Another unsettled weekend weather-wise plus heavy legs from overtraining the previous few days made me ditch the hills for a flat city walk this Sunday in late March. I decided to head south-west this time round, which took me through Mannofield, towards Cults and then allowed me to circle back on the Old Railway Line.

The coffee stop was early on and I had two places in my sight; I was very curious of this new place many people have been chatting about, called Mooshh Cafe – even now Google search spits out a beauty parlour in the first instance, but the consistent branding suggests they share an owner; and I can see why the cafe is the talk of the town as it looks very classy from the outside… and I would say inviting, if they weren’t in the process of constructing the terrace/wine garden at the front when I strolled past. I decided to leave my visit for another day (when building works were complete) and instead continued not far on, to Thyme Out.

I had seen this place countless times on my way back from work or a walk in this area of Aberdeen; it never dazzled with flashy clientelle or snazzy branding, but its tenure suggested there was enough there to keep it afloat through the tough times, so I thought it worth a shot.

On entry I was greeted by a small counter with cakes and the till, behind which a handful of ladies was busying around taking and making up orders: from teas and coffees to lunches and scones (which I was soon advised were all homemade). The simply-decorated interior was less than half-full, but the patrons looked quite at home. I took a low seat at the front and, despite Sunday cravings, settled for a mocha only.

It was served very quickly in a simple mug… with a thick milk froth accentuating the top, and a light dusting of cocoa to round off the experience – settin expectations for what was to come. Yep, this was not a crafty creation, but rather a whisked up concoction of very hot milk, sweet cocoa and a dash of coffee, which wasn’t very noticeable following those two sensations.

I guess I was hoping to be blown away by a hidden gem that was right in front of my nose all this time; but my coffee instincts are usually quite right and I had never felt a pull to Thyme Out. I’m sure it is serving it’s community well and I hope it will continue to stand the test of time.

For me – I’m calling … I’ll spare you the pun.

To find out more about Thyme Out, visit their Facebook page.