Understory brings a glossy hit of ‘five‑star dive bar’ energy to Edinburgh’s West End, reopening the former Heads & Tails site after a £100,000 transformation. Led by seasoned operators Sam Baxendale and James Grant, the moody, neon‑lit vaults now house a New York‑style cocktail bar built on nostalgia, playful drinks and a touch of decadent sleaze — from Cheeky Vimto riffs to scampi‑fries garnishes and croissant‑powered alchemy. Edinburgh can step into its Halcyon Days from 1

The season turns — and Scotland’s distilleries deliver Autumn has always felt like whisky’s natural home, but this year the season arrives with an official start date. The Whisky Equinox on 23 September marks the moment the year tips towards darker nights and warming drams. And this autumn across Scotland, distilleries are releasing new single malts, rare aged expressions, films, field‑to‑bottle projects and barley‑led experiments. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has created

Set beside the quiet Lake of Menteith, Nick Nairn’s restaurant blends generous, confident cooking with genuine warmth — a reminder of why he remains one of Scotland’s defining chefs. Warning: clichés incoming. Nick Nairn’s restaurant at Port of Menteith is that rare case where the overused lines hold true. First of all, this restaurant is a classic Hidden Gem. Port of Menteith is a small, quiet village set on the edge of the Lake of Menteith, known as Scotland’s only true lak

Right in the centre of Edinburgh’s New Town, Under the Table proves that neighbourhood dining can be elegant, creative and brilliantly priced, with a changing Prix Fixe menu and a wine list designed to spark conversation. I may have just found my new favourite weekend lunch spot – and it's right at the centre of Edinburgh’s New Town. While upstairs ‘The Table’ offers an interactive fine-dining experience for just ten people at £110-£120 per head, the atmosphere downstairs at

Edinburgh’s 1820 Rooftop Bar may be famed for its sweeping skyline views, but a bold new food‑and‑drink direction from chef Scott Smith and Mr Lyan Studio is now giving the panorama real competition. Award-Winning food journalist Cate Devine investigates Since it opened five years ago, the Rooftop Bar of the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street, Edinburgh, has become celebrated for its spectacular, almost 360-degree, views of the capital city. On the (thankfully sunny)

A new children’s cookery school has opened in Morningside, bringing creativity, confidence and plenty of cake to Edinburgh’s youngest food lovers. Cook Stars’ launch at McLarens on the Corner offered a warm, relaxed space where kids baked marble cake, parents connect, and class leader Dawn champions her ethos of empowering children in the kitchen through fun, flavour and hands‑on learning. A new children’s cookery school is bringing creativity, confidence and a whole lot of c