Dining Inspiration Archives - opentable.co.uk blog

7 Edinburgh restaurants that are perfect for special occasions

OpenTable March 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

If you have a special occasion coming up, there are lots of great places to celebrate in the Scottish capital. Edinburgh’s restaurants are among the best in the UK when it comes to outstanding food, great service and charming locations. Here’s are some of the best restaurants for special occasions – be it a birthday, wedding anniversary or special date night.

The Honours
Martin Wishart is one of Edinburgh’s top chefs and a visit to his modern brasserie leaves no doubt that he deserves every award he has received so far. Enjoy French cooking in the heart of the Scottish capital and tuck into dishes like Orkney scallops and apple tarte tatin. The restaurant is named after a moment in Scottish history when Sir Walter Scott uncovered the Scottish Crown Jewels, or The Honours of Scotland. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.

Rhubarb
Dining at Rhubarb will make you feel rather special – the restaurant is set in twenty acres of stunning parkland. Only a short drive from Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, Rhubarb charms guests with classic dishes and a wine menu boasting more than five hundred wines. Take a seat in the baroque-style dining rooms with giant chandeliers and silk wall coverings and enjoy outstanding service by black-kilted porters. The restaurant is at the heart of the five-star Prestonfield House – why not stay the night?

Restaurant Martin Wishart
Restaurant Martin Wishart located in Edinburgh’s Port of Leith has been wowing foodies since opening in 1999. The multi-award-winning restaurant is one of the city’s most refined dining spaces. We recommend you try one of Wishart’s tasting menus to make the most of his culinary offerings – there are classic and vegetarian options to choose from. The chef’s dedication to creating an unforgettable dining experience shines through everything here – when he opened the restaurant, Wishart even tiled the kitchen and painted all the walls himself.

Tower Restaurant
Perched on the roof of the Museum of Scotland, Tower Restaurant is the ideal place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and more. You’ll be able to enjoy outstanding views of Edinburgh Castle as well as the entire city skyline whilst tucking in to sophisticated dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. We recommend their famous Scotch beef and the Cairngorm venison, or if you prefer vegetarian options, the squash and chestnut risotto is truly irresistible.

The Pompadour
Located in The Caledonian Hotel, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, The Pompadour will make you feel like royalty. Why? Well, for a start, the restaurant takes its name from the celebrated Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV’s favourite mistress, which gives you a clue as to why its sumptuous décor resembles a royal court. The restaurant’s French cuisine does not disappoint either and seduces guests with fresh Scottish produce prepared using classic Parisian cooking techniques.

21212
21212 is part of a small boutique hotel of the same name located on a Georgian terrace in Edinburgh’s New Town. Chef Paul Kitching really does cook up a storm – guests can observe what goes on in the kitchen through tall glass windows. The menu changes weekly so every dining experience is unique – just like your special occasion.

The Stockbridge Restaurant
If you’re on the hunt for a romantic dinner location, look no further than The Stockbridge Restaurant. It’s located right in the heart of Edinburgh’s most idyllic neighbourhoods, with tiny cobbled lanes and the Water of Leith running through it – perfect for a post-dinner stroll. Fairy lights and candles flicker while you enjoy carefully crafted Scottish cuisine and some of the most innovative cocktails the city has to offer.

Visit OpenTable to discover more restaurants in Edinburgh.

This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.

Winter warmers: The best traditional Bavarian restaurants in Munich

OpenTable February 28, 2019

Fancy a weekend trip abroad to warm your soul with a bit of comfort food? Then head to Munich! The Bavarian capital charms visitors with its half-timbered houses and the picturesque river Isar, winding its way through the entire city. In Germany, Munich is known as the “city with a big heart” and we can’t think of a better place to enjoy hearty comfort food than here.

Ratskeller München
Anyone remotely interested in Bavarian culture and cuisine must pay Ratskeller München a visit. Situated beneath the New Town Hall, the historic cellar restaurant serves classic Bavarian dishes that will warm you up during the cold winter months. Try the roast pork shank with red cabbage and a rich gravy or the ‘beef rouladen’, made to Grandma’s recipe. Of course, you’ll also have to try one of their famous beers too.

Wirtshaus in der Au
A visit to Munich would not be complete without experiencing the traditional cuisine and beer that has been going strong at Wirtshaus in der Au since 1901. Here, you can explore the Bavarian way of life, tuck into delicious dumplings and choose from an array of German sausages. Save room for dessert – their Apfelschmarrn (sliced pancake with apples) is too good to resist.Continue Reading

Date Night Dining: 8 romantic restaurants to try in Amsterdam

OpenTable February 27, 2019

In the mood for romance? Give Amsterdam a try. The Dutch capital, known for its creative arts scene (hello, Van Gogh and co.), scenic waterways, and pretty gabled houses, will mesmerise any couple in love. We’ve rounded up some of the best romantic restaurants in Amsterdam for an unforgettable date night. Simply pick your favourite.

De Belhamel
De Belhamel, located at the junction of Amsterdam’s picturesque Brouwersgracht and Herengracht, in a peaceful and idyllic neighbourhood of the Dutch capital, wows guests with its original Art Nouveau features. Entering the restaurant, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to fin de siècle Paris. Of course, the food doesn’t disappoint either – the restaurant’s cooking has won several awards and its waterfront location is the ideal setting for a romantic date night.

Van Speyk
Van Speyk is a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike when it comes to a romantic night out. The restaurant charms its guests with a prime city centre location and relaxed brasserie style. Enjoy delicious French-influenced dishes like seared scallops and duck confit and don’t forget to be as seductive as the French would be!Continue Reading

The dumpling ground: 10 London restaurants serving delicious dumplings

OpenTable February 27, 2019

Ask two people what a dumpling is and they’ll invariably give you a different answer. Steamed, boiled, or fried? There’s Chinese xiao long bao and Japanese gyoza. Some are American-influenced, others steeped in Russian tradition. A good thing, then, London has them all.

Baozi Inn
With a branch in Soho and, more recently, Market Hall in Victoria, Baozi Inn are a prime antidote to beige food. The almost neon-green prawn and chive dumplings, and the traffic cone-orange pork and crab are a case in point.

Kym’s
Though Andrew Wong’s newest restaurant is more focused on Chinese-style grilled meats (think crispy duck, poached soy chicken, Ibérico pork char siu), it would be remiss not to offer a nod to what made his first restaurant – A. Wong – so great. Pork and shrimp dumplings, served in a cast iron pan with fried eggs, spring onions and crispy chilli sauce, is one of the best things on the menu.

Dirty Bones
Limits: sometimes fusion food doesn’t know what that word means. But let’s just have an open mind for a minute. Cheeseburger dumplings. In other words, homemade gyoza filled with burger mince and melted cheese, served with Dirty Bones’ signature burger sauce. Perhaps such a marriage didn’t need to be made, but some are sure glad it was.Continue Reading