Dakota Hotel Edinburgh

Located some seven miles west of the city centre, this hotel is better placed for Scotland’s motorway system than Edinburgh’s tourist delights. A large, space-age construction of black-tinted glass & straight lines, it boasts an equally slick interior – a design approach that extends into the popular Grill restaurant. The menu kicks off with Brit-style starters (think grilled sardines with parsley, chilli & lemon or crab & walnut toast), before a short list of equally patriotic mains including omelette Arnold Bennett (with smoked haddock & Gruyère) or simple fish & chips. There are also steaks & crustacea to consider: maybe an 11oz sirloin or a platter of fruits de mer including almost everything that scuttles or filter-feeds in local waters. Desserts are functional rather than inspired: rhubarb pie with vanilla custard, for example.