
On my visits to SoftCore, when I’ve gone there just for them, I tend to pair the ice cream with another tempting treat, like the cookies, but I’ve had cake and am chasing their cheesecakes.
I’ve grumbles, though. I could do with more larger potions! ESF’s menu currently prices the warm cookie at £3.5, the sundaes at £6.5 and their soft serve at £4.0. I really need to try their £5.5 candy floss cone (oh good, another trip!) and these are fair prices, but I can get more generous portions elsewhere. That’s why I recommend SoftCore not as a place to walk to just for a dessert dinner but as a sensible dessert for your ESF or Omni experience. Go there after a movie date and make yourself popular.
SoftCore’s vibe
I like going to the SoftCore booth because the staff are friendly, chatty and knowledgeable. You don’t get to see ice cream churned by hand or anything ridiculous like that, but you can see the cookies and similar desserts on display.
The alternative is to order from your table through ESF’s clever multi-menu system, and that’s what I do if I add SoftCore’s ice cream to a larger order. If you’re a solo eater in Edinburgh, this is your best choice because there’s no chance of someone stealing the bench space you wanted.
Either way, a visit to SoftCore means a visit to ESF’s vibrancy, which is glorious. That said, I know it’s a bit loud and overwhelming for people who aren’t keen on crowds. If, like me, you’re stiff in the knees and hips, then getting down onto a bench can be a challenge, but I think it’s worth it.
I’ve never visited SoftCore or ESF, when bringing young kids would have been a good idea. It’s a communal area with crowds, loud music and booze. We share heavy benches. However, I’ve never been during working hours when it may be more sedate. I know SoftCore sells ice creams, a favourite of mine, those young at heart and those young in years, but I’d be cautious about ESFing while juggling responsibilities.
Things to do near Edinburgh Street Food/city centre
ESF is near Edinburgh’s Waverley train station, and if you’ve pulled into the city in the evening, it’s worth popping out the station’s back door to see if the court is open.
Alternatively, combining a treat trip to SoftCore with one to the Omni Centre’s Vue cinema or crossing the road to the rival St James Quarter and the Everyman cinema there makes sense. Then there’s the nearby Playhouse and, curveball option, Fayre Play.
Perhaps a Level 3 culture vulture ‘thing to do’ is, if you’re early enough, trot down a block and to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Overall
SoftCore is good, and I want more of it. I shall champion the quality, the vibe and the attention to detail while wishing I had an extra scoop of soft serve ice cream or actually managed to rock up while they still had cheesecake or other special offer desserts left.
Despite making over a half-dozen orders, I keep missing out on the most exclusive treats, proving the wisdom of the crowd that thinks highly of SoftCore. I keep going back, which demonstrates that I think highly of the ice cream and cookie parlour, too. I clearly just need to be quicker.
A review of SoftCore
Summary
SoftCore offers delicious warm cookies and artisanal ice cream at fair prices, with generous hours and from the thumping beat of Edinburgh Street Food’s busy city centre location. Want to perk up any ESF meal? Add SoftCore.
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