Spry
Edinburgh, Lothians
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On the portico of this elegant Georgian tenement, in handsome serif script, is the single word Spry giving no hint of what’s going on inside, but step through the pillared entrance and you are in what is arguably Edinburgh's most stylish wine bar and bottle shop. To the right, a wall of organic and natural wines; in the centre, a row of stools spaced around an oak-topped, island bar that doubles as the kitchen. The furnishings are sparse – a sofa, a few tables and some handsome chairs. Matt Jackson and partner Marzena Brodziak are the young couple behind this venture, which opened in 2019 with the aim of stocking wines free of additives and preservatives – a comprehensive range spanning the globe, but predominantly from small producers. Wines are offered by the glass; bottles come with a modest corkage charge. At lunch, we are recommended a fresh Kamptal Kolleltiv Grüner Veltliner and an equally sprightly Laurent Saillard Sauvignon-Ugni, Sauvignon Blanc. Labneh with fresh and pickled cucumber is the start of a selection of hot and cold small plates from a menu that changes daily. This is followed by an intelligent partnership of cured mackerel and ripe cherries finished with buttermilk. From the hot dishes, we enjoyed aubergine with fava beans and gremolata, as well as a pollock paratha with saffron and yoghurt. A cheese course features Ragstone, Cora Linn or Stilton, each paired differently with crackers, preserves, chutney or pain perdu. Dessert is a cardamom panna cotta with cherries poached in red wine. Quality sourdough bread and cultured butter (with offers of a top-up) plus a dish of Mignonette peppered almonds completed a charming lunch. If you fancy something more substantial, they also offer a five-course set menu for £55; just add £45 for wine pairings.
