The Lighthouse Restaurant — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

We went rather spontaneously on a decadent date here prior to visiting the Royal Yacht Brittania. Upon entering the boat, we received a lovely welcome and were invited to admire the rest of the boat. The ballroom, which looked pretty but rather brown on photos, is stunning in person. The engine room downstairs, which is viewable via a glass hallway, is very interesting and a lovely detail.

Upon arriving at the tea room, we had a bit of a muddled appointment as we were told that they expected us 45min earlier, but according to our booking we were on time. They nevertheless had a table available. There are plenty of tea options and we loved the Fingal Afternoon Tea Blend. The amuse-bouche was a delicious soup that arrived in a small cup. After that we received the savoury stand. We loved every single thing on it but our favourite was the arancini, it was crispy on the outside and had a very smooth filling on the inside. We only received the sweet stand upon finishing the savoury stand, so if you like to eat the other way around or mix and match you probably have to request that, as we were not informed of the order up front. We did, however, love it this way. The sweet stand was really good as well. The scones were the best part with a thick clotted cream and intense strawberry jam. We were informed they were still warm, therefore we started with them. Upon finishing both stands, we were very full, it took us just over an hour from arrival. The bill took a moment to arrive as there was an issue on the table next to us.

As an added note, we tried the afternoon tea at the Balmoral Hotel a few weeks later and we have to say that the Fingal afternoon Tea was significantly better (and the balmoral one was already really good). If you have to choose between the two, go to the Fingal.

From the Fingal it takes around 10min to get to the royal yacht brittania. The tearoom there can not be booked in advance and is more like a café it seems; tea at the fingal was a luxurious experience that complimented the visit to the brittania well. The day we went it was rather windy and as the boat is on a wet dock, we could lightly feel it rock back and fourth. If you know you are easily seasick, don’t go on windy days. The cups and food stands are heavy and did not get affected by the movements. We thoroughly enjoyed afternoon tea here and will make sure to return for dinner at some stage. We are almost sad to be local, as we would love to experience an overnight stay on the boat but wouldn’t want to spend so much money when...

Top 5 Ever, not hyperbole.

For context, over the decades we have eaten our way around Europe and across North America in establishments from 3-star Michelin to local Cafes.

The dinner we experienced at this restaurant was definitely one of the best we've ever had.

What made it so special? Let's start with the service - impeccable yet still fun and engaging.

Now the food. The depth of flavour in ALL the dishes, the presentation of ALL the dishes and the little extra touches of "surprise flavour undertones" was mind-blowing.

The Red Deer starter was actually indescribable. Tender, a tiny bit of spice and a tiny bit of sweet. Perfection.

The Duck (one of my favorite items on any menu) was in season, was cooked to M.R. perfection. Tender, with easy cut skin.

The vegetarian tortellini (ordered although neither of us are vegetarian) was brilliant. They take 3 days(!) to make the sauce just right.

As a side, The smoky mashed potatoes are a must if they're available.

All this created in a small galley kitchen on a ship.

Gluten and dairy free was ZERO problem for the chef.

The Negroni and the rose cocktail just completed...

We had to make a few changes to our booking due to family illness. The staff were very understanding, flexible, and empathetic. Thank you. This meant so much. The restaurant is a wee bit out of the city but easy to get to with a tram stop a short 3 minute walk away. We received a warm welcome and a lovely introduction to the history of the boat. We booked a table for pre- dinner drinks. The seating arrangements seemed a bit of an add-on and weren't in a separate area. The noise from the change over between afternoon tea and early dinner didn't quite create the atmosphere we were hoping for. Some background music may have helped. The star of the show was the food. Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. Smoked salmon and beetroot and goats cheese to start. Beef and venison were cooked to perfection. Chocolate and petite feurs were ok. The staff were friendly and attentive throughout. The Fingals gin was really good, and bottles could be purchased on site. No firm dress code, so come as casual or as glamorous as you choose, although this may be...