The Tower Restaurant, Edinburgh Review

In terms of location alone, The Tower Restaurant in Edinburgh, puts other eateries in the shade. It can be found on the top floor of the National Museum of Scotland, and offers breathtaking views over the city - when the sun comes out, it really is something special. It makes having to go through museum security, and take a lift ride upstairs, worthwhile.

The restaurant interior was fairly unremarkable - not to say that it isn’t attractive, but there are no real quirks or innovative décor choices to point out. The emphasis here is on the food, and whilst there is nothing bad about that, it did feel like a bit of extra style and flair could have really elevated the environment. The space outside was also quite small, and could have done with fewer tables.

Whilst browsing the menu we sipped on a divine Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve NV.

To start, I chose the Chicken Liver Parfait, with a Grape Vinaigrette and Crackers. It was creamy, rich, and full of flavour - a near perfect dish. My partner opted for the Shallots and Chive Mousse, with toasted Almonds and a delicately crafted Parmesan Tuile.

“You would be hard pressed to find a better view to enjoy whilst dining in Edinburgh.”

For our main course, we both enjoyed steaks. My own was a Rib Eye Steak, and my partner went with a Fillet Steak. The former was served with Butter Mash, and the latter thick cut chips - both were complemented with a Red Wine Sauce. We selected a Château Cadet 2011 Cotes De Castilian to enjoy with our meal. We were glad that we did, because it was a remarkable tasting choice.

For dessert, there was a warm Chocolate Fondant with Malt ice cream for me, and Cinnamon Doughnuts for my partner. Whilst I can find overly sweet dishes a little cloying at times, I actually thought that the Chocolate Fondant was delicious. It was perfectly cooked, and I enjoyed breaking into its gooey core with the satisfying crunch of a spoon.

The Tower Restaurant is a really lovely place to eat, and you would be hard pressed to find a better view to enjoy whilst dining in Edinburgh. The food is top drawer, the service is excellent, and the restaurant itself, though a little unremarkable, is a great place to spend time.