Stac Polly Brasserie, Wine and Gin Bar

Renovated bar and brasserie arm of traditional Scottish restaurant offering a decent weekday lunch.

The 2017 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

The brasserie and gin bar above the traditional Stac Polly restaurant offers a modern, stylish lunch or drinks venue, with clean pine furniture and contemporary landscapes on the wall. It’s an attractive choice for parties and groups looking for a reasonable New Town location to gather for drinks with canapés or sharing platters. There's also a full-on offer at lunchtime with some of the same dishes as the restaurant below. Starters include baked filo parcels of haggis on a bed of homemade sweet plum sauce or perhaps a warm pickled beetroot, plum tomato and red onion tarte tatin with goat’s cheese for vegetarians. Hearty diners could try a rump of lamb with rosemary-sautéed potatoes for a main course and to finish, experiment with a bite of Chilled Edinburgh Fog, a glass full of Glayva liqueur, mascarpone cream, honey, meringue and fruit compote.

• High point: Stylish and comfortable spot
• Low point: A confused identity doesn't draw in the crowds
• Notable dish: Venison stew