7 great places to eat in 2020

The i-on team shares their foodie hit list for the year ahead

Nicky Murdoch, Editor - The Lookout by Gardner's Cottage 

With an unrivalled location on top of Calton Hill, The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage is seriously impressive with spectacular views across the city to match. Inside, it’s cool, understated and contemporary allowing the floor to ceiling windows that frame Edinburgh’s iconic skyline to do the talking. An open kitchen lets you see everything behind the scenes, but it’s the innovative food that makes this restaurant, quite literally, worth the hike – if you’re not dropped off by taxi it’s about a five-minute walk uphill from Waterloo Place. With daily changing menus, you can expect only the finest, seasonal produce from local fields and farms presented in the most unexpected of ways. Choose from a set lunch, à la carte or tasting menu, and if you get the chance, like I did during the festive period, try the Orkney Scallop, parsnip and vadouvan followed by the Borders pheasant, Jerusalem artichoke and brussel sprouts... Divine! Great food, superb wine and service. And those views...
The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage, Calton Hill, Edinburgh, EH7 5AA, 0131 322 1246, thelookoutedinburgh.co

Laura Wood, Director - Le Roi Fou

A bunch of friends-in-the-know raved about Le Roi Fou when it opened on Forth Street two years ago and I’ve been keen to go ever since. I finally made it there at the end of October for a catch up over dinner and they were right to say only good things about this place. Le Roi Fou (The Mad King) offers a great dining experience in a grown-up environment. It’s not a bar or bistro that serves food; it’s a chic restaurant that balances being informal yet serious about what it does really well. Go for the great wine list, fabulous food and service, and relaxed vibe. And do yourself a favour by ordering the octopus, tomato and fennel starter from the a la carte menu. If you like seafood, you’d be mad not to.
Le Roi Fou, 1 Forth St, Edinburgh, EH1 3JX, 0131 557 9346, leroifou.com

Carrie Mitchell, Features Editor - Inver

A remote fisherman’s cottage on the banks of Loch Fyne might not be where you would expect to find one of Scotland’s most exciting restaurants but Inver has been garnering rave reviews since it opened in 2015. Rather frustratingly, I still haven’t managed to make it over there, a fact made all the more troubling when it seems like every time I look on Instagram, another of my friends has paid a visit to the intimate dining room then had a sleepover in one of the cute little bothies. So, I’ve decided enough is enough, 2020 is the year. I’m going to celebrate my 40th with a blissful evening enjoying Pam Brunton’s now legendary menu before holing up in a bothy with my husband, a bottle of wine and Fleetwood Mac on repeat on the turntable. Bliss.
Inver restaurant, Strachlachlan, Strachur, Argyll & Bute, PA27 8BU, 01369 860 537, inverrestaurant.co.uk

Graham Turner, Digital Content Editor - Stack & Still

The Glasgow pancake house has been nothing short of a revelation since opening in mid-2018. To this day, it reduces my friends to tears of joy at the mere mention of its name. Alas, I have yet to try the gastronomic delights of this fluffy, golden mecca and its – I’m not even joking –10 million pancake combinations. With a new branch opening last October at Glasgow Fort, I will be heading there in the new year to belie any ill-conceived resolutions with regards to my body and its temple-like status.
Stack & Still, 100-108 West George St, Glasgow, G2 1PJ, stackandstill.co.uk

Amanda Southey, Business Development Manager - The Ivy Glasgow

I’m a huge fan of The Ivy in the capital so I’ve high hopes for its sister restaurant on Buchanan Street. Set across two fabulous floors, the brasserie and restaurant look amazing and the onyx bars seem the perfect spot for locally-inspired cocktails. On the menu there’s everything from heritage tomato and feta salad with avocado, watermelon, pistachio and olives to lobster linguine and chargrilled halloumi with Padrón peppers. There’s an extensive Champagne and wine list, DJs and musicians every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Cheers to that!
The Ivy Glasgow, 106 Buchanan St, Glasgow, G1 2NB, 0141 378 1200, theivyglasgow.com

Amy Falconer, Account Diector - The Newport

I loved Jamie Scott on MasterChef: The Professionals and his restaurant with rooms in the heart of Newport on Tay, Fife, is high on my foodie hit list. The fine dining destination opened in 2016 and won the coveted AA Restaurant of the Year Award 2018-19. It also has some great views over River Tay and across Dundee and promises some of the best sunsets in Scotland. On Friday and Saturday evenings, they exclusively serve their tasting menus which cater for all tastes with vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian options available. I might need to make a night of it and stay over too.
The Newport Restaurant, 1 High St, Newport-on-Tay DD6 8AB, 01382 541449, thenewportrestaurant.co.uk

Jo Morris, Director - The Honours

I’ve waxed lyrical many a time about my love affair with The Honours so I’m looking forward to indulging my love at The Honours Uncovered on 22 January where a small group of fans (I mean customers) will meet for tea and coffee at 10 before splitting into two groups of 12. The first group will watch the cocktail demonstration in the bar area with the in-house mixologist, while the other group will follow the food demonstration by the Head Chef before swapping groups. All that tough fan-girling will be rewarded with a three course lunch including a glass of wine and tea or coffee – and all for £65 per head.
The Honours, 58A N Castle St, Edinburgh EH2 3LU, thehonours.co.uk