Mel Hunter illy Caffe Bonnie and Wild

Source: Bonnie & Wild

Mel Hunter is manager of the Illy Caffè at Bonnie & Wild

The first Illy Caffè in Scotland has opened its doors at the Bonnie & Wild food hall in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter.

Open from 9am to 9pm, the café will sell pastries and cakes from bakeries and patisseries in and around Edinburgh, including Le Petit Francais.

Illy Caffè, which opened this week, also sells a selection of speciality teas from Edinburgh’s Pekoe Teas, alongside coffees and hot chocolates.

“Illy produces some of the world’s best coffee and I’m delighted to be working with them in delivering this new coffee concept, while also working with bakeries in and around Edinburgh to provide a captivating counter of artisanal pastries and cakes,” said Mel Hunter, manager of the Illy Caffè at Bonnie & Wild.

The food hall, which opened three years ago in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter leisure and residential development, is one of Scotland’s biggest indoor food and drink venues and home to independent food stalls and retailers including El Perro Negro burgers, East Pizzas, and Stack & Still pancakes.

“Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace has one of the best food and drink offers in the country,” said the food hall’s managing director Ryan Barrie. “We’re always ensuring the offer stays attractive and exciting, and this latest change is just part of Bonnie & Wild’s continuous evolution and ongoing innovation to bring excitement and first-class hospitality to our guests.”

Chulos returns to Bonnie & Wild

Source: Bonnie & Wild

Bonnie & Wild is also hosting a 10-week summer pop-up with Chulo’s Stuffed Cookies after the supplier sold almost a tonne of cookies during a ten-day stint at the food hall in February.

“February’s pop-up at Bonnie & Wild was a brilliant success, and we’ve been looking forward to coming back ever since,” said Chulo’s co-owner Jordan Rankin. “Our summer residency at Bonnie & Wild is a really exciting opportunity.”

Launched in 2021, Chulo’s now employs 20 staff and has sites in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“Since the last time we were at Bonnie & Wild our shops have seen a big boost and are thriving. We’ve also been doing lots of events and festivals, and our cookies have crossed the border for the first time for events in Newcastle and Manchester, where the response has also been really positive.”