Cafe Royal in Edinburgh, City of

I can call it my second home .. secure and amazing ..

So disappointing! Ordered the Scallops, absolutely tiny. Turbot for main, arrived on a side plate with boiled potatoes that had clearly been cooked days ago. Stunning place. Clearly no pride in the food anymore. £90 bill. Painful to pay for just bad food.

Good selection of beers and spirits

VERY busy at closing time (4 - 7 pm) pretty much every day. Do not expect personalized service, the service people are treading water to keep up. It is VERY hard to get a table, so keep this in mind and please don't take off a star. I recommend to just eat in the bar rather than make a dining room reservation - food is the same - and the bar is more interesting to look at with plenty of people watching! Meet new friends by seeing if 2 at a larger table will let you join them! We had Chicken Balmoral, Neeps and Tatties (with haggis) and also the mussels in the regular (wine/onion/garlic). The food was superb and highly recommended.

We started with half dozen hot oysters cooked in butter, fish stew, turbot and creme brulee for dessert. All were delicious!

Really disappointed, very limited menu not what is on the website, very small restaurant area but the bar section directly next to it very loud and busy. Some of the menu items weren't available making even smaller choice, after bringing our main meals they brought my husband burger without a bun ! Wgje we asked they said oh didn't they tell you we had run out of buns! So brought him two crusty slices of sourdough instead hardly a burger should have told us this before ordering, wouldn't return !

You enter another world when you go through the front door. To 1863 to be exact. Great food, and atmosphere, as well as efficient staff. A must try.

It was so busy but we were lucky to get a table, great service

A classic pub interior with superb tiling. Good choice of cask beer.

Typical atmosphere... In the heart of Edinburgh.... Perfect for a few beers with friends, or an afterwork. Great food, especially seafood. On this occasion we only had a few beers with a small portion of mussels, and it was delicious!

A lovely place and atmosphere but experienced an awful case of food poisoning from the oysters here which simply are not fresh. Avoid the oysters.

Friendly Staff...centre of town...Good food with plenty of choices..Great ambience. Historic building in City Centre being closeby to Bus Station and Waverley Station too..worth a visit..

Great local bar. Fantastic real ale and locally sourced beer.

If only everything in Life was as reliable and pleasant as The Cafe Royal!

Wonderful place for the real Scottish pub and restaurant. Highly recommend

Visited late one evening so unfortunately wasn’t able to sample any of the food, but the unique oyster bar sounds amazing! The interior gives a great sense of history and old-school luxury, with the booth seating being really traditional. It’s clearly a popular place and unfortunately this has an impact on the service, with it taking an age to get drinks at the bar. It’s also difficult to find anywhere to stand without being continually bumped into by passing people. But for a unique venue I’d return.

A great place to visit and a great reputation for its sea food, especially the oysters. Excellent choice of local and national beers. Great artistic tiles designs of famous Scots.

Food was delicious, interesting menu, and lovely interiors.

Had my first haggis here - it was excellent!

I'm not impressed, and for the prices they charge, it should have been a better experience. It is an incredible place to sit and admire the history. We were met with a little bit of attitude from the bartender/server that finally made it to us. There's no one to greet and seat you, so we just walked back into the oyster bar(that's what we were there for), and he asked if we had a reservation. We said no, and he got short with us and said we only had an hour and a half. That was more than we needed since we basically knew what we were ordering already. The haggis bon bons were an experiment(as we'd never had haggis before), and they were a no-go. The flavor of haggis is so strong and just not for us. They were taken off the bill even though we said we would pay for them(this is the reason for 3 stars instead of 2). The scallop appetizer was delightful. The 10-ounce sirloin with chips was spot on. And here's my biggest disappointment: the oysters. Ordered a half dozen(£20) and my very first one, I was met with shards of shell. I almost completely lost my appetite at that point. We had to argue with our server to get him to take it off the bill. I'm not paying for oysters that are inedible because of sloppy work in the kitchen. Also, the water they bring to the table is infused with citrus. It was incredibly strong and honestly off-putting. We had to ask for regular unflavored water. Overall, as I said, it's not worth it. It was $71.30 USD for one appetizer and one entree that were just okay.

