Photo of
November 29, 2016
The Refinery is open on St Andrew Square in Edinburgh.
The Refinery is open on St Andrew Square in Edinburgh.

New openings have been coming thick and fast in Edinburgh city centre over the last fortnight.

The latest to have an official launch is The Refinery in the new glass and steel edifice on St Andrew Square.

Like its neighbour Dishoom (see last Friday’s blog), it is the first Scottish outlet for a company which already has several units in England.

In the case of The Refinery, it is owned by Drake and Morgan who also operate brands such as The Anthologist, The Parlour and The Folly in London and Manchester.

St Andrew Square views

Set over two spacious floors – both of which enjoy expansive glass frontages looking over St Andrew Square – it has a cosy industrial feel.

By which we mean that there are lots of candles and furry seats and tartan cushions beside the exposed piping, stripped wooden walls and twisting steel stair case.

There is a smoking terrace/al fresco dining area at the front of the restaurant. Wisely, The Refinery provides fleecy blankets and hot water bottles to help ward off frost bite.

Cosy in winter, cool in summer.
Cosy in winter, cool in summer.

Cocktails, wines, beers and cocktail master classes are all offered alongside breakfast, brunch and all day menus.

As well as lots of British comfort food classics, the kitchen mixes and matches flavours from all over the world.

At breakfast, you could go full Scottish and scoff the fry up or you could look to our friends in California and instagram the avo and poached egg on sourdough toast washed down with a Radiant Roots juice.

Sunday roast

There are Sunday roasts, fish ‘n’ chips, a selection of steaks and burgers plus dishes that take their inspiration from further afield. Think along the lines of chicken satay, Thai chicken curries and crispy duck salads.

Naturally, there is a selection of small plates, boards and nibbles for sharing and grazing.

We haven’t tried most of the menu so can’t say that much more about it.

However, judging by the sliders on offer at the launch bash, the burgers should be worth investigating.

This 5pm Dining blog scribbler is not the sort to start hyperventilating over a beef patty in a bun but we were impressed by this one.

City centre restaurant hub

With Wahaca up and running around the corner, and at least three more, large restaurant bar operations pencilled in to open over the next couple of years, St Andrew Square looks set to be quite the city centre restaurant hub.

Can the Edinburgh market absorb all the covers which are coming on line?

That’s the million dollar question.

As recent events have proved, making predictions is a fool’s game and the restaurant sector is more volatile than most.

It’s great to see all this investment coming into Scotland and, as we do with all new restaurants, we hope they do well.

Cocktails are coming up at The Refinery.
Cocktails are coming up at The Refinery.