New for 2025 SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh has reimagined the basic afternoon tea, infusing it with its signature Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian influences and the result’s a vibrant collection of bite-sized delicacies. The standard finger sandwich is offered as a Highland Wagyu Katsu Sando and scones are elegantly offered in a bamboo steamer, each factor affords an sudden shock. The Luxurious Editor’s Ross and pop had been kindly requested alongside to expertise this reinterpretation of the staple British custom and so they simply cherished it.
I might wax lyrical about W Inns (learn our overview of the W Edinburgh and W London), there’s no denying that the W Edinburgh has remodeled town’s resort providing with its daring design and playful vitality. At its coronary heart, the Ribbon Constructing cuts a dramatic influence on Edinburgh’s skyline with its undulating, layered façade wrapping round in a fluid, sculptural movement.
Perched on the tenth flooring of the Ribbon Constructing, SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh enjoys a primary place extending 180 levels across the constructing. Upon getting into visitors are greeted by SUSHISAMBA’s central bar area with an illuminated tree with golden-hued leaves, a signature function in all SUSHISAMBA eating places.
The restaurant’s structure is designed to maximise its panoramic setting, providing views of Edinburgh Fort, Arthur’s Seat, and Calton Hill via floor-to-ceiling home windows. Banquette seating flows across the area interspersed with conventional tables for 2, 4 and 6 visitors. Overhead, a reflective ceiling ripples like water whereas potted greenery is positioned all through. The wraparound terrace, which follows the constructing’s curves, extends the expertise outside for these events when the Edinburgh climate permits for al fresco eating.
There isn’t a such factor as a nasty desk, however to really admire the view, we’re given a desk by the window. Our desk is laid in preparation, that includes Japanese-style ceramic plates with an natural, wabi-sabi aesthetic, embracing the great thing about imperfection. These sit in juxtaposition to the British Willow Sample teacup and saucer, symbolising SUSHISAMBA’s interaction of cultures. Whereas a tall champagne flute stands alongside, able to be full of glowing bubbles.
To start out the expertise, a curated tea choice includes a vary of premium choices, together with Sencha, Inexperienced Tea, and Genmaicha Japanese tea comprised of toasted brown rice. I opted for the Jasmine Pearls, this tea comes from Yunnan Province and these little hand-rolled jasmine pearls unfold within the teapot involved with sizzling water releasing an beautiful floral aroma with refined, honeyed sweetness. Champagne lovers can improve the afternoon tea expertise with a selection of Laurent-Perrier Brut or Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle. As I used to be driving, I opted for an elegantly crafted mocktail, a refreshing various that paired fantastically with the indulgent unfold.
At SUSHISAMBA the standard tea stand has been reinvented as a tiered tree-like construction taking over a theatrical and kooky, Alice in Wonderland come Mad Hatter’s tea occasion presentation. The underside options the savoury choice with flavours and textures constructing upon one another earlier than reaching the candy choice within the higher branches.
Providing each signature and vegetarian choices, the standout signature savouries for me included the Highland Wagyu Katsu Sando, that includes a thick slice of Wagyu beef encased in shokupan bread, sriracha mayo, and topped with caviar. The Samba Waffle Toast supplied an creative tackle a savoury waffle, adorned with delicate peaks of tuna, avocado, snow crab and candy potato. In the meantime, the Scallop Nigiri – a mattress of sushi rice topped with a flippantly torched slice of scallop utilizing the “aburi” method was balanced by a mix of ardour fruit, onion, pepper, celery, and coriander.
Shifting onto the sweets, our savoury plates are cleared and refreshed, tea topped up and desk crumbed. 4 totally different sweets are offered on the tree, Chocolate Cremeaux a wealthy, velvety darkish chocolate infused with yuzu and miso, Japanese Milk Buns with ardour fruit curds and mango salsa, an Almond Taco with plum mandarin and white chocolate and dainty Choux Buns, with blackberry and coconut almond biscuits.
You could be questioning at this level – the place are the scones? In any case, afternoon tea wouldn’t be full with out them. As a remaining shock, two Honey and Tahitian Vanilla Scones arrive elegantly offered in a bamboo steamer accompanied by strawberry compote and wealthy clotted cream.
SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh affords an unforgettable afternoon tea expertise completely showcasing creativity, aptitude and culinary experience. Paired with distinctive panoramic views over Edinburgh, this refined but up to date tackle afternoon tea serves as an ideal introduction to SUSHISAMBA’s distinctive fusion delicacies. A complicated steadiness of custom and innovation, that is an expertise to not be missed.
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