What does ‘Scottish food’ mean to you? Top-quality game? The very best berries? Or fresh seafood? Whatever you think of when you think of Scottish produce, you’ll find it done to the highest standards in Edinburgh’s Café Royal. From oysters to haggis, lobster to lamb, the menu is a showcase of the very best of Scotland’s national larder. This is despite the restaurant having a decidedly Parisian feel inside, albeit with plenty of nods to Scotland (most notable are the 19th-century stained glass windows depicting a variety of popular Scottish outdoor pursuits).
This intimate feel is amplified by the fact Café Royal is tucked away on West Register Street, making it feel like a hidden treasure despite being just a two-minute walk from Waverley train station. It has been in its grand baroque home since 1863, with the entire building and its interior is officially listed after Woolworths attempted to knock it down in the 1960s to extend their store nearby. Yet that doesn’t mean they are opposed to change, with the menu recently updated to “showcase a great range of seafood while focusing more on seasonality and fresh local produce.
” Café Royal is home to a popular pub – packed to the rafters when we visited on a Friday night – but a partition wall separates this from the sophisticated restaurant and oyster bar. On arrival, we were quickly ushered to our table, which was secluded while benefitting from the hubbub of background noise from next door. View th.