Bib of the Month: Ardfern, Leith

For our last Bib of the Month in 2025, we’re north of the border once more at Roberta Hall McCarron’s Ardfern in Leith. Next door to her flagship The Little Chartroom, this relaxed restaurant, bar and bottle shop is yet another top spot in this foodie Edinburgh suburb. Below, an Inspector shares their thoughts on the restaurant:

“Oh, how I would love to live a little closer to Ardfern. Its relaxed vibe and all-day dining make it the ideal place to become a regular, popping in from dawn ’til dusk, trying a different dish every time you visit. The cooking, which includes everything from breakfasts to bar snacks and full-on feasts, is executed with clear skill and care – allowing the quality natural ingredients to shine. During my visit, I loved the seasonally changing hash brown, and I can see why it’s become a menu staple. As a bottle shop and wine bar, Ardfern excels too, with a well-curated list that’s perfect for enthusiasts.”

To find out more about Ardfern and its success, we spoke to its founder Roberta Hall-McCarron about what it adds to her Edinburgh mini-empire.

What was the idea behind Ardfern? What do you feel it’s added to your collection of restaurants?

The idea was to create somewhere that guests could use for all occasions, at all times of the day. A place locals could treat as their own. We’re open seven days a week and we’ve got a bit of something for everyone – some special bottles to take home, a good brunch to eat in, cocktails, snacks and bigger plates in the evening. And most recently our new collection of Ardfern Provisions – a couple of condiments and sauces that were so popular we wanted to bottle and sell them.

How would you describe the approach to food and cooking at Ardfern?

It is fun and easy food that guests don’t need to think about. The dishes are simply the best version of themselves. We take sourcing and seasonality very seriously and because the dishes are simple, every element has to be perfect. We don’t bother with any of the frills and unnecessary bits, it’s just good, tasty food executed well.

Ardfern is open all day and acts as a café, wine bar and bottle shop – what was the chief appeal of having a multi-purpose venue?

By making it multi-purpose we felt it would crystalise in people's minds as a place for all occasions. We want there to be a constant buzz throughout the day so that there is always something happening and a nice atmosphere whenever anyone comes in, whether morning, noon or night.

What price range can customers expect and how are you able to keep your prices affordable?

The smaller snacky dishes like the hash browns start at £8, larger are dishes are usually around £12-16 and then our Full Breakfast is £21 and the Sunday Roast is £28. We utilise a lot of the bi-products and off-cuts from The Little Chartroom (our restaurant next door); this allows us to keep the pricing very competitive whilst also reducing our waste output as much as possible.

What is the dish to order at Ardfern?

The hash browns with whichever seasonal topping is on. And the Full Breakfast – we are very proud of the quality of it, we make absolutely every aspect of it in-house, curing our own bacon, making the sausages, the beans, the tattie scone, even the black pudding. Our Sunday Roast has also been very popular and has become a real staple on the menu.

Wine is a big part of Ardfern’s offering. What can guests expect from the bottle selection?

We have something for everyone, a real mix of Old World, New World, classic wines and some wines on the more natural side of things. Our house wine from Tre Monti in Emilia Romagna on tap is a really great option for those who want something well-priced and delicious. There are lots of wines on the list for those looking to splurge also. Every bottle is available to take away and there is £15 corkage to drink in.

Hero Image: A tiramisu from Ardfern, an affordable restaurant in Edinburgh suburb Leith. © Sam Christie