The Register Club Breakfast – a real hidden gem

Saturday mornings may just have got a little better with the Register Club Breakfast at the Edinburgh Grand.  It may not help my waist-line but I predict I’ve discovered a hidden gem that it almost pains me to tell you about.

The Register Club breakfast will have you spoilt for choice

The Register Club breakfast will have you spoilt for choice

My Saturday morning routine of late usually consists of an early morning meet up with Isaac from the Social Bitches for a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) session at the gym, which is promptly followed by a visit to any of our favourite haunts for brunch or coffee and a scone; thus very quickly undoing all the good and replacing all the calories we’ve just worked off.

Some of our favourite spots are Toast in Leith, which is like an old faithful friend who delivers every time and my latest find, Century General Store and Cafe, who in my opinion, produce the best cheese scones I’ve ever tasted.

With the Edinburgh Marathon Festival taking place at the weekend and the various road closures, including my normal route to my gym through Holyrood Park, an invitation to try out the Register Club Breakfast, was just the excuse I needed to give up my normal routine.

Impeccable hosts

Evocative of more elegant times when smart dressing was certain, cocktails were an art form and a convivial atmosphere was inherent, The Register Club offers a relaxed spot to eat, drink, meet and hang out.

Evocative of more elegant times, The Register Club oozes style and opulence

Evocative of more elegant times, The Register Club oozes style and opulence

I’d hung out here before for drinks in the evening, after attending one of their popular monthly Supper Club Socials, but hadn’t considered it somewhere for breakfast.  However, we couldn’t have had a more warm welcome from Toni (Antonio) and Joey the Bartender, who can mix a mean Bloody Mary, but more of that later.

Style and elegance, evocative of times long gone by

The Register occupies the west wing of The Edinburgh Grand and combines beautiful historic detailing with smart, innovative design and contemporary comfort. Found on the fourth floor, the arrangement of cocktail bar, lounge, games room and snug flows seamlessly, creating a vibe akin to an exclusive members’ club with an evolving atmosphere that effortlessly shifts from day to night.

We were told that the breakfast was normally open just to residents of the Edinburgh Grand but it appears that they’ve opened The Register Club to ‘walk-ins’ too, as of three weeks ago, so now you too can enjoy breakfasting in style.

Brunch vs lunch? Which gets your vote?

Two years ago I reviewed the Quintessential Breakfast at the Caledonian, which sadly was only offered for a short time.  If however, you’re the kind of person who favours brunch instead of lunch, as I do, The Register Club Breakfast will now be my go-to-place, replacing where the Caledonian left off.

Sourcing only the finest ingredients

The Register Club prides themselves on sourcing only the finest produce from local farmers including Puddledub ham and bacon, and Glenkens eggs, which are all on offer at the breakfast spread.

There’s a huge array to choose from in the ‘Continental Breakfast’ offering including: home-made warm pastries, freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, cereals and dried fruits, Katy Rogers yogurts, overnight oats, seasonal fruit salads, and a range of freshly prepared hot breakfasts.

The Register Club Breakfast is a hidden gem with so much choice

The Register Club Breakfast is a hidden gem with so much choice

Their smoothies are a guaranteed wake-up call

We started with some smoothies and a couple of small pastries, while we debated what we might have for our mains, sinking into the very comfortable leather and velvet sofas, listening to the soothing playlist of easy listening jazz from Deezer.

Brunching in style

Brunching in style

I chose the Tropical smoothie, which came served in a miniature glass milk bottle, and is drunk through a silver metal straw. My usual complaint is that many smoothies contain banana, which can be overpowering and although the Tropical did contain this ingredient, for once it wasn’t overwhelming but complemented the other ingredients of pineapple, melon and passion fruit. In fact, you could barely taste it was there.

The other smoothie choice, Mixed Berries, as its name suggest contained mixed berries, mint, lemon and balsamic syrup, which gave a beautiful, yet not overly sweetness to this very zingy drink, which was perfect to start our morning with.  It’s a guaranteed wake-up call.

Breakfast like a king

For our mains, I chose the Eggs Benedict, consisting of Puddledub farm ham, hollandaise and roast tomato.   Generous in size, the eggs were cooked to perfection and oozed out into the hollandaise sauce, creating a lovely eggy mess, to mop up with the split soft white muffin.

My partners in crime chose The Register Club Breakfast of Puddledub bacon, Gilmour’s pork sausage, MacLeod black pudding, Castle Douglas scrambled eggs with chives, and roast tomato.

Their Bloody Mary is a meal in itself

Although we had arrived for breakfast before 9am, and thus too early for a wee libation, due to Scottish licensing laws, as soon as the clock ticked past 10am, purely in the interests of research, we ordered their Bloody Mary, which our waitress, Toni had said ‘were pretty amazing’. Any place that can mix a good Bloody Mary will always be ensured a return visit where we’re concerned.

Joey the Bartender can make a mean BM

Joey the Bartender can make a mean BM

It’s safe to say, our research paid off – and we’ll be back.  Joey the Bartender, with his impressive following of 30k on Instagram, can mix a mean one.  Made with their home-made tomato juice blend, and using wasabi paste, this thick BM certainly delivers a kick.  Be warned though, I’m glad we shared one between three, as it’s a meal in itself.

Home-made shortbread complement their teas and coffees

Their fresh drip coffee, a blend of natural Brazilian and washed Peruvian beans, is made with coffee beans from Machina Coffee Roasters, locally based in Edinburgh.

Teas available include Breakfast, Earl Grey (rather than Early Grey as printed on the menu), Pure Green and Peppermint.

A rather lovely touch is each cup of tea and coffee comes served with a small disc of home-made shortbread, which melts in your mouth.  Chef even sent us up a freshly made batch of rose shortbread, beautifully presented with some berry coulis.  I think I died and went to heaven.

How to win a girl's heart - feed her rose shortbread!

How to win a girl’s heart – feed her rose shortbread!

A new hidden gem

Whilst it pains me to actually write this review, I predict that this hidden gem may not stay that way for too long.   At £25, the Register Club Breakfast is a steal and I can’t think of a more perfect way to start my weekend.

The Register Club is open for breakfast from 7am-10am on Monday-Friday and from 8am-11am on Saturday-Sunday.

To book:

The Register Club
4th Floor
The Edinburgh Grand
42 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh, EH2 2AD

+44 (0)131 230 0571
Email: reservations@theregisterclub.com

Kerry was invited as a guest of the Register Club

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About Kerry Teakle

Working in communications during the day, by night, Kerry is a self-confessed culture vulture and foodie, and can be found lapping up anything culinary or to do with the arts.

2 Comments

  1. Looks lovely Kerry and the Eggs Benedict sounds delish!! will have to check it out!

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