We’re now nearly halfway through March, which means that there are just over two weeks left to take advantage of the fantastic restaurant deals on offer with Eat Out Edinburgh this month.
And with two major celebrations – St Patricks Day and Easter – over the next few weekends, the restaurant festival provides wonderful options to celebrate.
See below for some more information with suggestions on the best places to eat & drink throughout the rest of March in the capital.
St Patricks Day, 17 March
Angels Share: What better day to indulge in a pint of Guinness alongside your Sunday roast? Enjoy 28-day dry aged beef and all the trimmings as a part of the of 20% off a la carte throughout the month of March.
Rarity bottle shop, Bonnie & Wilde: After a filling meal, swap your usual dram for an Irish whisky, with tasting events and meet the maker sessions every weekend of the month.
Auld Hundred: The classic pub is offering20% off your total bill when booking in advance and quoting ‘EatOutEdinburgh2024‘ – including their signature whisky flights!
Easter Sunday, 31 March
Dean Banks at The Pompadour: Dressed in your Sunday best, head to Easter supper to enjoy a memorable meal in historic surroundings. The fine dining venue is offering a special six course tasting menu for £79 a person this month.
Contini: Enjoy Easter fare the Italian way with decadent pastas or go classic with Borders lamb, with two courses for £25 or three courses for £30 from their set lunch and a la carte menus, with a glass of complimentary Prosecco on arrival.
Duck & Waffle: A specially curated set menu for Eat Out Edinburgh features a multi-course selection of new and signature dishes perfect for Sunday supper, with 2 Courses For £24 or 3 Courses for £29 a person.
Deals from all 40 participating venues are available to book at:
Celebrating some of Diageo’s most pioneering women, Johnnie Walker Princes Street is hosting an exclusive Spirited Women Tasting in its Explorers’ Bothy Bar on 8th-10th of March.
Telling the stories of the influential women who have helped shape the face of Scotch whisky, the tasting features a welcome highball using an exclusive Johnnie Walker Princes Street blend created by Master Blender Emma Walker, and a Johnnie Walker Princes Street Cellar Blend prepared by Master Blender, Aimee Morrison.
Featured in the tasting session will be the Cardhu 12, 200th anniversary release. Created to celebrate two of the original female whisky trailblazers, Helen and Elizabeth Cumming, this malt is strikingly smooth and characterised by beautiful berry and blackcurrant notes.
Also making an appearance will be the Singleton of Glen Ord 2022 Special Release for a sweet and spicy fix, and the Dalwhinnie 17, 125th anniversary release which offers a famously spicy and fruity experience with strong vanilla notes.
As well as the tour, visitors can also enjoy an exclusive 10% discount across the retail store on the day of their tour when they present their ticket.
This offers reduced prices for merchandise and products, including the Bottle Your Own experience, where customers can engrave products with personalised messaging.
The 10% discount is also extended to the 1820 Rooftop Bar, where guests can savour the panoramic views of the Edinburgh skyline with delectable food and drink.
The Eden Mill Experience offers three uniquely delicious cocktails and a journey through Eden Mill’s best-selling fruity & floral Love Gin; a new online offer with ‘itison’ makes it the perfect Mother’s Day treat
Edinburgh’s fun & thriving West End will see adoring gin fans flock to The Eden Mill Experience this Mother’s Day with the brand-new drinks venue announcing a special partnership with itison with deals from just £21.
The capital’s newest drinks experience, and Eden Mill’s first venue in central Edinburgh, is located in the Heads & Tales Gin Bar at 1A, Rutland Place, EH1 2AD, inviting gin lovers to spoil mum this Mother’s Day with an interactive & immersive mixology experience.
Eden Mill’s delectably fruity and subtly floral pink Love Gin is available in the ‘Share The Love Gin’ session. During the experience, gin enthusiasts will hear the story of how Love Gin was born and the flavoursome botanicals used to make it. Guests are whisked through a dreamy experience with three uniquely delicious cocktails, one of which they will learn to mix themselves.
Hannah Ingram, Head of Marketing at Eden Mill, said: “Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity for Edinburgh’s gin lovers to treat their mums to a range of inventive & delicious cocktails. Our new experience has received fabulous feedback so far, we are so thrilled to bring a taste of St Andrews to the Scottish capital.
“The Eden Mill Experience is the perfect opportunity to showcase our wonderful expressions in an interactive and immersive way, and it’s a privilege to bring our brand to a city with such a vibrant drinks scene.”
‘The Guard Bridge Masterclass’ is also available on Itison for whisky fans; Eden Mill’s blended malt Scotch whisky is can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails, and guests will enjoy a dram and three delicious serves – all expressing the whisky’s sweet, warming tasting notes of sherried fruit and gingerbread. What’s more, one cocktail is “guaranteed to feature an ingredient guests have never tasted before!”.
