Came here while visiting Dundee with some friends for the week. We grabbed a couple pints and a water for me since I no longer drink alcohol--a tragedy, I know! We sat at one of the larger tables and played Cards Against Humanity and my friends enjoyed their beers. The pub was nice and like most other local pubs, just not quite as busy on this night. Everyone there was friendly but sadly nobody asked to join our card game. LOL! If you want some local beer and a nice quieter pub on weekdays, this is the go to place. read more

Food was good, service was better. Fun to watch the bald bartender hitting on the two American girls next to us, but he was a funny guy. The server who helped us was very nice and friendly as well. Hot food, strong drinks, what's not to like? read more

Friday nite in Edinburgh on the mile. Someone told us we had to have reservations. Nope! Castle arms let us in and had space for more. It was busy and noisy but decent. Service was nice but slow. The ambiance was expected on a Friday night. But ok. The food was ok. Nothing special but what you'd expect in a touristy spot that doesn't have to be that good. I had the Yorkshire pudding and it was just alright. Others had chicken. Sauce was good and chicken was pretty good but the over cooked carrots were atrocious. Still good spot if you need food. read more

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Overall this pub was great, they didn't have many accommodations for large families but the service and food exceeded our expectations. The ambience in there is very nice and quiet, especially in the basement which we were sat Although there is no heating, our waiter was very nice and kind and we had to pay our bill before we got the food which was interesting. First of all, I got the fish and chips with the cranberry juice classic and my favorite drink. I loved the meal with a side of chips. It was very well accompanied with tartar sauce, but the juice was very good as well, very refreshing and delicious. The juice came with two straws, which is very nice of them. They didn't have to do that, but I must say that the fish was nice, tender, and delicious. Extra crispy and tender once you Bight in, it is a delicious delight. My sister got the chili beef nachos for the table to share, which was absolutely fantastic 10 out of 10. Then she ordered the castle arm sandwich, which she also seemed to enjoy no complaints. It was juicy cheesy tasty. I guess the only complaint could be that there's a bit much mayo that's all. My mother ordered steak and chips. It was a basic restaurant item. It tasted good. She said she really really enjoyed the mushroom sauce that came with it. It was very unique and tasty and she really enjoyed that aspect of the dish. My father had Yorkshire pudding. He thought it was wonderful. He was amazed at how scrumptious the sausages were the pudding bowl. Actually, you could eat it was made of bread included peas, and mash. The mash was freshly mashed potatoes from scratch just delicious bon appétit. My brother had the avocado on a vegetable hamburger and he thought it tasted good. A great pub and place to eat, enjoy. read more

Very friendly, accommodating, great whiskey and beer selection. A lot of gluten free food options for my wife! Right next to our place we are staying at, couldn't be happier! read more

4/6/23. Starting at 3 stars. 4:25pm and walking the area. This place has a good menu and prices look good. Some local food. Can't wait to try it. More to come. Good service so far. Check the photos. 21 steps to take down for the restroom down a spiral staircase. Food was excellent. Will add more later. Wish there were half stars. 4 1/2 stars overall. Service was 2 stars. The food was 2 stars. Then a half star for the Ale. Took off a half star because it's a trek to use the restroom. Not handicap friendly for the restroom if you go here. Food was excellent though. Order the appetizer as well and it was very good the Haggi Fritters. A classic staple here. Try it. You get 2 small ones. read more

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A wonderful find after visiting the castle. The staff was great and the food was delicious. Great selection of sprits, beer and wine. The Talisker 12-year-old scotch was amazing. Between four of us, we had a range of offerings: sirloin steak, nachos with haggis, burger, sausage and mashed potatoes with gravy. In our family, we usually try each others dishes. (Yeah, we're that family.) Loved my steak. The haggis was tasty. And the mashed potatoes and gravy was the best. How do you make the gravy that good? Wonderful window view. Our only knocks we're that the burger was a little dry and the ketchup comes in little packets. Overall I loved the experience. read more

Stopped in after a day of walking as tourists in Edinburgh. The atmosphere seemed genuinely Scottish, as the bar patrons cheered against England in Euro cup matches. Had sausage and mash and chicken with vegetables. Both were tasty, hardy food. The ale and cider were also great read more

Pretty cool stop for a refreshing beer or gin and tonics .. live atmosphere and rook for a small group of 8-10 in a private setting ..

