I probably haven't been in since about 2011, but popped in for a late lunch earlier this week. It's much lighter and brighter than it was before, and nice warm place to hide away on a rainy afternoon! It serves Mexican food, it's a fairly small menu, but has pretty much everything you'd imagine. I had a chicken burrito with green rice (still no idea what green rice is and how it differs from regular rice), it was yummy. Large portion size, I managed to finish it, but only just! The prices were pretty reasonable, and now I'm wondering why I hadn't been for 5 years! read more

Hidden away under the hustle and bustle of Broughton Street, another of Edinburgh's hidden treasures. It is a bar and restaurant, brilliantly retro and modern at the same time (paradoxically it works), found underground just in the nice area of Leith. The bar is a combination of traditional pub, serving a good range of beers, and then a more trendy wine bar, with some unusual cocktails being proffered. The restaurant is great as well, but make sure you book, as it is tiny so fills up really quickly. There is tasty seafood on offer for the starters and the steaks, especially the rump are the best on the menu for the main courses. These come with a nice addition of hand cut herby chips and veg. Again for main courses the fish is also a wise choice, to be honest you won't be disappointed with much on the menu. The prices are pretty reasonable and they do a lunch menu for £7.95. If you can get past the hideous shirts worn by the waiters then this is an often overlooked gem in the centre of town read more

This is my favourite Mexican Restaurant and Bar in Edinburgh. A little gem not too far from John Lewis. Always a warm welcome, great service, lovely food and very good coffee. read more

Funky bar where the staff wear loud Hawaiian shirts. It's in a basement (oh, yes) and so it can get very hot in the summer, and it gets extremely busy too, but the service is good. It has a huge brightly painted mural with characters who I guess are based on some of the regulars there. It's pretty central, so if you've a loose couple of hours to spare before going to The Playhouse, it's well worth a visit. read more

This is a quirky bar to be found at the top of Broughton Street. Surprisingly, in 'a basement'. Who'd have thought it, eh? Anyway, it really is rather large - I never would have expected this. The interior is comfortable - candles on the tables (always dangerous around me) give a lovely warm atmosphere, and the staff in their bright Hawaiian shirts really can't be missed. Well, maybeif you were blind drunk. Half of The Basement is laid out in a relaxed bar style format, and the other is set out in a more restaurant like manner. I've never yet eaten in here, but I'm sure I'll get around to it at some point. The drinks aren't too cheap, so I'm not sure how expensive the food will be by comparison however. Outside, at the bottom of the steep flight of stairs down from the main street, there are sheltered tables, chairs and heat lamps - mostly frequented by the smokers. But for all it's outside, it really is rather toasty. Perfect for those winter months! It's a funky, quirky bar and well worthy of a look in. But if you're feeling rather skint, then this isn't really going to be your best bet. There are definitely cheaper pubs in the area. read more

The basement is definitely not the place to go if you're planning a romantic first date, however if you're looking for somewhere with atmosphere, good food at a reasonable price then look no further. The place is split in two, half is a straight forward bar whilst the other is a bar restaurant. The menu isn't overly long but the food is tasty and the portions large. read more

Don't let the picture confuse you, this bar is actually the Basement Bar on Broughton Street, not the hogshead off Rose Street!! A lovely bar, great food, friendly bar staff in hawaiian shirts, and a fantastic and inexpensive range of drinks on offer - perfect for the start of a busy night, but get down early as it fills up quick. Ess read more

I first visited the Basement as a wee young thing back in 1996 when I first moved to Edinburgh. I still try to visit every time I am back in town. It's comforting how little it has changed in all that time: same dim, cosy atmosphere; comfort grub; good selection of drinks, and the staff still have to wear those garish aloha shirts. Never change, Basement. I'll always love you. read more

I had lunch with my colleagues there today and liked it! Authentic setting that brought me back to my time in Mexico and the food was wonderfully cooked. Too bad we didn't have any cocktail. I'll be back! read more

The Basement - Lovely dishes to share (: - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I really like this place, from the Hawaiian shirts to the quirkily styled toilets, it is different but without being an 'I'm so wacky look at me' kind of place. My parents love it too. I would always book ahead in the evening for meals but you can normally pop in and get a lunch and the menus change every day so there is normally something a bit different to tempt you. They serve good beer, the music is really nice and the seating is again quirkily different without being too in your face. It is a nice place to pop into to get a beer and also does some really great hangover food. read more

The Basement bar is a great little find at the top of Broughton Street. As the name suggests it is tucked away in the basement, but it's always a lively and fun place for a night out. The bar staff are really friendly and all wear the fun uniform of a Hawaiian shirt. The bar is split into two parts, one exclusively for dining, and the other for drinks (and food if you wish). Finding a table when you only want a drink is difficult so arrive early, or book one of the tables on the dining side. Drinks are pretty much standard for their price and selection, but they do have a fairly good wine list. The food is fantastic and much better than your average pub grub. It's loosely based on a tex-mex theme, but there's definitely something for everyone and at a very reasonable price. read more