Really awesome place. The restaurant is reminiscent of the series Peaky Blinders, but a little fancier/finer. But a bit of the same piece. According to the locals, this is where all the rock stars go. I unfortunately took the hamburger, which was probably a big mistake as you should probably bet on fish and seafood at this restaurant because it looked really tasty. The hamburger was a bit "soggy" and the bread tough, but perfectly ok. But the tip is to choose the fish & shellfish here. The beer was good, the wine was room temperature about 20-22 degrees as it is stored on a shelf behind the bar, and would need to be cooled down.

A stunningly beautiful piece of history! It was as if we stepped through a time portal. The stained glass windows rendered the slanted sunlight exquisite. Our first meal in Scotland did not disappoint—especially in this hidden find within an otherwise bustling Edinburgh cityscape.

a place out of time and so beautiful but so pleasant

Very pleasant whiskey tasting, beautiful atmosphere, beautiful setting

Bar staff were on it. Service was speedy, professional and welcoming.

A place of which few remain. Good food and good service. The place is very well decorated and very comfortable. The atmosphere is incredible without being quiet, but it is definitely a must-see in Edinburgh.

Aperol spritz was awful, there was less than a dribble of prosecco and he man handled a slice off of an orange with his bear hands (with a plaster on one of his fingers) to drop in the drink. Zero stars if I could.

An Edinburgh institution that we always bring visitors to.

Only thing was so very expensive

After our first lackluster dining experience in a Scottish bar, I was hesitant to try this place. I’m so glad we went! Unassuming from the outside, but absolutely gorgeous inside. We started with drinks (the rhubarb and ginger fizz was 😘🤌) and the huge and delicious baked camembert. For mains, we both ordered mussels and fries—honestly the best mussels I’ve had anywhere (including other parts of Scotland). We could have easily split the large portion between us, especially after all that cheese! Finally, we shared the Cranachan dessert. I wish I could remember our server’s name. She was lovely and attentive even while serving several other very large parties. Highly recommend you make a reservation, especially during peak tourist season.

Absolutely excellent food, service and drinks. Truly cannot recommend it enough!

Excellent service. Delicious lamb. Convivial atmosphere.

Great atmosphere. Only had a drink

Wonderful meal. Seafood fantastic. Pub is gorgeous, with a huge range of whisky & cask ales. Can't wait to return & eat more of the menu..

This Pub is a Royal Gem, food was awesome and , fast. The service is exceptional.

Great place for Fringe events-over the years I've seen classical music, magic, hypnotism and hip-hop here!

Even though I reserved in the restaurant section, the noise level was high - and we struggled to hear one and other at lunch. I know that it was during Fringe Festival - but the restaurant section wasn't full. I had to ask for cutlery, coffee/tea, etc. Server was indifferent and food was average.

The pub is characterized by its large selection of different types of whiskey

Fantastic traditional bar in the centre of Edinburgh. Great for a quick pint or settling in to one of the booths and getting some food. Always a great atmosphere here.

Nice looking bar. Strong smell of fish.

Love it! Beautiful building, great food, and lovely knowledgeable staff.

Did not have any food as I only called for a few beers.This is a lovely establishment with first class customer service.

Had a fantastic meal here. The setting and decorations inside are really unique and is a beautiful place to eat. Mike and his team provided great friendly service. Food was tasty and fresh, especially the oysters. My friend said they had the best fish pie they’d ever eaten. Will definitely be back next time I’m in Edinburgh.

My favourite bar in Edinburgh. I always enjoy having a drink in the bar. Been here when visiting the city many times over decades. Great, bustling atmosphere in a fine setting.

Excellent meal, excellent service

The place is beautiful, the food was delicious, they had vegetarian options and the service was very friendly.

The oysters and the Bloody Mary were pretty good.

Didn't eat there but the draught beer was brilliant.

Traditional Edinburgh pub at the end of Princes Street.

