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    Cafe Rouge - Edinburgh

    3.2 (30 reviews)
    ModerateFrench
    Open 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Cafe Rouge - Edinburgh Photos

    CAFE ROUGE - EDINBURGH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Rouge - Edinburgh

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    Emily T.

    It speaks volumes for a place by how busy it is, and Cafe Rouge is always very busy. You have to book - there's no question about that. But it's a brilliant place. Their food is delicious, I especially love their steak sandwiches (they do a male and female version) and their smoked salmon salad. The only thing I would say is their coke is served in TINY glasses, I had to ask for 3 top-ups. The table comes with a jug of water though, so it's not a big problem. The service is brilliant too - when my cousin still hadn't arrived they took away his pre-ordered steak and chips and kept it on heat for him, providing fresh chips. It's the little touches eh!

    This gorgeous French restaurant/cafe/bar was highly recommended to me by a friend who lives and works in Edinburgh. She had been here for a small family celebration and said the staff were absolutely lovely and the food was a real authentic taste of French cuisine, for great value. I didn't need much more convincing, so my friend and I rocked up one Tuesday afternoon to sample their Prix Fixe menu, which runs from midday til 5pm and costs £8.50 for 2 courses (1 course and 3 course options are available) We were seated by a really nice waitress who asked us how our day had been and recommended some wine to us, which was lovely as you don't usually get chatty, relaxed staff in eateries in Edinburgh; they're always flustered and stressed. We browsed the menu and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't over full with complex choices, which made it easier to pick from especially since I don't eat in French restaurants very often. I ordered a glass of Cafe Rouge house Rose which I was told was sweet and girly, just what I was after! I then went for a main meal of pork sausages with Thyme gravy and mash. My friend followed suite and when it came, I was very happy with my choice. The portions weren't massive but really nicely presented and honestly, I was in heaven. I don't usually go for meat other than chicken or fish, but these bangers were something else! The gravy really set it off and the mash was creamy and delicious! I could go on! I decided to try a desert, as I'm usually a starter and main person, so I went for a crème brulee with raspberries, which was just the right amount of sweet to finish a meal off. Delicious. The waitress who served us kept checking to see if we were ok, or needed anything, but in a totally non evasive way which was nice. We left with smiles on our faces and seriously satisfied tummies. I can't wait to come back here at night when the ambiance is in full swing and the French favour would definitely be in full flow.

    Cafe Rouge, especially come the weekend, is always bustling with diners. There's plenty of reasons to justify this observation: the classical French food is exceptional and the service is rapid. I've repeatedly opted for their onion soup alongside the Gruyére cheese and caramelised onion Fougasse (a light, soft French bread). Such simple French dishes are consistently produced to a gob smackingly tasty standard each and every time I've dined here. I admire restaurants that don't overlook the classics and avoid serving the more complicated dishes. Plus the prices are affordable and as a place to eat lunch it's superb.

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

    It's ok. Mediocre food at best. Slow and sloppy service at worst. They changed shifts and forgot us.

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    8 years ago

    Agree with previous reviews. Service was sloppy and slow. Brought check and never returned. Food mediocre.

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    7 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Good menu and great service. Sit outside in the summer and enjoy Edinburgh with a glass of vino!

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    18 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Cafe Rouge - Edinburgh

    I've repeatedly opted for their onion soup alongside the Gruyére cheese and caramelised onion Fougasse (a light, soft French bread).

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    Petit Paris - Roast Chicken Suprême with blue cheese Sauce

    Petit Paris

    4.2(68 reviews)
    0.4 miGrassmarket, Old Town
    ££

    Truly a superb dining experience in this small restaurant on the grass market…read more The ambiance is just beautiful with small rooms in this ancient building. The walls are stone but they have been whitewashed beautifully and then hung with fin de cicle French advertising posters. The service was impeccable without being clingy. They have a short but very nice wine list. We went with the red table wine (house wine) and it was very good. If you are there for lunch or before 7 pm they an excellent play du jour special. We were there later so we started with the escargot. Very good version of this dish and came out piping hot served with a very good baguette (what else do you expect at a French restaurant?). I had the salmon in a fume blanc sauce with crayfish. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the sauce was excellent. Both dishes came with very very good potatoes. The wife had a sea bass which was served with veggies, olives and balsamic reduction l. Truly amazing. They have a very nice list of desert and after diner wines (sauterne anyone ?) as well as aperitifs. But we were just too full as the portions were very filling. This is a gem of a restaurant. Highly recommend

    Let's start off with the good: the food is lovely. The chef knows what they are doing and produce a…read moresolid range of French fare. You'll enjoy the flavors. The service is atrocious. The staff is rude, dismissive, and only wants to move you out as fast as possible so they can turn the table. Food either takes forever; or comes out all at once when you aren't ready -- depending on how busy the staff is pushing other people out of the restaurant. There are a few solid places on Grassmarket and this is among the options at the bottom.

