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Baba

4.4 (39 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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Recommended Reviews - Baba

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Babaganoush with pomegranate and mint
Doug L.

We booked seats for an early dinner at Baba after wandering around New Town. The restaurant was larger than expected after we entered and got seated. The decor was quite nice and a little different depending on which room you got seated in. Baba's menu was quite varied and there was even a feasting section for sharing. We started with the Baba ganoush and it was quite good especially with the pomegranates popping as we chewed. The side of pita was warm and so soft. The cauliflower shawarma was a great side. Loved the seasoning. The sea bass was flaky and had a slight kick from the red pepper sauce. I just wished it was a little more substantial. The lamb shoulder was the highlight of our dinner. The meat was tender and filling. Service throughout was attentive. There was an automatic 12.5% service charge applied to our final bill. Will come again next time we're back in Edinburgh.

Hummus
Hailey L.

This place is a must try. We got this recommendation from a coffee shop owner and we are so grateful that we did. This food was amazing, definitely one of the more memorable places. Everything tasted so fresh. We had the chicken thigh and the fillet both were very tender and very flavorful. The restaurant was very unique and had a cool style. The bar area was packed at 4 PM but looked like a great place to grab a drink.

Sweet potato
Blue A.

Had a great lunch. The hummus was amazing. Grilled pitas were perfect. The chicken dish was also incredible. The cauliflower was ok, prop wouldn't get it again. The most shocking one was the miso sweet potato. Get this! We randomly got it and it ended up being the best thing we had. Service was super friendly. The ambiance of the restaurant is chill yet a little more elevated than a super casual restaurant.

Cauliflower
Susan M.

Has a wonderful lunch here on our first day in Edinburgh. Perfect for a jet lagged meal. Great service and delicious food.

Espresso martini
Rachel S.

The restaurant had absolutely no wait. The server was really attentive and clarified any questions with the kitchen and bartender that we had. Definitely a more intimate setting but still a great place for a cute dinner with friends. The restaurant was gorgeous it had an open floor plan and lots of natural light. The food itself was so fresh the chicken and lamb was super tender and melted in your mouth. It is not featured here but I would definitely recommend you get the freshly grilled pita bread on the side to dip in your entree.

Mussels
Noanya S.

Again I was peckish and this wasn't on my list of to try restaurants BUT IM GLAD THAT I DID Service was meh but the food was great. I had the tempura style cauliflower and the mussels. First off, if you're just looking for a smaller meal you DONT need both. But glad that I tried both as each was so tasty. The batter on the cauliflower, yes please. The crunch, flavor and consistency was a definite yes. But the mussels were everything. The only negative is what I assumed my breath smelled of after consuming, but it was worth it. Hands down one of the best flavor profiles on mussels that I've experienced. They were in a red sauce but not tomatoy. They were well balanced with a hint of spice and ohhhhh so flavorful. As a matter of fact I want more but I'm nervous, what if the second time isn't as good as the first? If your a hotel guest, or not definitely give them a visit

Lamb shoulder and chicken thighs

Amazing staff and explanations of the menu, the restaurant was huge and had an amazing vibe inside. Definitely worth checking out!

Tracey F.

Baba was excellent . It's located in the Kimpton hotel. It's decorated so nicely . The bar staff was outstanding and fun to talk to . The bans ghanoush was terrific and a good start to the lamb dinner.

David K.

Baba is a trendy small plates restaurant in Edinburgh's New Town, presenting a creative take on Mediterranean flavors. My favorite dish was the Grilled Mussels served in chraime, a strongly spiced North African tomato sauce that went nicely with the side of grilled pita bread (or simply all on its own!). Another highlight was the Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder, served over ptitim (Israeli couscous) and yogurt, flavored with preserved lemon, mint, and pomegranate. This dish had the perfect pairing of flavors, as the hearty, crispy lamb added a deep, savory flavor to the couscous underneath, while the lemon, pomegranate, and mint added a refreshing contrast. We also had the Falafel dressed with tahini sauce and served with beetroot hummus, marinated artichokes, and guindillas (pickled hot peppers); and a side of the Cauliflower Shawarma, made of cauliflower dusted with ras el hanout and dressed with tahini, dried rose petals, and chopped herbs. Overall, the plates here were creative and delicious, the service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was trendy and colorful!

