Chez Mal Brasserie & Bar 1 Tower Place, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7BZ

"We started off in the Chez Bar downstairs, which is just beautiful. Very on trend soft furnishings of sapphire blue velvet couches, foliage walls and plenty of nooks and crannies to snap those picture perfect cocktails for socials. The restaurant is stunning. The attention to detail is second to none with the theme of the luxurious velvet seating carried on from downstairs. The decor is very contemporary with bold statement pieces displayed around the large dining area. You’ll not miss the painted mannequin body lamps, large pieces of bright artwork that adorn the walls and the overall lavishness of this restaurant. Malmaison's designers took inspiration from nearby Rose and Thistle Streets to create a garden of texture, light and style - you’ll notice this in lighting and the fresh flowers on the tables. Inspired with flavours both classic and French, the Chefs have created some magnificent menus and you'll find an energetic but relaxing atmosphere with knowledgeable service. First up was the Artisan Sourdough breadbasket with extra virgin olive oil and English butter (£4.50) and a little treat of hummus and flatbreads. The starters for me were all superb! This is Summer on a plate or several plates. Fresh, zingy and bright bursting with flavour and just begging to be eaten again. Thai sticky beef & noodle salad (£9.50) - with rice noodles, crunchy vegetables, spring onions, red chilli, sesame and toasted peanuts. The sticky beef can be substituted with tofu. Chicken karaage (£8.50) - buttermilk fried chicken thigh, roasted sesame and sriracha mayonnaise. Buffalo mozzarella & tomato salad (£9.00) - Isle of Wight heritage tomatoes, pickled red chilli, pesto and basil. For vegetarians, the mozzarella can be replaced with feta cheese. A nice array of dishes, but for me some lacked seasoning and could easily have handled a heavy flavour injection. Chez Mal katsu curry (£15) - crispy marinated chicken breast, curry sauce, sticky rice & pickled vegetable salad. Swop out the chicken for a Cauliflower steak for vegetarians. Pan-fried hake picata (£15) - capers, Kalamata olives, parsley, cavolo nero & brioche Summer green vegetable linguini (£14) - peas, broad beans, broccoli, mint & Pecorino Sardo. You can add in Tiger prawns for an additional £4 supplement. A nice not overly fussy wine menu is available with knowledgeable staff on hand to guide you through what’s best suited with your meal or to pair your flavour profiles with a specific wine. I chose the Riesling, Rag & Bone, Smalltown Vineyards, Eden Valley, Australia which was clean, fresh, floral, zesty and spritzy. Desserts most definitely pack a wow factor. Press that big golden buzzer for the the Pineapple Carpaccio (£6.50) with lime, chilli, mint syrup and coconut ice-cream. Sublime! Fill your boots and every other wee space remaining after dinner with this big bold sundae. Strawberry Eton mess sundae (£6.50) - fresh strawberries, Chantilly cream, sorbet and meringue. And if you are after a lighter, not overly sweet dessert try this - the Steamed lemon pudding (£6.50) - with blueberry compote and crème fraîche. Overall, a wonderful menu served with super friendly staff in a gorgeous restaurant. My ideal order would be the Chicken Karaage, the Thai Sticky Beef Noodle Salad ordered as a main course with the Pineapple Carpaccio to finish. Chez Mal has outdoor dining and is a glorious sun trap late afternoon, early evening. Great views out across St Andrews Square. I dined here a few months ago so the menu may very well have changed."

"Staff were nice. Portions were large and generally tasty. Chicken wings were a little odd with very thick batter but the rump steak was lovely, probably didn't need the peppercorn sauce. My partner had the vegetarian katsu curry which was nice and the sticky toffee pudding was delicious. Only negative on the service front was we booked a 3 course deal but couldn't transfer a starter for a nibble despite them being cheaper so were charged the extra. Booked on a deal and was good value for good food. A little pricey otherwise."

"Really friendly staff who don't take themselves too seriously. The bar makes delicious daiquiris and the food tastes really fresh. Full of people there for business, which saps some of the fun out of the place, not the hotel's fault though."

"Stopped in for dinner and drinks one night before returning to the room. Food was served hot and full of flavor. Waitstaff was very friendly and enjoyed talking with us as we asked questions."