The Eden Mill Experience is located in the Heads & Tales Gin Bar at 1A, Rutland Place, EH1 2AD in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End. Offering immersive whisky & gin experiences, bookings are available now via the Eden Mill website and itison.
The Dreadnought, Leith, has won an influential award at the PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards 2024.
Owner Roisin Therese was at the ceremony in the Houses of Commons to accept the award for being the best Community Regular Hero pub in Scotland. The award celebrates the work that the pub does to fundraise or support the community.
The pub saw competition from over 1,000 entries nationwide for the prestigious pub industry awards, now in their fifth year.
On winning the award, Roisin Therese said: “I am very pleased to accept this award in recognition of the work we have done through the Dreadnought and the Save The Pride Bridge campaign to promote queer visibility and representation.
“Despite the many challenges of running a pub during the last few years, we hope to continue to provide a community hub and to support local causes through our fundraising, food bank and winter clothes collection drives, and engagement with other local organisations. We will continue to provide a safe and inclusive space that celebrates the queer community.”
The pub won because it led the Save the Pride Bridge campaign to help protect a local landmark from being demolished. The Pride Bridge is a community art project in a public space that is important to local residents. It is painted by a diverse group of locals and has become a renowned LGBTQ landmark, and the first of its kind in Edinburgh.
Des O’Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, added: “The annual event is always very special for us and all the pubs who made it through to the finals.
“It is wonderful to hear so many stories of Publicans who do so much for their local communities and it’s heart-warming that pubs raise so much money for local and national charities and their regular customers are so generous when the cost of living makes things tough for many people.
“All 1,000 nominations we received are worthy of a congratulations but a special mention needs to be for those who made it through to the finals. The standard or entry this year has been so high that it gave our expert judges some difficult decisions.”
PubAid, which organises the awards in association with Matthew Clark and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, refreshed the awards and created more categories to congratulate more community pubs throughout the UK. There were 33 finalists in total across five categories.
Blue Ball in England won the Community Support Hero award for its region.
As we move into spring, it’s time to celebrate mums, grandmas and motherly figures for all they do year-round, as the annual celebration of Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 10th March. Offering the perfect opportunity to get the family together, The Botanist is hosting all-day-long celebrations to take care of mum.
The botany-inspired bar & restaurant’s Sunday roast is perfect for catching up and spending quality time together. Choose between Roast Sirloin of Beef, Pot Roast Lamb Shoulder, Slow Roast Honey Glazed Pork Belly, Roast Chicken or vegan Celeriac, Mushroom and Pearl Barley Wellington, each served with a fluffy Yorkshire pudding and accompanying sauce. The dishes come with maple glazed carrots, roast potatoes, greens and gravy, for the whole table to dig in to.
Extra sides can also be added to the family feast, including cranberry glazed pigs in blankets, cauliflower cheese with parmesan crumb and creamed cabbage with smoked bacon.
Showing her just how special she is, every mum dining at The Botanist will receive a complimentary Poppy and Beefeater Pink Gin Punch, as well as a bespoke box of wildflower seeds to plant at home – a gift that keeps on giving.
Throughout the day, the bar will be offering bottomless drinks for an additional £25 with any main course, so Mum can truly let her hair down. Choose between Bloody Mary, Aperol Spritz, Prosecco or The Botanist Lager and enjoy unlimited drinks for 90 minutes whilst dining.
As always, The Botanist’s house bands will be providing the soundtrack to the weekend, with live music throughout the afternoon on Mother’s Day.
Can’t be there in person? Show Mum the love by sending her a gift voucher, bottle of prosecco or bottle of champagne available to purchase online and sent directly to her inbox to be redeemed at The Botanist.
Free gifts are available whilst stocks last. To find your nearest restaurant and book your table visit https://thebotanist.uk.com.
A dry gin infused with botanicals grown in the Physic Garden at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish seat of the Royal Family, is now available online and from all shops managed by the Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse Dry Gin is infused with mint and lemon thyme hand-picked from the Physic Garden for their vibrant flavour. Inspired by the garden’s history of cultivating medicinal and culinary herbs, the botanicals – which are steeped for 24 hours before the distilling process begins – combine with juniper to create a delicately fragrant gin with a complex citrus top note.
The gin pairs beautifully with mediterranean or elderflower tonics to further enhance the refreshing flavours of the herbs. Garnished with fresh mint leaves and a sprig of thyme, it makes an elegant aperitif.
The Physic Garden was opened adjacent to the Palace in 2020 to recreate the earliest known gardens on the site, and can be freely enjoyed year-round by the people of Edinburgh and visitors to the Palace.
