The Cafe Royal Edinburgh, Cafe Bar
Cafe Royal Circle Bar, 19 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA -
Up to
40 guests
Offers
catering
About Venue
The Café Royal is a warm, welcoming pub with lots of character. This lofty and ornate tile-adorned Victorian bar offers real ales, whiskies and seafood specialties.
If you would like to know more things about our spaces, please feel free to send us an enquiry with your request and we'll answer you as soon as possible.
Capacity & Layout
Standing
up to 40
Dining
up to 40
Food & Beverage
Catering arrangements
Facilities & Amenities
Tea
Public transport
Premises parking
Location
Reviews
- Geoff MorrisonAugust 2025
One of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh – and now our new favourite. We ended up here by chance after another restaurant had sold out, and I’m so glad we did. I’m a big roast fan, and this was easily the best I’ve had in a long time. Everything was spot on: the homemade cauliflower cheese, rich gravy, and pigs in blankets were a treat, while the beef, Yorkshire puddings, and perfectly tender veg were exceptional. We practically licked the plates clean. To top it off, the staff were genuinely friendly and welcoming – the whole experience was a joy from start to finish.
- Bashaer MGAugust 2025
Very busy atmosphere, but the service was impressively efficient considering the crowd. The oysters were fresh and flavorful, and the charred peppers were a standout — perfectly cooked with a smoky sweetness that paired beautifully with the seafood. A great spot if you don’t mind a lively vibe and want quality bites with relatively quick service. Would recommend reservations if you mind loud/noisy environments (otherwise - try your luck by the oyster bar).
- DOVETAILJune 2025
One of Edinburgh’s great institutions so a must for locals and visitors alike. It’s an amazing space inside with such great architecture and one pub that should never change. Friday night was busy but still the odd seat was free. Drinks are good but at £11.10 for a glass of house wine a bit pricey. Staff could do with smiling and might sell more drinks if there was some interaction with customers.
- Ross KennedyAugust 2025
This one was hard to rate. We came all the way from the states and were only spending two days in the Edinburg area so we carefully preselected our dinner reservations months ago. The venue was beautiful and is steeped in historical design and ambience, however it was loud and no one could give us a good answer about who we should check in with when we arrived at our 8pm time. The servers were rushed and left us without attending to our drinks for a very long time. The drinks were excellent but way too expensive. We order the Scotch eggs and the scallops for entries. For $20 USD we got TWO scallops in a soupy but interesting mix of sauces and beets. My wife said her Balmoral chicken was peppery and too salty. My pork cutlets were fantastic. Really it comes down to feeling like we were in the way and the servers were too stressed to do a solid job making sure we were taken care of. I think we'd go back if we're ever in Edinburgh again but with so many other choices probably not.
- Marco MenzhausenAugust 2025
Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was ruined by the service, particularly by a waiter named Daniel. He was incredibly rude—the most unfriendly waiter I’ve ever dealt with. He dropped a dirty spoon on my grandfather and didn’t say a word. No apology, no attempt to pick it up—just completely ignored it. He also brought the wrong dish and again, no apology. When we asked for help with the menu, he was arrogant and unhelpful, acting as if our questions were a nuisance. To be fair, the food was good, and the special we tried was actually very enjoyable. It’s a shame the service didn’t reflect the same quality. A great meal shouldn’t be overshadowed by bad hospitality.
