Edinburgh’s Southside has long been declared a foodie destination. Set within The Scott Hotel, just off Holyrood Park Road, this is a restaurant that offers more than great food. Settled in Bonnar’s private dining room, guests can delight in brilliantly inventive Scottish menus, exceptional service, and relish in exclusivity. The restaurant is housed in an 18th-century baronial house, a fitting location for glamorous but traditional decor complimented by contemporary Scottish dishes formed from local ingredients.
Bonnar’s private dining room, The Library, is all about dark and moody luxury. With a seated capacity of 20 guests, whether it’s a corporate dinner or a social engagement, elegant red carpets, gold-gilt cornices, and elaborately carved trim are bound to impress. It’s a captivating setting, complete with a curated selection of books for your perusal.
Headed by ex-Noma chef, Pier Berretta, menus reflect his deep commitment to quality produce from local suppliers, including the freshest ingredients from The Scott Hotel’s gardens. Bonnar’s offers both a la carte and five-course tasting menus, as with all things seasonal, the menus vary throughout the year. Summer starters have included baby gem lettuce with roasted garlic and a lovage buerre blanc, venison tartare with smoked egg yolk and salami spice, and aubergine with oregano and an intriguing ‘seed milk broth’.
The descriptions are simple, but Berretta’s dishes are known for their faultless presentation and bold flavours. We’d quite confidently put our fate in the hands of the chef responsible for thinking up a pork main course with carrot, liquorice and sauce Diane. Just don’t overlook the desserts, a summertime dish made up of peaches, cherry blossom, and fig leaf gelato could be a new all-time favourite. A crucial aspect of any private dining event, the wine list at Bonnar’s is exceptionally curated to include the finest new and old world labels.