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    Element

    3.6 (48 reviews)
    ModeratePubs, Lounges
    Closed Closed

    Element Photos

    ELEMENT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Element

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    Reviews With Photos

    Steak and Ale Pie
    Diana M.

    Stumbled upon this place for lunch while walking around. What a lovely find. Such cozy interior and sweet staff. They make toasties tableside too! I ordered the steak and ale pie which was so yummy and we had a few pints. Great place to grab lunch in town.

    Joy P.

    Excellent service, beautiful Sunday Roast - but go right at noon! We ordered at 1pm and got the last three, so they do sell out quickly. But with good reason, nice portions and delicious meal. The appetizers were great too.

    Flat iron steaks, squash and the fish & chips...yum!
    Will W.

    Happened upon Element while walking along Rose Street on a Saturday evening. We popped in for dinner around 6:45pm and the staff were pleasant and accommodating. The entire service experience during dinner was really great in fact which set it apart from some of our other experiences. The menu was more interesting than most pub restaurants we've been to and all of us enjoyed our meals! The space makes a seamless change into a proper pub with the music turned up and filling in the empty spaces right around 8:15pm. Fun!

    haggis, neeps, and tatties
    Mimi P.

    I loved this spot on Rose Street. They agreed to make us the lemon cheesecake cocktail, even though it's no longer on the menu, which was delicious. The haggis, neeps, & tatties were really good, and very satisfying on a cold, rainy day. In between bites, we were staring at the overflowing trays with heaps of fish & chips--for next time.

    Full vegan breakfast
    Joseph K.

    Lovely bar/restaurant in the city center! We visited Element in breakfast time. We heard that they have vegan menu too, so we decided to give it a try. And it was worth it. Full Vegan breakfast was really filling and tasty. They also have one vegan dessert and plant based milk options with coffee or tea. Service was quick and nice. The place is cozy. Only minus is price which is very high.

    Emma C.

    Element is definitely one of the nicer pubs on Rose Street. The decor is modern and stylish, and it manages to be a cool place to eat and drink without being at all pretentious. The bar staff are smart and friendly and will do table service if you're eating (and when you're drinking if the place is quiet). The front part of the pub has a number of high tables with stools, whilst the back room is more like a restaurant with tables and chairs, there are some sofas for lounging too. The food menu is influenced by Scotland and most of the items have a Scottish twist. For a light bite, the haggis croquettes with drambuie sauce are divine. The mains are equally good and the Aberdeen Angus burgers and the Mull of Kintyre macaroni cheese will have you feeling full all day. There is an excellent selection of whisky on offer and they also sell bottles of spirits for pretty reasonable prices, if you're with some friends and planning to make a night of it this is a good option. If you're looking for a pub with a little more style than some of the other pubs in this street, Element is a good choice.

    Emily T.

    I came here for the first time at New Year 2008/2009, and was so impressed with it that I've lost count of the amount of times I've been back. It is your typical Rose Street pub but a bit classier. They have really cool furniature and really nice decor, it's one of the trendier places to be. When I came at new year I asked the lady behind the bar to give me something festive and she gave me a drink that literally tasted like christmas. It was warm and tasted like apples and cinnamon. YUM!! The price isn't too bad either!! The only criticism I do have is that their wine isn't that cold, I'm a sucker for a nice cool glass of wine. But it's nice to sit outside and watch the world go by too!! I wish they had more outdoor seats though, but hey, it's lovely inside!

    My family was Asian and discrimination was involved in this restaurant. My kids and I were starving as we were looking for a restaurant to eat. We came to this cafe because it look like a decent cafe. But as soon as we walked in, the server told us that we were not allow to sit in the front of the seat, the male waiter led us into the back corner of the room. We were confused because there were people in the front, then the waiter told us that because we have kids under 18, we were required to buy a full meal(starter+main+side+desserts), this concept were completely unheard of. Then we ordered our meal and as food came on, we realized that one of the meal included lamb, which were unacceptable to my children. I asked for an exchange because I didn't know the ingredients beforehand, I only ordered it because of the waitress's recommendation. The male waiter came again and refused to give an exchange or refund. This was also strange to us because if we were unsatisfied with our meal back in USA, we were allowed an refund. Overall the food is terrible, the service is even worse. The bread was stale and the meat was over cooked. My kids left unhappy and disgusted, we end up losing all of our appetite and leaving the food in touched. The male waiter was especially rude and discriminatory, I warn you all to stay away from this restaurant. Please note the mean and rude waiter is the one with Blue shirt

    Theresa J.

    Wow. Best description I can give, incredible. Food was absolutely delicious (shakshuka is incredible) and the service (Victoria, in particular) was second to none. Efficient, friendly and just a lovely environment. Decor is comfy & cosy and prices are really great for the quality of food!

