Refurbished Cafe Portrait at the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

A Fresh Chapter for Café Portrait: A New Look, A New Experience

On Saturday, 8 February, we proudly reopened the doors of the fully refurbished Café Portrait at the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait. This exciting transformation unveils a more accessible, vibrant, and relaxing space for all visitors. The redesigned space now boasts modern furniture, improved acoustics through soundproofing measures, and a newly designed servery that ensures a faster and more seamless service.

Introducing The Nook: A Cosy Culinary Retreat

One of the standout features of the refurbishment is The Nook—a cosy, bookable table-service area offering brunch and lunch seven days a week. True to its name, The Nook provides an intimate and welcoming retreat within the café, perfect for leisurely dining. It is also available for private dining and special events, making it a versatile addition to the space.

The café itself remains primarily self-service, with a new dedicated coffee and cake counter complementing the main counter’s offering of savoury dishes, sweet treats, and drinks.

A Space Inspired by Art

We collaborated with design consultancy Space Solutions to bring this vision to life. The refreshed interior draws inspiration from John Bellany’s painting Queen Street Café, which hangs in the space. The colour palette reflects Bellany’s artistic style, seamlessly blending creativity and comfort to make art not just something to admire on the walls but an experience woven into the very fabric of the café—including its carefully curated menu.

Under the expert guidance of Head Chef Alec, the menu remains true to its core principles—featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared onsite. New signature dishes have been introduced, inspired by the gallery’s artwork. One standout from The Nook’s menu is the Smokie Hash, a vibrant dish featuring smoked haddock, sweet potato hash, poached egg, wilted kale, spinach, grilled vine tomato, and cava beurre blanc—its inspiration rooted in Bellany’s Queen Street Café, which prominently features fish.

A Place Where Art, Food & Community Meet

Café Portrait has long been a space where art, food, and community come together. 

“The new design and menu are inspired by the artwork that surrounds us, creating a space where everyone feels welcome—whether stopping for a quick coffee or enjoying a leisurely brunch in The Nook. We’re thrilled to reintroduce this iconic venue to our guests.” – Sandy Robson, Executive Director of Heritage Portfolio

“Whatever your reason for visiting, we hope that everyone finds the new-look Café Portrait a warm and inviting space to make memories. Plus, with The Nook now available for bookings, visitors can plan their trip ahead of time and enjoy a more tailored dining experience.” – Isabella Miller, Director of Audience at National Galleries of Scotland

A Collaborative Vision Brought to Life

The vision behind the refurbishment was to create a space that is both inspiring and inviting, allowing visitors to relax and connect with their surroundings.