Contini Scottish Cafe and Restaurant in Edinburgh, City of

Had a fantastic experience NYE 2023 wish I could do it again this year.

First rate, articulate team with both excellent service and food. Lovely spacious, airy room with big windows overlooking gardens.

Waiting so long to get the waitresses services, waving minutes for them, nobody had paid any attention.

The food was terrible , my friend took a fish and chips and it was way too salty and I took the ONLY vegetarian dish and it was not salted at all and not tasty for that price . The ambiance and location was good but we do not recommend it ! The waiter was nice.

Great location, and service and food good.

Great both for lunch and afternoon tea and dessert 🥰

Large central cafe, great view logel design. Super food with a wide range from snscks to meals

Excellent savory and sweet food. The service was quick and attentive. I would highly recommend the fish and chips.

Visited a couple of times for breakfast while on a city break. Friendly and fast service with an excellent selection of menu options. Both times the food and coffees were great, as are the views of Princes Street gardens and the Scott Monument.

Consider trying the Aberdeen Butteries I had the creamed mushroom, very good, washed down with the Blackberry Champagne mule. Great views of Edinburgh and a lovely pit stop after a trip to the Royal Scottish Academy.

Delicious and high quality meal; pleasant not loud music.

Good service Great views in the in the surrounding areas

Absolute awesome Fish and Chips for Lunch👍👍👍👍

Mad expensive for two breakfasts! had eggs Benedict, the sweet croissant really didn’t go with the eggs, sourdough or anything would be better .

Service was excellent and the food was lovely! Fruzsi was particularly helpful and attentive, and we had a lovely time.

Second time dining here. Both a good experience. Staff very busy and efficient. Food tasty and well presented.

Great place for a beer in the summer heat. Lots of people both inside and outside. But it is always possible to find a free place for a quick stop after the walk in the park below, which you also have a good view of.

We had a very good breakfast here, the butteries are particularly recommended. And for all chocolate fans: The Italian Chocolate is the best I've ever had anywhere and I've tried a lot of cocoas/chocolates. It's as chocolatey as a Ciocolatta Calda, but not as thick. There is also a jug of hot milk with which the chocolate level can be individually adjusted, an absolute dream ❤️

Nice place center of town, bit pricey but its Edinburgh

Food good and waiters good. Waited nearly 1 hour for main course to arrive - clearly the restaurant was very understaffed. Waiter asked manager to speak to us but he did not.

Enjoyed the food and the service. Decided to stop here for a bite as some of our other choices were so slammed and could not wait for an hour. Turned out to be a good thing for us!

Exquisite experience in cozy atmosphere... Recomend it...

Lovely cheese scone and coffee. It's a beautiful space and the staff are attentive.

Five out of six mains arrived warm rather than hot. Staff apologised on behalf of kitchen.

A beautiful place to take a break with a coffee or a meal with friends .

Tasty food, friendly service, class, beautiful space and view

I asked for a spoon to feed my baby and bring it back and I was directed to the canteen outside because I was not a customer at this occasion. I had been a customer in many occasions, but I will be not coming back.. because of the values that your business or staff holds.

I had a soup and Mackarel which tasted abysmal. The soup was raw and the mackarel was not fresh. Even the bread was stale.

I had a soup and Mackarel which tasted abysmal. The soup was raw and the mackarel was not fresh. Even the bread was stale.

It was very busy, but then it was during the Edinburgh Fringe & Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The service was very friendly, efficient and accommodating. There's ample dining space, with additional tables outside. Despite being on a budget there were affordable dishes, and I opted for the Cullen skink, a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, served with thyme and cheddar soda bread; it was delicious. If I ever revisit Edinburgh I shall definitely go again.

Honestly not bad for a museum cafe. Would come back for more pastries.

It was very busy, but then it was during the Edinburgh Fringe & Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The service was very friendly, efficient and accommodating. There's ample dining space, with additional tables outside. Despite being on a budget there were affordable dishes, and I opted for the Cullen skink, a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, served with thyme and cheddar soda bread; it was delicious. If I ever revisit Edinburgh I shall definitely go again.

The piper package for the Royal Military Tattoo was phenomenal. Enjoyed every moment, kudos to The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant!!!!!!!