One of my favourite bars in Edinburgh for a few drinks or a bite to eat. One half of the bar being taken up by a restaurant area and the other a seated bar area where you can still order and eat food. The food is amazing value with massive platefuls of delicious Mexican meals being the order of the day. Drinks are reasonably prices and the friendly staff in Hawaiian shirts always raises a smile. The bar can get real busy on a Friday or Saturday night as it fills up with pre-club goers so beware if you get there too late you may not have a seat! read more

I absolutely loved this place. It was probably my favourite bar that I visited whilst in Edinburgh. Heading down the steps to the entrance, they have an adorable little smoking/outdoor patio with fairy lights and a real cosy feel. Inside, you walk straight into what looks like a very hipsterish, modern, fun cocktail bar. The restaurant section is on the other side of the actual bar, so there is a very good degree of separation between the eating and drinking areas. The bar area itself is quite spacious, with a mix of wall booths and high barstools. The cocktail list is fun and expansive, the prices reasonable (around £8 each). Really, really nice vibe in here. It's also just around the corner from a handful of gay bars for those looking to enjoy Edinburgh's rainbow triangle! read more

This a lovely wee pub that i stumbled in2 the other night. Very clean and tidy looking with a good sized bar and serves yummy food. Good reasonably priced drinks with lots of seating and tables around. Not too busy either, which i like. Only thing i didn't like is the steps down, they very steep and not so funny if your very intoxicated.. lol read more

Went to this place with a small group of family based on recommendations from Yelp. Was spot on to be honest. The place looks a bit plain, but the food was great and the range of drinks reasonable. I would recommend this as a good bar to start the night or meet for a drink and some food after work. Would definitely visit again! read more

I had a great night here recently, I went out with a group of 18 people for dinner on a Friday after work, and the steak fajitas were lush! Overall its definitely worth a visit as the the food, service and atmosphere was great! I will definitely be going back. read more

It's an ok pub but the staff will make a view in your capability to drink and decide if you should stay or go. If you don't know where the badly sign posted toilets are then you will be out. Put up better signs and you'd get better paying customers. read more

one of my favorite bar/restaurants around- great laid back vibe,good mix of people, and refreshingly not studenty or too many yuppies. the food is excellent and not too pricey and there is a small, though down the stairs, outside area with heating lamps- for smokers and having a drink outside. the furniture is cool, service great- many hot bartenders. loses a star for requiring said bartenders to wear hawaiian shirts read more

I used to go to this place all the time, and recently went back after about nine months - they've remodeled the place and completely changed the menu, so this was a first trip to the new-and-improved Basement. The short version is that the new interior is fab, but the food is just ok. The longer version: The place is comfortable, more colourful and brightly-lit than it used to be, and the service is amazing. There's some beautiful Mexican art throughout the place, and the updated bar, restaurant area, and even restrooms all look fantastic. The menu looked amazing, and they even have table-side guacamole (they prepare it at your table to your specifications), which I haven't seen anywhere in the UK before. Unfortunately, the quality of the food isn't great. The burrito is very dry, the fish tacos don't seem much like tacos (wiry salad and cucumbers? since when is this what a taco is made up of?), the 'small bites' are a bit bland (we got the crayfish mini tacos, and there was so little crayfish and so much guacamole and raw onion that I couldn't taste the crayfish at all), and even with the table-side preparation, the guacamole was meh (though the avocados were fresh and of good quality, which is hard enough to come by!). To be fair, I'm from Southern CA, so my Mexican food standards are probably unreasonably high, but in future I'd probably only go to the Basement for drinks (their cocktail and liquor menus are very impressive!). read more

i'd not been to the basement in over two years, so when drinks were planned and this was the place suggested i was curious to check it out again. what i had been told was that it had finally been re-furbished so i was interested to see how it had changed and if it finally got the face lift it so desperately needed!! how i remember the basement is a fairly good space, one half for dining and one half for drinks at the bar but very dark and very very loud. on walking in on thursday night the first thing i noticed was how light it was! complete change from before and all the furniture was brightly coloured as well which really gave the place a nice feel. the bar area felt more spacious than before (that might be because i could see it better...) and there is even a small side room with space for about a dozen people that adds to the space. i'm not sure if they did something to deal with the noise, but sitting in the small side room i definitely felt like this place wasn't as loud as it used to be. so that's also a positive! i'm not sure what the food menu is like as i was only there for drinks, but the drinks menu looks good. they have a good choice of cocktails, with a focus on tequila based ones and a decent variety of beers. the wine list is ok, a bit small for my liking but enough choice that i still found a red i wanted. since i only had red wine i'm leaving my rating for the basement a bit on the low side until i go back to try out the food. but from what i saw the other night this place definitely looks improved and hopefully my rating will go up once i've had a meal there :) read more

Another place having a laugh at £4.50 a pint. Not a bad change decor-wise though, apart from the unsightly breeze block-supported table.

