Eating in Edinburgh’s New Town
Today was an Edinburgh New Town day! After suffering from a severe drought of Edinburgh dining, my boyfriend and I headed into town for a meal. It was to be nice, but not too fancy. Relaxed, chilled, not a restaurant vibe. And anything but another Nando’s.
We reached Edinburgh and wandered down towards Broughton Street, which is scattered with enticing little cafes, bars, markets, and stores. The weather was less than perfect, with grey skies and often harsh winds. But the rain held off, which it had refused to do the previous couple days, and for that I was thankful.
We continued down until we ultimately ended up in front of Pickles, a pretty little wine bar that was calling my name. Already having a positive recommendation of the bar from my boyfriend’s mother, we stepped inside.
It was an incredibly cozy atmosphere, and not too loud. The walls were filled with photo frames, charcuterie boards, Iberico jars, and chutneys, and pickled onions. Beautiful shrubbery could be seen from outside the large windows through the back, where we were placed. Highland cows were also a common theme, beautifully blending the Scottish and Spanish influences within the spot.
The combined meat and cheese charcuterie board was fantastic both to look at and to taste, especially paired with one of the many wines available on the menu. We settled on a glass of Pinot Grigio and a Rioja. We also added more olives for an extra £4. With an additional service charge of 10%, the meal for two came to just over £50. Well worth it, considering the range of meats and cheese and amount provided.
Afterwards, we were in need of a hot beverage to brave the Scottish winds, so we popped into the Scandinavian bakery of Söderberg for a quick coffee. Whilst pricey, the bakery offers a fantastic range of freshly baked pastries. We went for the cinnamon bun, and the raspberry and vanilla bun. The bakery on Broughton Street was smaller than the one on Simpson Loan that I used to frequent in my university days, but we still managed to find a seat on a busy Saturday afternoon. Söderberg is always a reliable choice for a pastry in town. In fact, in the Simpson Loan location, I was once offered a free loaf of rye bread that had not been sold by the end of the day, that I gladly took home with me. It’s the little things.
Afterwards, we headed for a quick browse around the shops in the St James Quarter, before heading home. A very successful day in town, full of good food, quaint cafes, and a surprising lack of November rain.
