Eye & Pen: Lifestyle, Travel, Photography and Literature
  • Main
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Accommodations
    • Bucket List
    • Cheap Travel
    • Culture
    • Essay
    • Destinations
    • Inspiration
    • Interviews
    • Narratives
    • Personal
    • Photography
    • Restaurants
    • Reviews
    • Safe Travel
    • Travel Planning
    • Trip Update
    • Weekly Wanderlust
  • Photo Gallery
    • Photo Gallery – All Places
    • Photo Gallery – Aruba
    • Photo Gallery – England
    • Photo Gallery – Europe
    • Photo Gallery – Iceland
    • Photo Gallery – Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Italy
    • Photo Gallery – Northern Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Other
    • Photo Gallery – Scotland
    • Photo Gallery – USA
  • Services
    • Blog Coaching
    • Graphic Design
    • Hire Brandon
    • Advertising
  • About Brandon
  • Contact

Destination review - Cafe Royal, Scotland

7/5/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
     I was captivated the moment I walked out of the underground station and onto the streets of the great city of Edinburgh (as I was corrected, many-a-time, you are to pronounce Edinburgh like this: edd-in-bra). My first sight of the town was the infamous Sir Walter Scott monument - I loved this town. I loved every bit of it (minus being robbed - that story will be coming out later this summer if your interest is peaked). It was my medieval home-away-from-home, and I can’t wait to visit again. Every building of the city center matches the gorgeously gloomy castle - in some way, shape or form. Dark, haunted and illustriously full of history, every inch of Edinburgh screams of the dark ages.

     I was strolling down some of the back streets, partaking in my favorite travel past-time, when I stumbled upon the Cafe Royal, with its classic physique and stained glass windows. It boasted the best oysters in town and was an obvious favorite local watering hole, which drew me in immediately.

History in a nutshell
     The first Café Royal in Edinburgh was founded by Mr John Ambrose and opened in 1826 at 1 Register Place, across the road from the present building. It previously was a tavern, serving coffee and wine, as well as beer and spirits and equipped with ample dining rooms which specialized in oysters. In 1861 all the properties in the area were sold to Robert Hume, a plumber, who then proceeded to demolish all the old, original buildings.
     Work started on the present building in 1861. It was originally built to be a showroom for the latest in gas and sanitary fittings, but it is doubtful that it ever accommodated any baths or sinks!
     On 8th July 1863 the Café Royal moved to its new location in this stylish Parisian building, which was designed by local architect Robert Paterson.
     A glorious example of Victorian and Baroque, little has changed since then. Entering the Café Royal is like taking a step back in time. Elegant stained glass and fine late Victorian plasterwork dominate the building. Irreplaceable Doulton ceramic murals, painted by John Eyre, adorn the walls in both the restaurant and bar. These were purchased by an early licensee J. McIntyre Henry from the 1886 International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, which was held on Edinburgh's meadows.
     Since opening, the Café Royal has passed through the hands of many owners, although none have threatened the uniquely Victorian atmosphere. None, that is with the exception of Grand Metropolitan Hotels, who took over in 1965 and agreed, four years later, to sell the building to Woolworths, wishing to extend their Princes Street store. Fortunately the city Planning Officer disagreed, and aided by a petition of 8700 signatures, he ensured that planning permission was denied. On 27th February 1970 the whole building and its interior were listed, thus preserving it for future generations.

(cited from the History of the Cafe Royal http://www.caferoyal.org.uk/history.htm, 2012)

My thoughts
     The bar and restaurant are kept relatively separate, so fine dining and night boozing are both possible within the same room. The bar is a simplistic 360-degree bar, anchored in the middle of all the action, with chairs available all the way around, and a second set of tables circling that.
     I spent a good half hour touring the pub and interviewing the bar manager - she explained that ever since the pub was opened in 1826, each owner (thankfully) kept true to the roots and the history of the original Cafe Royal. She claimed very little had changed in the past 180+ years in the pub, so make it a point to visit the Cafe Royal - I recommend it!

Fun fact
There’s still an even 50/50 local vs tourist clientele, which is exciting for travelers (not tourists).

More information
Best time to visit - Anytime!
Prices - appetizers £4-5, entrees £7-15
Hours - BAR: Mon-Sat 11a-10p & Sun 12:30p-10p. RESTAURANT: Mon-Sat 12p-2:30p/5-9:30p & Sun 12:30p-2:30p/5-9:30p
More travel information - http://www.caferoyal.org.uk/contactus.htm
Address - 19 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA
Website - http://www.caferoyal.org.uk
My recommendation - Grab a recommended whisky at the bar then take a table and try their famous oysters.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Sign up for my VIP email list:

Picture
Picture

Article Topics

All
About Blogging
Accommodations
Bucket List
Cheap Travel
Culture
Destinations
Discussion
Entertainment
Environment
Essay
Fine Art Feature
Gear
General
Giveaway
Green Living
Guest Posts
Inspiration
Interviews
Lifestyle
Luxury
Narratives
Not Recommended
Other
Personal
Photography
Restaurants
Reviews
Safe Travel
Trip Planning
Trip Update
USA Road Trip
Video
Weekly Wanderlust

RSS Feed

Monthly Archive

November 2021
September 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012

*Disclaimer: All blog posts featuring products, reviews, or suggestions for products or services are governed by our Disclosure. Products were received free to review, so to provide authentic opinions and content for our readers. The opinions and ideas in this post are the writer's own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business. We receive no compensation for product reviews. Links within non-product review posts may be sponsored.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.