I stopped by with friends on 08/30/25, and the experience was a mixed bag. This is a member's only…read moreclub, but 2 of our group were members. First, you are unlikely to find a better selection of unique, one-of-a-kind whiskies in the area; we ordered a large number of drama between the 4 of us, and were not disappointed. second, the food was fine, but nothing that I'd order again (I got the haggis, and burgers were ordered by others at the table), & not particularly good value - next time I'd just eat first. Finally, the atmosphere and decore was nice and clean (not unlike most private clubs), but the staff came across as a touch snobbish, and not especially welcoming. I'd still give it another chance, if back in the area.

While in Edinburgh for work I was lucky enough to be taken to this place by a current member. The…read moreGnocchi was delicious and the rest of the menu sounded great. The main reason we went was obviously for the whisky, the staff were knowledgeable but weren't as attentive as the queen street location. It wasn't a massive problem, but we had to go to the bar to get service, while others seemed to get table service. As you can see by the photos the members area of this place has a great atmosphere, it isn't over crowded and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be a signing up as a member.

(See pictures of our food, too!) Service friendly and accommodating (with limited English, but very…read moresweet, and checked to make sure everything was right & we were happy). Sophisticated presentation of food with a flavor profile to match the artfully crafted dish. Excellent music selection (old jazz and mo town, but not the cheezy stuff). Will return. And will recommend.

Wow - nearly 100 different types of vodka including straight, flavored, and direct from Poland…read more Dinner menu that includes appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Got "haggis balls". Had great fish and chips. Up a flight of stairs and not really advertised.... Well worth it. Only about 7-8 tables and a few bar seats though.

The food was excellent and so was the whiskey. We had two different flights of whiskey both…read morecompletely different. He got their haggis to go along with it and it actually made the whiskey taste a ton better. Had in the back of the bar/restaurant. If I ever get back there then I will definitely go back.

My stop into Whiski was great! I debated where I wanted to eat and I'm really glad this is where I…read moreended up. The ladies were fantastic- very friendly and helpful. I ordered the Smoky Mary (I'm not a whiskey person AT ALL but figured I'd go for it)- Definitely nice and smokey but not a personal favorite. I also ordered the Cullen skink and the Haggis Egg Rolls and both of those dishes were very good. I'd order them each again for sure! The smoke of the Cullen skink was a highlight for that dish! Do give this place a try!

Excellent fish and chips! I love frequenting anything related to cat themes in the name so that…read moremade the stop extra fun for me. Excellent pub and ambience inside. I didn't know this until I left but I guess there are EXCELLENT whiskey choices here. Next time I will make sure to take advantage of this.

Come in for whiskey good people and sharing the day. Highly recommended if you are on rose st…read more Stop in and try a rare whisky or one of your favorites. Great selection. I had a rare Caol ila and the wife had a great first try at Arran. Shared a pint. Great seating outside or in. And the prices are fine. Service was great. Bartender was super helpful patient and we're great.

On our first night in Edinburgh, some friends wanted to kick off the trip with a whisky tasting, so…read morewe booked a whisky-and-cheese pairing at SMWS. I don't drink alcohol, but their online mocktail menu looked great, and when my friends made the reservation, the staff confirmed they'd be happy to accommodate me and that I could order a drink at the bar. I was genuinely excited given the variety of mocktails listed. The space is gorgeous, and even without drinking, the whisky selection is fun to explore - the names alone are worth a chuckle. The staff were warm, and our whisky-tasting guide was both knowledgeable and entertaining. After we settled in, I headed to the bar to order a mocktail, and I probably should have stopped while things were still going smoothly. The bartender ended up calling over an off-duty staff member because they were "between menus." He was extremely friendly, asked thoughtful questions about what I liked, and said he'd come up with something based on what ingredients they had. The drink was delivered to me later in the tasting room, and it was... fine. Interesting, with a smoky note - perhaps an attempt to give me a peaty, Scottish experience - but not quite to my taste. When I paid, I'll admit the price surprised me, as my mocktail cost more than a friend's dram of whisky. My friend later mentioned that it also felt like a miss that I wasn't given a cheese tasting tray alongside everyone else, especially since our group nearly bought out the tasting. My place setting was empty until my drink arrived. I didn't think of it at the time or feel entitled to anything, but offering a "no-alcohol" tasting option - a mocktail or NA beverage plus the cheese pairing - would be an exceptionally thoughtful addition for guests who accompany drinkers. As the sober friend tagging along, the experience was perfectly okay and largely in line with what I expected - but with a couple of small tweaks, it could have felt much more inclusive.

