What is The Dome in Edinburgh like?

[Scoutingforducks]

Hello lovely people
A friend of mine has requested we do a Tipsey Tea at The Dome when she comes.to visit.
The reviews are a bit hit and miss really, especially when it comes to catering for Coeliacs!
I just wondered what your thoughts were on it or if there is somewhere better to go for afternoon tea in Edinburgh?

Also where is worth visiting? She has never been to Edinburgh, we live in the south West of Scotland, I've heard the castle isn't worth the money, so looking for places to go before and after afternoon tea.

For afternoon tea, I rate Colonnades at the Signet Library on the Royal Mile. Limited availability but stunning venue and food. The Dome is pretty inside but I think the afternoon tea is upstairs, not in the pretty bit and the food is so so.

I like the castle but you can just walk up to the entrance to see the views if you don’t want to pay and go inside.

Make sure you visit both the Old Town - up on the hilll - the castle and oldest bit - then walk down through Princes ( not ‘Princess’!) Street gardens to Princes street and look down the hill to the Georgian ‘New Town’ ( many many Regency terraces like Bath and views down to the Firth of Forth/ sea.

Just recently took a stroll up Calton Hill and had the best time. It has a lovely café there to stop and enjoy the views of the city.

I can't personally comment on The Dome but in January we went for a meal at Cafe Andaluz on George Street and had a lovely paella with coffee liqueur afterwards.

Expensive. Overrated. the decor is also quite old fashioned (really dark wood, chandeliers) and makes the rooms look dark but you might like that. I would look for a smaller independent tearoom.

(The rooms they serve afternoon tea in)

The Balmoral Hotel Palm Court is the “traditional” afternoon tea venue in Edinburgh (with live piano or harpist!). Very nice but expensive (£70!) Scottish National Gallery is also a great venue/views and half the price. But in my view the best is just outside the city centre - Prestonfield House can’t be beat for atmosphere and food. Not fond of the Dome, feels a bit manufactured in some way…but this may be the point that I am missing!

Yes I was going to say, anything in the city centre will be extremely pricey, though the balmoral is gorgeous.

bear in mind OP, some of these places may have a dress code, the balmoral does.

How about the Royal Yacht Brittania?

My mum and sister went here. It wasn’t that good and there were a lot of add-on prices for extras. Smallish portions and very tired looking.

RYB It’s often on groupon and the like as they struggle for customers so you might get a bargain. But they keep quiet about the added extras! Added booze is very expensive.

I went to The Dome a couple of years ago. I can't remember what I had to eat which suggests it was neither awful or excellent. I just remember it being too big for my liking, too many people.

I'd recommend Holyrood Palace and Royal Yacht Britannia. Both were fab. Edit: for visiting, not food.

I'll take a look,.thank you. The pics.i have seem of The Dome look dark which is why I asked.

For other things to do, I'll be the first person to suggest The Real Mary King's Close - under the streets, fabulous.

It's not my thing really, but my friend, British but has lived in America for 40 + years,loves this sort of thing. I'll google independent rea rooms, that way i might be able to avoid the 'traditional afternoon tea'

@RebelMoon and everyone else who has responded
Thank you so much. I have thought about Hoolyrood House, but had forgotten about the Royal Yacht! I'll get my friend to look at them both and she can decided which she prefers!

@WinWhenTheyreSinging ihave never heard of the Real Mary Kings Close, so will definitely look that up

I will also look into independent tearooms and The Balmoral Palm Court, maybe my friend can have an afternoon tea and I can have something else!! Being coeliac has its challenges!

Sorry can’t help with celiac but I love afternoon tea! Dome is nothing special, it’s upstairs and not a relaxing experience. If you want to go to the dome, just go downstairs and have a cocktail or a coffee. For afternoon tea, Balmoral is the best in Edinburgh. If you want a budget friendly afternoon tea with no frills food, Queen Charlotte rooms is a fun experience and great value for money in the first class lounge - albeit slightly further out in Leith so you would need to get a taxi down.

Thanks, I will definitely look into The Queen Charlotte rooms. I did think The Dome was rather expensive.

Colonnades do gluten free if given 24 hour notice.

I thought it was really disappointing - might just have been the guide we had, but it was very limited in terms of explanation and not nearly as big as I thought it would be.

Agree with the Signet - expensive, but worth it.

Dean Village is worth a visit - a bit of a trek from the east end of Princes St, but you could get a bus or an uber.

Gleneagles Townhouse do gluten free afternoon tea. Beautiful setting: like the Dome if it hadn't been resting on its laurels for decades.

Willow Tea Rooms on Princes Street is lovely.

The Done afternoon tea is definitely just OK, it’s not in the main room. I second Prestonfield House as recommended by a PP, it is lovely.

Style over substance (and the style is now dated. As PP said, Colonnades at the Signet Library. Bit expensive, but feels like a proper occasion tea

Sadly the website says they are.ubable to cater Gluten Free, story of my life!! Shame as it looks fabulous

Eh? Website says this “We are happy to cater for Gluten Free Afternoon Tea, Vegetarian Afternoon Tea, Vegan Afternoon Tea, and Dairy Free Afternoon Tea, provided we are given a minimum of 24 hours' notice.”