Edinburgh’s Apex Waterloo Place Hotel now plays host to a European style Café-Bar & Brasserie and cocktail lounge, Liberté.
The new day/night venue is the centrepiece of a close to £2 million ground floor renovation of the Apex, offering a ‘refined, yet relaxing’ place to gather, eat or drink with a menu focussed on authentic Scottish produce.
The launch party gathered Edinburgh’s movers and shakers – including industry icons like Tony Singh, and the Honorary Consulate of Belgium Yves Lemarchand – to be the first to see the new venue following its full renovation.
Liberté’s eye-catching design was delivered by Edinburgh architectural and design firm ISA, based around Georgian interiors inspired by the Palm Courts of the 1800s.
The new venue also had expert input from UK hospitality specialist Stuart McCluskey, former co-owner of the Bon Vivant, current owner of ‘Paz’ and recently opened ‘Little Capo’; and Ian McLaren, former Bacardi digital director and owner of drink marketing consultancy Neoteric Spirit.
On Waterloo Place just off the east end of Princes Street, Liberté combines a stylish bar with a brasserie restaurant and private dining area, La Belle.
Set within Liberté is Bar 1819, described as an ‘elegant and highly desirable’ cocktail bar and lounge, with a range of drinks and signature cocktails curated by Stuart and Ian.
McCluskey said: “It has been exciting to work with the team at Apex. Their enthusiasm for delivering this project has been infectious.
“Ian, Will and I have relished developing a beverage programme fit for such a beautiful setting, focusing on working with quality products and local suppliers.”
Liberté launched with day-to-night menus packed with locally sourced ingredients hand-picked for quality and provenance.
Highlights from the menu include Balvenie smoked salmon, lemon creme fraiche and herring roe to start, Ox cheek in a red wine sauce, served with potato puree, bacon and gremolata for main, and finishing off with Matcha Tea creme brûlée.
Bar 1819’s highlights include the Dubbel Malted Old Fashioned – dark and malty Dubbel Trappist Ale Syrup mixed with Angostura Bitters and Homemade Whisky from award-winning Leith whisky blender Woven.
Other delights include ‘Negroni au Chocolat’, which balances rich chocolate with bitter orange and berry flavours, and the velvety ‘Praline Espresso’ a mix of almonds, hazelnut, honey and espresso ‘shaken to foaming perfection’.
The 1819 menu features small plates, nibbles and sharing boards, including charcuterie with terrine, remoulade, balsamic onions, cornichons and mustard, and rump fillet tataki with ponzu, cucumber, spring onion and crispy garlic.
Liberté and 1819’s drinks partners include Newbarns Brewery, Royal Mile Whiskies, Liberty Wines and Mothership’s Lucky Liqueurs and Affinity brands.
