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Howies

4.3 (219 reviews)
PriceyScottish
Open 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM

Howies Photos

HOWIES ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Wine list
Rhonda S.

Outstanding food and service! What a very luxurious meal this was. The staff made us feel special when we walked in. We had reservations for dinner and had a nice table, great ambiance. My husband and friend ordered the seasonal cocktails the elderflower and cucumber spirits. We were served complimentary bread and dips, so good. We started with the heritage tomato salad which had this delicious whipped vegan feta cheese, radishes and onions. My friend and I had the catch of the day which was Scottish salmon that was pan seared, a potato and some beans. We also had vegan haggis as a starter, very tasty. Husband enjoyed the artisan hot chocolate. A very flavorful, decadent meal.

Vegetarian haggis & mash
Sam B.

I was looking for someplace new to have traditional Scottish food on my last night in Edinburgh, and I finally decided on Howies. A popular family run restaurant with a central location and a cozy but vibrant atmosphere, Howies seemed like the perfect choice to end my trip with. Their menu is known for showcasing both authentic and seasonal Scottish flavors and dishes. I ordered the vegan haggis, neeps, & tatties, and the dish came out beautifully plated. Compared to other restaurants I've been to here, the portions were on the smaller side, but it was actually the perfect size for me, and was fairly priced for the quality of the ingredients and portion. Though I liked the vegetarian haggis and mash at Makars Mash better, the dish here was fairly satisfying as well. Their house cider was pretty good too - it's no Thistly Cross, but it's good. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and I'm glad I had the opportunity to dine at Howies before returning home.

Small waiting area
Christina H.

What a cute little place! The entrance is a vibe and the inside is cozy and small. They utilize the small space very well and manages to fit in plenty of tables. It feels a bit tight but it is worth it for the elegance and the food! We got the soup of the day, it was a broccoli, cucumber, dill and miso soup. A surprising combo of flavors but delicious and my favorite part of the meal! I'm sad it's not a staple soup, I hope they rotate it to this often. The vegan haggis was interesting, it was vegan meat on a bed of mash potato's and mashed sweet potato. The sweet potato was lacking in flavor and the dish had an overall light flavor. The vegan cream sauce that is on it really pulls all the flavors together. The pea and asparagus risotto was so rich with flavor and was the perfect amount of cheesiness. The asparagus was a bit fibery but over all cooked well with a little bit of a crunch still. We got chicken on the side, and when added to the risotto elevated the flavor perfectly. Then there was dessert, omg amazing. The chocolate mouse was rich but not too sweet, and paired with the raspberry sorbet, fantastic. Not only is the food great but the service was unmatched! Our server Duncan was the most considerate server I have ever had! I am a vegetarian and my significant other is gluten free so we are a handful as customers, but Duncan was patient and visited the kitchen multiple times to double check ingredients for us. He was so sweet and so kind. The location of this restaurant is perfect too, just at the top of Victoria street. So you get to see all the pretty colored buildings. But make sure you reserve ahead of time or go early to get a reservation. We walked in and they gave us a reservation an hour and a half from the time we walked in. We were able to leave and explore then come back at our reservation time.

Chicken and mashed potatoes
Jagdish N.

We enjoyed our lunch here. Without hesitation the best food wr had in Edinburgh. The chicken and the fish wr had were excellent. Service impeccable. Would rate it highly.

Me enjoying the gin tasting and a mushroom cod dish for Thanksgiving-both absolutely delicious!
Lori W.

We spent Thanksgiving at Howie's based on an amazing recommendation from a Brilliant Local Tour Guide, Freddie Johnson, and we're so thrilled that we did!! In addition to the gin tasting the food was off the hook. It was a perfect Thanksgiving in Edinburgh!!

Scotch flight and Hugo spritz
Jax M.

The restaurant was quite busy and we asked if a table was available. The hostess graciously (quickly) seated us. Jonathan got us drinks and took our order:m, recommending things based on our preferences. The food here is traditional Scottish reimagined by a chef, SERIOUSLY reimagined. My husband had the haggis starter, while I had the zucchini and sunflower seed soup. BOTH were delish. For our mains, we had the venison stew and the quinoa, pea, radish salad. Rich coupled with light, a perfect match. Jonathan was professional, personable and helpful in informing our food choices. Overall GREAT meal in Edinburgh. Thank you, Howie's staff!

chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli stems
Sadie R.

we walked in and were immediately sat. the lighting was dim and beautiful and had a regal vibe. we were checked in on frequently and the food was the best chicken i've ever had. the prices are good for what you get and we all enjoyed everything we received. my friend ordered a house made cider and it was delicious. while we were paying the check, we were brought little shortcake biscuits which were quite delicious. would definitely come back.

