Cafes in iconic Scottish museums named among UK's best

The Herald Scotland

24-04-2025

If you're looking to enjoy a nice cuppa while exploring some of the best exhibitions around, here are some of the best museum cafes in Scotland.
See the museum cafes in Scotland named among the best in the UK
These are the museum cafes in Scotland that have been named among the top 50 in the UK by The Guardian.
The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant, Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
Scottish National Gallery and Edinburgh Castle (Image: Getty Images) This beloved "Edinburgh institution," which is "tucked beneath" the Scottish National Gallery, enjoys views of the Old Town and the Scott Monument.
Here, traditional Scottish dishes can be found, including deep bowls of creamy cullen skink soup, Aberdeen butteries (bread rolls) with haggis and "superb" scones.
Inside the café, with its "vibrant" interiors, celebrates Scottish designers like Mairi Helena.
The Burrell Collection restaurant, Glasgow
According to the newspaper, this space "feels somewhere between a summer house and a church" thanks to its open look, which "skillfully" blurs the line between Pollok Park and the museum interior.
A £68 million revamp of the museum and gallery created this bright extension, allowing visitors to relax while checking out the "diverse collection" donated to Glasgow by Sir William Burrell.
All sorts of meals can be found here, including toasted sourdough sandwiches and Angus steak burgers.
Fruitmarket Cafe, the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh
In recent years, the Fruitmarket Cafe has "flourished into a real haven for both art and food lovers," according to the publication.
The location serves all sorts of "brunch favourites" like baked eggs with top ingredients like chorizo, tomato and flaked almonds or aubergine, feta and pickled onion.
On a cold day, visitors can enjoy the kala chana, a black chickpea curry with roast cauliflower and spinach.
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Stone Cafe, Perth Museum
The newspaper writes that "a few Perthshire eyebrows were raised" when Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo was awarded the contract to transform the dilapidated Perth city hall into a museum.
Now, the location is fondly looked upon as a "dynamic reimagining" of the Renaissance-style structure, which holds the Stone of Destiny.
The associated Stone Cafe has also become a well-liked eatery with its vaulted windows creating a "light welcoming" space with views of St John's Kirk.
Scottish comfort food is apparently the highlight of the menu here, with bowls of haggis, neeps and tatties and stovies being offered.