Small bar that sits above Victoria Street. Enjoy Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and sausages. Good ciders and beer too. read more

Castle Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Nice little place with a good variety of meal options and a surprisingly large drink menu. Very convenient to get to and the atmosphere is quite pleasant. read more

Stopped here for lunch while exploring Edinburgh. The place was super busy so we were happy to get a table. The service was good - a little slow - but then again it was super busy. I had the chicken breast entree with salad and my partner had the steak sandwich. Both were just OK - not bad - but not great. Everyone around us seemed to be ordering the fish and chips... so maybe thats what we should have ordered. Prices were reasonable for the area. read more

Our experience for lunch at Castle Arms was good. Fresh, flavorful, and piping hot fish and chips, with pretty quick service in a convenient location. Came here during first full day in Edinburgh, and we were not able to get a table at another place, so we wandered into Castle Arms. We got a table within a few minutes and had ordered. After sitting down I looked up Yelp reviews which seemed mixed. However, when we got our food I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the fish and chips. Again, very fresh and hot, with good flavor. Friendly service. A bustling place. For us a good stop for lunch. read more

Castle Arms - Fish and Chips - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Great location and decent food and drinks. Friendly staff right near the Castle and Royal Mile.

OLY OLY OXEN FREE. OY FROM the Scotland Guard. I haven't left the colonies about 2 years. My last trip we visited our lawn and pool boy down in San Diego because he got deported. And came back. Anyways. He told me to come visit Scotland and to try this place because they have the fish and chips (FRIEND FRIES NOT POTATOEY) if you travel from the colonies chips are French fries are from Idaho potatoes. It measures about 7 inches (maybe 70mm In the metric) I don't know. About 4 inches wide and it was a girthy like a burrito. What the had in quantity they also had in quantity of size. I don't know the Mr. chef name but it was honestly the size of a burrito. Raymond (my stupid husband who I can't get out out of the stupid pub) loves this place. The dipping sauce is also more sweet than tartar sauce. Once I was loaded up on the fish I called and UBER. The Uber was very accommodating and knew EXACTLY where this restraint was. I think this place has a reputation of good food. My stupid grandson chris ordered the bangers and mash and passed me a slice. On the return stroke he dropped the wiener on the floor. Completely wasting a GREAY SAVORY BANGER. Wish I had it in me mouth now Ok so it's close to the castle and the Uber cost is 6lbs to castle. Ezekiel 23:19-21 Ok bye bye read more

Castle Arms - This is it but my parking is affecting my picture picture. Pictures. Look at plate and peas for peters sake. - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The first pub is the best! This is the first pub I visited in Scotland, and it did not disappoint! The barkeep went out of his way to help me taste a bunch of beer to select the right one, and the bar manager allowed me to play a tune on the fiddle for the customers. I'd say this is a must visit for a great pint and friendly staff here in Bonnie Edinburgh! read more

I have Celiac Disease. It's something where I can't have gluten without getting a very serious reaction. I went into the restaurant because they had some items on their menu marked as gluten free. I asked the questions to the waitress who did her best to answer and got her manager to come check too. She was great and did her job. When the manager came over, he started talking about how no one has ever had a reaction before in their restaurant so it's definitely safe (understanding that it's not all totally gluten free so there's risk if cross-contact). I ordered food and tested it with my NIMA tester (which tests if there's any gluten in the food). Not only did it come back as positive almost immediately, but it was clearly not just cross-contaminated. It had a lot of gluten in it (in the picture you can see 3 very clear lines indicating the severity of the amount of gluten). I asked the manager again, and he said that it was cooked with bread crumbs. His failure to notify me of this VERY important detail could've cost me to get very sick. Thank goodness I have a tester, but for those people who don't have one, be careful. I can't trust this place or the people here anymore. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars and not 1 is because the waitress did her job exactly right and apparently the rest of the food was good according to my friends. I am VERY disappointed in the manager that gave false information and could've caused me and others to get sick. read more

After a fun day out in Edinburgh, my friend and I decided it was time to get our grub on. Both being pretty indecisive people (or up for anything, rather), we walked passed this pub and decided a pub lunch was where it's at. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the bar staff who were very friendly and welcoming. It was a nice touch as you never really know what to expect walking in to a rather full pub around lunch time. The owner motioned for us to follow her and we were seated up in the table area with a nice view of the whole pub. (bagpiper in a kilt at the bar included in view) The menu had so many delicious sounding meals to choose from, but we both went with the yorkshire puddings with sausages and mash. We had the option of getting pork or beef sausages and we both went with one of each. As you can see by the picture, the portion size was HUGE. Absolutely the biggest yorkshire pudding I've ever seen. Very very tasty meal, I didn't want it to end. I literally savored every bite until it was gone. The decor is that of a worldly vibe. Loads of postcards on the walls from various travelers who have visited. (Which reminds me, I want to send them a postcard myself). The owner came over and told us she loves seeing where all her customers are from which is why she started putting the post cards on the wall. It's a nice touch, I really enjoyed her happiness over all the post cards. The toilets are downstairs and easy to get to. There's a lot more seating downstairs and loads of booze on offer for the thirsty. A definite favourite and I will be back! read more

