Eating and drinking
Don’t forget to round off your visit with a stop at café, serving a full sit-in menu and takeaway options.
The Shielings Café
Opening times: 10:00-17:00 (last orders 16:30)
Location: First floor
Choose from a selection of good old-fashioned home baking, freshly cut sandwiches, and an array of hot and cold drinks. There's also a kids' menu for younger visitors.
National Museums Scotland Members receive a 20% discount in the café.
Winter seasonal menus
Fish Fridays
Date: Every Friday from 15 Oct - 21 Nov 2025
Time: 11:30 - 16:30
Booking required (call 0131 247 4383)
Enjoy fresh battered or breaded haddock with thick cut chips, mushy peas, a buttered roll, and tartar sauce for only £9.50. Add a cup of tea for a total of £10.50.
Christmas Lunch
Date: Mon - Fri, 24 Nov - 19 Dec 2025
Time: 11:30 - 16:00
Booking required (call 0131 247 4383)
Step inside from the winter chill and enjoy the warm, comforting flavours of the season. Our Christmas menu is crafted with care to bring a touch of festive magic to your table.
Outdoor picnic area
Location: Outside museum building
You are welcome to bring your own picnic to eat in our outdoor play and picnic area.
Please dispose of your rubbish responsibly in the bins provided. Barbecues and gas stoves are not permitted.
Accessibility and facilities
Lifts
The café can be accessed from the ground floor by a set of stairs or the lift next to the toilets.
Lift dimensions can be found on the AccessAble website.
You can check our museum map or ask a member of our Visitor Experience team for directions to the lift.
The Shielings Café
Entrance
The café is on your right as you enter the museum. There is step-free access to the café.
Seating
The tables and chairs in the café are not permanantly fixed. They can be moved to accomodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Highchairs
Highchairs are available in the café on a first-come, first-served basis.
Toilets
There are toilets across from the café on your left as you enter the museum building. These toilets include standard toilets, accessible toilets, and baby changing facilities.
Picnic area
Seating
There are picnic tables in the picnic area with fixed seats. The tables do not have designated spaces for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Dogs
Please note that dogs are not allowed in the playpark and picnic area.
Toilets
The nearest toilets to the playpark are those on the ground floor of the museum building. Check the museum map or ask a member of the Visitor Experience team for directions to the toilets.
Visit our accessibility page for full access information for the National Museum of Rural Life.
Our café is Kids in Museums accredited.