I stopped by for a final couple of drama on my last evening on Scotland (09/09/25). There were…read moregreat scotch offerings at all price points, the atmosphere felt upscale, but still comfortable, and the staff were all pleasant and very helpful. I'd definitely return.

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.

I'm going to swim against the current on this one, but Usquabae ([ooh-ska-bay], n. aqua vitae,…read morewater of life, whisky) just didn't do it for me. We came in around 3 or 4pm and asked if we could get a drink; the host asked us if we had made a reservation. We hadn't, and they made a bit of a fuss about "squeezing us in" (at this point there was only one other person in the entire place - a man drinking at the bar). As long as we "weren't there for food" they could accommodate us. For the record: we were here for an hour, and no one else came in during that time. The whisky options were impressive featuring something from all the regions of Scotland, and we also appreciated their cider and cocktail options. In the end we each had one drink, but genuinely felt a bit disinterested and disappointed by the place on the whole after the hype we had read/heard. We just didn't get what made it THE place to go to in Edinburgh according to so many. We found much more interesting, down to earth, genuine places elsewhere in the city. The cold reception didn't help, but -- really -- what are we missing about this place?

I absolutely LOVED this "Whisky Bar and Larder". It is no surprise it won, "Whisky Bar of the Year…read more2018." I chose this place from a Yelp search and we are so glad! We almost didn't find it - it's downstairs from Ryan's. We arrived early so we had the choice is any seat. It is a beautiful place. I appreciated the thistle in a glass on our table. I ordered (with help from our amazing server, Angelique) the Chicken Balmoral. I am mostly a vegetarian here at home. So I would have a problem eating haggis on the regular - but holy delicious. Dan's Smoked Haddock Risotto was good. The star of the night, though, was the Sticky Toffee Pudding. I closed my eyes in absolutely bliss with every bite. It. Was. So. Good. What a way to end our trip to Scotland! It started to pick up as we were leaving. Definitely recommend.

Whiski Rooms feels old school Scottish, with decor that gives subtle historical nods without…read morefeeling touristy, and a view of the Christmas market lights on Princes Street. I had the Cullen skink, a traditional Scottish fish soup. Think clam chowder's fishier, smokier haddock cousin. The haggis tower is also non-negotiable. It comes with neeps, tatties, and a yummmyyy whiskey sauce. Don't look up the ingredients... just try it for the culture. The cranachan was tasty too! Service was quick, smooth, and non-bothersome. Solid experience.

We ordered a whisky flight and it was great. I ordered the lobster Mac & cheese and the amount of…read morelobster was impressive! The Brie bacon sandwich was amazing! Best sandwich so far. Staff was so friendly. I feel like this is a great stop.

100% old school bar in the old part of Edinburgh. I have no idea how long the place has been open,…read morebut the building itself appears to have been there for a very long time. The selection of beers is quite good - lots of local stuff from which to pick. Also, some standard selections as well. They also had a nice selection of scotch if that is your thing. Service was quite good as well. I found it a great spot to relax while checking out the old part of the city. Couple of pints and off we went. N*joy!

If you want an old school real bar, real ale and massive whisky selection and staff who care, know…read moreabout the subject. This was by far the best pub in Edinburgh for me. No food.

Cozy ambiance, extremely friendly staff and great food. Highly recommend the haggis and the hot…read morechocolate. We ordered a portion of haggis to go because we thought we wouldn't have enough time for a sit down meal before our scheduled visit to the Castle but ended up staying after feeling super welcomed by the staff and realizing that eating there for 20 minutes or so wouldn't mess up our plans. It was well worth it!

Arcade didn't disappoint and I enthusiastically recommend dining here. It's charming and cosy…read moreinside. We didn't try the scotch but instead opted for a pineapple and raspberry cider. The reviews are accurate. We had the best haggis here. I tried the Princess Diana haggis which had a cream sauce made with Drambuie. Out of this world flavor. It was a very large portion and I'm glad we didn't order any appetizers other than bread service. My husband had the haggis stuffed chicken. The peppercorn sauce on it was delicious. Too full for dessert we left to do some walking to help our overstuffed bellies.