Overall the scones are good, the tea were diluted and tasteless. Limited cutleries provided as if there were lack of cutleries available. Customer service is non-existent.

Service was a little slow. But no complaints otherwise.

Sat outside with coffee,the meals looked really nice,service was really good well looked after

Offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Beautiful view of a park . Food is delicious and fresh made. Staff is friendly and helpful!

Service not very pleasant, we shout the order and the order taking was already not very commercial (a smile?) The mochas weren't very good, given the price I would have expected better. Afterwards it is true that it remains a museum café, but there are places where it is very pleasant and well done (Café des Champs Libres in Rennes for example).

Me and my partner came here on our first date, and have gone back 4 times since then! Whenever we are in Edinburgh we always make a point to go as we love the place, and the atmosphere ❤️ The lady who served us recognised us from the last time(4 months before!). Didnt quite catch her name but she had a ponytail, pearl earrings and we told her about where we were from and how it was an overnight journey. She is absolutely lovely, as is the rest of the staff. My partner can be a picky eater but these folk never dissapoint! We've had both breakfast and lunch there, and it is always amazing. The food, the views, the location, its all amazing. The only thing that could make it better was if it was in Orkney!

Me and my mum had the dinner and Edinburgh Tattoo package and ate here. From the lovely owner to all the staff, they were all extremely lovely, helpful and polite. The owner ensured the atmosphere was buzzing from the get-go! The food was amazing, we had pipers give us a mini show and pipe everyone up to Edinburgh Castle. We loved the wee Dram with our pudding. Thank you so much for ensuring our night was started off in a fun and exciting way ❤️. We'll be back to do it all again next year! Louise xxx

Lovely views from the terrace where we had coffee and cake. Friendly and attentive service. Rather small cup of coffee!

A great place to spend some time in the sun.

The food was ok. The service is why I removed two stars. We sat down waiting for our orders to be taken and they took forever with a few items. I do understand that but when we called over one of the waitresses to let her know we hadn't received all our food, she did even apologize but her attitude kinda showed that maybe she didn't want to be bothered or something. I don't know what it was but I didn't like it. Plus they brought me the cappuccino and it spilled so I wasn't able to see the lovely design on it. She didn't apologise for that either.

Good food, waffle is a bit lacking

This gem has consistently been one of my favorites. 4 trips to Edinburgh and each time I eat here. You can't go wrong.

Very nice location. Terrace is quite enjoyable in non rainy weather. Simple menu, but quite acceptable for a museum location. Don’t expect anything but a utilitarian meal. Very friendly staff

Popped into The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant (inside The Scottish National Gallery) as I wanted a quick something sweet and wanted the opportunity to try this restaurant as it looks lovely from the outside. It did not disappoint. Greeted by lovely staff as you walk in and quickly seated & served. All staff were very friendly & helpful. The ice-cream was very delicious and very generous with lots of fruit & chocolate brownie pcs with lashings of fruit coulis! Definitely going back to try more next time 🤩

On our first morning in Edinburgh we had breakfast at The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant. The restaurant was recommended by a YouTube creator. Our very first Scottish breakfast did not disappoint. We tried haggis and black pudding for the first time. We were pleasantly surprised that we liked the haggis. The blood pudding was good but it's not something we are familiar with. The whole breakfast was excellent. The service and atmosphere was perfect especially for our first time in Scotland ❤️

Such nice service staff, typical Scottish food. Not cheap, but worth it. We had sweet scones.

Overpriced and not worth it. We paid 40€ for 2 strawberry cheesecakes and 2 cappuccinos. They were very basic. I’m sure you can find better options at a much better price. Can’t recommend

An abundance of gluten free options, great food and lovely staff.

We visited there several times during our stay in Edinburgh. Yes, the cappuccino we drank there was expensive - but good. We didn't order any drinks with the very tasty meal and were provided with free water without any problems and attentively. The service was just great! All highly recommended.

Stunning, friendly, will visit again.

