Dragonfly

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses: £6.25
• House wine: £11.95 per bottle

• High point: One of Edinburgh's most stylish bars
• Low point: A place for snacking rather than dining
• Food served: Mon–Sun 4–10pm
• Bar open: Mon–Sun 4pm–1am
• Open since: 2004
• Also offers: Wheelchair access

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008
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An effortlessly popular drinking spot for some years since its 2004 reimagining as a shiny new cocktail bar, Dragonfly – which has been voted Scotland's most stylish bar – shows no sign of letting its sheen tarnish. It still feels like one of the places to be in Edinburgh, with a décor scheme that slips in somewhere between classic and 70s retro, an array of iconic Adidas trainers on display atop the bar and murals by Edinburgh graffiti artist and designer Elph. While the general air of quality and an impressive, unpretentious cocktail list (30 different recipes, including Burntisland Iced Tea, and a willingness to experiment to order) are recommendation enough, the compact food menu is another reason to visit this enduring stylista's favourite. The choice is between three different folded pastry stromboli – spinach, an agreeably off-the-wall haggis and sweet potato, the classically Spanish chorizo and tomato – although these can be combined with the house olives, some simple bread and oil or the pita and hummus to create a decent feed. The choice is limited, but – when mixed with the surroundings – not to be ignored.