Café 1505

Café in Surgeons Quarter known for elevating humble lunch options to delicious favourites.

The 2018/19 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £7.95 (+p&p).

A museum famous for its aspic-stored exhibits of medical oddities from history isn't one you would immediately associate with an excellent place to eat, but Café 1505 (named after the year in which the Royal College of Surgeons was founded) is definitely worth recommending. With its bright and airy interior, pavement seating area on the main road and close connection to the museum, hotel, conference and Fringe venue it serves a range of audiences, but there's something personal about the fact that most of the food is prepared fresh on-site. The macaroni cheese with wild mushrooms and truffle oil is rich and cheesy, the salads include spiced cauliflower, couscous and mango chutney or fregula pasta with Mediterranean vegetables and broccoli. There are sandwiches, baked potatoes and a trio of daily changing main dishes too. The heaped plates of Viennese fingers, biscuits, Florentines and Bakewells alone are enough to inspire a visit and a deli bar is due to be installed in the coming months.