The Hudson Hotel

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• Average price 2 courses:
   £9 (lunch)
   £13 (evening meal)
• House wine: £12.95 per bottle

• High point: Speedy service if you need to be back at your desk
• Low point: Plasma screen TVs can kill the conversation
• Food served: Mon–Sun 8am–9pm
• Bar open: Mon–Sun 9am–1am
• No. overnight rooms: 31
• Open since: 2006
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008
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When this former post office reopened in 2006 as a hotel, the idea was to create the atmosphere of a slick Manhattan hangout in Edinburgh's West End. Brick walls and dark floorboards on the ground floor bar may have you fooled that you're in a trendy New York spot, but the waiters' black kilts are a reminder that you're still in Scotland. The all-day menu includes ciabatta sandwiches, home-made soup and baked potatoes for a quick lunchtime refuel, while there are more substantial dishes for under a tenner, such as poached salmon with broccoli and Hollandaise sauce or lamb and potato casserole for a more relaxed meal in the evening. Office suits and thirsty shoppers have adopted this spot for liquid lunches and after-work cocktails, and the soundtrack of house tracks and chart pop gives a buzz in the background. Occasionally, minor details, such as bought-in desserts or dry burger rolls, let the food down. Generally, though, the ingredients are tasty and seasonal. The Hudson is also a popular spot for morning coffees or a quick glass of wine with a side of bread and olives at the end of the day.