I would never normally venture to a bar so far out of the way from where I live but I had told my friend about the pug meet up that was happening here (which I saw through Yelp) and she asked if I'd come with her. It was middle of the day on a Saturday when we went in so it was very quiet apart from some pugs and their owners. I really liked the decor of the place but then again I like the decor of its sister bars too so I already had an idea of what to expect when I arrived. I just got a latte while I was there so I didn't get to sample any alcohol though my friend had a martini which looked good. I probably wouldn't make the effort to go all the way there unless there was something special happening as it's sister bars are that little bit closer to me, but it felt really chilled there during the day which I liked. read more

Sofi's - Pugs :D - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Cozy, warm and welcome. A little community! A gem for the locals. Near to the waters of Leith. A cozy couch in the corner, little stools and tables neatly placed along the walls and the bar taking centerpiece in this small pub. Sometimes it's hard to move around, but the smiley bar staff and the friendly environment give the place a really warm and welcoming feel. read more

I've just moved to Leith, and I'm already sure that Sofi's is going to become my favourite local hang-out spot. Just minutes away from the scenic Shore area, Sofi's is laid-back and quirky without being pretentious, with all the right ingredients to become a real home from home. By day, it's a great place to come and use their free wi-fi while listening to good music and eating tasty nachos or hummous and olives, or perhaps even have a beer outside if it's sunny. In the evening it's more of a hip bar, that attracts an interesting crowd, serves exciting cocktails, yet remains relaxed. Little touches like the candles and flowers on each table add to the homely feel, while staff are always nice and chatty. On Mondays they host a weekly film night in the back room, while Tuedays play host to knitting night. A1 Pe read more

Sofi's - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Champagne........Sundays.........Half Price And if thats not enough for you this is just a great place to chill out! Friendly, warm and just well cool realy is how i would sum up this place, it has become a regular for me and some friends on a Sunday now and I dont see that changing!! Food wise im not too sure as to what they offer but the schmorsgasbord, sorry for the spelling, is a great sharing platter for friends!! herring is yumm! read more

Here it is, the long overdue update on how Sofi's is doing these days. Actually pretty good if I can say so! Yes I can. As a regular and current "Duke of Sofi's" (whoop) it is still very much a joy to visit. Good for relaxing during the day, great for a chat after work. Brilliant for getting together with friends! They embrace the community with gusto. I love it here. I introduced many people and they are now regarded as regulars even if they aren't local. What makes it special? Contact, communication, caring. Always embracing new visitors whilst staying true to the locals. Let this place go on for a long, long time. My living room, my local, my place to meet friends. read more

The first bar I ever went to when I turned 32 was a dive bar in Edinburgh... and it was NOTHING like this. Well, I'm being a bit dramatic. Sofi's looks and smells like a quirky, but it doesn't feel like a quirky. I went this past Saturday night and it was filled with 27 year old "students" rolling their eyes at me for wearing pumped kicks and a whimsical wool coat. In contrast, my first dive bar in Edinburgh was filled with hipsters and musicians that didn't give a fuck about what I did or how I dressed. You don't get that "IDGAF" attitude at Sofi's. You get that "I'm trying really hard to look like I'm romantic and that I DIDN'T try really hard." That being said, I really don't care about what other trumpets think. I just wanted to go on a little rant about students. Sofi's was grimy, nicely, whimpy... but the back room was great. Whoever was controlling the music was playing Prince, Ray la Montagne, Iron&Wine... you name it! Pretty sure my friends and I were the only ones who knew the lyrics to every song... and of course we started a dance party. Some people gave us novels, and we got some dirty looks. You can't win 'em all! From the YelpLibs (MadLibs)... http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/4146-yelplibs/ read more

A small and extremely eclectic bar, it's probably not the cheapest, but it's definitely worth the experience. I have to admit it's the first time I've been in a pub and have been licked by one of the bar staff:) read more

Sofi's - One of the bar staff :) - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I know people go nuts over the whole Sofi's group of bars but I just don't get it. Sure, they try to recreate the home vibe but the wooden chairs aren't that comfy and the whole tables for 2 thing would be fine if you are a twosome, but not ideal for more peeps. Clearly a local bar though and staff are really friendly to locals and newbies. Limited beers on draft (usual suspects - stella, etc) and my beer blogging amigo wasn't impressed. The Iduns cider is great though. read more

Cozy area in the back to curl up with a book and a cuppa tea - although be warned its by teabag rather than a pot and you might get forgotten back there! Staff are friendly and the establishment allows dogs. Most people seem to come for alcoholic bevies and I haven't had any food here so the rating is based on ambiance alone (certainly not the tea or service). read more

Sofi's - Loved the soothing atmosphere of a virtual fire and cushioned seating areas - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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A little oasis of calm - soft lighting, warm service, a good selection of drinks and a higgeldy piggeldy Swedish-inspired setting that feels quirky and comforting at the same time. Great community activities too, bringing people together through Bake Nights, Film Nights, Knitting Nights, exhibitions and more. While away the hours and let the stresses of the world seep away in a spot with true character and charm. Has wifi. read more

Headed here for a few drinks before our wee Yelp Christmas Night Out....... i liked it! It is full of character, it's nice and homely. Got a good selection of drinks, I didn't even know Timmermans did a peach beer until I went here! Drinks were on the verge of being a little expensive, but still perfectly reasonable. Only downside for me was that there is quite a lack of seating, especially if there is more than maybe four or five of you. BUT..... I can get past that. They also have posters explaining all the events they have on - a writers night, a swedish Christmassy carol sort of thing.... and a bake club!!! Yes please. So pretty much, if I lived out this way I would be here often.... especially for the half price champagne on Sundays. read more

Well stocked bar in the Swedish group of Edinburgh pubs. Dog friendly and its quirky interior gives it some extra charm. Cinema area in the back room. read more

I'm a bit of a regular at Sofis, living close by, so have had the fortune to visit plenty of times. This is not a 5-star review because the atmosphere isn't ALWAYS great: it depends when you go in and how busy it is. But I won't make a big deal out of this because it's Leith - it can be quiet during the day! The decor is pretty random - elegant, curio, shabby chic - and the format is in some ways more "cafe/bar" than pub. The majority of the seating being dedicated to cafe style two-seater tables gives a uniqueness to the format and I suspect also to the conversation. There's a pleasant selection of lunchy food (although I haven't checked to see how the new post-2pm opening hours affect this) and Artisan Roast coffee is delivered competently. Music is usually good, events like open mic and film screenings punctuate the month. The art on the walls is for sale and changes intermittently. I have come to love this place more than it's siblings up the Walk. It's got a certain vibe that has, amongst the Leith 'Swedish' establishments, distanced itself most daringly - and most charmingly - from the standard pub format. But relax - you can still order a drink from the bar! read more

My favourite cosy bar in Leith - the staff are always friendly. The decor is eclectic, with many hand made decorations, and the art changes almost every month. Oh, and try the cheeseboard. read more

Sofi's you'll always be my first and only local in Leith. I'll miss my pint of caesar's, the old weirdos hanging out there and the sing-song on open mic Sundays. read more

Sofi's is one of the loveliest and friendliest pubs down in Leith with a really chilled, laid back vibe. The decor of this place is very eclectic with mismatching furniture and a local artists paintings/sculptures for decoration. There are huge sofas and comfy armchairs making it very difficult to leave once you've been there a while. They have great promotions on including their champagne night where they have very cheap bubby, and the cinema night where they show classic films on a large screen in the back room. Staff in Sofi's are very friendly and welcoming, which means it always has a regular flow of regulars returning. On a Friday/Saturday night this place can be heaving, often spilling out onto the street for air! read more

When Sofi's opened it was a refreshing change to the typical pubs in the area. Quirky and fun with a decent selection of drinks and pleasant bar staff. The draught beers are a bit limited, but there are plenty of bottles and the swedish cider selection was unusually good before it became more commonplace. I haven't been to any of the 'nights' that they run (knitting, cinema etc), but it's great place to meet friends for a catch up. read more

Love this wee place. We book out the backroom for our chrimbo movie and the staff are cool with us ordering in a takeaway. Great staff, good selection of beverages including boutique gins and my favourite alcoholic ginger beer Hollows and Fentimans (even better with a wee tequila float on the top). A nice relaxed place that hosts various events, movie nights and open mic. Plus they've usually got a Tunnocks teacake or log kicking about to go with your cuppa. read more

I love this little bar...the food menu is cleverly placed inside an old fashioned book , and the tabeledecorated with old fashioned candle holders. Really quirky and i would say its a decor is very femine. Cocktails are ace and its definatley one of my favourite spots for meeting friends, or a romantic date! read more

i am so disappointed that i have lived in leith for over 5 years and never ventured to sofi's until last night. i'm almost heartbroken that i've been missing out on this lovely little gem of a bar and now feel that i must make up for missed time! monday night it's dark, rainy, and the gusts of wind are nearly knocking me down as i fight my way from the bus stop to the warm glow of sofi's. it was nearly empty when i entered, but fair enough it was monday night. i was warmly greeted by the bartender (who also happened to be a former flatmate of one of the friends i was meeting) and i choose a seat right next to the warm radiator. while waiting on our third friend, i confirmed that they were still offering food and then ordered the bread and dips platter for one and an elderflower mojito off their virgin cocktail menu. the bread platter was freshly made with four huge slices of delicious white bread nicely toasted served with balsamic and olive oil, red pepper hummus, and an olive tapenade with a nice little dish of green olives as well. it was lovely and perfectly filling after my trip to the gym. the elderflower mojito was just gorgeous!! fresh and sweet and slightly sour with a minty kick, it was the perfect companian to my food. now the company i had was excellent, but being in sofi's made me feel like we were sat round someone's kitchen table just having a good blether. the bar was so cosy and warm and the people working there are so friendly this is just such a perfect spot for a low key drink. out of all the sister bars that sofi's has, i think this has to be my favourite. it has such a special charm and warmth that i'm already trying to come up with reasons to go back as soon as possible. read more

Fantastic local bar that feels like your own living room. Very laid back. Different beers on tap, good cocktails. Dogs welcome every first Sunday of the month. Winner of best local bar of the year. read more

This Bar has seriously gone down hill. Previous experience was very good due to friendly staff and great service.Sadly was in again after some months and a total change in staff. The two bar men where so unhelpful and didn't seem interested or happy at work. One bar man for the hour we where in , stood behind the bar texting / playing in his phone, the majority if tables where dirty with glasses on them and neither staff member was bothered !! We cleared or own table when we arrived and brought the dirty glasses to the bar. Not even an acknowledgement from the staff. Definitely will not be back !! read more

It has that eccentric homely decor where nothing really matches. It has paintings on the wall of Bill Murray but I think different artists get to exhibit. There was a sign for a Knitting group held there every week. I guess they use the wee room in the back. We sat in there and there was a lot of us but I can imagine it made the couple that were sitting there uncomfortable. It is a dog friendly bar but I would watch out for dog water bowls lurking on the floor. My friends jacket sleeve ended up in one. It is nice enough but I don't think I would go out of my way to go there. read more

This is really just a review of Sofi's back room! It's not obvious they even HAVE a back room, as you have to walk past the bar and turn right almost but not quite into the men's loos (I can see that going wrong after a few glasses of wine). Anyway, I went there for some 'Freelance Friday' drinks and found a gorgeous little pale blue, tongue-and-groove cabin of a room, with bits and bobs of furniture and quirky stuff on the walls. It's a perfect size for a little group, especially if people don't know one another - it's quiet enough to actually talk, and you get drawn into lots of conversations. Staff are lovely and friendly, surprisingly so given how cool they look! And they did a good range of snacks and crisps and cakes and soup - I don't think there's a full menu but it was great for what we were wanting. Like all of Edinburgh's 'Swedish' bars it's not cheap, but it's worth it - a lovely place to meet up and have a chat. read more

I was fortunate enough to find myself in Sofi's a while ago, on a Sunday evening. For those of you that don't know, Sunday in Sofi's has been christened Champagne Sunday, where they offer glasses and bottles of the bubbly stuff for cut prices. Excellent. A few glasses of fizz later and my memories of Sofi's are a wee bit hazy, but I had a great night in there and ended up visiting it a few times afterwards. There must be something Swedish in the air around here, because this pub has a distinctly Swedish feel, as does nearby Victoria's and Boda, which I have to assume are all owned by the same chain/management. Nice laid back atmosphere, which is complimented by the decor and friendly staff-punter combination. read more

Sofi's is a simple, stylish little bar with excellent staff. Though it's a half-pint smaller than sister pub Joseph Pierce, it's very well-stocked with a short but carefully selected wine list. As a space, it's a book-of-matches-sized bistro for enjoying tea, quirky art and knitting - but as a hub, it packs in a huge amount of Leith culture and character. We heart Sofi's x read more

Lovely quiet bar/cafe with pleasant atmosphere to meet friends. It is a bit on the cramped side, but makes up for it in charm.

Sofi's is part of the brilliant Swedish quartet of bars which adorn Leith. Chic, hip, upbeat and popular it is a great place to have a drink and socialise. Bright and spacious it has Pastel blue-coloured archways running through the pub. It is surrounded by much rougher pubs but all this means that Sofi's is somethign of a gem on Henderson St. read more

I absolutely love the Swedish pubs in Leith and Sofi's is no exception. I used to pop in here for a glass of wine after work and end up staying for hours. It's so comfy and welcoming and the staff so friendly you just forget you have to be anywhere else. The prices are quite good too and there is a nice range of wines and other drinks to choose from. They often have events going on, including the movie night, where they screen old films in the back room. The food is also quite different and all comes with a Swedish flavour. I particularly love the pizzas. Really cosy and one of Leith's best. read more

I love this bar and the sister bars Boda, Joseph Pearce and Victoria and have been visiting them quite often i love the fact that all of them have different characters and yet still feel all comfortable and pleasing in different ways. Sofi's is my living room, no really. I need some peace and quiet during the day I'll go to Sofi's. I want to see some friends; I'll go to Sofi's. As of late they started selling chocolates in addition to their cupcakes and cookies :o) I love these as they are all ethical and organic and some made locally and very tasty! The pub itself and the staff are very pleasing and helpful. It is like visiting an old friends house and finding out something wonderful has happened - they keep reinventing the place with special themed evenings , charity days and evenings or even whole months! March is Chocolate Month at Sofi's - there is more but I'd say go there one day end enjoy! read more

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First impression, based on the cosy look of the place, is very good but further experience reveals that it is run in a very amateur manner, not quite hitting the standards they clearly aspire to. For instance, Wi-Fi is now a fairly standard expectation at any bar or cafe but, at Sofi's, when you ask for the password, you are given it but apologetically told that they have been receiving complaints from customers all week that it doesn't work. Indeed, it does not. Most customers are now well aware that setting a password on a router is simple, so, allowing a problem like this to persist for more than a few hours reveals a failure to understand your customers - if your paying customers care enough about Wi-Fi ask for the password, it simply isn't good enough to warn them that the password doesn't work, you need to get some sort of manager to turn up, reset the router and change the password if necessary. It is not rocket science, but this sort of slip-up reveals a company that is not focused. If you want to charge top-notch prices, you need to provide a top-notch service, not just pretend to be that sort of bar. read more

Cosy little bar with great beer, nice atmosphere and regular art exhibitions. We could do with more bars like this in Edinburgh!

cute place, bad ambiance set from staff complaining and badly talking about customers/other employees loud enough for others to hear

Great little pub for relaxing in either day or evening. A women can go in and feel comfortable alone. Good coffee and good snacks. Great choice of drinks and cocktails read more

By far the best bar in leith. Down to earth, chilled, cozy and quirky.

Very disappointing experience. The decor could be described as quirky but a less than friendly welcome from the barmaid put us on the back foot immediately and the 2 x JD & coke's served were the worst I have ever tastedand I've tasted a lot. The measures were very small (had they run out/not wanted to open another bottle?), the coke was very flat, ice minimalbasically you couldn't taste the JD, just flat cokewe left them at the bar, thanked the lady and left. I believe they had some sort of midsummer's Scandinavian soiree the night before so this might explain the mood of the barmaid if she had over indulgedI cannot excuse the measly/awful drink served up though. read more

quirky, but ouch! west end prices is downmarket part of leith, much better pubs around at much more reasonable prices.