Tucked beside The Little Chartroom, Ardfern marks a more relaxed turn for Roberta Hall McCarron. Named after the west coast village where she holidayed as a child, this casual bottle shop-meets-wine bar brings a softer, slower rhythm to Edinburgh’s dining scene. The concept itself might not be anything new, somewhere between a wine lover’s haunt and a neighbourhood hangout, but waves of guests ensure the place is packed all evening, and it’s hard to argue with Ardfern’s undeniable charm.
Inside, the space is snug and unshowy, all pale woods and muted tones, with shelves of biodynamic bottles lining the walls and chalkboards hand-scrawled with by-the-glass options. Counter seating stretches along the main bar, inviting punters to pluck up a stool and sit back with a glass or two, whilst larger groups fill out the tightly clustered tables in the heart of the room.
Our advice - allow yourself to get swept up in it: chat to staff, sample a few wines, and over-order on the seasonal small plates to the point where you have to play Tetris just to get everything to fit. We begin with hash browns: crisp, golden exterior contrasts their pillowy insides, and a fresh, summery topping of crushed peas, wakame seaweed, and chilli provides a welcome kick.
Baby back ribs quickly follow, slick in a coating of chunky peanut-chilli oil, with smokily-charred meat that’s practically falling off the bone. On its own it's delicious, but a few dollops of mint salsa perfectly tie everything together. There are many more highlights, but the 'Cullen Skink’ crumpet is a standout. A poached egg is perfectly runny, paired with baked cod, silky, butter-drenched leeks, and a good smothering of smoky hollandaise sauce. It’s well executed with the kind of familiar, comforting flavours that have us scraping the plate clean.
Ardfern might not be reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It’s exactly the kind of spot every neighbourhood should have, and we’d happily spend many evenings working through its menus.