These were just a few of the exciting festive Edinburgh dining experiences for enjoyment over winter of 2011/2012. Check back in September for the top tips for Edinburgh Sparkles 2012/2013.
Just because it’s the Christmas season, you don’t need to eat tasteless turkey or soggy sprouts. In fact, there’s no excuse for food envy in Edinburgh, because it’s home to more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere else in the UK outside of London, plus a host of award-winning gastro pubs, elegant bistros and quirky, individual eateries.
Enjoy Christmas menus and seasonal eating pleasures galore, all sourced from Scotland's natural larder and prepared by some of the country's most talented chefs. Michelin star Chef Martin Wishart has just opened his second Edinburgh restaurant to critical acclaim. The 60-cover, Parisian-inspired brassiere serves an absolutely delicious French-Scottish menu. Slice of Coq au Vin with caramelised onion brioche anyone?
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Fancy something a bit different? Kyloe Restaurant and Grill is Edinburgh's first gourmet steak restaurant serving up no less than eight different cuts of pedigree Aberdeen Angus Steak. A meat-eaters paradise!
Other city-centre eating highlights include Oloroso on Castle Street, which serves locally sourced, seasonal food in stylish surroundings – make sure to visit its spectacular rooftop for enchanting views across Edinburgh’s glimmering nightscape. Elsewhere on George Street there’s Centotre, Browns, the Dome, Gusto and more besides – take a wander along and see what takes your fancy.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling creative you could go straight to the source at the award-winning Edinburgh Farmers' Market at Castle Terrace every Saturday between 9am and 2pm. The majority of stallholders are primary producers, growing what they sell, including meat products (make sure to try the wild boar, venison, ostrich and water buffalo), fish, eggs, cheese, seasonal fruit & vegetables, honey, chillies and plants. You'll also find producers who bake and prepare their own farm products, such as organic beer, liqueurs, bread, chocolates and chutneys.
But it’s not just about the eating – Christmas-time toasting with a little tipple is one of the season’s pleasures. After all, if Santa can enjoy a sherry…
Dragonfly in the Grassmarket is Edinburgh's top urban cocktail bar. Enjoy drinking your way through their expertly-crafted cocktail menu, dancing to their oh-so-cool hip-hop beats or even playing Sonic the Hedgehog on their old-school TV set!
At Bramble mixology is an art form, but pride and procedure won’t get in the way the way of the relaxing vibe and refreshing cocktails to drink. Things liven up a little on Friday and Saturday nights between 9pm and 1am when resident DJ’s play.
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If you prefer things a little more traditional then a wee drink at The Sheep’s Heid in Duddingston could well do the trick. Open for more than six centuries, they’ve even got a bowling alley especially for their drinkers – or as they like to call it ‘skittles’.
