The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant

You're walking up The Mound after queuing for the gallery, and suddenly you've got a proper sit-down option that doesn't feel like a tourist trap. The Scottish Cafe does things like Scottish fish soup and shortbread that actually taste like they mean it, not like they're pandering. It's the kind of place where locals nip in for lunch between errands, and visitors realise they've accidentally found somewhere genuine. The setting helps—you're inside one of Edinburgh's finest buildings, so there's a certain elegance without anyone trying too hard.