There’s nothing like being a tourist in your own city, and when an invite came through to try out Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh’s new brunch menu, it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh has just launched a new weekend brunch menu, leaning into generous, shareable dishes like Red Hot Chicken & Waffles, a stacked brunch burger with hollandaise, and French toast with strawberries, alongside lighter options. There’s also a Bubbles & Brunch option with drinks included – always a promising sign.
The last time I visited a Hard Rock Cafe was in London in my twenties, so that was some years ago. Arriving after a Martini Experience the day before – my closely guarded hidden gem, and if you know, you know – the menu had considerable appeal.
As you enter from George Street, you’re greeted by an attentive welcome host in the bright bar area, which also houses a shop selling memorabilia, including T-shirts and baseball caps.
We’d hoped to sit by one of the large windows with views out onto George Street, but these are reserved for drinkers rather than diners. Instead, we were shown to a booth reserved for us in the dining area towards the back.
Adorned with signed music memorabilia, photos of iconic bands and musicians, and various screens playing a montage of music videos, it’s an atmospheric space – low ceilings, no natural light, slightly cavernous. But perhaps that’s entirely the point; a nod to the dark basement venues where many of these artists first found their feet.
It seemed only natural to want our Vitamin C fix – or hair of the dog – in the form of a drink. John, our server, was great: attentive in that warm, Americanised hospitality way that Hard Rock does so well.
I opted for one of the featured cocktails – the Hard Rock Bloody Mary, theatrically served in a tall branded glass, made with Tito’s Vodka, Bloody Mary Mix, crispy bacon, celery, pickly chips, lime, and green olives. Quite simply one of the best Bloody Marys I’ve had, with just the right level of heat.
My partners in crime – aka the Social Bitches – went for the Blackberry Sparkling Sangria (again served beautifully long) and the Classic Mimosa. Worth noting: a Mimosa is a 50/50 blend of Prosecco and orange juice, distinct from a Buck’s Fizz with its 2:1 ratio. The Mimosa arrived in a tumbler, somewhat less theatrically than its cocktail companions and notably without garnish – a minor quibble, but perhaps that was a forgotten omission.
The menu divides into Brunch and ‘Not Brunch’ options (available from 11.30am), a Fresh Beats menu, and the Bubbles & Brunch option at £35 per head, which includes one brunch dish and four glasses of bubbles, spritz, or mimosas.
Portions are generous – more than adequate hangover ammunition. My Tupelo Chicken Platter – hand-breaded chicken tenders with seasoned fries and two dips of honey mustard and house-made barbecue sauce – was elevated further by my requested side of coleslaw, a generously sized bowl made with grain mustard mayonnaise.
The boys’ burgers were equally impressive: a Brunch Burger (two smashed patties, American cheese, smoked bacon, fried egg, hollandaise, served with sautéed breakfast potatoes) and The Haggis Burger (smashed patties, locally-sourced haggis, whisky-infused caramelised onions, cheese sauce, crispy shoestring onions, lettuce and tomato in a toasted artisan bun, served with fries). American-sized, guaranteed to cure what ails you, and best approached with a knife and fork – particularly when a fried egg is involved.
We declined desserts – think New York cheesecake, ice cream, seasonal fruit cobbler, hot fudge brownie – although a special of Bourbon Bread Pudding sounded genuinely enticing. By that point, however, a large group of enthusiastic foreign school kids had arrived, and the noise levels were, shall we say, spirited – not entirely ideal conditions for a leisurely brunch.
There’s been much written lately about the shift away from late nights, with people apparently swapping evening reservations for daytime social catch-ups – what’s being called ‘soft partying’: brunch plans centred around connection, conversation, and wellbeing. It’s a lovely idea, and the Hard Rock Cafe’s new brunch certainly delivered where the food and drinks were concerned. Whether it fully lends itself to leisurely conversation is perhaps dependent on timing, luck, and the school holiday calendar.
For now, while I may be quietly stepping back from late-night clubbing, I suspect I’ll still be reserving my most leisurely hours for the Martini Experience. Some things are simply non-negotiable.