Haggis
Shaun T.

Really enjoyed Howies is an old building adjacent to Calton Hill. Old molding and extra large true divided light windows set a beautiful ambiance. The food is really delightful. For apps we had a haggis dish flanked by potato that is unbelievably flavorful. The mussels are delicious and plentiful. The Cullin Skink overflowed with a rich smokiness from the haddock complementing rich broth. Entrees included a half lobster, chef prepared for eating convenience. Lovely. The pan fried hake is delicate while being substantial. The salmon special deemed pan fried with an arrabiata sauce was not remotely with any spice whatsoever but my American expectations may be to blame. The ribeye was cooked well, and does have the marbling for flavor which for our daughter was a big difference from filet, but prepared perfectly. Kris our server is Uber professional and knows his stuff. There is a 2 hour time limit on the table. Not sure what we, as diners, could have done but with appetizers we ran out of time for dessert. The restaurant initially told us we were too close to time to order then came back and said they could allow dessert. By then we had already opted to hit one of the countless gelato places on the return. Otherwise top notch.

Sam E.

Howie's was a last minute stop for us. We were surprised that we were seated promptly considering how packed the venue was. The interior is woodsy but well lit and quite classy. In a night of firsts, I ordered my first haggis and sticky toffee pudding, with the catch of the day (salmon). Everything is plated beautifully. The haggis really just tastes like a savory oatmeal. Unique. The mash involved could have used a bit more seasoning imo. The salmon was tender with a crisp skin and the tomato and beans were wonderfully flavored. The sticky toffee pudding though. Just the perfect dessert, and I'm not usually a caramel fan to begin with. It was sweet and a bit fruity. The caramel sauce not too thick and gave it a wonderfully bitter taste that complimented the dessert so well. I'm not sure if it's authentic but it was certainly delicious!

Sticky Pudding
Beth Ann P.

Superb dinner!! What we ordered: Beet root and goat cheese and a bowl of Potato and leek soup as our starters. I had the catch of the day, Salmon with gnocchi in spinach and leek sauce... delectable!! My husband had the ribeye steak served with chips and veggies. My first time trying Sticky Pudding with a toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream and it didn't disappoint. Service was quick, friendly and most importantly our finished dishes were promptly removed from our table. Reservations are absolutely recommended, there was a line outside waiting for the establishment to open. The interior was quaint and cozy. No dress code, however, I would suggest business casual.

The Haggis
Cassidy M.

Lovely atmosphere and nice central location! I love the consideration that has gone into making the menu allergy friendly; this really put me at ease with my dairy allergy. I had the haggis which was exceptional and for dessert the cherry sorbet/ chocolate cremeux dish - divine! Rarely do I get to enjoy a chocolatey dessert given my allergy, so this made me especially happy. The staff were fantastic as well!!

Chris S.

Located 5 minute walk from castle. Service good. Food good. Atmosphere casual to upscale.

Butternut squash risotto
Madelyn S.

My brother was in town for a visit so we decided to come to Howie's for dinner. We made a reservation for 6pm. My brother showed up on time while I was unfortunately a bit behind and arrived about 6:09pm. After fifteen minutes had gone by I was wondering if I would have to flag down a waiter for service. I could understand the delay as they seemed quite busy. We both got an "early dinner" 2-course meal. I got the cullen skink and butternut squash risotto while my brother got the haggis starter as well as a steak. He also ordered the recommended whisky to pair with the haggis. I think a bit over ten minutes had passed before we received our starters which we quickly dug into. My brother was very pleased with his starter as I was with mine. I'm not sure how much time had approximately passed but it felt like it took a while before we got our entrees. I enjoyed my risotto but my brother said his steak was a bit plain. I had fully intended on getting dessert when I arrived but unfortunately didn't have time as we had a prior engagement scheduled at 8pm (which is the time our reservation "expired" anyway) and it was about 7:45pm once everything was getting wrapped up with the bill. Overall, I really enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant and was pleased with my food but it just felt like the service took a long time.

