We arrived into the exclusive central cobbled streets of Edinburgh to experience full Scottish bounty at Nira Caledonia – a stunning Georgian luxury boutique hotel with a sophisticated touch of home-from-home charm and character.
We were lucky enough to be put up in the spacious and romantic room 1005 – the Fettes Jacuzzi suite towards the top floor of the building, richly dressed with traditional dark wood furniture and flooring to complement the high ceilings and huge sash windows overlooking the street.
The next morning, we tucked into a hearty Scottish breakfast plate to include a well-seasoned sausage, prime cuts of bacon, flavoursome haggis, black pudding, potato scone breads and baked beans and mushrooms, which has been perfected by the team over eight times to ensure all guests enjoy their first and possibly most important meal of the day. Fresh juices, fruit, cereals, pastries and breads and other hot dishes also feature on the breakfast menu.
With plenty to immerse in over the weekend and all the while, conveniently close-by to Nira Caledonia, we decided to explore the city by foot and walked from the farmer’s market up to Edinburgh Castle to see and hear the firing of the cannon at 1pm.
Later that evening, we took to the streets of the city by night to experience a walking ghost tour where we were introduced to just a few of the thousands of hidden historical vaults that lie behind the façade of today’s buildings and walls.
After a short but highly welcomed respite back in our rooms at Nira Caledonia, we were personally invited to dinner at the hotel’s dimly lit and romantically intimate Blackwood’s Bar and Grill to enjoy the aforementioned specially created menu using local Scottish ingredients. We began our dining experience with an amuse bouche of deliciously peppery, soft haggis balls followed by a starter of pan-fried sea bass and a main of juicy venison cutlets grilled in the Josper oven and served with carrots and potatoes.
Feeling completely indulged on all accounts, we were almost ready to head home but not before visiting The Gardener’s Cottage, a unique rustic social dining experience serving up seasonal and sustainable dishes on long communal wooden tables and benches. Located in Royal Terrace Gardens at the foot of Carlton Hill, it’s another great foodie experience not to be missed when in Edinburgh. Utterly wholesome and comforting, the menu is refreshingly different.