Being from the U.S., I have tried fish and chips at home but never found them to be very good. When we were planning this trip I knew I wanted to try them here in Scotland and in England. Trying to keep an open mind because after all this is where they were perfected. We decided that we wanted to have dinner in a good Scottish Pub, we were not disappointed, the atmosphere was fantastic and fish and chips were outstanding. read more

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Nothing special, other than a few different beers. This place is a typically larger pub that serves Scottish pub food. Bland and boring

Came in for both supper and lunch and was delighted with both meals. The service was prompt and friendly and the food was very good. The haggis stuffed chicken is my new favorite meal. The veggie Wellington is a great vegetarian option. We opted for dessert and had three cranachan and the Christmas pudding. The Christmas pudding was a bit over cooked, but the Cranachan was light and delicious. Definitely would recommend a visit to the Guilford Arms read more

Awesome off the main path British pub with great atmosphere and a nice little restaurant area upstairs with a perfect view of the madness. Beer, wine, haggis... read more

Guildford Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

A traditional pub in the city centre, with fair prices and a good range of ales, beers and lager the Guildford Arms is as good as you could hope for a pub just off of princes street in the heart of the city centre. After entering through the revolving door, the enclosed horse shoe style bar is front and centre, though your eyes will also be drawn to the ornate ceiling. Even on quieter nights the Guildford Arms always feels alive, as all sorts of people chat over their preferred beverage. The seating situation is a little odd and having never eaten here I can't comment on the food (though it looks decent) the Guildford is simply an excellent pub. read more

Princess street and its sourrounding pubs arent really my cuppa, but the Guildford is a bit different. From when you walk through the revolving doors to take in the amazing cornice work to the big horse shoe style bar taking pride of place I always feel like this bar is from another time. The more gentle soles amongst you will be pleased that the food area and bathrooms are more modernised and fully ... turned out with contemporary fixtures. ;D The folks in the bar are normally a mix of regulars and those that have just popped in, but always friendly. The staff are knowledgable and chatty as a whole. There is a large tv above the door, but this doesnt really detarct from proceedings. Last time I was in they were showing a vhs of adverts from the 80's which made a talking point for a few minutes. The main reason I like this place is that its a real ale bar that I can get my Cider and lager in. All our group are catered for here from the whiskey/vodka drinkers to the real ale folks. Never eaten here before but what I have seen getting turned out looks very nice for pub grub. All in thumbs up from me! :D read more

Another of my favourite pubs. Stunning Victorian interior, ornate ceiling, beautiful old bar and gantry, really nice place. Maybe not quite as strong a visual impact as the Café Royal next door due to its rambling size, but the upside of that is that you have a much better chance of grabbing a seat. It does get busy enough to be standing room only at times, but you can usually get a seat even then if you're prepared to stand for 15 minutes or so. It's a traditional pub with up to ten real ales on the go at any one time, plus a range of lagers on tap and the usual bottled stuff behind the bar. For me the only downside is the football on the tv which can create crowds of people standing right in front of the bar when you want to get served. And again, the size can be a good or a bad thing, as it means the pub doesn't have the intimacy and cosiness of a smaller place. But then if you grab the wee snug right up the back then you're onto a winner. This might actually be my most frequented pub because its central location close to Waverley makes it a handy spot for meeting people. And it usually has beer from my favourite brewers like Harviestoun and Fyne Ales. So. Traditional, ornate interior, loads of good real ale, a decent amount of room and seating, central location. What's not to like? read more

I really like this bar. It's got a good selection of real ales and has a fun atmosphere of people passing through, people from the nearby banks, and a few angry looking locals. While a touch expensive I prefer this bar to pretty much anywhere else on this strip and it's a great place to meet friends if they're just coming off the train. A good selection of local beers always helps make a place that bit more special and while I'd like to see their keg range expanded they still do have a good lot of try. They do food. I don't know what it tastes like though. There is even a restaurant somewhere I think. I have given up food for lent so haven't eaten out there yet (worst excuse ever) read more

Wife and I had last lunch here in Scotland....amazing food and service. Steak and Ale Pie with Blood Pudding Salad! read more

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I had the bangers and mash very good and the deserts were were good too I had the raspberry and whiskey with cream and barely and my aunt has the toffee pudding and that was also great. The Australia waitress we had in the balcony was especially wonderful, she had some surly patrons and was verbally abused however it did not hinder her graciousness or humor to our table or the one next to us. read more

This place is wonderful! We were here for Hogmanay and dined here several times. The Hagis, Sausages with mash, and chicken with Hagis were very flavorful. Plus the wait staff were great! read more

