Gaucho Group has opened its first Scottish branch of the Argentinian-steak house brand in Edinburgh’s St Andrew’s Square. The £1.5 million, 120 cover restaurant will be the group’s 16th in the UK. Local suppliers, such as Shaws Quality Meats and I.J Mellis Cheese, are working with the restaurant alongside the meat it imports from Argentina, where the group is involved with more than 60 farms.
The restaurant also houses a destination bar, which will stock over 80 kinds of whisky and 200 Argentinian wines, as well as an intimate glass private dining room, where the walls are adorned with over 200 bottles of the exclusive Gaucho wine collection. Phil Crozier, the company’s wine director, is personally involved in the creation of many of the wines in the wine list, including the Vina Patricia and Loro labels, which are produced at Gaucho’s own vineyard in Mendoza. Gaucho Edinburgh boasts a glass fronted bar over-looking St Andrew Square and a sophisticated open plan restaurant where its interior design takes inspiration from the Ombu, giant trees which are a striking natural feature of the Argentine rural and urban landscapes. Gaucho will also hold regular masterclasses, which will be held in the private dining room, such as chocolate and Malbec pairings and beef and wine tastings. The group has already made its debut in Edinburgh and Glasgow with Cau, which launched in 2010.