Super friendly staff, everything we ate was excellent, the coffee was very tasty, the hot chocolate was very sweet. The elderberry/cucumber refresher is also recommended You can also sit outside wonderfully and definitely recommend it

Fantastic food in beautiful surroundings

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I had high hopes after reading the reviews on here, and was happy to try a high tea while in the area. The food was really nice, but our service wasn’t great. I’ve served a lot, and it felt like it may have been our servers first day. We could barely hear her over the ambience of the space. We got very little information about what we were ordering, and had to flag down other servers for assistance at times. I felt like we would have had a different experience entirely if we'd had someone a little more present or knowledgeable. The price point was good, but mismatched for the time we had. It seems like a great spot, but I don't know if I'd go again personally.

Lovely space to stop for a quick coffee and a snack.

Just walked in here with a 10-person party and the staff were very helpful in getting us a table sorted. Food was great with a lot of NGCI or gluten free options/modifications available. Menu was rather meat-heavy but there were a few veg plant based options available. Staff were very helpful and welcoming.

Went in for lunch. The fish and chips my daughter had was fantastic, it was a very large portion but lovely, had chunky chips and mushy peas to go with it. Absolutely delicious. I had open ham and cheese sandwich. Again loads of ham and really filling. Staff were quick and attentive, rest room facilities lovely and clean. Definitely return.

Had my favourite haggis with scrambled egg and cappuccino.

A great place to go for breakfast, although they open a bit late. The staff is friendly, and the food is fresh and good.

Sat outside and enjoyed the view. Cullen skink was £20!

I had Cullen skinks which is a Scottish fish soup and my husband had garden soup which he loved it very much. My Cullen skinks was full of smoked fish cooked in enough cream sauce and was very delicious .

Great location outside in the sun.

It was great. The staff was nice and friendly. The food was brillant. Also the view was great und stunnig

Had a very good breakfast here. Scottish breakfast + porridge with caramelized bananas. The service was very accommodating and even exchanged a few German words with us.

Enjoyed good coffee in pleasant surroundings.

Lovely place to meet up with a friend. Food is pricey.

Very good cheese scones and the fish and chips are massive. Menu is seasonal and does not match the online menu which threw me off as I'm vegetarian and thought I had more options for lunch but when I got there I realized the menu was different which was my only complainant

Had a lovely light brunch before an appointment in the city centre. Apart from my non alcoholic drink being out of stock (mocktail) which can happen I was happy with the soft drink alternatives. My only observation was how quickly the bill landed at the table. I did feel rushed and as though the table was needed before I finished properly - of which I clarified and was assured it wasn’t. I was asked if I wanted a dessert of which I hadn’t time but would have ordered a hot drink. I was fortunate to come when it wasn’t busy. As soon as my food was ate the bill was presented and I hadn’t finished my drink. I decided to just head and leave the coffee for another time. I’d probably go at another time or choose to just have drinks encase time was more pressing.

Enjoyed a beautiful wedding reception here. Nestled in the heart of downtown, it is surrounded by a scenic panorama.

This is a restaurant that fits well into an art museum. It was the most delicious scone I've ever had. The view outside is also nice.

Excellent city centre location. Quality fare.

Fabulous location, really good food, you can feel that the raw materials are of excellent quality, elaborate dishes that enhance the flavors, all clearly distinguishable in every bite. The espresso is also good, the slightly increased price is forgiven for such a good lunch

We waited 15 minutes before someone came to see us only to be seated. The waiters pretend not to see you and smile when you leave. Non-existent and rude service

A pleasant coffee, scone, cream and jam. We were served immediately by friendly and professional staff. The warm fruit scones were baked to melt-in-the-mouth perfection, the cream was fresh, smooth and just the right temperature for spreading and the jam tasted a little bit like decadence! Came away feeling that it was a lovely conclusion to a late morning stroll around Princes Street Gardens. Contented. The toilets were clean and well attended to. The prices weren't too bad for the centre of town. The quality of fare certainly had me thinking it was value for money.

Great place to have breakfast - been to Edinburgh twice and have come back to this place. I love the full Scottish breakfast - best haggis and black pudding and so tasty. After this meal, I’m good to explore and walk all over Edinburgh :) It’s about a 15 mins walk to Edinburgh Castle so please come by if you’re headed that way. The staff are friendly and polite too!

Best breakfast I've had for a long time.perfect 😋

Museum restaurant.......correct if it weren't for my bad English I guess something better.

