Cafe Royal Bar

Cafe Royal Bar is a Victorian pub at 17 West Register Street in Edinburgh's New Town, just off St Andrew Square in Scotland. It occupies a listed building and is celebrated for an ornate tiled oyster-bar interior, with ceramic portraits of famous inventors and pioneers, a high decorated ceiling, stained glass and a large central island bar. The room is among the most admired historic pub interiors in the city and is a frequent stop for visitors interested in architecture as much as food and drink. The kitchen serves Scottish pub food, with oysters sold per piece among its best-known items and a range of Scottish pub classics making up the mains, which generally cost about £14 to £22. The atmosphere is lively and convivial, with a warm glow from the dark wood and brass, and noise rises on weekend evenings and during the August festival. There is no formal dress code. The drinks offering centres on cask ales, Scottish beers, whisky and a standard wine list, and the bar suits a pint and a plate of oysters as easily as a full meal. Food is served daily from lunch until late, though hours should be verified on the website, and booking is recommended for dining, particularly for groups and weekend evenings. Drinkers can usually find space at the bar without a reservation outside peak times. The pub is a few minutes' walk from Waverley station, Princes Street and the tram, so it is easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. Visitors wanting a quieter look at the interior are best placed visiting at lunchtime or early afternoon on a weekday, when the tiling and ceiling can be seen without the evening crowds.