Review: Brunch at One Square Bar & Brasserie (Sheraton, Festival Square)

Girdy & Birdy had a much-needed fun day out planned, starting with some delicious brunch at One Square Bar & Brasserie, through an itison voucher no less – and got a lot more food than expected!

I didn’t know quite what to expect when Girdy said he was booking a brunch at One Square, but I was looking forward to it. It turned out that on the day, I really, REALLY needed cheering up, so this and the cinema afterwards actually turned out to be just the thing!

Did I eat too much? Most likely, because I was not prepared for the sheer volume of food that was served to us that day – it was very impressive! Read on to find out how it all went down.

One Square’s vibe

I arrived at One Square first, and there was still a bit of a chill in the air outside, so when I arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth of One Square Bar & Brasserie. The temperature was the thing I noticed first; the decor came second, and then the busyness of the place came with it.

Clearly, brunch at One Square was a popular choice I hadn’t even known had existed before. Where had I been?! It wasn’t long before I was sat at a table which felt like it was utterly cocooned in large plush armchairs. Whilst I was waiting on Girdy, I acclimatised a little and had a chance to look at the menu.

One Square’s food and drink

Well, Reader, I was a) pleasantly surprised and b) had to check I’d read it right, because it seemed like myself and Girdy were in for a veritable feast! Then, c) came the worry; Girdy was running late, and what if all this food meant we’d be late for the film afterwards? I needn’t have worried. But onto the food!

To start with, we were given a massive sharing platter of pastries, fruits, pancakes, overnight oats (I gave mine to Girdy) and flapjacks. I couldn’t fathom eating my share, and the benefit of having a Girdy with you is that he WILL usually just eat whatever’s offered, so together we made quick work of the platter.

To be honest, on any day, half of that platter probably would have been more than enough for me, but oh no – this was not just any brunch. We were also given the choice of a few different options to follow, and I chose avocado toast with poached eggs on sourdough.

It was delicious, and I was happy I had saved space!

Girdy chose French toast with crispy bacon, which also looked fabulous. It was an option I’d been tempted by as well, but I wanted to go the slightly healthier route.

Here’s what Girdy had to say: “I used to be really fussy about my bacon. Before I became an “It’s food! I’m delighted! eating monster I’d love bacon but hate almost every version of it. One Square’s bacon would have passed fussy-me’s high bacon demands.”

One Square’s staff

One Square was really quite busy when we were there, so the staff were perhaps under a little more pressure than they sometimes would be, but they handled it well. It did mean we had to wait a little while to get our orders taken (once again adding to time pressure) but we needn’t have worried.

Overall, the staff made us feel welcome and were very pleasant – and when things like cutlery were forgotten about, they were quick to right it for us! I appreciated how busy they seemed to be, with various brunches being carted back and forth around us.

Things to do in the city centre

There’s plenty to do near Lothian Road where One Square Bar & Brasserie on Festival Square is located. For instance, there’s often events on at the Usher Hall, or you can catch a film at The Cameo cinema.

As it’s fairly central, you’ll find no shortage of pubs, bars, hotels, theatres and spas near One Square Bar & Brasserie – plus it’s only a short walk to Edinburgh Castle and all the major tourist attractions, too.

Wanting to try something a bit quirkier? You could always head west, as there’s not a massive distance to walk to Fountainpark, where you’ll discover the likes of Gravity trampoline park (where I once participated in a trampoline HIIT class!), Volcano Falls Adventure Golf, Heavenly Desserts, Laser Station and more!

Overall

Myself and Girdy had a great brunch experience at One Square Bar & Brasserie, and the amount of food we got was great value for money, in a fabulous setting. It’s clear we were late to the memo, because brunch here seems to be a hit.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the brunch, or the champagne brunch, here – but just make sure you’re really hungry before you go!