5 Sunday roast hotspots in Edinburgh

Sunday roasts have become a quiet phenomenon recently, an easy-going, relatively cheap way to wave goodbye to the weekend with pals. After heroically sacrificing our Sundays, here are the team’s faves in that ol’ burgh we call Edin

Ardfern

10–12 Bonnington Road
As you’d expect from a Roberta Hall-McCarron venture, the roast here is a cut above: glorious thick slices of beef rump cap, Yorkshire pudding stuffed with ox tongue, cubes of hash browns, glistening roasted carrot, hispi cabbage and rainbow chard. A roast for a special occasion.

Hawksmoor

23 West Register Street
The interior is reminiscent of a well-heeled 1920s New York steakhouse but, joyfully, you don’t have to earn like a Wall Street banker to enjoy the roast. Prime cuts of meat, doused in rich gravy, served with classic sides; it’s a great way to sample their dry-aged beef without the hefty price tag.

The Raeburn

112 Raeburn Place
For big groups and those with kids, the roomy dining space here is a strong option. Plenty of gravy coats generous slices of sirloin (cooked to your preference) with big fluffy Yorkshires, honey-roasted carrots and crunchy roasties. Chicken supreme and nut roast options are also available.

Roseleaf

23/24 Sandport Place
In terms of Sunday roast atmosphere, the Roseleaf has nailed it. Welcoming is an understatement at this neighbourhood pub. Purists might be disappointed that the beef comes fully cooked in the middle, but there’s no denying the trimmings are exactly as they should be. A top contender for vibes alone.

The Spanish Butcher

58a North Castle Street
Surrounded by Spanish classics isn’t the obvious spot for a quintessentially British roast, but The Spanish Butcher serves a banger. It’s helped by Galician beef (high-fat and flavoursome) and an Iberian understanding of flavour (lavish with the salt and hot on the coals). Each slice has a salty, savoury edge and a super tender middle.

This article was written in partnership with Hendrick's Gin.