Andrew Fairlie @ Gleneagles

This is fine dining through and through! Set between this luxurious, world-famous golfing hotel's main bar and the Strathearn restaurant, Andrew Fairlie's is an independent business and dinner-only affair that attracts a well-heeled, five-star international clientele. A small bar leads through to the intimate, elegant, high-ceilinged dining room that provides the ultimate in discerning interior design. Boldly decorated with black walls hung with bespoke artworks by Archie Forrest, floor-to-ceiling raw silk drapes and opulent fabrics deliver that expected wow-factor. Well-spaced, elegantly-appointed tables - with dramatic, strategically placed down-lighters that angle pools of illumination onto the crisp tableware - and comfortable seating are set to a subtle jazz backing track that lends a smooth vibe to proceedings. The service is pin-sharp and highly professional - the anticipation of the diner's needs is supreme. The menu and serious wine lists are lavish and user-friendly affairs, their presentation further echoing the décor and sense of occasion. One of Scotland's leading chefs, Andrew Fairlie's modern approach comes underpinned by a classical French theme (classics given a modern makeover) and celebrates the union of dazzling technique and top-notch ingredients. The style is complex and bold, the emphasis on flavour with dishes delivered dressed to thrill. Menus are crisply scripted and come brimful of luxury items, the menu du marché and carte are bolstered by a dégustation option (all fixed-price affairs) that seduce with an agony of choice. Think roast hand-dived scallops with caramelised cauliflower risotto, perhaps followed by an assiette de porc Gascony with jus rôti, or pan-roast fillet of John Dory served with beetroot bordelaise to follow, and to finish, a hot Valrhona chocolate biscuit with mango sorbet.

Take Gleneagles exit from A9, continue for 1m

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