Café at the Palace
- Food served: Apr–Oct: Mon–Sun 9.30am–6pm. Nov–Mar: Mon–Sun 9.30am– 4.30pm.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 3
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables
- Music on stereo: No music
- Capacity: 240 (inc outside)
- Largest group: 80
- Open since: 2004
- Average price:
£11.50 (lunch) - House wine: £14.95 per bottle
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.
Situated next door to Holyrood Palace, this café is the obvious place to grab a sandwich or hearty bowl of soup after visiting the Queen’s Gallery and Palace, or after an invigorating trek round Arthur’s Seat or tour of the Scottish Parliament. With such iconic Scottish landmarks on its doorstep, it would be tantamount to rudeness not to source local Scottish produce and the café has made a good effort: locally sourced dishes are marked on the menu with a thistle emblem. Hot dishes change daily but you can expect a creamy Scottish smoked venison studded leek tart, a well-flavoured macaroni cheese with mushroom and dill or a filled Perthshire baked potato. There is plenty of seating in this airy self-service café and also outdoor tables on the Palace and Arthur’s Seat side, making it a good spot to kick back with a latte and large piece of fruit-laden whisky cake and bask in the elusive Scottish sun.
- High point: Good range of food in a lovely location
- Low point: Cakes and scones are dauntingly large
Reviews of Café at the Palace (Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh)
- 4. Satisfied customer, Edinburgh – 6 July 2011, 2:54pm
Café at the PalaceReport -
I love the Haggis at Cafe at the Palace! I had the baked potato with Haggis on first visit, then Haggis neeps and tatties the next week and both times it was amazing.
Perfect place to take your family on a Sunny day as there are nice tables outside too.
5 stars is not just for the Haggis mind, they have amazing cakes too.
- 3. Shenfjm, Edinburgh – 7 February 2011, 10:37amCafé at the PalaceReport
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5 stars + for the Cafe at the Palace for their wonderful celebratory afternoon tea with a glass of fizz...for the 2nd time this year I have taken a friend as a birthday celebration - again we couldn't eat all the cakes, what a shame! absolutely delicious, great fun, and great attention from the friendly and efficient staff: plus at £9.95 (+ the fizz) per person, it must be the best value in town. Small teapots they may be (see above) but we were offered refills 3 times.
I often go in for a snack after a walk in the park, and can't rate the Cafe highly enough. Many thanks to Scott and his team for a great afternoon.
- 2. VT 14, Edinburgh – 27 April 2010, 4:55pm
Café at the PalaceReport -
I had lunch today, with a friend, at the Cafe at the Palace. Sadly the quality of the food would not encourage me to make the journey down the Royal Mile. I had a cold baked potato and my friend a bowl of cold soup - not, I may add, by choice!
A bowl of soup and bread was £4.05 - outrageous! I had tea in the smallest teapot I have ever seen. We did complain to the waitress and she did apologise but this standard just isn't good enough. I have a bed and breakfast in the city and, in the past, have told my guests about the Cafe, I won't from now on. It is one of the most expensive cafes I have eaten in and I am sorry to say I won't be rushing back. The best part is the parking which is inexpensive and there are lots of available spaces.
- 1. Gale, Holyrood House Edinburgh – 25 April 2008, 1:49pmCafé at the PalaceReport
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House very interesting but was disgusted at paying £6.75 for one tea, one coffee and a slice of carrot cake - which was not quite how I expected a carrot cake to be!
I expect to pay more if I am visiting places but thought this to be outrageous.
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