The story
Montrose occupies a late 19th-century building on Montrose Terrace, originally built as an inn. Today it is a bustling neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar, its warm, convivial atmosphere drawing locals and visitors alike. The space balances historic character with a relaxed, modern feel – a place where you can drop in for a glass of wine or settle in for a full evening.
The kitchen practises ingredient-led cooking, with respect for nature and produce at the core. Ingredients are sourced from local, artisan suppliers, and the menu changes weekly to reflect what farmers, foragers and producers have on hand. This commitment to seasonality and simplicity – letting the quality of the raw materials speak – has earned Montrose a Michelin Recommended distinction, a mark of its consistent, thoughtful approach to modern cuisine.
Montrose serves food and wine throughout the day. A set lunch menu (three courses for £25) is offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For a more immersive experience, the seasonal tasting menu draws from the à la carte selection, with a few extra dishes shaped by the best of the day’s produce. Vegan and vegetarian menus are also available. The wine list is extensive, focusing on natural and biodynamic wines from small European growers – a perfect match for the kitchen’s clean, vibrant flavours. Walk-in space is available, though booking is advised.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
The Radford family’s follow-up to their Edinburgh flagship Timberyard shares its traits as a singularly stylish and occasionally esoteric place to eat. Perched at the top of Montrose Terrace, an all-white paint job had erased signs of its past life as a pansies-in-the-window pub and sets the tone for minimalist interiors, neutral tones and natural textures. There are two ways to enjoy Montrose. On the ground floor, a warmly lit wine bar attracts an all-day crowd who come for the roster of light plates (sardines on toast, say) and the magnificent drinks list – a well of creativity, curated by Anna Sebelova and shared with Timberyard. Vermouths, liqueurs and bitters are all made in-house, while softs such as hibiscus and wormwood kombucha or the unusual savoury notes of Koseret tea keep things interesting for the abstainers. Upstairs, chef Moray Lamb’s cooking gets a little more serious with a set menu of four courses (plus canapés and petits fours) for around £80. The atmosphere is more serious too, with space for just 15 diners, tables dressed in unbleached linens and light coming mostly from the dim glow of pillar candles – although a two-hour time allocation on tables puts Montrose at odds with its tasting menu compatriots elsewhere in the city. Our winter visit began with a duo of superlative snacks (a delicate smoked eel doughnut, and a bite of choux au craquelin filled with Gubbeen cheese), while an opener of Shetland squid in a tangle of noodle-like strips felt more technically interesting than lovably delicious. A beautifully wobbly veal sweetbread blanketed in a silky Jerusalem artichoke sauce suffered from a hint of over-seasoning, but nothing could trump the triumphant savoury finale – pink-fleshed sika deer with sophisticated accompaniments including celeriac, pine and juniper. The wine list is also a triumph – an oenophile’s tour of English and European viticulture, with the emphasis on organic and natural production. Choices by the glass are many and varied, but also look for bottles highlighted in ‘orange’. Overall, we found the service to be informed and amiable, if a little softly spoken at times. Our advice: save the moody refinement of the restaurant for an intimate occasion and revel in the buzzy fun of the wine bar as frequently as possible.
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