![5]( "Recensione")
Food (4.5/5)
Good taste, good presentation, and good options. A bit pricy, but I suppose this is one of the places where you’re partly paying for the atmosphere. The dessert was also very nice (chocolate choux bun), but the portion is much smaller than what I’m accustomed to for desserts.
Service (5/5)
Very friendly and attentive staff—never took to long for them to come take my order, clear my plates, or get my bill.
Atmosphere (5/5)
The ambiance is the highlight of this restaurant. The interior is simply gorgeous—I love the tall and opulent ceiling, the carvings, the marble columns, and the lighting. Even the bathroom was so elegant.
I also love their menu design and thought the pink embroidered napkin was a nice touch.
Criticisms:
I was seated in the lounge area off to the side, which itself was fine, but I found it almost too dark there. And my table was a bit dirty and had a bit of crumbs on it, which one really wouldn’t expect from an establishment of this class. And my bench was slightly too far from the table that was a bit too low, and I found myself in danger of slipping off my seat a few times when trying to lean in and eat.
First time at The Spence. Business breakfast meeting. The room is super elegant. The staff are attentive and friendly. The food is top-class. We had a good exploration of the menu. Everyone was happy with the food. Downside it is a tad on the expensive side but a lovely place overall.
Had breakfast at The Spence (inside The Gleneagles Townhouse) for the first time and why hadn’t we been here before?! The hotel is stunning from the minute you enter and The Spences interiors are beautiful. If you are an architecture/interiors fan, this alone is a good enough reason to visit, but lucky enough the food was excellent too. All food was bought up rapidly and served beautifully. All tasted delicious. The staff were friendly and attentive. After finishing our food, we sat for a while just to admire the surroundings further. I will definitely be returning here, both to stay and eat again and I cannot wait! 🤩
Indoors is stunning! Ordered the Tweed Valley Sirloin, Sleeping Beauty soft cocktail and the Rasberry & Vanilla Macaroon. The steak was fine for medium rare, but some parts did taste burnt on the top. The cocktail and dessert were so much better! Was too full after this. Service was top-notch!
![4]( "Recensione")
Visited for the monthly Sunday brunch club and the overall experience was very good. You're instantly captivated by the beauty of the building, which is a former bank. Priced at £85, we enjoyed mushroom arancini before we dug into the all-you-can-eat buffet surrounding the main bar. It consisted of a seafood bar, salads and a range of cheeses and charcuterie. The seafood, bar the hot and cold smoked salmon, was a bit of a disappointment but the salads and cheeses were excellent. The price also included a welcoming drink, served by the sommelier (mimosas for us). You choose a main course from the menu that involved pork, chicken, cod and a veggie option with a couple of sides. My cod was cooked perfectly and was generously portioned. The accompanying fries and roasted carrots were superb. Afterwards we visited the 'dessert room' which is really fun. We picked at a range of cakes/bakes, got a donut filled as we requested and old school sweets that you can also take home. The service is absolutely first class. Overall, it's an enjoyable experience worth doing as a treat.
![5]( "Recensione")
The Spence Weekend Brunch Club is booked up months in advance after an encounter with TikTok virality, so securing a table (during the Fringe, no less) took military precision. But my god, the planning paid off.
You step into a glorious room topped with a giant dome, with ambience courtesy of a live jazz band. In the centre of the room the bar has been repurposed as an "all you can eat" buffet of seafood, salads, cheese and charcuterie. Make your selection of drinks and one main (accompanied by arancini and sides for the table), and make a start on the vast selection.
Langoustines, smoked salmon, a cauliflower salad and cheeses accompanied by fresh honeycomb were all highlights. As were both our mains (pork loin and gnocchi).
But really it's the dessert room, housed in their private dining room, that steals the show. Miniature cakes, brownies and tarts sit alongside a wealth of 'posh' pick and mix. But then there's the imposing chocolate fountain, and the 'choose your filling' doughnut station, to hit.
"Make sure you take some more pick and mix for the road," our waitress offered as we paid the bill. I wasn't sure my stomach could take it, so I politely declined. But give it a few more months and I suspect I'll be starting another "secure a table" operation.
Marvellous place, wonderful experience and a lovely and professional staff! We were there as a couple for a dinner and the food was delicious! Great selection of wine.
I'd suggest you to try the Gigha Halibut, so tasty and well presented.
As Edinburgh residents, we will surely be back, recommended!
Wonderful food and desserts.
Here are my personal recommendations:
1. Crispy Pig (Snacks)
2. Pork Loin (Sunday Roast)
3. Gigha Halibut (Mains)
4. Raspberry & Vanilla Macaroon (Dessert)
5. Raspberry Chocolate Ganache (Dessert)
It was my birthday dinner and I could not be happier . The food was just perfection and our server Anna was attentive, friendly and helpful. The chef made a dairy free dessert which arrived with a candle. It was just perfection
Very well-preserved architecture inside and outside. Food and cocktails were great. Loved the idea of their cocktails inspired by the statues on the facade. Tried The Sailor and totally amazed by the glass rim of sea salt followed by the sweetness (with a hint of bitterness after) of the drinks chilled in one big block of ice... something different and inspiring for the evening.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes