Maxi's has one thing going for it and that is a super location. You get some great views and can eat outside on a walkway. Very fun on a nice day. Not so great was the service. The server suggested if I walked into the restaurant I could grab a menu myself. (I was already at an outside table). It almost seemed like a joke. The server troubled herself enough to bring out the beer can which I poured. Location is great! read more

See all

We came to Maxie's with a group of 8 and were told they could seat us, but food would take over 30 minutes. No problem -- we were fine to wait and ordered beers and drinks while we looked at the menu. About five minutes later, the server came back and told us we could only have water because the beer "couldn't be accessed." Meanwhile, every table outside was being served drinks without issue. It was a blatant lie, and frankly insulting. We ended up leaving without ordering food. The service was rude, dishonest, and unwelcoming. Do yourself a favor and skip Maxie's -- head across the street to Beartie's instead. We went there after and had a completely different experience: friendly service, great food, and zero drama. Night and day. read more

I've dined at some of the most exclusive establishments across Manhattan, Paris, and Tokyo. Places where standards matter. Which is why the experience at this particular restaurant was not only offensive but frankly bewildering. Upon entering, we were met not with hospitality but with thinly veiled disdain. It was almost performative, an orchestrated display of contempt directed squarely at us. Americans. I don't say this lightly. I'm highly perceptive. I notice the details. The bar, we were told, was "out of service." Curious, considering we watched in real time multiple patrons, non-American I'd note, receive freshly made cocktails from that very bar. Was this surrealism? A joke? A social experiment? No. Just blatant discrimination dressed in bad service. When we attempted to order food, we were informed rather smugly, I might add, that everything we wanted would take at least 30 minutes. I've waited for foie gras to be flown in from Gascony in less time. And no. We weren't drunk. We weren't rude. We were dressed well, we were composed, and we were polite. If anything, too polite for the treatment we received. This wasn't a bad night. This was an institution actively repelling certain guests. Would I return? I'd sooner dine at Dorsia with Paul Allen. read more

Undifferentiated pub experience. Standard pub fare on menu. Classic pub vibe. No beer on tap. Service was efficient. Food was acceptable but undifferentiated. Not a bad option but with all choices in area, see no reason to go to this place. read more

The best place I've ever eaten! It's so romantic and the food is amazing yet very affordable. The staff is very nice and friendly. Overall best restaurant ever, 10/10 would definitely recommend. read more

I was traveling in Edinburgh for first time with my dad and brother. Honestly this could be the worst experience we had in our all trip. The service was an absolute disaster, we order 2 main dishes, one starter and a dessert to be served all together. We had to wait long time to eat and they never brought the dessert. We tried calling the waitress attention several times and she kept saying that she will be with us later (how disrespectful) and don't get me started with her attitude. At the end, we had to go to the cashier to pay the bill (since no one bother to help us) and when they saw us waiting to pay, they decided to take the dessert to the table and leave it there. We didn't pay for it and leave. The food was ok but what a horrible service. Won't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Maxies Bistro - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Delightful hole in the wall for moderately priced Scottish specialities. Haggis was great, the fish and chips were outstanding. read more

See all

A little out of the way, tucked away on a side street in Edinburgh, it truly was a neat little places. Inside, it was a lot like a cave, with plush little seats resplindent with pillows and tables with candles. The food was heavy on the carbohydrates, lots of pasta and rice, but the food was damned well tasty too. We had pasta with red sauce, and I had the stir fry the flavours were full bodies and well developed. Service was a touch slow, but over all, I'd come back. read more

The seafood platter and lamb chops on haggis was terrific. Wait staff was helpful, friendly, and very efficient. Cost was appropriate for the meal. read more

