Climb aboard this luxury floating hotel in Leith.
On the upper deck is The Lighthouse restaurant and bar, open to non-residents, with sweeping views of the Leith Docks and Fort Islands. The wavy steel ceilings are lit by warm orange lights, creating an intimate and relaxed atmosphere that is complemented by the thoughtful division of the restaurant. In the dark, the amber ceiling is reflected in the windows, creating the illusion of the last rays of an incredible sunset. Behind the sparkling bar, costumed staff mix strong sailors’ cocktails. The Lighthouse Bar Martini is a homemade drink made with Britannia gin, great British vermouth produced on the Dalmeny estate, grapefruit bitters and pickled Amalfi lemon.
The menu is short, seasonal and interesting, with Scottish seafood specialties integrating both maritime heritage and marina location. Chef Mark Alston and Chef Brendan Willis have presented their menus to perfection – adventurous lovers will be delighted without alienating those who prefer a more traditional approach. Hot-smoked homemade salmon is tender and flavorful, served with a creamy cucumber sauce, fruit chutney and buckwheat pancakes: a classic. The scallop appetizer takes a bolder approach: sautéed scallop slices are served on deep, rich scallop roe taramasalate, with red grapefruit adding a citrus touch, and pine nuts with a nutty crunch and a little sweetness: a triumph.
Cod loin main course served with cumin flavored crab macher jhol sauce, crunchy fried Jerusalem artichokes and rice cracker topped with seaweed and topped with white crab and dill. This is a delicious, slightly unexpected combination. Leave room for the pudding if you can, and the apple pie-like caramel tatin and vanilla-seed coffee panna cotta are incredible.
Remarkably, many of the ship’s original features have been preserved: a glass passage allows guests to peer into the former engine room. The floors are slightly tilted, retaining the ship’s original bulge (which may seem more pronounced after tasting The Lighthouse Martini). A double-height ballroom with a shimmering stainless steel wrought-iron ceiling allows light to reflect beautifully.
The Association of Automobile Associations recently named Fingal one of the top 25 five-star hotels in the UK and awarded the restaurant two AA Restaurant Guide Roses. The floating hotel has 22 elegant cabins, ranging from small classics to two-story luxury duplexes with living areas. Once Fingal’s appearance on the horizon would have been a welcome sight for lone lighthouse keepers; today it is a welcome escape from land life to a world of glitzy Art Deco interiors, cocktails and fine food: a true beacon of Scottish hospitality.
fingal.co.uk