Lovely food, lovely staff, great location

Delicious food, friendly staff, lovely ambience and setting... price could be cheaper but you get what you pay for.

A great place to eat after visiting the wonderful art gallery

The most stale and ash-like coffee I’ve ever had

Very good, freshly cooked food, quality ingredients. Friendly staff.

Excellent little restaurant and friendly service

The young lad Adam who works here on Saturday mornings is the hardest working man in Edinburgh. We visit regularly for the banana and peanut butter porridge (best vegan porridge in Edinburgh) after our Saturday morning parkrun. Adam is always so enthusiastic and polite. He is very attentive and keeps our glasses of water topped up – for which we are very thankful for as we are often parched. It is such a wonderful experience each time we come in thanks to Adam. Adam really do be doing the most. You would not believe how hard that peanut butter and banana porridge goes. W porridge.

Lovely day in Edinburgh yesterday so my friend and I thought it'd be nice to lunch outside. We were given a table in the shade and unfortunately there was an icy wind blowing up the side of the building. After waiting quite a while on the starter arriving (we both ordered the cauliflower soup which was pretty spicy and overtook the taste of the cauliflower!) we began to feel pretty chilled and noticed a table in the sunshine. I would have just moved to it but my friend thought it best to ask someone first (it wasn't reserved!) The waiter immediately said "no movement on the terrace...it's company policy." When I said we're feeling really cold here in the shade, he replied "I can't control the temperature" I felt this both impertinent and inappropriate. I was ready to leave but my friend was hungry and said let's have this then go. We waited another 20 minutes at least, for a cold course of Asparagus (another starter I'd selected) and a trout sandwich? I enjoyed this course( £10.00) more than the soup and my friend was happy with her very plain sandwich (£14.50) The whole experience was spoiled for me by the waiter and waitress we spoke to, about both our wait and being frozen to the bone. Not good enough in my opinion...We were going to have dessert and coffee but left to get a heat back in our bodies! I WILL NOT COME BACK HERE and might I suggest installing heaters if you're going to force your customers to stay in a seat they're unhappy with. Very poor.

What a tasty impression of Scotland! -> Thank you for being so wonderful (service)! :-)

An excellent eatery as part of this wonderful gallery. Had lunch and breakfast here both wonderful.

If you are taking the comprehensive and ethereal journey through the National Museum of Scotland, I highly recommend stopping here as a little haven outside the vast cavernous rush of history and having yourself a delightful little meal. Even if you are not planning to visit the museum immediately, I recommend eating here anyway, as the selection of food is quite comprehensive, and every item glows with sumptuous richness. I ordered eggs Benedict and a hearty fruit scone. One of the most satisfying parts of eating eggs Benedict is always cutting through the yolk with a knife and watching it stream across the plate, and that joy was heightened here by the ribbon like strips of ham and the flaky base. It looks artisanal, but the prices are reasonable, and the dish is absolutely filling. As someone who eats eggs Benedict regularly, I found the mix of flavours here absolutely delightful. The scone was if anything more impressive, especially when slathered with a layer of clotted cream. There was a sweetly whimsical airiness to it that I found enchanting, especially when paired with the eggs. I highly recommend visiting this elegant place in the cosy yet towering eternal part of Edinburgh.

Service could have been better. Had booked an adult and child's afternoon tea and got two adult ones. They did change it but it was a hurried up child's one made up. Had to ask several times to have my teapot refilled. Would not have minded if they were busy but they were setting up for the next day as they close at 4pm. Sitting outside with a glass of wine would be heaven on a sunny day with the gardens as your view

Stopped in for a coffee and a scone after our trip around the museum. The service was excellent and the food was as well. Next trip to Edinburgh we will definitely be back.

Lovely terrace with garden/park views

The open sandwich with smoked trout is exceptional! Great atmosphere, great service, I go back quite often and I am never disappointed!

Just had coffee and it was a lovely cafe with friendly staff

Best Fish and chips you can have

Wonderful tea/coffee place. We liked the in house scones and jam. The clotted cream was also great. Tea was nice and hot, and the lattes were very nice. Great for warming up.

First visit and not the last excellent food

Wonderful food, wonderful location and wonderful service. I'd like to be there now 😍

The staff were superb and food & location excellent