Maxies Bistro - Amazing lunch. Seafood platter was to die for! The lamb chops in haggis was excellent. - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Maxies doesn't look much from the outside, and to be honest, it isn't up to all that much inside either. Situated just round the corner from the Royal Mile, Maxies is right behind Edinburgh Castle and so it ought to be a great restaurant for all the tourists to go, but unfortunately it is not up to much. The restaurant has quite a cosy feel inside with padded seats covered in cushions, with a pretty lively atmosphere. The menu in Maxies is pretty much seafood orientated, with lots of fish and seafood dishes, but there are also steaks, stir fry's, chicken and haggis dishes on the menu too. I had the sole cooked in a creamy sauce, which was OK. The sauce was pretty thick and gloopy and lacked proper taste, but the fish was perfectly cooked. My friend had a pasta dish which they really didn't like, she said the pasta was still hard and that the sauce was tepid - not nice. The service was pretty average too, the waiter's weren't that attentive and only seemed to show some life when we asked for the bill. There are much better restaurants in Edinburgh which are more deserving of the custom than Maxies. read more

Maxies Bistro - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Very nice quiet friendly ambiance Nice spot for quiet lunch or dinner. Nice wine. Our mushroom soup excellent. Fish and chips good. Not the very best. Chips excellent. read more

Maxies Bistro - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I went to Maxies Bistro - with so many options, I went there because of their cleverly placed sign at the bottom of the steps on Victoria St which lured me upwards. It was open late one night in Edinburgh. It was too cold to eat in the Terrace but at the time the Terrace looked too lonely to be eating out from. I sat at a cushy table near the bar - that part of the restaurant makes me think of Persia in its glory, but the food is quite decidedly Scottish. I had the Tower of Haggis - an arrangement of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties fancifully arranged as a tower. It was quiet at the time - just me and the bartender so I sat back and relaxed and paired it with some mulled wine and finished with a great Berry Crumble dessert. Good value. Hurray for free wi-fi access as well! read more

Maxies Bistro - Tower of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I was on holiday with my boyfriend. We were at Edinburgh for a couple of days doing tours. We stumbled upon this place, what a happy surprise! First time we came, the place was packed. The server told us it would be about 10 or 15 minutes, she was closing a ticket and they should be leaving soon. No problem. She recommended that we go two doors down at Castle Arms for a drink and we thought why not. We returned and the table was ready for us. Now the food. My boyfriend had the haggis for appetizer and supper. I had oyster for starter and fish for supper. I tried the haggis for the first time. It was creamy and good. Delish! We ordered a bottle of wine and shared a pudding for desert. The owner came by our table to serve us the food. Server says he's a hard worker. I can tell he takes pride in his restaurant. We were happy with the first visit, we came returned the next day! The only con i could think of is the toilet. There is only 1 ladies room, and on the second night, someone took their time. If I'm ever in Edinburg again, I will definitely come back for another haggis. read more

Maxies Bistro - Haggis in whisky sauce - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This place has it's selling points in its adorable decor. The stained glass and maps and beams are lovely. In the depths of winter it was warm and homely, and succeeded in steaming up my camera lens. Drinks are reasonably priced, and although we didn't eat, the food looked and smelt rather lovely. One of my favourite touches were the cosy tartan blankets on the balcony. Sitting with a little dusting of snow on the roof tops under inky sky, looking down at the windy streets is rather lovely, and quite romantic if you're after that sort of thing (maybe if you ignore the metal tables though) read more

A hidden gem upon Victoria terrace, looking down on the grass market from the terrace is a gorgeous view. The sun was shinning and it was beautiful. Even if it was raining it would have been great. As the seats outside are covered. Minutes away from the grassmarket and the Royal Mile. Inside Maxies is warm and cosy, friendly staff welcomed us in. A rustic setting, looking liek a cottage was my fist though. Ideal for a lovely intimate first date. Food delisious, fish was huge and chicken in haggis, amazing. Kids welcome. read more

Not sure why this has low ratings. The food was phenomenal. The haggis especially was so great. The decor was super cute and I really liked the vibe the restaurant have off. I thought it had a nice feel with cool paintings and couches. The service was really friendly. It did take us a bit to get our food but it's not like it took forever. It's also a little hard to find. If you are on victoria terrace you need to keep walking in the middle and go up the stairs in the middle of the street since this restaurant is upstairs. read more

Our party of three popped in here ahead of attending the tattoo on August 3. We were drawn to it because our son's name is Max, and we very often call him Maxie. We had a cozy bench inside, near the bar. As a starter, my husband and I split the smoked salmon salad. Thin slices of smoked salmon were atop a bed of mixed greens, with a wedge of lemon and four slices of crusty baguette. The portion of salmon was generous, and the oiliness of the salmon mixed with the lemon juice made all of the necessary "dressing" for the greens. We did add a little bit of pepper to liven things up, but overall a tasty morsel. Our son had the pasta Neopolitan, and thoroughly enjoyed it. In addition to the pasta and sauce, there also were halved, fresh grape tomatoes sauteed in the dish. My husband and I both had the seafood linguine. The plus of this dish is generous amount of seafood - mussels, scallops, shrimp, calamari, and pieces of salmon. The downside was that the pasta was overcooked, and someone was heavy-handed with the spice as it was almost too hot to eat. We both like spicy food; however, this made my face turn pink and my husband break into a sweat. What this place has going for it: Proximity to the Royal Mile, cozy atmosphere, lovely wait staff, reasonable portions. Cons: Overcooked pasta, one toilet for the ladies room, little circulation/ventilation in the dining area. read more

Worst steak of my life!!!! Tasted like it was made 2 weeks ago then microwaved a week ago then boiled in bath water today. Cold as hell. Garlic Sauce tasted like watered shit. Never again. The garlic bread was microwaved too! The nice waitress earned their one star for refunding my money read more

Maxies Bistro - That's all I could stomach - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Stopped in here with a group of fellow traveler's for the prix fixe lunch before heading up the road to the castle. The choices were actually pretty good, I ended up with a garlic cheesebread appetizer, salmon stuffed chicken and vegetables for the entree and a piece of fudge cake for the dessert. The garlic cheesebread was not what I expected. It was served on a sliced piece of ciabatta bread with very little melted cheddar cheese. It was more like eating toasted bread. I couldn't find a hint of garlic in it, and I was expecting mozzarella cheese and this Italian sounding appetizer. It wasn't bad, but not what I expected. I was thinking more along the lines of an Italian dunker than half a grilled cheese sandwich. The entree was very well done. Both the chicken and salmon were superb. The sauce on the entree was also quite nice. The vegetables were a bit over done and were very limp and flavorless. The dessert was also very good, and the waitress made this fun for us by playing a goofy birthday song I'd never heard before and bringing out a piece with a candle in it for one of our group members who had a birthday. I'm only giving this 3 stars though for the price. I don't think it was a very good value. At 22 pounds without beverage (almost USD$40) I feel like the portions were a bit small and the culinary value didn't quite command that sort of price. It was included in my trip package so I wasn't out anything out of pocket really, but I couldn't recommend it to someone else unless it were a bit cheaper. Nice little place though. Service was very good and the food came out quickly. Maybe other dishes would be better and priced more appropriately. read more

I used to love this place a few years back so when Ms Susie suggested it for a quick bite to eat last night, I was excited to go back. It was really quiet compared to its neighbours but we didn't let that put us off. Maybe it should've been a warning. Susie had the chicken enchilada & I opted for the tower of haggis, neeps & tatties, a real winter warmer. The plates arrived & the portions were generous. Well the haggis & tatties were, the neeps were almost non-existent. The tatties looked as though they had been toasted under the grill but in fact the dish must've been keep warm in the oven as both the tatties & haggis were dried out. I tried to eat some from the middle but it just wasn't doing it for me. I cannot fault the service. As soon as I told the waitress she offered me something else from the menu. By then I'd lost my appetite so they took it off the bill. Shortly after the chap at the next table also complained. He though his breaded mushrooms were going to break his teeth!! Susie's enchilada was definitely the better choice. Overall I would've given 2 stars but for the decent service which gets it three stars. I may go back but when there's a wealth of competition it's better be good next time. read more

Over all the visits I had here (about once a year since 2010) I think that 2 star is about as much as it deserves. That is NOT for the food, nor for the ambiance - both are seriously lacking in class, depth and flavour. The first few visits we tried some food (notice that I didn't use the phrase "we had a meal") Nope, my 2 stars go to A. Location. They are a in brilliant out of the way suntrap in the summer. Sit outside and enjoy the scenery. Definitely worth a star B. Service. (not the cooking!) Their front of house are really nice and the amount of unhappy customers must really wear them down. I actually feel sorry for them. This, my friends, is what you show visitors so they know what to avoid for the rest of their stay. It is a tourist trap. I certainly hope to see a 'New Kitchen Manager' banner here rather sooner than later. That may entice me to visit again. Maybe. Though I am a possibly a sucker to go here once a year in the summer to see any kind of change has been made.. only to be disappointed. Maybe next time read more