We had Oysters, Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, seafood pie (30mins wait time). Drinks were spicy bloody mary which the cafe was popular for. Our favourite was the oysters. Reservation is needed for a table at The Oyster Bar.

Horrible service. Reservation at 8:30 - offered water and server did not return to the table - left at 9 pm

Lovely place for a pint. Not an obvious place but well worth checking out. Gorgeous décor.

Great place with traditional charm and great drinks. Food looked good

Great building / decor. Fine service. Good food choices if you seek fish / seafood. But if not wanting the scents of a fish/seafood restaurant then maybe give it a swerve. For clarity - not a bad fish smell - just normal cooking stuff.

Just had a drink. Beautiful place.

Buzzing place on a Friday night. Food excellent although they had run out of some things by 9pm. Bit costly but worth it as an occasional treat. Really good cooking.

Good service and extraordinary setting, with wood panelling and stained glass. The antidote to Macdonalds

This was recommended by a member of the Tigerlily hotel and we definitely would recommend to others. It was a bit crowded and not enough seats but still a very good bar!

Perfect place to get dinner and a few drinks

Went for a drink with family. My 2 adult daughters were asked for ID, which is fair enough. But done in a rude and aggressive manner. Won’t be back!

A historic cafe with delicious food. You can experience the atmosphere of a British pub.

Excellent food and service. Erin was great.

I couldn't take note since there was an event and I'm sorry. I imagined it would be calmer, not with so much fuss. I'll try again

I couldn't take anything because there was an event and I would have liked to. I imagined it would be calmer. Maybe next time.

Great historic stop for delicious fish & chips and lots of great drinks in a warm, welcoming pub. Make sure to pop in to see the stained glass sportsmen

Overall great experience! We had a larger group. Staff were a bit slow with drinks initially, but made up for it with good service throughout the rest of the meal. The steak was fantastic.

Beautiful place, friendly staff

We were there for drinks only, and it was a great place for socialising.

Waiting too long for 3 dishes, almost one and a half hours since we ordered them. The waitress was kind, Not the best burger in town, tasty chicken though. Cold sea food one was quite nice, especially the oysters, but again, too much waiting. They made us wait almost an hour and a half for 3 dishes, mine was cold and did not need cooking. The chicken was very good, the cold sea food was quite delicious, especially the oysters. The burger was nothing out of this world.

Never miss a visit when in Edinburgh. Beautiful classic historical boozer. Always a friendly atmosphere great selection of beers and spirits. Service is always bang on with a great young and old clientele

I believed what was said on their website, popped by for a drink in the bar and some Oysters. Unfortunately was told that the kitchen wasn't concentrating on the bar at 1930. Which is fine, but just say you don't serve in the bar during meals. Did take a while to attract attention for a drink too...

Good food, chill place and nice interior

We have visited the Cafe Royal many times and have had positive experiences. Unfortunately tonight we were disappointed! Having been told the oysters had not been delivered we settled for our second choice - the devilled squid. This turned out to be a bad choice as the squid was bland and there were teeth damaging unpopped popcorn hard kernels at the bottom of the dish. Our main course - Haggis neeps and tatties was good. The desert we wanted (Cranachan) wasn't available. Overall a disappointing experience and so unlike all the other times we have been to the Cafe Royal...

Edinburgh locals meet at this traditional pub. It has an enormous antique, oval bar in the middle of the room and large, comfortable booths a stride length from the bar. The pub serves oysters! It even has lobster and often sells out. If you want to pretend to be on the set of Chariots of Fire (1981 film about the 1924 Olympics), book dinner in the dining room. The seafood tower is superb. Or you can order the house special, pied de cochon! :-)

Good service and good selection of drinks and beers

Our group came here for dinner on our last night in Edinburgh. It’s definitely a classic! The food was great and the ambiance even better. Our waiter was very competent if a little stuffy. We had a lot of fun in the bar afterwards as well. Great experience!

Really enjoyed the atmosphere and decor. Great place to meet and to catch up.

Cullen skink was great and so many delicious choices of whiskey malts!

