Holy burger

It is not very often that I walk out of an atmospheric and tastefully-decorated pub on to Holyrood Road. In fact, before visiting Holyrood 9a, I had never done such a thing. Just around the corner from the tourist-traps of the Royal Mile and St Mary's Street's array of fabulous restaurants, this tavern has been slowly but surely establishing itself since opening its doors in July on one of Edinburgh's most underwhelming drags.

Dark and modest from the outside, the interior is refined and welcoming. Their pride and joy is their selection of delicious gourmet burgers; served sandwiched between sourdough buns with a side of fries and coleslaw, and artfully presented on a breadboard.

The burger connoisseur can choose from a selection of original beef burgers (from £5.75), vegetarian options such as the haloumi burger (£6.75), and alternatives like the lamb and wild rosemary burger (£7.95), all of which can be washed down with a choice of twenty European beers on tap. The options on offer include Duvel Green, Erdinger and Stewarts Edinburgh Gold.

My cheeseburger was robust and succulent—undoubtedly one of the best I’ve had in Edinburgh—and I didn’t have to compromise on the salad or fries. The Fire Burger (£6.95), a 6oz beef burger with jalapenos, spicy salsa and pepper Jack cheese was well-balanced and tangy, but not overpowering. Along with my mains I guzzled down a Bacchus Framboise, a delightfully balmy Belgian raspberry beer (£2.25 glass, £4.50 pint). The daily offer of two beers and two burgers for £15 between 3pm and 6pm allows late lunchers to mix and match with affordable impunity.

The beauty of Holyrood 9a is that the food and drinks are top quality, with not a hint of pretension. From the stylish yet modest décor right down to the menu, you get the sense that a great deal of thought and care went into everything here. If you are after more than just your average bite to eat or a regular beer, Holyrood 9a offers that little bit extra exquisitely.