The best thing about this place is probably how it looks... which is never a great thing to write about a restaurant/pub/bistro - I'm not really sure which one this place is supposed to be. It was too pricey to be classed as a gastro-pub sort of place, but the food wasn't really restaurant standard, nor was the service. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but the what you pay and what you get don't quite tally up somehow, especially when you've got such amazing places earby like the Grain Store or Maison Bleue. It's just above Victoria Street, in the side of the hill stretching up to the castle, so if you get a table on it's little outdoor terrace in the sun then you may as well just write off any constructive plans you may have had for the rest of the day, because I can safely say you'll be sipping something cold for the rest of the afternoon. read more

Excellent with outdoor seating. Had the haggis appetizer and fish and chips! Great food, great view, great service. read more

Maxies Bistro - Excellent with outdoor seating! The wait staff was very friendly and we had the Haggis starter (which was fantastic!) and fish and chips. - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Shitty service, even more cheap food. We were given a bunch of deep frozen, water tasting something as seasonal veggies for 3. The service is terrible too. Avoid if you can, there are plenty of other options nearby read more

Maxies Bistro - Seasonal veggies - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We saw the sign that mentions they have good fish and chips cooked to order so we thought why not try some classic uk fish and chips like we hear about on television. The batter was not salted or seasoned so there was zero flavour, the fish they used had no flavour to speak of. The temp on the fryer must have been too low because the batter was very greasy and it soaked right through into the fish as well. Maybe they are famous for something else but they have no business selling fish and chips read more

This was a sad experience. The entry is nicely painted staircase with lively graffitti. The inside looks cozy with exposed brick walls and wine bottles with dripping candles to add to the ambiance. We asked to eat on the terrace. That was probably our mistake. The waitress didn't came back after we said we needed a minute. The guy waiting on us seemed to be the chef. The food took a while to come out and then was bland and cold. It was pretty though. Just wish it tasted as good as it looked. read more

Maxies Bistro - Chicken wrapped salmon and veggies - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Excellent location with good food and excellent service. We got into this place after walking around Edinburgh, site-seeing and shopping. I passed by this little place the day before and I decided to come back and try it out. It's a cozy little place, warm and comfortable. We were greeted from the door and seated immediately. We started with couple of appetizers such as the infused game pate and grilled brie, and for main dish I ordered the steak with black pudding and my friend ordered the sauteed chicken in red pepper sauce. Both of the dishes were well prepared. The steak and the black pudding just hit the spot. I also tried my friend's chicken and I loved that red pepper sauce. Veggies were a bit plain and maybe a little over cooked but the dinner was enjoyable and was fully completed with the great service we got from the woman working at the restaurant. I am not sure if she was the manager or not. But she was quite polite and helpful. I would love to come here in summer and dine out on the patio, it has such a nice and unique view... read more

See all

Stepping into Maxie's from the rain last night felt like one of those cheesy radio phone-in cliches long time listener, first time caller. Having been aware of its existence for many years it only struck me at that point that I'd never before patronised the place. I'm more than happy to do so again though. It's decidedly cosy, well priced, offers an extensive range of wines and the service was both speedy & attentive. read more

We had such a warm welcome on Friday. The food was amazing and the service was outstanding. We have already bought another voucher. Can't rate it highly enough. read more

I came here for dinner with my mother, aunt, and brother. I ordered the duck and orange pate which was delightful. I also ordered the hot seafood platter with the catch of the day. The seafood was nice, but there was so little fish in it, I barely noticed it was there. My mother ordered the salmon special of the day and she enjoyed it. My aunt ordered the mussels, which had bits of shell in it. She ordered the bread which was burnt. The warm bacon avocado salad was good. My brother had the worst experience. He's vegetarian and ordered the pasta which was overcooked, unseasoned, and had a tablespoon of watery sauce that was basically unrecognisable as a sauce. He sent it back and ordered the baked Brie which was essentially a hunk of fried cheese with no bread and unseasoned potatoes. Do not recommend coming here. read more