Founded in the grounds of the Palace in 1670 by two Scottish physicians, Sir Robert Sibbald and Sir Andrew Balfour, the original garden provided fresh ingredients for pharmacists and allowed students to learn the medicinal properties of plants. It was the first garden of its kind in Scotland and was the forerunner of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Today, visitors to the Physic Garden will see plants such as fennel, lavender, and lemon balm growing. Alongside, a meadow of wildflowers with healing properties evokes the 15th-century monastic gardens of Holyrood Abbey, while 17th-century royal gardens have been reimagined through geometric springtime displays of bulbs including crocuses, tulips, and alliums.
In a further nod to its historical surroundings, the floral bottle design of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Dry Gin is inspired by the 17th-century Scottish textiles seen on the bed in Mary, Queen of Scots’ Bedchamber inside the Palace. With interlacing leaves, vines, and flowers, the stylised foliage is typical of Jacobean crewelwork, a fashionable type of embroidery from the time.
All profits from sales of the gin go towards the care of, and access to, the Royal Collection through the public opening of the Royal Residences, exhibitions, loans, and educational programmes managed by Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse Dry Gin, 40% abv, can now be purchased from the Royal Collection Trust shops in Edinburgh, London, and Windsor, and from the online shop for £40.00 for a 70cl bottle.
Ayrshire butcher We hae meat has declared 25 March the world’s first ‘National Square Sausage Day’, an occasion dedicated to honouring and enjoying the Scottish delicacy.
The farm-to-fork business is inviting families across Scotland to join in the inaugural celebration by enjoying a square sausage breakfast, lunch or dinner on the day, chosen because the 25th is a square number.
While the origins of the square sausage, also commonly known as Lorne sausage, remain a mystery, its status as an iconic Scottish food is undeniable. A well-known Scottish myth is that it was invented by Glasgow comedian Tommy Lorne, contrary to the widely-held belief that a West Coast butcher in the Firth of Lorne created it.
Because a square sausage slice is thinner than a link sausage, it takes less time and energy to cook, making it a more convenient and less energy-intensive alternative.
We hae meat will celebrate National Square Sausage Day on 25 March by donating square sausage meals to the Dailly Community Pantry and Dailly Primary School, and sharing tips on social media on the best ways to cook and serve a slice.
Craig Chalmers, Commercial Manager, We hae meat said: “We have a genuine passion for the square sausage and we’re very excited to declare 25 March the world’s first National Square Sausage Day. What’s not to love about a square sausage? It’s locally produced and the perfect shape for a breakfast roll, with no slicing required and it won’t fall out! And because it’s thinner it takes less time to cook than a link sausage, meaning when you switch to square sausage, you’re taking a small step in reducing your energy consumption.”
We hae meat’s 700g pack of square sausage slices will be on special promotional offer for £3.50 in Tesco stores across Scotland from 6 to 26 March inclusive, coinciding with National Square Sausage Day. The butcher’s full range is available in major grocery retailers across Scotland, including Morrisons, Asda, Co-Op and Iceland.
Established in 2007, We hae meat is a leading producer of premium meat products, operating from its farm and factory based in Ayrshire. The family business prides itself with a commitment to quality and traditional flavours, producing more than 21 million slices a year.
We hae meat offers a skinny range, containing up to 75 per cent less fat and 45 per cent fewer calories than its standard range, offering a healthier alternative. For chippy lovers it also offers a ‘chippy-style’ range.
The company recently claimed the Green Family Business of the Year and Scottish Family Business of the Year awards at The Herald Scottish Family Business Awards, with the judges praising its sustainable practices.
Phil Rosenthal from hit Netflix show, Somebody Feed Phil, can be seen stopping by Social Bite’s Edinburgh coffee shop on Rose Street in the latest series which launched last night.
The coffee shop, which offers customers the chance to ‘pay it forward’ to help support people who are homeless or vulnerable, features on the show.
Members of the Social Bite team and Phil discuss the charity’s mission to help end homelessness as they enjoy some great coffee and baked goods available from the shop.
Mel Swan, Commercial and Operations Director of Social Bite, said: “Having a big star and foodie icon visit our Edinburgh coffee shop really helps share our mission with the world. We want to bring people together to end homelessness, and that can start with good food and a conversation.
“Phil really enjoyed our cakes and cookies, and hearing about what we do. We can also claim to have given him his first taste of our national drink, Irn-Bru – that’s one for the books!”
