Rooftop Nor' Loft in Edinburgh

Nor' Loft: the champagne lounge perched above the Old Town

At the top of the Market Street Hotel

On Market Street, in the Old Town, the Market Street Hotel devotes its seventh floor, at the top of the building, to Nor' Loft. A lift leads to a contemporary lounge with large sloping windows, dressed in pale wood, Scottish fabrics and banquettes, extended by a terrace with a glass balustrade, furnished with armchairs and small tables. In the morning, the venue serves breakfast to hotel guests only; in the afternoon and evening, it welcomes everyone.

Calton Hill and the New Town opposite

The panorama opens onto the lower town: Calton Hill and its monuments on one side, the Gothic spire of the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens on the other, and between the two the rows of New Town rooftops. At nightfall, the lights of Princes Street take over, and you can enjoy the show in shelter behind the lounge windows when the weather turns.

Champagne, cocktails and sharing plates

The menu brings together more than twenty champagnes, from small independent growers to the great houses, many of them served by the glass: the house cuvée costs £14.25 a glass. Champagne cocktails cost £14.50 to £15, and the spirits give pride of place to Scottish distilleries. In the kitchen, caviar, platters and small plates showcase Scottish produce with flavours from further afield. Some packages, such as afternoon tea, must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

Practical information

The lounge opens daily at noon and closes at 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, and at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays; the kitchen closes earlier. Walk-ins are welcomed when space allows, but booking online is strongly recommended. Step-free access and a lift up to the seventh floor. A discretionary service charge of 10% is added to the bill. The lounge can be hired for groups of up to 40 people. Waverley station is a minute's walk away, and Princes Street and the Royal Mile a few minutes.