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    Element Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Element

    We were looking for dinner close to our hotel in new town and looking at the menus of restaurants on Rose Street.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Under the Stairs

    Under the Stairs

    (79 reviews)

    ££

    Grassmarket, Old Town

    This was a standout lil place downstairs that takes you out of the fray of tourism into a hip…read moregastro/bistro atmosphere. Terrific food, unique local menu, tremendous small, choosy list of whisky, wine, beers. The beer pickled mussels amazing. Cheese plate terrific. Had a cod over white beans in tomato sauce. Smoked kipper pate. What I loved most is that the staff, kitchen , chef served really great food, cared about the ingredients, and just offered a hip environment. Highly recommend! Servers were cool and nice to us.

    Every time I am in Edinburgh, I gravitate to Under the Stairs. In the summer months, it gets…read morepacked, especially later in the night. The first time, we arrived around 10 pm on a weekend. Thankfully a couple left just as we arrived so we were able to snag a table pretty easily. The drinks are lovely and the flavor profiles are rather unique. I love spritz drinks so I really enjoy that they rotate the flavors seasonally at least. The last time I was in Edi, I stopped by maybe 2-3 times on my way to or from dinner for a cocktail. I tried to order different cocktails off the menu to taste as many as possible. I enjoyed every one of them which is surprising. Sometimes when a place tries to be different and interesting, the drinks can fall flat. These were exactly as described! I don't often eat here but one afternoon, we grabbed a cheese board, roasted turnip and hummus. The turnip was DELICIOUS. I was shocked since I never really care for them most days. I liked that the hummus was served with (i think) endive leaves. It added a nice crunch to the bite. The cheeses and bread were great. I have never seen one particular item before.... Pickled grapes. Wow. They were so interesting. The vinegar flavor was not strong but it added such a unique flavor to the otherwise sweet fruit.

    The Dome - Inside tea room

    The Dome

    (215 reviews)

    £££

    New Town

    Came for the views, stayed for the food and cocktails! The Dome is a must have on your list for…read moreEdinburgh! We had lunch in the Grill Room and were lucky to snag a table without a reservation! We ordered off the al a carte menu and had great service! I would definitely come back for the afternoon tea service! Deanston malt 12 year Dragon Fruit & Hibiscus Soda Parma Ham Free Range Egg Salad Truffle Parmesan Fries

    I alway make an effort to stop here for a meal or even for a drink. Especially during the holidays,…read moreit's all decked out with lights and the massive tree that covers the main bar inside the dining room. Outside is on full display with the columns decked out with Christmas lights. It's beautiful which needs to be seen. You won't miss it when you're in Edinburgh. Even the family tried to get a reservation during the holiday for dinner which wasn't available. People usually book way in advance when it's the holidays. And that's not just for the main dining room. They couldn't even get it for the bar area. Well, it was after the holidays when we walked in asking if there was anything available for a drink. Our luck, the lounge was available. Dining room was still all booked out. It was fine, lounge when you walked in gives you that gentleman smoking lounge vibes. The dark wood, tufted seats and the library wall. Faux I believe which maybe alcohol behind it. Even the bar area was quite nice. As it was the holidays or after, the place was still well into all the decoration. The detail they put into this place is magnificent. The whole aesthetic and atmosphere was amazing. Regardless if you in the main room or one of the lounge, it still worth it. There were loads of people just coming in to take pictures. All the staff were well dressed and presentable. The Dome, an institution of Edinburgh that is worth checking out. For a meal or drinks or even a wander through.

    Panda & Sons - Cereal Killer

    Panda & Sons

    (115 reviews)

    ££

    New Town

    Panda & Sons is one of the top speakeasy around the UK and I see why. The aesthetics and delicate…read morecocktails make it worth a visit. The service was great. I ordered the bird cage and it was nicely smoked and had a great smooth taste. I don't think I would've liked this drink anywhere else but I liked it here. It wasn't all about the presentation but the drink was actually good. I must say you have to make a reservation well in advance. Many people come here in groups. Overall I definitely recommend this speakeasy in Edinburgh.

    I want a redo. Being…read moresomeone who makes cocktails at home as a hobby, I'm always someone that's looking for cool bars to try when I travel. When I visited Edinburgh recently Panda & Sons was one of the places I was looking to the most. However my experience was left feeling very mid. It's one of those things when you research a bar where I live and see also this fun and fancy decor and think to yourself, "Looks cool but are the drinks actually good?" I didn't want to think this though. I spent a little time reading the Switching method in their menu and thought that was a cool preparation method. But when I tasted my Birdcage for example, all I really tasted was Whiskey. I barely tasted any Aperol or anything else. The reason why Im still giving this place a higher review than I normally would is because of the service and ambience. If you've never been, getting down to the actual bar for the first time is a treat in itself. I feel like this was just an off night. It definitely was a full house the night me and my friends went so it's understandable that maybe things just slipped this particular night. I know from personal experience that when the ratios are a bit off, sometimes the flavors just kinda fall flat like an old soda and that's kinda what I tasted in my drinks that night...at the same time I still at least tasted alcohol. A good amount. Now you may laugh and say, "What do you mean? Why wouldn't there be?" Well...where I come from in the states theres places have cool decor and service but serve you drinks with barely any booze and charge you and arm and leg. Thankfully I was stumbling home a bit that night so no harm and no foul. I shall return for the runback the next time I come to Scotland!

    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.

    Element - pubs - Updated May 2026

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