The atmosphere was very nice, we ate a hot seafood plate. The products are daily, since oysters did not arrive that day, they added a product we requested. We also tried haggis, but we've had better ones. Seafood was very delicious. We sat in the restaurant section, the atmosphere was nice. We also tried Cranachan, it is a famous Scottish dessert, well I can say that :)

We love this place, best Bloody Mary anywhere!

During our trip with Sompo Insurance, we stopped by for a snack at noon. English pub. The place has a nice atmosphere. The employees were nice and cheerful. We ate snacks. Beer is a must. It's a fast food style. I won't comment much. We didn't pay the bill. Since we attended as company guests, I didn't know if it was expensive. I had a pleasant time. Thank you.

Bar is amazing inside with great lagers/ales but staff are awful or they were on afternoon of 9th June. If I was owner I'd sack all of them. Over two separate time slots: late afternoon and later in evening. Have a look at decor, then go elsewhere as I'd rather have good beer and excellent service in a hovel at nearly £7 a pint!! It really was that bad. I wasn't the only male customer with that opinion either. Regards Mike

Amazing food and drinks. Decor is also beautiful. As a bonus the staff is very attentive. Definitely go here for the food, especially the seafood, but all the food we had was fantastic. Also had vegetarian options for vegetarian friend.

Had a few great ales in here lots of atmosphere. It's like stepping back in time.

Place with character, average service but delicious food!!

Hidden gem recommended by our tour guide and it lived up to the hype! Incredible atmosphere and fantastic food. Gracious portion sizes.

A WOW atmosphere, with historic value and excellent food makes this a very special and recommended place! Every dish that we ordered was delicious, including the haggis and melt in your mouth, buttery marrow! This was our first (and only so far) experience having haggis and I was a little nervous, due to its reputation. While I don't know if I'd order it from another restaurant, I do recommend Cafe Royal's haggis! This gorgeous restaurant was a treat and highlight of Edinburgh.

We really enjoyed the food at Cafe Royal, from the mussels to the scallops, but it was incredibly loud, and our table felt like an afterthought during a very busy time. We had to ask for almost everything, including the check. This is probably a better spot for a starter and drinks than a group dinner.

It's perfect and beautiful place

Fancy little bar really beautiful central bar and excellent selection of drinks. Big thank you to the staff for looking for my partners phone on sunday, they really went the extra mile... BTW we managed to find it... Top classy pub well worth a visit :)

Lovely period pub. Lots nicer than the newly refurbished pubs. It has its own special identity. Loved it!

Fabulous historic venue with heaps of charm and nostalgia. But very much compromising on table numbers , admittedly our late additions but shame as was plenty of space inside , seemed more a matter of principle than practicality . Food great , table service was attentive.

Tom was an attentive and friendly waiter. Food was amazing and a lovely setting too.

Excellent. Great staff, food superb and beautiful setting. Highly recommended!

There were order mistakes and drinks spilled, but they were kind and the food was delicious. Above all, the interior has a luxurious feel◎

Very beautiful and clean place, however, the food is not the best. Fish and chips fried in old oil, leaving a greasy taste. Little fish with a lot of flour, potatoes with bruises and very greasy. Cold and unfriendly service. Expensive food for very low quality. Im from Brasil and im always looking for special places and this one dont make me feel pleasure.

Everyone just seems so happy in here, friendly staff, great food, had the cullen skink and haggis and a really good scotch. Nice interior, great place.

I definitely recommend cafe royal. Friendly staffs, nice food. Great atmosphere. A perfect ending to my trip to Edinburgh.

Barkeeper Stephen is a champ. Knows his way around the pub and provides you with the best selection of whisky. 🥃 Oysters on the side were interesting at least.

This a beautiful Victorian era bar and well worth seeing.... Unfortunately the real ale is often poorly kept / served, maybe they don't sell enough so it goes a bit stale / smelly in the cellar. Never eaten there, but if you do pop in for a drink, just get a half, take a picture and get out. Much better beer quality to be had in very, very nearby bars...