In the heart of Edinburgh’s bustling City Art Centre, with an unmistakable view of the Balmoral, Natalie Togher sits down to share the story of a local icon. This edition of our Behind the Bar series explores how a family leap of faith turned into a city staple famous for secret recipes.

Natalie is one of the three sisters who now steer the Mimi’s ship, a business built on the dream of her mum, Michelle - known to everyone as Mimi. The shift into the bakery world was a collective gamble that saw the family leave their respective careers behind; her dad even trading in his life in the taxi trade to join the venture back in 2010. They started at the Shore with a single room and an immediate local following that saw queues forming outside the door from day one.

Sophie: Mimi’s is such an Edinburgh staple now. How did the three of you end up running things together?

Natalie: It really was a big family affair from the start. My mum, dad, my sister Gemma, and her husband all started it together. My mum always had this dream of opening something, and she finally convinced my dad to go for it. Now that our parents have retired, it’s just the three of us sisters - Gemma, Ashley, and me. We’ve each found our own niche; Gemma is our head baker, Ashley handles operations, and I look after the finances. It works well because we aren’t constantly on top of each other.

Sophie: That sense of family seems to translate into the atmosphere of the shops. Was that a deliberate choice?

Natalie: Definitely. My mum always said she wanted people to walk in and feel like they’ve been given a big, warm hug. We actually thought about being a tea house at first, but we pivoted to a Bakehouse because we wanted to focus on that sense of nostalgia. The goal is to make people feel like they’re sitting in their granny’s house. Even the recipes are part of that history; my sister Gemma was taught to bake by Mum, and she still uses the original family recipe book. It’s just these well-worn, torn, and ripped pages full of secret recipes.

Sophie: You have several locations now, from Lauriston Castle to here at the City Art Centre. Do they all feel the same to run?

Natalie: They all have their own personalities. Here at the City Art Centre, it’s high energy with a lot of tourists and gallery members, and of course, that view of the Balmoral is unbelievable. Then you have spots like Lauriston or Comely Bank which are much more neighbourhood based. We actually opened Comely Bank during lockdown, which is where our wee hatches started. They were a necessity then, but they’ve stayed a favourite for locals and dog walkers who just want to grab a coffee and go.

Sophie: When you’re hiring for the team behind the bar, what are you looking for?

Natalie: We hire for personality. We used to look for specific technical skills, but we realised you can train the rest. We want smiley, happy people. Sometimes people come in and they might not have spoken to anyone else all day, so being able to chat and genuinely make someone's day is the most important part of the job for us.

Sophie: And what’s your favourite part of working at Mimi's?

Natalie: I think it’s just making people’s day. You get people walking in who maybe haven’t spoken to another soul all day, or they are just feeling a bit under the weather, and you have this opportunity to chat and connect. We are so passionate about what we do, and being able to share that and see it make a difference is special, and what it’s all about.

Sophie: Finally, if someone is visiting for the first time, what is the one thing they have to try?

Natalie: If you want the Mimi’s classic, it has to be the Mars Bar Crispy. It’s just pure nostalgia.

While the business has grown far beyond that first room at the Shore, Mimi’s remains driven by the same human connection that started it all.  In a city that is always moving, it’s a place to slow down and feel a little more looked after, and we love seeing our coffee paired with nostalgic bakes that taste like home. You can find Machina coffee served alongside a slice of Edinburgh history at any of their remaining Edinburgh locations:

• City Art Centre: 1 Market St

• Lauriston Castle: 12 Lauriston Place

• Comely Bank: 127-129 Comely Bank Rd

• Corstorphine: 277 St. John's Road.