Horrendous. Truly wolf dressed as lamb. The decor and layout were deceptively nice, but please do not waste your bills on this place. Our waiter was surly and only attempted a pleasantry when bringing the bill. The food was standard if not completely appalling (some had a brown salad, others had meh 15 pound lamb, and I had bland mushroom pasta that left me in the bathroom for a good part of the night). Plenty of other places in this fair city. read more

Dinner, and it was fantastic food. We had starters and mains, and we were not disappointed. The mussels were some of the best ones I have ever eaten. The salmon came next, and it was cooked to perfection. My company ate salad, fajitas and chicken, and we were all very pleased and happy. The interior is picturesque and warmingly welcome. The staff would be difficult to get a hold of, as they frequently rushed by or looked in the other direction, and the toilets were small and not so nice. But the food will make me go back there again and again. read more

Good food and friendly staff. Good view from outside seating. Had a lovely lunch a a few drinks.

i hate to give them a bad review because our waiter was so nice....but, my allegiance to the YELP community must persevere! This was a crappy restaurant. But, it was walking distance from our apartment and my mother-in-law wanted something close. Arghhhh. The drinks were warm (yes, I know I'm in Scotland....but, I'm from the US where we serve cold drinks) and the food was mediocre. Had the shrimp stir fry and it was pretty bland. The only good thing was the price and the nice waiter. Don't waste your money. I lost my pounds so you don't have to. read more

Came here with my family during my wedding weekend. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating seeing as every other restaurant nearby was extremely busy and had no room for our large party. I ordered a chicken entree which was extremely tasty. The rest of my family all ordered various items off the menu and everyone agreed that our food was good. Good food and great service is all I need when I visit a restaurant and this place delivered. read more

Maxie's is a cute stone walled experience with a good menu and Emer, our server, was a delight. She helped explain a few of the menu items my daughter didn't understand and had a pleasant attitude. A true local. read more

Good location, nice decor, nice staff, terrible food. I ate here recently and was decidedly disappointed; from the menu it looked as though the food would be lovely. I had smoked salmon and cream cheese pate which was much more cheese than pate, then a very interesting take on enchiladas which unfortunately was the kind of standard I'd expect in McDonalds. My boyfriend had duck and orange pate which was horrible; he only ate half of it. He then had steak, which he said was nice but the crevettes it came with were mushy and very over-cooked, and the mashed potato with was dry and crumbly - he said it reminded him of the sort of potato you'd get at school. He thought it'd had all been left under a heat lamp as it was so dry. We were discussing how it had been so busy and the only conclusion that we came to was that it's in a tourist trap. I don't think this place gets a lot of repeat business. My advice if you're looking for somewhere nice for dinner in this area is to go to Maison Bleue on Victoria St, or The Outsider on George IV Bridge. read more

We stopped in for a snack and to warm up on a rainy November day in early afternoon and had a very pleasant experience sitting in the small lounge bar area. Only a few other people were there, the hot, mulled wine hit the spot and the other snacks were tasty. read more

The door of the entrance is covered in a fading mural of marine life, and so I was pleasantly surprised to find that this somewaht tacky nautical theme was not continued downstairs. In fact, quite the opposite, the bistro is a warm, classy and inviting place to be- not cheesy in the slightest. With its beautiful stone walls and lovely soft lighting, it's quite a romantic atmosphere. I had the duck which was cooked to perfection, and managed to polish off a few bottles of one of the nicest house reds Ive ever tasted. Desert was equally as rich and delicious as the meal and the wine. A really beautiful dining experience-perfect for a little candle-lit eye-gazing activity! read more

Initially very impressed by the place, but then turned into an average experience in the end. You come down into a lovely cave like place with nice moody lighting. The food was pretty good but the service not particularly friendly and the place was too cold so I had my jacket on the whole time. Certainly cannot fault the speed of the arrival of food.....probably arriving worryingly fast for what we had. Hoping it wasn't microwaved! All in all, an okay place but absolutely nothing to shout about unfortunately. read more