Sometimes the best meals come from the places you’d least expect.
I never thought I’d be raving about a hotel restaurant.
Don’t get me wrong — I love a good Sunday roast. But usually, if someone says, “Let’s get roast dinner at a hotel,” I brace myself for something bland and overpriced. You know the type: soggy Yorkshire puds, dry meat, and gravy that tastes suspiciously like dishwater.
So when I saw a post on Reddit about The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh doing a roast that’s actually good, I was curious. Skeptical, but curious.
The Setting
The Scotsman’s Brasserie is tucked away inside the hotel, right on North Bridge. It’s got that classic old-school charm — high ceilings, comfy chairs, and views over the city if you get a good table. It definitely feels a bit fancy, but not in a stuffy way.
I went on a rainy Sunday (classic Edinburgh), and it was quiet, warm, and full of that comforting roast-dinner smell.
The Roast
Okay, let’s talk food.
I went for the roast beef. You can also choose pork belly or a veggie option. It came with all the essentials:
- Tender slices of beef, pink in the middle and full of flavour.
- Roast potatoes that were actually crispy on the outside (a miracle).
- Yorkshire pudding the size of my face — light and golden.
- Proper gravy, rich and savoury, not the watered-down kind.
- And veg that wasn’t just an afterthought — carrot, cabbage, maybe a bit of swede? Nicely done, not overcooked.
It was £25, which I’d usually side-eye, but honestly? Worth it. Portions were generous, and everything tasted like it had been cooked with care — not just plopped on a plate to tick boxes.
What Surprised Me
- The meat was spot on. So often, roast beef ends up chewy. This wasn’t.
- They didn’t skimp. None of that one-potato nonsense. The plate was full.
- Service was friendly, not fussy. I felt looked after, but not hovered over.
Would I Go Again?
Yeah. I actually would. I’m already thinking about trying the pork belly next time.
This probably isn’t your cheap and cheerful Sunday pub roast. But if you want to sit down somewhere nice, have a relaxed meal, and not feel like you’ve wasted your money — it’s a solid shout.
Final Thoughts
I still think it’s kind of weird that one of the best roasts I’ve had in Edinburgh came from a hotel brasserie. But that’s the thing about food — it’ll surprise you, if you let it.
So next time you’re stuck on a Sunday with no plans and a craving for roast, don’t rule out the hotel down the road.
It might just be better than your local.
Tried a great roast in Edinburgh lately? Drop me a tip — I’m always up for a Sunday wander and a big plate of gravy.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters
