The story
Ardfern is an all-day brunch cafe, bar and bottle shop at 10-12 Bonnington Road in Leith, Edinburgh, named a Local Gem by The Good Food Guide in 2026. It is the third venue from chef Roberta Hall-McCarron and the team behind the Little Chartroom and eleanore.
The menu moves from full breakfasts, served with very good coffee, to brunchy kedgeree fritters with curry mayo and cured egg yolk. BBQ flatbread comes with ox tongue and romesco, and crispy squid bun with mushroom XO sits alongside baby gem. Diners can piece together a three-course evening from these smaller plates. Sunday roasts are on the menu too.
Over 100 wines can be drunk on site or taken away. The bottle shop's range is part of the wine list, with corkage added to shelf prices. Local beers and cocktails are also poured at the bar, and the Michelin Guide awarded the kitchen a Bib Gourmand in 2026 for good quality, good value cooking.
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good quality, good value cooking
Next door to its elder sibling, the Little Chartroom, this all-day venue is the McCarrons' first foray into casual eating. Open all day, the compact café, wine bar and bottle shop offers a flexible menu that deals in everything from full breakfasts (with very good coffee) to brunchy kedgeree fritters with curry mayo and cured egg yolk or BBQ flatbread with ox tongue and romesco – though with the likes of crispy squid bun with mushroom XO and baby gem also on offer, it’s possible to assemble a three-course dinner from the various options. And there are terrific Sunday roasts, too. The bottle shop’s range is included in the wine list (add corkage to the shelf price), or you can sip local beers and cocktails. 'Lovely staff, cool atmosphere,' comments one reporter.
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