Image: (Back row from left to right) Aimee Latham, Louise Hutson, Babs Haig, Amanda Traill. (Front row from left to right) Colin Childs, Monica, Phil Rosenthal, Mel Swan
Special offers revealed for 40 City Centre restaurants and bars taking part in the festival
Eat Out Edinburgh, the highly-anticipated restaurant festival taking over Edinburgh’s city centre next month, has now released a full list of venues taking part in the campaign, with incredible deals from the most exciting restaurants from Princes Street and Charlotte Square to St James Quarter throughout the entirety of March.
Amazing set menus, special offers and events are now available to browse from each of the 40 venues involved on Eat Out Edinburgh’s website with guests able to book now for dates from the 1st to 31st of March.
The past year has seen an influx of new bars and restaurants to the capital, bringing a variety of new dining experiences to explore during Eat Out Edinburgh’s run, including:
– Willow Tea Rooms: The new traditional afternoon tea spot is opening later this month in the former Starbucks unit with stunning castle views on Princes Street and will be offering a traditional afternoon tea throughout March for £17.95 per person, excluding March 10th.
– RIO Brazilian Steakhouse: The newly opened Rodizio style steakhouse within the Assembly Rooms will be offering their unique menu including unlimited salad bar access and meats served tableside at £34.95 for dinner and £19.95 for lunch.
– The Alchemist George Street: The creative cocktail bar and restaurant’s newest venue on George Street has curated a special menu offering two courses for £20 and three courses for £35.
– Fat Hippo: The new restaurant known for its extensive menu of juicy, decadent burgers has created a menu with a starter, main, and a sidefor £15 from Monday to Thursday throughout the month.
Offers vary from venue to venue, with each location bringing its own unique value with something to appeal to everyone, from celebrating Mother’s Day with a brunch at Duck & Wafflewith£29for3 Courses or a lesson in mixology with a cocktail masterclass for £25 at the Hard Rock Café.
Eat Out Edinburgh brings friends, family, and colleagues together from across the Lothians for the chance to explore new cuisines and try special occasion restaurants for an accessible price while supporting the city’s vibrant hospitality sector.
Run by Essential Edinburgh, the campaign taking place throughout the capital’s dedicated Business Improvement District (BID) returns this year for double the time after a successful two-week run in 2023.
Emily Campbell Johnston, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications, Essential Edinburgh, said: “The venues taking part in this year’s Eat Out Edinburgh have gone above and beyond to create really exciting offers for guests that will let Edinburgh locals, visitors and workers in the city centre experience some of the city’s best cuisine at an accessible price.
“The scope of this year’s campaign brings more venues than ever over a longer period of time for a massive celebration of Edinburgh’s unmatched food scene right in time for the Spring season to bring a renewed energy to the city.”
Businesses Participating in Eat Out Edinburgh 2024
Angel’s Share
Auld Hundred
BABA
Badger & Co
Bonnie & Wild
Boozy Cow
Bread Street Kitchen
Cadiz
Café Andaluz
Contini George Street
Copper Blossom
Dean Banks at The Pompadour
Duck & Waffle
Element
Fat Hippo
Fazenda
Gaucho
Grazing by Mark Greenaway at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
Gusto
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor
Haute Dolci
Hawksmoor
Huxley
Indian Lounge
Ka Pao
Lady Libertine
Le Monde
Maki & Ramen St James Quarter
Malmaison
Queens Arms
Rabble
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse
Tattu
TGI Fridays Edinburgh Castle Street
The Alchemist – George Street & St James Quarter
The Register Club
The Scottish Café And Restaurant
The Voodoo Rooms
Tigerlily
Twenty Princes Street
Willow Tea Rooms
For more information on each venue, and to keep book, visit:
This spring, enjoy a diverse array of sandwiches crafted by head chef Ryan MacFarlane, including Sun-Blush Tomato Tartlets and Mortadella with Pistachio Mascarpone.
Followed by an exquisite pastry selection, featuring selections such as the Flutter Around Butterfly (Rhubarb Compote & Elderflower Custard Stuffed Matcha Cookie) and One Little Speckled Egg (Crunchy Chocolate, Marsala Crémeux & Coffee Petit Gateau), this expertly crafted menu is certain to delight.
Standing proudly at the West End of Princes Street, this former Victorian railway building hotel nestles in the shadow of the imposing Edinburgh Castle and its reputation for style and excellence has attracted generations of locals, internationals, and notable personalities for over one hundred years.
Formerly the station concourse and ticket office, Peacock Alley represents the historic heart of the Caley, and is imbued with the peerless style and sophistication of this famous former railway hotel – the perfect setting for an elegant afternoon tea.
The Bright & Beautiful Afternoon Tea is available in Peacock Alley, The Caledonian daily from 12:30 – 4pm, from 19th February to 10th April. Gluten free, vegan, and children’s menus are also available. Priced at £119 for two or £30 for children. The menu can be viewed here.