    Photos
    Petit Paris - Interior with wine bottles

    Interior with wine bottles

    Petit Paris
    Petit Paris - Storefront

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    Storefront

    Brasserie Prince

    Brasserie Prince

    4.6(15 reviews)
    0.4 miOld Town

    Beautiful restaurant attached to our hotel. We were exhausted from a day of exploring and just…read morewanted a nice simple dinner nearby, and we were delighted when we found this restaurant in our hotel. The seating was comfy, and the restaurant was clean and bright, with several excellent options. The restaurant is a higher end, but they have a lovely lunch/bar menu they allowed us to order from even though it was dinner time. My husband opted for a burger, and I got the Caesar salad. We also had breakfast here every morning. It was delicious, with so many options. If you have the time to order something off the menu, I'd suggest an omelet.

    A beautiful restaurant and wish I had more time to grab a coffee at their coffee bar while in town…read more My friend and i stopped in here for lunch with our 13 year old daughters because we thought it looked like a beautiful restaurant. It was beautiful indeed and the service was good. At first glance at the menu I was a little disappointed because I was in the mood for brunch type of food, but settled on the sourdough bread with crab. The crab was smothered in butter, but tasted so good...and Edinburgh had some of the best sourdough bread I've experienced! The menu was a bit sophisticated for our teens, but there was a kids menu for them to order from. They enjoyed an order of fish sticks and french fries. If I were to come back I'd probably go for dinner over lunch since I think their menu is better suited for that, but overall was a lovely meal.

    Photos
    Brasserie Prince
    Brasserie Prince - Scallop

    Scallop

    Brasserie Prince - Old Fashioned. Last fancy drink of my 40s.

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    Old Fashioned. Last fancy drink of my 40s.

    The Dining Room - Halibut Fish ...

    The Dining Room

    4.8(4 reviews)
    0.1 miNew Town
    ££

    Our first Indian breakfast, it was amazing! The flavors of traditional Indian seasoning with eggs,…read moresausage, and beans were a surprisingly beautiful dance in my mouth. Our new favorite breakfast joint in Edinburgh is The Dinning Room! Can't wait to try dinner!

    My partner and I were charmed by this Georgian townhouse which stood just a stone's throw from our…read morehotel. We were finally taken in by the two course for 18.95 set menu as neither of us was ready for a three course ensemble and the price compared to much less renowned restaurants in sleepy Oxford. I was a little concerned about how pretentious the place would be, as this is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society after all, with a private members club upstairs. However, the interior was quite modest, with an eclectic collection of modern art work and open curtains allowing for just the right amount of natural light coming through. We went around 6:15 so it was quite quiet when we arrived. The staff was a little bit somber and standoffish but the service was reasonably quick. The food was actually quite impeccable in terms of quality with seasonal items dominating the dishes. My first course was a thick and creamy Pumpkin and Parmesan soup which was more like a smooth puree with pickled pumpkin along with bits of hazelnuts and porcini mushrooms. My lovely boyfriend went for the soused mackeral with white crab meat, carrots, and dill. He reported the mackeral as being fantastic. For the main we both had the Serrano ham with sweet potato puree and a crunchy blackened fig which complemented the crisp ham exterior perfectly. The glass of white wine we had was glorious as well with the ham. Overall a well-thought out menu and an atmosphere to which I couldn't in good conscience give 3 stars. Although everything was truly delicious, the portions were almost appalling. If we hadn't been lured out by a friend for an impromptu appetizer right beforehand, we would have been left almost completely starving. Slight less empty space on my main dish would have left everyone satisfied.

    Photos
    The Dining Room - Rabbit Starter ...

    Rabbit Starter ...

    The Dining Room - Scallop starter ...

    Scallop starter ...

    The Dining Room - Steak / Beef offered ...

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    Steak / Beef offered ...

    Number One

    Number One

    4.5(48 reviews)
    0.4 miNew Town
    ££££

    Maybe the best restaurant in Edinburgh. A large magnificent space with lots of room between…read moretables. Impeccable service. Beautiful and creative food. The only way to go is the 7 Course tasting menu with wine pairings! Absolutely delicious.

    I'm tempted to not give Number One 5* because it was really pricey. To which you will say, "It says…read moreon the website that it is going to be expensive." And you would be correct. I was prepared for this. But even still, when I got the bill, I internally gasped a little. Ultimately, it is fine, because everything was so on point. The service couldn't have been better. It is probably the best service I've ever received at any restaurant ever. Incredibly welcoming & professional & knowledgeable. The somm was the best somm I've ever interacted with. The depth of knowledge was outstanding. The food? Unreal. We ordered from the 3-course tasting menu. Me: 1st course - Pittenweem Lobster - Outstanding & wonderfully deshelled; 2nd course - Warwick Farm sirloin - incredible cook on the meat; 3rd course - Sticky toffee souffle - really fun & playful! In addition, we were offered 3 amuse-bouches, and had the opportunity to purchase a mignardise + tea or coffee. Plenty of food. And everything was beautiful. Pictures attached. Dress code was smart casual. I saw another Yelper say to not wear jeans. Jeans are fine. I rocked the jeans + jacket & tie + chelsea boots. Fit right in. Worth a visit. I'd go back, but only after replenishing the coffers.

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    Number One
    Number One - Linguica dish - absolutely delicious!

    Linguica dish - absolutely delicious!

    Number One

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    Cafe Rouge - Edinburgh - french - Updated May 2026

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