A must stop if in Edinburgh. A great old pub atmosphere. You enter through an ancient revolving door, and the triangle shaped wood bar is in front. No seats at the bar. You just order and go back to your table. There are small granite and wood tables scattered about the exterior of the room, with an open area to mingle in the middle. There is lots of wood and neat architecture. The ground level is very welcoming. I can sit and drink for a while, or head upstairs. Very high ceilings and a second floor that is the restaurant level (the so called Gallery Restaurant). The best seat in the house is on the restaurant level with a table that overlooks the rest of the bar. An awesome view. I eat on the second level of course, and had a great steak. The other items on the menu are mussels, bangers and mash, other traditional Scottish fair. Very good, well made, and fresh food. On to the beer! Over 10 hand pumps. Two pumps for the big seller Deuchars IPA. The rest are all different and rotating Scottish micros. All are of very high quality. Stuarts, Inveralmond, Orkney, etc. An excellent selection. This is a pub that has been independent for over 100 years, and I love it. Like I said above, a must stop when getting off at Waverly. read more

I am starting to build up a liking for this little corner of Edinburgh. Tucked away around the back of the illustrious walls of Burger King, is a collection of pubs including the Guildford Arms, Cafe Royal and the Voodoo Rooms. My visit to the Guildford Arms was through no mere accident, but nay, it was to see FC Ukelele play. Turns out, half of Edinburgh also wanted to see them and the Yard of Ale play - the pub was entirely packed out. So what can I tell you? The bar was impossible to get to, but there was a mini bar setup at the back which we setup camp near. Less offerings, but avoided going near the crowds at the front. Win! Toilets were clean. There was a restaurant upstairs, but my arms were built for drinkin' that night. The bands had a mini stage up at the front so even those in the cheap seats could see them perform. Folks were up and dancing around us. Really, it was just a fantastic night - staggering out sozzled and nattering to ladies on the bus all the way home. read more

A nice old style pub... Is close to the train station... Supports local brews. read more

We really loved this place. The decor inside was gorgeous and yet it still had the feel of a local pub. The bartenders were attentive and friendly and knowledgeable about ales. The food was perfect. It's in a good location in that it's just set back from Princes Street, which means that it's close to lots of other places but not right on the busy thoroughfare. If you're looking for something that feels authentic but is a little nicer than your typical pub, this is where to go. read more

Guildford Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The first time I went here was after work for drinks. I would not have stumbled upon this corner pub without a friend showing me where it is. It is just behind the end of Princess street, just need to walk up a bit... Walking in the interior really surprised me, gorgeous! The staff was helpful and knowledgeable in suggesting some of their wide range of beers. I went back later for dinner, which was upstairs with again incredibly friendly staff. I had the wellington with cheese and nuts, it was actually really really good 'pub food', in all honesty it blew me away as I had not expected anything this tasty... Actually writing this makes me want to go back now and get another one. Will take more people here! Stylish and good! edit: Went back again for lunch, more limited menu but still tasty. The upstairs is closed then so you sit in the downstairs bar area and order at the bar. A shocker was that the bartender/waiter was actually really rude and while we were trying to order sighing and saying 'you can't be serious' when we just needed a few seconds to ask our friend if he wanted cheese on his sliders. I was quite shocked of the rudeness and addressed him about it, just a friendly question if there is any problem... he told me someone called in sick and they were understaffed. Still no reason to say things like that and roll eyes in front of customers, while we were really not being extremely slow or so. After I addressed him about it he suddenly was a lot nicer. Still, quite a bummer as I was taking two friends and had been speaking so highly about the place... I understand stress can do a lot, but still no excuse. Food was luckily yummy! read more

Guildford Arms - To die for... so tasty! Wellington. - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Café Royal packed to the rafters? Voodoo Rooms too poncey? Just want a decent pint and possibly some live music? Then head to the Guildford Arms. This is a surprisingly lovely traditional pub that sits next to the two previously mentioned establishments. It does tend to attract a slightly older crowd, but I quite like this and it adds an air of decorum to the place: everyone is well-behaved and polite. The bar is well stocked with all the usual suspects and there is a large range of real ales on offer. They have live music on some nights and it's pretty good, plus there's not another traditional pub as good as this anywhere in the vicinity of Princes Street. Check it out next time you're weary from retail therapy. read more

Guildford Arms - http://www.guildfordarms.com/ - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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I've never been a fan of the crowd that goes here. The pub itself I have no problem with, but it's in the part of town that attracts men in suits. And by men in suits I mean exactly that: men, who watch rugby and are not very nice to you if you a) are not wearing a suit and b) don't watch rugby. It's a very simple equation. They have a pretty good range of ales here. Though, because it's in the suit part of town (about 10 seconds down the street from Princes Street), the prices are way higher than I'd like them to be. This pub is really spacious and shows its fair share of sports on the telee, hence the rugby fans. The also serve your bogstandard pub food. A la pricey, to boot. read more

Our favourite pub in Edinburgh. Nice people, great beer. Perfect after a good sight - seeing day! read more

Guildford Arms - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is a great little drinking hole. In fact, it isn't so little as it has the main bar, a little hidden cove area down half a level with a few tables then a restaurant upstairs as well. It is slightly bordering on an older man's boozer however don't let this put you off as you won't be hassled by them or even notice this so much. It is older clientele who frequent this place but that just means that you'll have a good night without being bothered. They serve a decent pint, offer better wine than a lot of pubs and you can also buy little bowls of nuts to nibble on whilst supping your tipple. read more

