Angel's Share is a boutique hotel with a bar and restaurant - but you don’t have to stay the night to enjoy the hospitality!
In just a few months since opening, it's become THE place to eat and drink for both city visitors and Edinburgh residents. With comfy seats, glitzy decor and a grand piano for live entertainment, the design is fun and funky.
The extra long copper-topped bar has a mirrored backdrop etched with the words Angel’s Share. The name refers to the slow evaporation during the maturing process from a whisky cask.
The Bar is renowned for cocktails, beers, shooters, 200 whiskies, as well as fine wines and champagne.
The Club Room around the corner (with its own street door too) offers a quieter Bistro-Café away from the happy pub crowd, for a more relaxed dining experience.
And outside a row of patio tables is surrounded by pretty trees in planters for al fresco wining and dining, very popular through the hot summer this year.
Ken and I booked a table for dinner but first of all we wanted to sample the buzz of the bar so headed here for an aperitif. The drinks menu is fun and witty: Angels have Secrets (speciality cocktails), Angels love Cocktail Classics, Angels love Wines and Devilish Shooters - as the title for each list.
A Fast Fashion for me - a modern take on a rum punch with raspberries, rum and prosecco bubbles. For my friend “Mr Hemingway,” a Mojito, the Cuban classic of white rum, soda water with lashings of fresh mint and slices of lime all crushed up with ice.
Soon time to eat and we take our place in an intimate booth table in the Club Room. The menu is contemporary Scottish, highlighting local seafood, beef, Stornoway black pudding as well as vegetarian dishes.
I start with a generous portion of Tomato Bruschetta, thick toasted garlic bread smothered with garlic, basil, dripping with olive oil and the taste of the Italian sun.
Ken meanwhile is presented with a huge tureen of Scottish rope grown Mussels, in a creamy white wine “soup”. I stole a few too and the verdict? - delicious.
Although salmon with potatoes may not sound enticing, my Poached Fillet of Salmon, sourced from Loch Duart, was beautifully cooked, tender and pink. The accompanying French beans, sweet new potatoes with a light olive oil/tomato/herb sauce vierge, all perfect. Also enjoyed was the Wild Mushroom and Spinach Risotto sprinkled with rocket leaves and parmesan cheese.
After this feast, little room for a rich dessert but all the favourites are here for those with an appetite – Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chocolate Sundae, Icecreams.
Instead, while sipping the last drops of our bottle of South African Merlot, we share a small platter of Scottish cheese served with oatcakes and grapes.
Other diners nearby were also appreciating the good food. Chicken Liver pate, Goat’s Cheese and red pepper salad, 10 ounce rib eye steak with a bucket of French fries. All described as "Excellent".
Ken and I shall certainly return soon for another Angelic cocktail and good value lunch/dinner menu with special Weekend offers too.
We shall also dare to go downstairs through the mosaic tiled door to experience the Devil’s Cut.
This “secret” basement bar and nightclub was inspired by The Backroom in New York and a password is required for entry. Shh Shh, don’t tell!. Cocktails, music, snacks. Open daily till 3am.