Tucked just off the Royal Mile you will find The Black Grape – a light airy restaurant and bar, very different from one of the earlier incarnations – Pancho Villas (those of a certain age will remember that!) It is stylish, in an effortless way, without trying too hard.

I’d heard great things about their small plates menu, so on a crisp Edinburgh afternoon we headed over for a late lunch before our theatre date! Working our way through the hustle and bustle of the new town, we entered into a place of calm, which was a welcome break from the outside madness! We were relatively early for dinner service, but late for standard lunch service, but the restaurant was still busy with a buzz of people catching up.

We were shown to a cosy table by the window, the perfect spot for people‑watching while we settled in with a cocktail or two from their very well put together cocktail menu. The menu is designed for sharing – always my favourite way to eat – and choosing dishes became an exercise in restraint because everything sounded tempting.

We started with the Whipped Ricotta with Sundried tomatoes and Toasted Seeds a simple dish which delivered that perfect balance of creamy, salty, sweet heat. We ordered some of the delicious Sourdough Focaccia which came with Herb Oil and Sea Salt to go with the dish.

Next up we had the Nduja Scotch Egg with Braised Fennel and Basil was crispy on the outside and runny on the inside, with a nice amount of heat from the nduja and the braised fennel complemented it well. We followed on with the Newhaven Crab Crumpet with Brown Butter and Pink Grapefruit, which was a light and fresh dish, almost like a savoury palate cleanser.

Our final savoury dishes were a flavourful Wild Mushroom Spring Roll with Tempura Enoki and Black Garlic, which was crispy and earthy with a perfect level of garlic, we also had the BBQ Chicken with Merguez Sausage with Hazelnuts, Honey and Harissa, a perfect blend of sweet, spicy and smokey.

For dessert we went for the Black Forest Chocolate Chantilly with a Cherry Sorbet and Hazelnut Crumb, which was rich and creamy, and the cherry cut through the chocolate well. Our other dessert was a Burnt Orange Tart with Sour Orange Syrup and Salted Caramel Ice Cream, which was creamy but the orange give it a lovely freshness which was a great way to end the meal.

What I loved most about The Black Grape wasn’t just the food (though it was excellent) – it was the atmosphere. It feels intimate without being cramped, lively without being loud, and stylish without feeling like it’s trying to impress you. It’s the type of place you could go for a date night, a catch‑up with friends, or even a solo treat with a book and a glass of wine.

Edinburgh has plenty of restaurants competing for attention, but The Black Grape is definitely up there as one not too miss. Great food, warm service, and a setting that is relaxed,which makes you want to linger and enjoy just one more of their tasty cocktails!