Scone Spy: Edinburgh's Herringbone is the perfect spot for a lazy Sunday

Describing Sunday as “the day of rest” has always seemed a little funny to me – after all, there’s usually so much to get organised before the start of another week.

For some, it’s ironing school uniforms or doing The Big Shop, for others their list involves clearing emails before Monday morning meetings.

And, of course, there are the unlucky lot who spend most of the day recovering from the night before. Ouch.

However, no matter how busy I might be, I always try to carve out a slice of my Sunday for my most important task – sampling scones.

So, on a recent sunny Sunday in Edinburgh, I convinced some friends to lend a hand – or their stomachs to be more exact – and took them out for an afternoon chatting, eating, and spying.

Hoping to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city centre, we decided to venture away from the usual tourist traps, visiting a trendy eatery in Goldenacre.

Nestled on the corner of a bright spot just off Ferry Road, Herringbone occupies the site of a former bank branch, and is just a short walk from the sprawling Royal Botanic Garden.

First impressions count for a lot and, walking into the bright and beautifully decorated restaurant, we instantly felt relaxed and welcome. The décor is what some trendy types might call “industrial chic” – think exposed brick, distressed wooden tables, and a distinctly Scandi-influence.

All in all, very smart and modern.

The menu follows a similar suit, with a great mixture of breakfast choices, light bites, burgers, sandwiches and mains.

Two of our group opted for a delicious vegetarian burger, served with chips and salad. You really can’t go wrong with carbs on carbs, so it wasn’t long before their plates were all but licked clean.

My pescatarian pal chose the East Lothian seafood chowder (rather specific, no?) as a main, and hoping to save room for dessert I settled on a simple dish of mushrooms on toast.

The staff were friendly and attentive, and the food arrived in good time, but we didn’t feel rushed to eat up and get out.

I must admit, I don’t think scones are the kitchen’s main focus at Herringbone, but my fluffy bake was highly commendable, arriving with a good amount of jam and butter.

With a nice crumb and a good texture, my scone served as a delightful addition to an already highly enjoyable meal.

Herringbone strikes me as the kind of place you could bring the whole family, and we were surrounded by Mimosa-sipping girlfriends, tired mums and dads spoon-feeding happy babies, and couples making the most of a lazy afternoon.

So, if you have a few items ticked off your to-do list or feel like throwing caution to the wind, and ignoring your overflowing washing basket, this lovely bistro is an ideal setting for enjoying your Sunday.

The verdict

Welcome

Friendly, warm service makes this a lovely spot. 9/10

Location

Good setting, away from Edinburgh’s busier areas. However, drivers might struggle to park. 8/10

Scone

A great addition to our meal. 8/10

Scone Spy: Edinburgh’s Herringbone is the perfect spot for a lazy Sunday