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The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

The Devil's Advocate

4.3(630 reviews)
0.1 miOld 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.

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The Devil's Advocate - Whiskey flight tastings

Whiskey flight tastings

The Devil's Advocate - Fish Filet

Fish Filet

The Devil's Advocate - Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

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Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Crown Of Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder With A Rich Horseradish Infused Gravy

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

4.8(521 reviews)
0.1 miOld Town, Royal Mile
££

We were a group of 6 and waiting time was less than an hour on a busy Monday at 2pm. Notification…read morewas via text or through a link which you can monitor your table's availability. We had a lovely meal here at Makars Mash Bar (technically called The Makar's Rest) We ordered the following: - Coke & Ginger Kombucha - Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg (deliciousness to share and a great way to begin a meal) - Home Grown Lion's Mane pan-fried bites, served with vegan aioli wasn't a hit with the group but I really liked it. - Slow Cooked Lamb (rich and full of flavor) - Crown Of Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder (incredibly tender and literally fell apart) - Makars Wild Boar Sausage With Beef Dripping Gravy (got a bite in and it didn't taste gamey) - Sides of Black pudding mash and Scottish cheddar cheese & onion mash which we really enjoyed. - Sticky Toffee Pudding was a perfect end to the meal. Great comfort food, generous portions, and a really enjoyable experience overall. Would definitely recommend. Atmosphere outside in the chilly air was a challenge at first. Outdoor heaters would have been a plus. At least we were seated.

Makars Mash is one of those places that is always at the top of folks recommendation lists for…read moreEdinburgh. I found this to be for good reason. At the door, parties of 2+ had around an hour wait. I was lucky enough to be dining solo, so was immediately seated to a small high-top area by the door. Service was very kind. I ordered the Lamb and Classic Mash. The side pickles were tasty and refreshing. The mash was truly good. I ended up wishing I picked a different protein because the lamb came on the bone, wish was hard to eat around for me. Since it was my first day in Scotland, the conversion between pounds and dollars hadn't yet processed for me. As a heads up, ordering the 23.00 pound classic entree came out to be $32.50.

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Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Downstairs inside the restaurant

Downstairs inside the restaurant

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Scotch eggs

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Scotch eggs

Angels with Bagpipes - Haggis with whisky gravy - SO good!

Angels with Bagpipes

4.4(132 reviews)
0.1 miOld Town, Royal Mile
£££

Given that this place is in an extremely touristy part of town, surrounded by souvenir shops and…read morefamous landmarks, you kind of have to appreciate the effort they put into their food presentation and service. Most places survive on knowing they can serve terrible food and still bring in the tourist crowd. These guys are serving up some healthy and hearty cuisine with a nod to their Scottish roots, but with a more sophisticated take. Everything packs amazing flavour. I came in just a few minutes after they opened for lunch, so snagging a seat was easy; however it filled up in record time, so reservations are highly recommended. The menu offers everything from light seafood salads to hearty steak dishes, to a few veggies options that leave nothing to be desired. Yes, they serve haggis, too, and I have to say, it wasn't bad, even for my first-timer's palate. They fry it up and serve it in ball form, so the taste is mild and appealing. My BBQ Lentils and Vegetables dish was beautifully presented and so tasty, I didn't miss the meat. Cocktails, wine, and beer are also available, so pick your poison.

My brother and I had the chicken, which was delicious but was a small portion which left my brother…read morefeeling hungry as we left. My husband and I ordered the burrata, but it didn't come with bread as listed on the menu. The service was quite slow so we gave up on requesting the bread. I was pleased that they allowed for multiple side sauces to my husband's Denver steak. Ambiance was lovely, allowed for casual dress.

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Angels with Bagpipes - Their sign is adorable.

Their sign is adorable.

Angels with Bagpipes - Battered cod was fresh and not oily at all. Scottish crab, lemon and crumpet was super fresh and delish.

Battered cod was fresh and not oily at all. Scottish crab, lemon and crumpet was super fresh and delish.

