The Walter Scott Tearoom

My cousin Nicholas, from New Zealand was visiting Edinburgh for the first time today so I took him and my Dad there for coffee.  My Dad’s first comment was “It is a bit upmarket!”

As you would imagine from the name, this is a traditional Scottish tea room on the 2nd floor of Romanes and Patersons on Princes Street.  It is the next shop to Marks and Spencer on the West side so incredibly easy to find, or give directions too, for foreign visitors.  It has the most delightful lift to the 2nd floor; it is the kind that needs a member of staff to come with you to pull across the two sets of metal accordion doors.

Nicholas was amazed at the views, from the table in the bay window; you had the castle out one side, the Walter Scott Monument from the other and facing you Princes Street Gardens.  Its elevation means you can see over all the buses and traffic on the road.  In the sun today it all looked magnificent.

The tearooms themselves were looking very traditional, tartan carpet of course, tartan placemats and very nice draped tartan curtains at the bay window. The walls are a nice deep green at the bottom of the half panelled walls, plain white above.

They take being a tea room very seriously and have 11 speciality teas plus 3 house blends, one of which is Scottish Breakfast, favourite of mine.  They have all the usual coffees cappuccino, espresso etc. and also their 5 speciality coffees served in a cafitiere.

They offer a range of Scottish main meals such as haggis neeps and tatties, Arbroath Smokie fish cakes, stovies and homemade steak pie and also do a Sunday Roast Special for £8.95.  They also do other food such as breakfasts, soup, sandwiches, baked potatoes and of course cakes which I again cannot comment on.  I have had the steak pie, though not today, and it was lovely.

Today my cousin and I both opted for the scones which were great; my fruit scone was served with raspberry jam which I love. Nicholas had a plain scone which he demolished. Dad had a plate of lentil and vegetable soup and said it was so filling he didn’t have room for anything else.  They always serve loose leaf tea and my Scottish breakfast tea was up to its normal excellent standard.

The toilets are a floor above and very clean and spacious.  You could easily get 3 or 4 people in each stall and they have their own windows which is most unusual.

The tea room is quite a large area so it never feels too busy which is quite nice but try to get one of the window tables as the views are stunning.  By accident my friend Joe, who we had not planned to meet was there.  He had the best table but the friendly staff quickly attached two tables together so he could join us. 

The Walter Scott Tearoom

Romanes and Paterson    

62 Princes Street

EDINBURGH  EH2 2DH

Tel. 0131 225 4966

Opening Hours 9am - 5pm