The Melrose Room
The Melrose Room
The Melrose Room
The Roxburghe Hotel
38 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh
EH2 4HG
0131 240 5500
1901 saw extensive development of new and lavish hotels in Edinburgh`s city centre, with rival railway companies building their own Grand Hotels at each end of Princes Street - the North British and the Caledonian.
Three years later, the smaller but equally grand Roxburghe Hotel opened in a Robert Adam Georgian townhouse, on Charlotte Square offering a quieter location and residence.
The elaborate cornices and fireplaces, rich brocade drapes, afternoon tea and elegant style are all still there following a major multi-million refurbishment and the extension of a modern wing.
The popular Melrose Room for lunch and dinner is a very convenient and attractive place to eat, perhaps relaxing after a morning shopping or a night out.
The Roxburghe has two cocktail bars for a pre-prandial G & T, although when I arrived the hotel receptionist only pointed out the rather formal and traditional lounge bar - where no one talked. It was a bit like having a drink in the library.
Through the other side of the restaurant, (with a separate entrance from George Street) we later found the more stylish Champagne bar, with leather sofas and chairs to collapse into. Not for long, however, as we were here to eat.
A charming Spanish waiter greeted us at the door of the Melrose Room and ushered us to a corner table, with very comfortable banquette seating along the wall.
With little nooks and crannies, pillars and screens, the spacious L shaped dining room still maintains a sense of intimacy. With windows on two sides, overlooking Charlotte Square and George Street, this is a very light, bright and airy room.
And so to the menu. Here the cuisine has a truly international style, blending traditionally Scottish, Italian and Asian dishes: Smoked Salmon with Sweet Yam and Coriander; Thai Baked risotto with aubergine and peppers (�8.50), Breast of Chicken stuffed with feta and sundried tomato (�9.95). The descriptions were fun to read and even more wonderful to taste.
I selected a fabulous Cream of Cauliflower soup (�3.45), followed by a wild mushroom and fennel lasagne with roasted Mediterranean vegetables (�9.75). My partner went for a Whitebean soup with Chickpea bhaja, followed by Roast Salmon with Polenta and basil (�10.50).
Service throughout was excellent - courtesy of our Spaniard who recommended the wine - a rich and smooth Rioja from his native country.
Just room for pudding - a steamed berry pudding with vanilla sauce (�3.75) for my friend and a tiny peach ice-cream (�3.90) for me, to end a delicious meal in rather classic and peaceful surroundings.
- by Vivien Devlin
