The Hudson Hotel

The Hudson Hotel is a unique slice of Big Apple in the heart of Edinburgh. Its dark brick interior and modern art evokes the hard-edged sophistication of NYC and the menu offers dishes as diverse as that city's inhabitants. A delicious seafood and sweetcorn chowder and pork and black pudding sausages with mash (the speciality sausage changes daily) offer an element of good ole' home cookin' to an otherwise globally eclectic selection. Asian-style noodles, risotto and pasta are all on offer here, and the main courses of seafood tagliatelle and lamb navarin are tasty and substantial if, like a Bronx accent, not the most refined on the block. The portions are generous, the service is friendly and efficient and the candlelit atmosphere suitably sultry. The prices can be steep for the quality of the food, and the cocktails a tad on the watery side, but it is a reliably stylish dinner destination before a night's drinking in Edinburgh's New Town. [Laura Esslemont]