Number One, The Balmoral

With a prestigious address at the top of Princes Street, and fine views over the city and castle, this elegant hotel presides grandly over the heart of the city. Fine-dining restaurant Number One is set on the lower-ground floor, but is none the worse for that; designed by Olga Polizzi, the space is opulent, luxurious and multi-textured. Walls are rich, dark-red lacquered and adorned with modern artworks, the carpet is a deep pile job, tables are well-spaced and the service is suitably formal; jackets are expected for gentlemen and other traditional touches such as the cheese, bread and liqueur trolleys all add to the sense of occasion. Classical preparations meet modern interpretations in dishes based on excellent Scottish produce and showing high technical skills. Start, perhaps, with crab millefeuille with brown crab pannacotta and wasabi mayo, then maybe a main course of fillet of Borders beef with oxtail ravioli, squash purée and braised leeks. Finish with a chocolate chiboust with blood oranges and Manjari chocolate sorbet. For less formal dining, there's the hotel's Hadrians brasserie.

follow city centre signs. Hotel at E end of Princes St, adjacent to Waverley Station
Nearest station: Waverley

Find your way with AA atlases, books and maps
Plan a route to this location »  Number One, The Balmoral, Edinburgh