Whenever guests visit Edinburgh from outside of Scotland, I always recommend a visit to Prestonfield House.
From the beautiful 17th-century Baroque mansion, its opulent décor, the magnificent view of Arthur’s Seat or the highland cattle roving their grounds; Prestonfield House feels like a little piece of the luxurious Scottish countryside right in the heart of the Scottish capital.
And if its in my guests’ budget, I always suggest their seasonally inspired afternoon tea (£70pp/£85 with champagne). Though spring is not kind to me (allergies galore, post-winter exhaustion, inconsistent weather, etc.) it is my favourite season as flowers blossom, tree buds grow and birds sing, so I was delighted to try Prestonfield House’s Spring Afternoon Tea.
It felt very spring-like as we slowly drove up the drive lined with hundred of daffodils, their cheery yellow blooms just as inviting as the concierge waiting to greet you and take you into the hotel.
Walk Prestonfield House, Edinburgh. Photograph David Cheskin.06.2021
We were escorted in to their Rhubarb Restaurant; named for being the first Scottish estate to import and grow the leafy sweet vegetable that is native to China. The large dining room is bright and open with lush décor that heightens experience and comfort but doesn’t clutter the room. We were seated beside a window with gorgeous views of Arthur’s Seat.
One of my small disappointments in life is going to afternoon tea, especially a luxury experience, and being offered a small selection of tea bags. Prestonfield House do not have this issue because they source their tea from Edinburgh-based Rosevear Tea which means quality tea leaves and plenty of choice.
Out of the 16 teas, I opted for the Green Dragon tea from Yunnan as the epitome of spring while my friend was a little more creative with her Black Fig Sencha with its aroma that left an almost visible scent trail for all to follow.
‘This is how I will have my pesto from now on,’ my guest declared after our amuse bouche – a spring vegetable soup with crème fraiche lemon and wild leek. This soup very buttery but the touch of citrus stopped it from being too rich or flat while the wild leek added dimension.
The savouries were the highlight of the service, offering different flavours and textures in creative ways. My favourite was the Confit Rhubarb and Parma Ham Skewer stuffed with fresh goats’ cheese. It reminded me of the sometimes controversial ‘Hawaiian’ pizza with its fresh acidic fruit marrying beautifully with the ham.
I’m always thrilled when wild garlic is used in spring, so the Asparagus Quiche with Wild Garlic, Almonds and Capers was a delightful little treat that was consumed far too quickly. The last savoury, a Smoked Salmon Blini with fennel butter lemon and lime curd, was a delicious combination that never fails.
While we started high with the soup and savouries, the sandwiches were the weakest part of the afternoon tea. To give them credit, quality ingredients were used from the bread to the filling, but I prefer a little more variation. However, if you love a classic sandwich done well, then you will enjoy them.
My guest, however, was enamoured with the Charred Chicken Sandwich with its fresh green goddess dressing – usually a variation of herbs with sour cream, anchovy and lemon juice. I am particularly fond of an egg salad sandwich and while I enjoyed the eggy filing accompanied by the bright green onion, I wished it was on a fluffier and softer bread.
I think we all know that classic and fruit scones can be a hit or miss – they are either very dry, dense and crumbly, and you need gallons of tea to soothe your tired throat, or they are baked perfectly well, and are perfectly balanced to host the generous layers of cream and jam to come.
The scones at Prestonfield most definitely fell into the latter category. Both the plain and fruit scone were very good but I preferred the plain as it was slightly airier and the caramelised sugar on top added just the right amount of sweetness to host my excesses of cream and their house-made raspberry jam.
It is a universal problem that by the time you finished the bottom two rows, you will be too full for the pudding round. And despite only eating half of the sandwiches and scones, this was still the case. However, I am never one to say no to desserts, especially ones that looked this pretty so I made room in my heart if not my stomach.
We started with the Cucumber and Mint Macaron and it was the perfect palate cleanser, just as we suspected. If you are a partial to a mojito then you will enjoy this one. The macaron shell was perfectly done too; crisp on the outside with just the right amount of chewiness when you bite in to it.
The Blood Orange Dark Chocolate Tart had a lovely texture with its light chocolate mouse and blood orange candied top but it was a little too rich for me, especially in that moment. The Blueberry, Lemon and Lavender Mousse was my favourite as it tasted so fresh and velvety. I wish I started with this one.
By the time we got to the Honey and Rhubarb Gateau, it was very difficult to fit in even a morsel. However, as the honey was from Prestonfield’s own aviary, I broke into a corner and let the honey cake melt on my tongue. My friend cleverly decided to save hers for later, and I envied her future tastebuds.
After our tea, we were given a tour around the hotel and enjoyed every corner of maximalist baroque décor. From its Tapestry Room to the brighter Yellow Room, both drawing rooms were built in 1687 and are bursting with atmosphere and decadent comfort, to their impressive Whisky Room stocking hundreds of malts, including rare whiskies from around the world to exceptional Scottish drams we know and love.
Visiting Prestonfield House is an experience I always enjoy; a beautiful setting with creative food and exceptional service. One I will continue to recommend to all those visiting Edinburgh. If you’re lucky, you may get to even say hello to their resident mouser Raven.
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