First time I've had a chance to eat here since the refurb and I was pleasantly surprised as I was always more than happy with the food but the standard has definitely been raised. From our amazing server who greeted us as soon as we came in and was attentive but never intrusive, to the little extras like water for the table without being asked, to the revamped menu with lots of new and very tasty items and the zhuzhed up outside area. Prices still as good as ever only knocked a star off as the side of chips could of been a bit more generous and crisper. Seeing as this is pretty much on my doorstep I will be eating here a lot. read more

Good place for Mexican food, or even just a drink. Guac made tableside was ok, but salsa sampler was good. Burritos, enchiladas, tacos... The usual Mexican fare. Good atmosphere. I'd go back. read more

Drinks are quite pricey but it's in town so that's all that can be expected. Heated smoking area is fab.

After 2 weeks in the UK, I wanted a little taste of home and wanted to give this little place a try. Who goes to Scotland and has Mexican food? This girl! I am glad I tried it. Nice place, I made a reservation on Yelp, got seated right away. Ordered the tableside made Guacamole, which was a little on the bland side, I had to add some salt and hot sauce to it to make it better. Also ordered the beef fajita, that was also ok, had a little more flavor. All in all The Basement had great ambiance, the food was just ok to hold over the craving. Staff was nice, although it seemed like only one girl was working. read more

Nice service and atmosphere. It's a good place for drinks but I've had two meat dishes and one was way too spicy that I couldn't even enjoy my meal. The other meat dish had no flavour. I've been disappointed the few times I've eaten there. read more

So good, we had to go back twice while there on a long weekend (which I am ashamed to say). Good selection of beer, reasonable amount of seating and good crowd. read more

Great hidden gem on Broughton street. Cool without being overly trendy and definately benefitting from its recent refit which added a bit more space without overhauling the look and feel of the bar. The food here is fantastic for the price. try the roast chicken salad. It takes a little longer to prepare but it's well worth the wait. The also do an impressive range of tequilas. read more

The Basement is charming; From the staff clad in their bright Hawaiian shirts with their even cheerier personalities and fantastic serving skills, to the reasonably priced, delicious food, everything about this place makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The steak here is fantastic, really good quality meat cooked perfectly to order with great sauces and sides, and the beef and merlot pie is gorgeously rich and unctuous [what an amazing word that is by the way, I'm quite sure it's onomatopoeic]. They also serve mexican food like burritos, and on the weekends they serve an extended mexican menu, which is good news as mexican food is delicious and good. The drinks are great, the desserts are divine, the atmosphere is relaxed, the staff are super friendly- go here. You won't regret it. read more

I looooooooove this place! The service is some of the best in Edinburgh - informal and friendly but extremely professional and the food is gorgeous - try the chicken salad with balsamic croutons, mmmmmmm! The cocktail list is brilliant, too - it's a great place to visit if you're a spirits connoisseur, as they have a really excellent, lovely selection. Great for dates / atmospheric meals with friends. Seriously, try this place! read more

Nice enough bar, pretty central. Nothing particularly great about it, notihng particularly obnoxious either, a good place for a few drinks.

I really liked this bar when my boyfriend and I stopped by a drink. Nice atmoshpere, good service, and the best frozen margharita I've had in a long time. What unusual furniture too? Can't even begin to explain, you'll just have to go see it yourself! read more

This is a great, funky little bar with friendly staff identified by their Hawaiin shirts. The atmosphere is laid back and cool and the clientele are varied, from chilled out and cool to dressed up and trendy. The food is fantastic, huge portions and very reasonably priced. read more

The basement is a really good pub on the busy stretch of Broughton St. Large but quite cosy, it's a homely bar by day and then a bustling one by night. Fairly expensive but typically so for this part of Edinburgh. read more

The Basement Bar is another good bar in Edinburgh. It's got a nice relaxed vibe and it's easily the kind of place you can spend the whole night with friends and not feel the need to move on somewhere better. They do food that I'm told is great and cheap though sadly I've not had the chance to try it yet. read more

Great Mexican food! Lunchtime was quiet so go at that time if you don't like it too busy. Drinks were great and the service was too. Sarah is lovely! read more

This was an awesome find! We popped in here on a Saturday night, only intending to stay for one drink. We ended up staying for over two hours and ordering food. The beer selection was decent and even though we were sitting outside, the vibe was good. Staff were helpful and efficient. The food is great, although I feel like the starters could have been a little bigger for the price. Still, a delicious and fun trip. Will definitely be back again. read more

Excellent Mexican restaurant based in Broughton Street, right in the heart of Edinburgh city centre. An original décor and joyful vibes is what you can definitely expect when going to have dinner to this exotic place. While drinking one of their sweet and fruity cocktails, you'll immediately feel like being on a dreamy island under the warm Mexican sun, far away from stress, problems and the Scottish rain. Prices are average but portions are very abundant and ingredients absolutely fresh, so write it down on your restaurant bucket list, especially if you are a big fan of tender stakes and smoky meat! read more

Unpretentious and simple drinking hole & restaurant. The food is okay, but good value for money and the bar has a lively and fun atmosphere. Some drinks are over priced - particularly non-alcoholic ones! It's a great place to laze about anytime of the day on a weekend. Also good for sport, well positioned TVs. read more

Lovely staff, food was surprisingly good and the place itself is worth an A+