Cauliflower fritters. Get them!
Ute L.

Vegetarian/vegan friendly Lebanese restaurant inside the Kimpton Charlotte Square hotel. Most dishes are tapas style small plates, so you can share and try a few. Delicious cocktails as well. Lots of vegetable dishes that can be made vegan by omitting the dairy. I also appreciated being asked whether I had any food allergies. Start with the cauliflower fritters. Just the right amount of spice that is nicely balanced with the yogurt sauce. For dessert, I recommend the dark chocolate cremeux. The über rich chocolate mousse again is balanced by the dark cherries and a tart yogurt. Large enough to share but you won't want to.

Forgot to photo the carpaccio and lamb, but here is the chocolate dessert :)
Richard H.

We thought this was a great place to eat. Staying at the hotel and a bit annoyed that we could not get a table at a time we wanted, but... Started with the merguez haggis and venison carpaccio which were both rather good - not true haggis, I would say, but probably the better for that! Then the shoulder of lamb with the tomato side salad. Both really good. Tasty, light, good mixture of flavors, just right for an early evening meal. Finished off with the chocolate desert (Lebanese mousse, I think) which was also a pleasure. Excellent service from our N Irish waitress Arina, recommend as a good place to eat.

Pork neck
Chris D.

The monkfish was amazing, let's start there. The other dishes were very tasty too but the sauce with the monkfish really stood out. Also enjoyed the hummus, which was a little chunky and nice and thick. The service was very attentive. The wine was great. Overall good value for money and a really nice place to go and share some food with friends.

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2 years ago

This wasn't what we were expecting. Very Middle Eastern! Great olives! Good drinks. The food just didn't fit our tastes.

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Baba Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Baba

I especially liked the broccoli with lentils and the cauliflower shawarma.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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Beer & Skittles - Opening night for Beer and Skittles! Great sports bar, cocktails and garden

Beer & Skittles

(3 reviews)

££

New Town

Great new bar in the basement of Steak at Picardy place, a huge refurb has resulted in an…read moreamazeballs bar to enjoy a few drinks! I'd even be tempted to come and watch the sport here. They do beer cocktails yay. We tried a tequila based sangria style one and a beery take on a Moscow mule. Both were really tasty. They have a huge range of draft and craft beers and do bottles with chaser shots a personal fav was the Aussie bundy rum with my beer! Bar snacks are on to keep you going but not full meals yet, though you could always head up to Steak if you're peckish.

Interesting sports bar under Steak on Picardy Place. I was a bit unsure as a previous reviewer said…read moreit was a bit of a lads' place. Anyhow the OH persuaded me to give it a shot for a quick drink to shelter from the rain whilst we deliberated on a venue for dinner. I'm glad he did. In addition to a decent selection of craft beers, there's a hefty cocktail menu. I tried the Ginger Tom Collins & it hit the spot. Just the right amount of ginger to pack a punch but not enough to be overpowering. The OH had a pint of draft beer & seemed happy enough. The low ceiling means it gets noisy even if it's not packed. There was a stag do, 2 birthday parties and hen group as well as some other folks. It was only just possible to hold a convo at normal volume & be heard. There's a decent sized courtyard out the back too but it was too wet & cold to try it out. I'd definitely visit again but maybe on a week night when it might be a little less noisy.

The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

The Devil's Advocate

(629 reviews)

££

Old Town, Royal Mile

Just an awesome, rockin' final meal in Edinburgh - fantastic food, good service and energized local…read morevibe! Absolute must to get reservations! We tried on our first week in Edinburgh and failed, but were able to make reservations 3 weeks out for our last night in Scotland, and we are glad we did. Pork cracklins were a bit hard and crunchy, but everything else was perfect. We had fresh bread and langostinis for starters, along with a smokey whiskey cocktail, the Smoked Indiscretion! For mains we enjoyed the poached Cod, and the Pork with Barley. Service was very good, and wine selection was extensive. Atmosphere was loud with music and locals' chatter in the bar below, but dark tables and heavy wood panels made it a perfect place for a couple celebrating 3 weeks of travel. Highly recommend a visit to the Devil's Advocate, if you can book a table in advance.

