SIDE DISHES
Ah autumn. A season of mists, mellow fruitfulness and cocktails, with plenty to look forward to if you like your booze in fancy glasses. Edinburgh Cocktail Week runs from 14–20 October, with cocktail HQ returning to Festival Square, featuring wigwams, fire pits, mythical forest creatures and 19 pop-up bars. There’s also a second site on the roof of the Glasshouse Hotel this year, with cosy cocktail domes which are available for pre-booking. And never one to be left behind on the booze front, Glasgow is also hosting its own bender, the Glasgow Cocktail Weekend. From 26–29 September, over 40 city bars, including newcomers the Gate and the Amsterdam, will be dishing up a celebration of the cocktail with offers, masterclasses, and other special events for a delve into mixology.
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News to nibble on restaurant from the team behind Aizle. The focus is on casual small plates, plus a late opening bar. The Scottish Café and Restaurant has re-opened after a swish makeover (below), as part of the ongoing renovations of the Scottish National Gallery. And St Andrew Square isn’t finished with the new stuff yet. Franco Manca – that rare beast, a pizza joint where it’s (just) possible to get a drink and a decent pie for a tenner – is moving north. A new branch opened at St Andrew Square in August. It will be joined by the fourth branch of Tattu, offering high- end, contemporary Chinese cooking.
For whisky fans, the National Whisky Festival of Scotland is hosting its inaugural Aberdeen instalment on September 14, following on from successful editions in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Paisley. The newly regenerated Aberdeen Music Hall will host 30-plus exhibitors including Thurso-based Wolfburn, Campbeltown’s Springbank, Indian single malt Paul John and SPEY by Speyside Distillers. The spirits will be accompanied by live music, local food and lots of masterclasses from the experts. Other upcoming whisky happenings include the 10th anniversary of Glasgow’s Whisky Festival (November 9) and The Dramathon (October 19), a whisky- themed marathon/half-marathon/10k on part of the Speyside Way from Glenfarclas Distillery to Glenfiddich distillery, and, yes, earning miniatures as you go. Been avoiding central Edinburgh during the festival? You’ve missed a few things. Thistle Street has extended its foodie creds with Noto, a new New York-inspired
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1 Sep–31 Oct 2019 THE LIST 45