Angels with Bagpipes - BBQ Root Vegetables and Lentils

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BBQ Root Vegetables and Lentils

Queens Arms

Queens Arms

4.4(114 reviews)
0.4 miNew Town
££

Out of all the places I've been to in Scotland, I think Queens Arms was one of my favorites…read more We had reservations for this place recently and when I took one step inside, I was already in love. I mean who doesn't love a good pub? You get great drinks and great food at an affordable price. As I write it makes me think of think of when Zidane reunites with Freya in FF9. Sometimes we don't wanna eat at fancy Michelin restaurant that has small plates but charges a premium. Sometimes we just wanna cut all the BS and just get a nice hearty meal. And thats what we got. When we sat down we found out that they were doing a Trivia night. Normally I would have told my girl to pick another spot to eat but for some reason I was cool with it. There was even a table nearby with kids(yuck). And you know what? It was fine. That's because we had been sipping on some amazing cocktails. If you also partake, Gin and Mezcal enjoyers will love the Bramble and Hibiscus Crush. What color are Luigi's overalls from Super Mario? That's such an easy question. Wait...what do you mean Luigi's overalls are blue? They are green. Look at this picture onli...Oh... One of the stars of our meal was the Haggis. This was the first time I had ever tried it and after trying it at multiple places Scotland, Queens Arms I feel has done it the best. I love the complexity of the flavors of the meat with the creamy and pepper flavors of the peppercorn sauce. If you've never had Haggis, you definitely have to try it here. The best part is that it comes with mashed potatoes too! Shoutouts to the Fish and Chips if you are also into that. One of my friends ordered that and I definitely had to go back in for multiple bites. Finally the roast. The Sunday Roast should just be an automatic order if you happen to come here on a Sunday. You get so much food and it's all so damn tasty. They'll cook a roast to whatever doneness your heart desires. We went with Medium Rare and it came out perfectly. If you didn't have enough flavors with all the extra sides it comes with, they also give you gravy to pour on anything you want. Thanksgiving basically came early this night. But as I looked around and admired all the bookshelf's and all the families have a nice dinner with their loved ones, I just thought about how happy I was. I was finally here! This was the start of my trip. Queens Arms has set a high ceiling on great experiences in Scotland. We even went back there a couple of days ago just because we knew we would be able to end the night on a good drink. But in the end I think if you are Edinburgh, you have to come to this place. It is one of my favorite experiences I've had in Scotland so far and I dream about when I can come back again.

We got 3 reservations to split up our group of 8 adults and 2 kids, so we were all able to make…read moresure to get a table and have the Sunday roast. We shared the ultimate sharing roast and everything was delicious and so filling. It was also nice to be able to sit and watch a match while enjoying the food. The coffee was pretty good too. This is definitely a good option if you're looking for a Sunday roast in the area

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Queens Arms
Queens Arms
Queens Arms - Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

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Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

Pibroch Scottish Restaurant

Pibroch Scottish Restaurant

4.2(16 reviews)
0.4 miOld Town

The partner-in-dine and I were staying close to Pibroch and decided to book a table for dinner on a…read moreSunday evening. We made our booking the night before and were pleased that we could be accommodated. We were seated promptly next to a window where we could pass the time waiting for our food by looking at the passers-by and cars. But we didn't have to wait long. The appetizers came out quickly. I got the Cullen Skink, a Scottish soup of smoked haddock, potatoes and leeks in a creamy broth. My partner-in-dine chose the Pibroch Haggis Parcels with Red Wine Plum Sauce. We were both happy with our appetizers. For our mains, I had the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties while my partner-in-dine went for the Roast Duck. We were again elated with our choices. Every dish was wonderfully presented and tantalizingly delish. Definitely recommendation-worthy!

I told myself I wasn't going to try the haggis, but what did I do? I tried the haggis. I'm glad I…read moredid. The wait staff there are extremely attentive, friendly, and willing to answer any questions. Our party started off with the haggis parcels in a red wine plum sauce as an appetizer. The haggis was encased in filo dough. It was delicious. I went with the salmon, because Scotland has the best salmon in the world, so I've been told. This salmon was exceptional. I enjoyed the crispiness on the top of the salmon and the potatoes and broccoli accompanied the dish perfectly. I didn't care for the tomato sauce, and just ate around that. If you want authentic Scottish food, and friendly service, try this place out. They are also wheelchair accessible, as they have a ramp to guide you in the door.

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Pibroch Scottish Restaurant
Pibroch Scottish Restaurant
Pibroch Scottish Restaurant

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Howies - scottish - Updated May 2026

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