The Scottish Café & Restaurant
- Telephone 0131 225 1550
- Opening times Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm; Thu 9am–7pm; Sun 10am–5.30pm.
- Seasonal times Festival: Fri–Wed until 6pm; Thu 8pm
- Food served Sun–Wed 9am–5pm; Thu 9am–7pm; Fri/Sat 9am–5pm.
- Website www.contini.com/scottish-cafe-and-restaurant

Delightful venue overlooking Princes Street Gardens, offering an extensive daytime menu that is well considered and impeccably sourced.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
The Scottish Café and Restaurant was closed for over six months for refurbishment, but even a few moments in the beautifully redesigned more than makes up for its absence. The café-restaurant now boasts an eye-catching mural by Scottish textile designer Mairi Helena, which works perfectly with the modern, colourful booths softly lit by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Princes Street Gardens. The menu is equally rooted in its local surroundings: all ingredients and produce are sourced directly from Scottish suppliers and crafted into creative yet familiar takes on the nation’s cuisine. Potato and pea soup is creamy and hearty, while lamb rump is moreish and tender, its rich flavour balanced by a mild yet well-seasoned Romanesco torched for extra texture. The restaurant also offers a plentiful afternoon tea; although the sandwich and cake options are perhaps not as innovative, the portions are surprisingly large and the petits fours in particular are irresistible – the chocolate and coffee cream bite practically melts in the mouth.
The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant is situated at the gardens entrance of the Scottish National Gallery on the Mound with iconic views to Princes Street Gardens. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, this is the perfect venue to have a taste of Scotland through our 70 artisan Scottish suppliers. We take great care to showcase these stunning flavours simply, with a big warm welcome.
The best traditional afternoon tea
Text supplied by third party.
- Provides: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables, Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Accessible jazz
- Capacity: 180
- Largest group: 180
- Open since: 2009
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 12
- House wine: £20 per bottle
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