Castle Arms - Holy Yorkshire pudding, batman! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Orders: beef burg - French fries - onion rings - soft drink(lemon) Fee: £ 9.09 Waiting time: 7mins Taste: actually, I am looking for OINK for dinner. But, I found castle arms. I think the dish is so-so except the onion ring. Because, the beef tastes like freezing long in the fridge. I suggest that the chef should totally clean your fridge. However, this set meal will satisfy starving people with its enough food. The onion ring tastes better when it cools down. Atmosphere: the decoration mixed with ancient ways and rock. the coolest design is its black ceilings which also my favourite. although the music is not my type, it can show some characteristics about boss. If you hanging out with friends, I think this place is good for chatting especially sitting next to Windows. read more

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Seemed a bit touristy - if that's what you're into. The waiter was VERY friendly and knowledgable about Scotland. He was pretty forgetful when we wanted refills of beer and to pay the tab because he was chatting it up with some sassy females. Overall great experience. I'm glad I reviewed this the day after I ate there - lets just say it's didn't end well for a few people in my family... Haha however; it was DELICIOUS going in! read more

Castle Arms - Yorkshire Pudding. REMARKABLE! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Right next to the castle. Cask ales to quench your thirst after a long tour through the Edinburgh Castle. Friendly bar wench. Bathrooms are all the way downstairs, where you will discover a door...to a sick terrace...where you can drink some more cask ales and people-watch. Aye. read more

Castle Arms - Aye. Fuh fukssake. - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Castle Arms, located across from the Castle and just down from the Hub was our choice of venue one evening. When you entered the place seemed quite traditional in its set up, one part of the pub is dedicated to your normal restaurant tables, while the other half is made up of several cosy booths. The food one offer did look tempting and it did not disappoint! The Beer battered Crispy Haggis was fantastic, and with the chili sauce it really was a great way to start a meal! For my main course I had the Aberdeen Angus burger! With an abundance of French fries alongside, this meaty burger certainly filled a hole in the belly! However, after two courses, I doubt if many people would need, and indeed have room for desert! My meal was great, and from looking around at others, all the meals seemed to have generous portions! The food is more expensive than your typical pub food (especially the steaks, but from what I saw they looked good), but the food on offer is of a good quality. The Castle Arms, is a great, informal place if you want a good meal and does have the advantage of being in the old town but tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Royal Mile! read more

Castle Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

great food, great service, low-key vibes. ask for hubert. he recommended some scotches to try, and they were all on point.

6 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW Telephone: 0131 225 7432 Lunch out with the family, business lunch, chill out after a hard day, a romantic dinner for two or PARTY. This is the place to be. Family run and people friendly with a vast variety of cuisine to suite everyone. Try one of the many traditional Scottish dishes. The staff are very helpful so don't be shy. read more

Castle Arms - BEER - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Nice pub in Edinburgh We spent there a couple of hours having some food and some drinks. We had nachos, that were very nice. Served with toppings of guacamole and a white sauce and cheese. We also had smoked salmon with bread and salad. Food quality is pretty good and the service aupwr quick We also had a bottle of white wine (that was not too expensive but very good) some martinis and one shot of whisky all of good quality. We enjoyed the terrace for a while and then we moved inside because it was a bit chilly. The interior is devided in two floors. The lower is intimate and nice with armchairs and candles, while the top floor is more typical for a pub, with many tables and the bar If you are looking for a place to eat or drink near Edinburgh castle this is the place read more

We've been here in January, so not really during the season. We went there twice, because we liked it. The staff was nice, friendly and gave us some tipps about what to look at in Edinburgh, we had a nice chat, the food was good and the whisky too. When I asked about what whisky to choose our waitress recommended a very good one, based on my other favourites. We had a good steak, mine was perfectly rare, my boyfriends a close medium (he requested medium) and the wine was good too. As for the haggis: I liked it a lot, although the sauce/mayonnaise was a bit too much, for my taste. When we were there, they where rather slow nights, although one time, during a rugby game I believe, the atmosphere was rather good and there were some people drinking, not too many eating. The food came in reasonable time. read more

This was the first pub I visited while I was in Scotland. Food was good and so was the service.