The Devil's Advocate is undoubtedly a treasure to find in Old Town Edinburgh, especially if you…read moreaccidentally take the News Steps to get there, only to realize you should have simply taken the steps up Advocate's Close from Cockburn Street. But they call these lessons, "character building," apparently. No matter, the Devil's Advocate is worth the search. Located in an old Victorian pump house halfway up (or down) Advocate's Close, the Devil's Advocate is known for a killer whisky shelf of more than 300 different bottles from various distilleries across the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbelltown, the Islands, and Islay. I finally sipped on a 15-year Tamdu that has convinced me to keep a bottle at home. Then there's the Clydeside 2024 Limited Edition Cask Strength that was wicked impressive. The bartenders are class at making and serving seasonal and regular cocktails that have their spin and character. My wife enjoyed gin-based cocktails such as the Clean Slate (with St-Germain, citrus, and sugar), Rose Garden (with Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Rosa, apple, lemon, and mint), and Bee's Knees (honey and lemon). I went full speed ahead with the scotch cocktails, which are essentially classics with a scotch-substituted twist. The Double Shot is an Espresso Martini with Dalmore 12 in addition to Kahlua, espresso, and demerara -- quite smooth without being too sweet. The Scotzia is a Negroni with Fettercairn 12, while the Boxcar is a Sidecar only with Aberfeldy 12. We enjoyed the bar for a few hours, watching the bartenders make magic while sipping on cocktails, while listening to 80s pop tunes. A great evening indeed.

Bramble - Nomad Soul

Bramble

(97 reviews)

££

New Town

If you blink, you might miss The Bramble--but you'd be making a huge mistake. Tucked away down a…read morenondescript staircase off Queen Street, this speakeasy-style cocktail bar is exactly the kind of spot you hope to stumble into in Edinburgh. My family and I came here on a whim and ended up getting far more than great drinks. One of the bartenders, a local with the friendliness of a lifelong pub regular and the insight of a Michelin concierge offered up genuinely helpful food recommendations. He had a perfect mix of laid back charm, genuine enthusiasm, and a sharp wit. That kind of service is rare, and it stuck with us. Now, the drinks. Phenomenal. Not just "good for Scotland" or "pretty decent for a bar that doesn't scream look at me" these cocktails were creative, expertly made, and well presented. You can tell these folks care about their craft. Each drink was layered and complex without being fussy. If you're into spirits, this is your place. Yes, the bathrooms are a bit of a squeeze. Definitely built for function, not luxury, but they were absolutely spotless. Like, hospital-pristine. Whoever maintains them deserves a raise and maybe a trophy. Bottom line: Bramble nails it. Great atmosphere, unforgettable drinks, and service that actually makes you feel like you're in the right place at the right time. Skip the tourist traps and find your way down those stairs.

Excellent cocktails, very quaint and comfortable atmosphere. Outgoing and personable staff. We had…read morea little bit of a hard time finding it, *** look for the green astroturfing just underneath the dry cleaners** there is a stairwell leading you down to their entrance.

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - Difficult to find, but well worth it!

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives

(17 reviews)

££

New Town

I was there on 30 October 2025 with a few travel friends, and it turned out to be one of the best…read moresurprises of our trip. The minute we found the door off the little lane on Rose Street, there was an air of mystery... exactly what you hope for from a "detective agency" style speakeasy. Once inside, the vibe was perfect for a chilly Edinburgh evening. Like, moody lighting, vintage-style furnishings, and that cozy, clandestine feel that makes you glad you made the effort to find it. The service was absolutely welcoming. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and even at 9p, mid week (when you might expect things to be winding down), the place was comfortably busy but not packed, but full enough to feel alive. Drinks menus came in little "confidential" envelopes, which instantly added to the fun. We ordered several cocktails that evening, and every drink was carefully crafted and flavorful, smooth and topped off with warm hospitality. I honestly did not have one bad cocktail. If I were to highlight a few things from our night - I came away loving the atmosphere, the attention to detail, and the general ease at which we were treated which is exactly what I wanted out of a night out in Edinburgh. If you're visiting Newcastle, upon, Tyne, Edinburgh, or just wandering through Rose Street and looking for something a little different... don't walk past this place. Bryant & Mack Private Detectives is a fun little secret with classic cocktails, cozy speakeasy vibes, and service that makes you feel like part of the case, lol. It's a fully immersive experience.

