The VIP rooftop dining experience at Tower Restaurant
Laura Wood enjoys the fireworks in style at Scotland’s first rooftop restaurant
Few things symbolise iconic Edinburgh more than the epic annual firework display from Castle Rock marking the end of the Festival. How lucky am I then to find myself out for a friend’s birthday dinner on that very night and at one of the hottest tables in town. Already in its 20s, James Thomson’s Tower Restaurant is an Edinburgh institution located within the turret of the award-winning National Museum of Scotland building. It was the city’s first rooftop restaurant and, to this day, there are few dining rooms offering a more commanding view of the city, which is looking particularly stunning this evening as hundreds of dazzling fireworks light up the night sky.
Celebrating our successful restaurant choice (and Jenny’s birthday), we start with a glass of Billecart-Salmon brut reserve Champagne, £12, before tucking in to our substantial starters - three large hand-dived scallops by The Ethical Shellfish Co in a silky shellfish velouté, £21, for Jenny and, for me, a rich, creamy shellfish risotto with a zesty lemon finish, £11.50. For the main event, I enjoy a delicious fillet of blackened North Sea cod, £25.50, served with heritage potatoes, chorizo and red pepper chutney and washed down with a stunning glass of Marlborough Sauvignon, £9.25. Jenny’s soy marinated yellowfin tuna steaks with Asian salad, £27.50, are butter-soft, served with a balanced sesame and honey dressing. She has no qualms about finishing it but despite our joint love of food and a dessert list full of tempting puds from a classic Eton Mess, £8.50, to a fabulous-sounding Fennel crème brulee, £8.75, we both admit defeat and decide against a third course.
While we practice rare restraint on this occasion, the Tower dining experience can be as extravagant as you want it to be, but it’s also surprisingly affordable. From noon until 6.30pm, two courses from the light menu are yours for a very reasonable £19.95 and the table d’hôte menu, costing £38 for three courses, runs daily. You can go for breakfast, afternoon tea, a Sunday roast or just drinks on the terrace, where you’re guaranteed an even better view of the capital’s stunning skyline. Whenever or whatever the occasion, there’s just something about Tower. The ‘secret’ entrance and rooftop views, flavoursome food made with sustainable ingredients and amazing wines all add to the VIP experience. And, of course, it helps if the city happens to lay on a fireworks display for you.
Chambers St, EH1 1JF, 0131 225 3003, tower-restaurant.com