Café at the Palace

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses: £7

• High point: Beautiful setting
• Low point: Food could perhaps be more creative
• Food served: Mon-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm
• Open since: 2004
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Wheelchair access, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

It's not the first place that springs to mind when choosing where to lunch, but the Café at the Palace is more than a place to satiate the appetites of hungry tourists. Located across the road from the Scottish Parliament and a stone's throw from the Royal Mile, it makes for a slightly more unusual destination than the usual haunts. The food is what you would expect from a canteen-style operation: a couple of hot daily specials (one vegetarian), baked potatoes and pre-packaged sandwiches. On top of these safe, but satisfactorily executed, standards are a couple of surprises. The range of cakes is wide and excellent: coffee, carrot, toffee and, of course, a rich, chocolate version, oozing with icing. There is also the added bonus of the premises being licensed, allowing them to serve a selection of bottled beers, both local and from further afield. A visit to the café needn't be accompanied by a tour around the Queen's bedroom since the entrance to the café is separate. Visitors can eschew the palace's entrance fee, which makes this a novel alternative setting for a quick drink with friends or a coffee and cake gossiping session.