Scottish Cafe & Restaurant, The

Located underneath two of Edinburgh's most iconic buildings, situated in the very heart of Edinburgh; the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy Buildings, play host to The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant.

In August 2004, the £30 million Playfair Project was completed, which involved the restoration of the Royal Scottish Academy Building and the creation of the state-of-the-art Weston Link to connect it to the National Gallery of Scotland, resulting in quite simply one of the most prestigious settings in Edinburgh for dining and corporate events.

Home to Scotland's greatest collection of European Art from Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, including masterpieces by Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt and Poussin, these galleries provide opportunities to entertain on a grand or intimate scale and are available to hire for events. The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant offers uninterrupted vistas across Princes Street Gardens and other famous Edinburgh landmarks, bringing a world-class visitor facility linking two of Edinburgh's principal Galleries to Scotland's capital city. The restaurant is split across three tiers, defining the creation of a versatile dining space and magnificent views for all.

The menu offers the best and freshest local ingredients, combined to provide a selection of dishes, rooted in excellent modern Scottish cuisine. Their inventive carte is not long, but is high in the temptation factor, a vital ingredient of dishes of which some chefs tend to lose sight. Choices might include first courses of Cullen skink with smoked haddock, potatoes, fresh dill and a little fresh cream, Scottish oak smoked salmon with watercress and radish salad, or local beetroot and honey roasted parsnip salad.

Main courses include smoked roast sea bass fillets with pan-fried Clyde Valley tomato, red chard, capers, parsley and Scottish sweet garlic; Buccleuch sirloin steak with Isle of Mull cheddar, watercress salad and hand made chips, or butterie bruschetta with pan-fried spinach, Crowdie and Lanark blue with a watercress, pear and walnut salad.

Apple and quince crumble with hot toddy sauce is a dish of wonderful flavours, or the rich chocolate cake with hokey pokey ice cream is delicious. Predictably the cheese selection is a source of unalloyed joy to those who care about such things, with Orknet Grimbister, Isle of Mull cheddar and Clava brie, just to name a few all served with oatcakes and homemade chutney. The Dunsyre Blue has to be the principal rival to England's much-loved Stilton.

Keep a lookout for the Sunday lunch roast special served from noon till 3pm. The Restaurant is open daily serving coffee, pastries and homemade cakes for breakfast and afternoon tea from 2.30pm till 6pm.

The Gallery buildings can be hired in the evenings for private events after closing to the public, while The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant is available for holding dinners. For daytime events, the Hawthornden Lecture Theatre in the Weston Link can seat up to 200 guests. For more information visit their Website.