Johnnie Walker Princes Street

145 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH, EH2 4BL johnniewalker.com (£££)

The vibe: Set atop Johnnie Walker Edinburgh Princes Street (an allencompassing world of tours, tastings, bars and beautiful views), the Explorers’ Bothy bar is a clever reworking of what is normally associated with the world of whisky. No dark wood and old leather here. It’s bright and modern, with beautifully displayed bottles, contemporary art and stunning views. Perfect for whisky aficionados and curious newbies alike.

The food and drinks: The new offering brings together clever pairings through a collaboration between head bartender Miran Chauhan and chefs James and Maria Close (from the two-Michelin-starred Raby Hunt in Darlington). We went for the

Four Corners menu, a celebration of the distilleries at the heart of blending

Johnnie Walker.

First up was Glenkinchie. The cocktail, combining the whisky with Hedgerow Aquavit, accompanied an eye-catching Beef Tartare. As with all the courses, we were advised to practice a sipping, biting, sipping ritual to fully appreciate the drink and dish interaction. The intense flavour of the cocktail confidently complemented the richness of the tartare.

Clynelish was mixed with Coastline Amaro for a refreshing drink that evoked the sea and enhanced the invigorating intensity of the Aguachile Oyster. And the subtle sweetness of Caol Ila, with Cliff Edge Vermouth, contrasted beautifully with the savouriness intensity of the Quail Caesar.

To conclude came Cardhu with Sparkling Orchard Wine, alongside which there appeared to be a particularly small, shiny green apple, complete with stalk and leaf. In fact, it was an incredibly crafted, incredibly sweet, melt-in-the-mouth dessert. Another perfect food and drink pairing to complete our fabulous four corners journey.

The Midland Grand Dining Room

ST PANCRAS RENAISSANCE HOTEL, LONDON, NW1 2AR midlandgranddiningroom.com (£££)

The vibe: This is grand alright but it couldn’t be more inviting. Sumptuous but in a sink-into kinda way, its warming palette of corals and reds, offset with flickers of gold and pink marble, is softened with pouffy and generously sized chairs. The bones of the place, triple-height ceilings and all, date back to the 19th-century Gothic Revival hotel that originally occupied the building and opened in 1873, but the recent makeover is the work of Harry Handelsman and interior designer Hugo Toro and it’s bloody gorgeous.

The food: Patrick Powell’s menu is French-inspired, British focused and guaranteed to be a universal hit. Highlights include the veal sweetbread, wild mushroom, lovage and asparagus vol-au-vent starter, and a main of navarin of lamb, turnips, mint and anchovy was another triumph. Save room for the dark, dense and delicious twice-baked chocolate cake with sour cherry and vanilla – it’s soooo good.

The drinks: Echoing the look and feel of the adjacent Midland Grand Dining Room but with its own personality, the menu at the Gothic Bar (left), is centred around fruit eau de vie. The Eau de Martini, based on your choice of either Hepple Gin or X Muse Vodka, stirred with the house blended vermouth and finished tableside with a theatrical spritz of your selected eau de vie, is an absolute delight.