As one of the closest pubs to Edinburgh Castle, the (appropriately named) Castle Arms could be infinitely more touristy... As it is, it's a warm and welcoming pub, with good food and a respectable selection of real ales on tap, which as an Edinburgh local I am not ashamed to drink in. The food menu is where the pub aims itself most obviously at tourists, with haggis and crannochan definitely there for the tourists' benefit, but otherwise it just provides good quality pub grub, at fairly reasonable prices - mostly around the about £8 range for a main course. They proclaim to pride themselves on their real ales served at optimum temperature, and to always have at several guest ales on tap, which they certainly do. Local IPA Deuchers is almost always on tap also. It's a quiet and friendly place for a pint or some food with friends, which locals should not be afraid to enjoy. read more

Beer was so-so.. menu looked kind of generic. Eat location though. Not super friendly servers, but to be fair they're probably overworked due to the location. read more

I visited The Castle Arms twice during my visit to Edinburgh. My first visit for a pint or two, and the second for a pint or two washed down with some food. The staff was friendly, and the food was good. I had the sausage and mash, and found it to be tasty. I also enjoyed the local beer selection. I like beer that takes a patient pour. My second visit was on a Monday afternoon, and there were only 3 or 4 others in the place. I enjoyed the conversation with the bartender and a local patron. read more

I arrived at about 8:20 pm with my 2 sons one of whom is under 18. I asked where to go for dinner and one of the staff people directed us upstairs. There I told another employee that we had 3 for dinner and he sat us at a table and gave us menus. We waited for about 10 minutes with no one approaching the table. I made eye contact with a waitress who asked whether we were ready to order. I said we were and another waiter came over and said that they couldn't serve us because they couldn't have anyone under 18 be there by 9 pm. I asked them why we were seated. He said he didn't seat us and said he would go check. He left and didn't come back so we left. The menu was limited and the place didn't look that clean. We found a much nicer place nearby. read more

Used to be a very good pub indeed but has gone down hill over the last couple of years since a change of ownership. The downstairs area has now it seems been made merely functional rather than cosy as previously so I'll not be making another visit for some time. read more

Castle Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Fish and chips were good. Food temperature was exceptional. Lamb shank was good but small. Whisky and beer selection good Service was good also reasonably priced read more

Good food close to the Castle and reasonable prices. The lamb was excellent. All the servers recommended the haggis but we were too timid to try it. The fish was pretty good. The shrimp prawn appetizer was more of decoration than food. However the sticky toffee pudding was to die for. If I get here again I want to try the Yorkshire pudding. Also the servers were personable and the food arrived promptly. read more

Pub with great haggis if you're looking for Scottish food. Also has a wide selection of beer, cocktails and whiskey! Service was great for a pub and food arrived fast. Definitely a nice place to both have dinner and chill! read more

Castle Arms - Nachos - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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I'm pretty easy to please and like things simple in my pubs. Good selection of local ales? Check. Prompt, pleasing service? Check. Good fish & chips (and the other stuff looked good, too?). Check. In fact, it was my favorite fish & chips of my trip to the UK. Your typical pub, a little updated with pretty good food and a nice staff. And that's about all you need, right? read more

Sadly, this place was a major disappointment. We called in for lunch and found the waiting staff totally uninterested. The food took forever to arrive, but I could excuse this as they were busy at the time. Lunch was poor with a limp unimaginative salad and one element was missing (was stated in the menu but failed to arrive on the plate). We got the impression that they were catering for the "one hit" tourist market with no effort at all to secure a return visit. Shame, because they are in a great position. We won't be back. read more

Two stars. We waited for our main courses for an hour - never got them. Beer was flat and skunky. We weren't expecting much, as it is a tourist spot off the Royal Mile, but it still managed to disappoint. Noisy too. read more

Castle Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Went in solo and sat at the bar. Great bar staff - totally took care of me and were very welcoming. It's a little touristy, but warm and welcoming. I recommend the Haggis nachos - even if you don't like Haggis, they were extremely tasty!" read more

When I stopped at this very Edinburgh-Central location, which boasts Scottish food, and asked if they have scones, the greeter acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. I tried to explain- she responded by asking, "like from the sea?" I have no idea what she was talking about, so I tried to explain further- biscuit, roll, raisins in some of them... even used hand gestures to help her get the shape and size. When I finally said you sometimes eat it for breakfast (or afternoon tea), she looked at the menu like she'd never seen it before and said breakfast was over. She gave me the "your question is answered, you should leave now" look, so I left and spent my money elsewhere. Either she was a horribly inept greeter or she was putting me on, which makes her a very rude greeter. read more