This review is only for the bar - we didn't eat. Our hotel was right next door so we stopped in for a drink. BEAUTIFUL old bar, lots of fun to look around and take it all in. Service was generic - go to the bar, get your drink and take your seat. The bartender was nice. Nothing really else to report! read more

Not the easiest to find unless you know the area, but The Guildford is a nice wee pub. Apparently they have a brilliant range of beers and ales (I'm not the best to ask re this as I'm not an ale drinker) but even if you're not they'll still oblige! Well kept, well attended and there's the Gallery Reataurant upstairs also. We didn't eat there, but it does look quite nice. read more

I visited here for the first time today, we went in the afternoon and it was fairly busy. The first thing I thought when we entered was that it smelt a bit stuffy and it looked quite dull but it has a beautiful ceiling and was a nice quiet place to have a drink and catch up with my aunt and uncle. I'd recommend it if you like somewhere a bit quieter but still in the centre of town and not as modern as the newer places. read more

The bartender here was probably the rudest person we encountered in all of Scotland. He rushed us to order and was not the least bit helpful in helping us choose which beers we wanted to order. The bar has a great atmosphere and a wide beer selection - this could've been a great experience if the service had not been so poor. read more

First time to Edinburgh, and found this place on Yelp and it's fantastic. Charming atmosphere. Second-level loft dining room. The haddock and fries (fish n chips) was great. The steak pie was rich and tender. Our server Amanda was FANTASTIC!!! Very helpful with the tourists. read more

Service was kind of crappy both times we came here. Once was for a meal and the second time was for a beer and dessert. The food was okay and the beer acceptable. Not great, but not bad. read more

A feast for the eyes and the soul. The Guilford Arms takes its place among the best pubs in Edinburgh. With a great range of real ale and good food available I can think of no better place to while away a rainy Edinburgh afternoon. Despite its location just off Princes Street its seldom too busy to find some space to enjoy its many offerings, one of which is the traditional fixtures and fittings which evoke a bygone era in these days of mass produced themed bars and restaurants. read more

A classic example of victorian grandour . On top of which it seels a wide variety of real ales kept in wonderful condition , always a must visit when I visit Edinburgh . read more

A nice real ale pub, slap bang in the centre of town. Has an amazing Jacobean ceiling. Does quality bar food, at realistic prices. The staff are very pleasant and competent too. You won't have to wait to get served, regardless of how busy the bar might be. Well worth a visit. read more

Great "Everyman" pub. Just beer and basic drinks, but that's ok. Sociable atmosphere. Appeared to be mostly locals, but I felt right at home. 30-something crowd give or take. read more

Went there just for one gin n tonic during the day, while walking around that part of the city. The service was nice and the atmosphere was very cozy. read more

We are here in Edinburgh on vacation and I looked around for a cool looking pub with amazing Scottish food...the Guildford arms met both criteria. The place is really amazing to just be in with the high ceilings and the Victorian decor. As for the food, it was fantastic (had the lamb chops which were perfectly cooked). To top it off, the service there was great. Our waitress was an absolute delight. read more

One of the best real ale pubs in town serving a substantial range of ales and continental beers. It's always busy and finding a seat can be difficult although service is generally prompt. Given its central location, it makes a great meeting place for friends or to crash out after shopping before you get the bus home. Make sure you look up and take a glance at the stunning original ceiling when you visit. read more

Classic, great pub. And so convenient to the train station!

My favourite Edinburgh pub! Located very close to Waverley railway station, across Princes Street, this is an absolute classic Victorian pub! When you enter, you will be struck immediately by the interior design, featuring a very ornate high ceiling, high arched windows, and a balcony where you can sit to eat. It just oozes history and tradition! This is an ideal place to meet up as a group, or just to have a quiet pint on your own in very pleasant relaxed surroundings. The bar features a number of guest beers and several continental lagers. There is something for everyone! Bar staff are normally young student types and very friendly. The Guildford does get rather busy at lunch times due to it's city centre location, but at other times is very pleasant. A must visit pub if you are into traditional Victorian Edinburgh pubs! read more

Very mediocre. Fish and chips tasted like frozen fried fish. Chips were crappy. Overpriced. Don't go here.

We had a great meal here. The Soups, Fish and Chips, and Meat Pies were great! If ever in Edinburgh I would eat here.

So cool inside. Huge high ceiling and awesome bar. The dining room is also on a small promenade overlooking the bar area. They serve several real ales from Scottish and further UK brewers. Loud enough to have a great atmosphere, but still no problem to hear each other. read more

Nice enough bar, just off of Princes Street. Reasonably-ish priced, but usually fairly busy. It's possibly the closest pub to Waverley, so that's no real surprise. Barstaff are usually quite good, and the toilets are nice enough. (I'm starting to see a trend here - maybe I should just review toilets in future!! :o/ ) read more

The whole place smells like you're sitting in a urinal. The awful stench was eminating from our clothes afterwards.