As soft piano melodies fill the space, a masterful pianist is seen working her magic in the corner of The Court. Boasting effortless opulence and filled with natural light, guests are caught admiring their surroundings with a slight smile on their faces. The Court has recently opened its doors at The Caledonian Edinburgh, open to both hotel guests and visitors alike.
The Court and The Caledonian Edinburgh have recently undergone a £35 million renovation as part of the hotel’s transition to join the Curio Collection by Hilton. Located on West Princes Street, the iconic landmark has been a staple of Edinburgh for over a century, with views over Edinburgh Castle and its impressive architecture – the building used to be a railway station.
Plus, The Caledonian has hosted plenty of famous faces throughout the years, such as Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II, former US President Barack Obama, as well as musical legends Roy Rogers and Gene Kelly.
The Court
The Court opened its doors on October 22, boasting a grandiose glass ceiling providing that regal indoor-outdoor feel, a luxurious cocktail bar and classic and mid-century interiors. What is more, the space also offers a lounge section for those just after a drink and a snack, a patisserie and is finished with a live music stage. The stage features a weekly music programme of performers set to entertain diners, strategically placed to be seen from all 100 seats in the space.
Secret Edinburgh got the chance to give The Court a visit and try it out for ourselves. We went on a Sunday lunchtime, where the spot also offers a weekend brunch menu and an Afternoon tea on top of its usual lunch menu.
While we expected the food to be more than just decent, the attention to detail in each dish proved to be exceptional. With every course, the subtle dance of flavours provided a satisfying balance, while the cocktails elevated the experience to another level.
The starters
To start, the Beef Fillet Tartare with Smoked Egg Yolk, Avocado Cream, Baguette Crouton and the Roast Pumpkin Velouté with Walnut Crème Fraîche, Pickled Grapes, Roast Salsify were absolute winners, taking beloved dishes to new heights.
The mains
For the main event, the Roast Cod Loin with a side of mashed potatoes was just was I needed, while the firm crowd-pleaser that is the Steak Frites assisted with bringing back that soft comforting Sunday feeling.
The desserts
For the fellow gluten-free people out there, the staff made sure everything was modified, and even baked us some gluten-free scones, which were absolutely amazing.
The dessert and patisserie section is impressive, however, with no gluten-free alternatives when it comes to cakes and pastries apart from the scones, except for cheese and ice cream. Guests should try the Pistachio croissant and the 16-layer Carrot Cake, which have been highly recommended by the staff.
The cocktails
The cocktail menu at The Court is seriously hard to look past. The extensive options will leave everyone satisfied, but we were completely enamoured with the Cherry Blossom – a perfect balance of freshness, sweetness and sourness – with Hendricks Gin, Lychee Liqueur, Raspberry, Soda.
Nitin Ramtri, General Manager at The Caledonian Edinburgh, commented: “We’re thrilled to unveil The Court and look forward to welcoming guests to this exciting new food and drink destination, which stands as a testament to the city’s rich history.
“At The Court, we’re not only providing physical spaces but an environment that reimagines networking, entertaining, dining events in an iconic building and location that only Edinburgh could offer.”