Awesome speakeasy in New Town…read more It really is on the hidden side, it took me a few minutes longer than I thought it would to find the door (look at the posted pictures, it helps). Once inside (you'll have to knock to get in), you'll find a cool little lounge with great cocktails, chill music, and amiable bartenders. We were surprisingly the only ones in there around 9 pm on a Friday night, which we thought was odd (as did the bartenders), but it meant we got to hang out with them and shoot the shit (meeting bartenders from all over the world is one of my favorite hobbies). Besides the fact that both were into motorcycles (and one came to Edinburgh once and immediately backed up his bags and moved over from Italy - props), we found out that they could make a mean cocktail. We, of course, started on menu, but wanted to see if they could do any variations, which they not only did, but nailed: "do you like bitter or sweet" - bitter "Floral or not so much" - surprise me "base?" - gin Dunno what it was called, but it was one of the nicest gin drinks I had in a town that is crazy for gin at the moment. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a good cocktail place, the ambiance is on point and the drinks are superb.

Picardy Place - Pan roasted Scottish Halibut Fillet: Herb Crusted, Confit Turnip, Butter Poached Oyster, Star Anise "Air"

Picardy Place

(9 reviews)

£££

New Town

Three and a half skewing positive. Extremely convenient location wedged conveniently between the…read moreinsanely touristy old town and the bourgeoning hipster Mecca of Leith, and directly abutting, I am told the epicenter of the cities gay scene. The lovely century plus old building is beautifully restored and tastefully updated. If the 3rd floor walk up room might count as a negative for some, at this point in life I appreciate anything that forces even an iota of more of something even suggesting of exercise into my life whatsoever. Staff was uniformly courteous and helpful with my needy jet lagged ass. Unfortunately what you gain in terms of a strategic location, and charm inside the premises, you lose in terms of the immediate view outside of your room. While the building itself and a few spare stragglers like it in the immediate area, as well as the plaque outside indicating that Arthur Conan Doyle's birthplace was in a once existing building across the street, suggest the surrounding few acres were once as lovely and ancient as most of the glorious historic streets of this ridiculously enchanting town, its sadly no longer the case. Somehow this district avoided historic preservation, and in its current stage is pretty much comprised of at least 50 percent active construction zones with gaping holes of torn up streets and massive building footprints. The remaining half of the area is already completed monolithic hideously modern shopping malls of the type I would suspect must already be gravely threatened by online shopping. As distressing as the view outside my window was to view during my short stay here, those stores proved convenient when I needed some adapters and a stop at a nearby apple store, and a mere 5 minute stroll put me firmly in the center of some truly breathtaking scenery. At the end of the day it offers a solid value and friendly hospitality in comfy and low key elegant accommodations in a central, if soulless feeling locale. Oh yeah; and one word of advise: This place oddly apparently has 3D TV sets in at least some of the rooms (which by the way, in a cute touch, are each named after one of Scotland's beloved "loches' aka lakes). Be aware that those glasses are in there for the TV, and do not make the same mistake I did and assume they were novelty son glasses there for the guests to take as souvenirs. I guess the fact that the sun barely ever shines in this country would have been a good indication that they wouldn't be offering gratis shades...womp womp...

A bar that's open until 3am is always a winner with a great team of bar staff and plentiful…read moresheepskin, which is great when your face gets a little warm from the vodka and wine and you want to snuggle up (i.e my entire New Year). it's a completely perfect place to spend the wee hours. What used to be a private members club is set in a tremendous Georgian townhouse set over 3 floors comprising of a restaurant, the main bar, a whisky bar, and four luxurious hotel rooms. The food during normal operating hours is pretty good, could do with fancying down as it's all a bit fiddly with the amount of jars and plates but it's really topnotch. However, we went on a meal deal kinda day but I don't doubt that the food normally might be a wee bit pricey.

Baba - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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