We stayed here for five days while attending a wedding at the nearby Barony Castle, and I can't…read morepraise The Horseshoe Inn enough! The rooms at the inn were small but cozy, with comfortable beds and everything you need included. The free breakfasts at the attached pub were generous and delicious, as were all the meals. The fish and chips were heaven! The chicken and leek pie was amazing, with a flaky crust and creamy, tasty interior. The staff were friendly and helpful but not at all intrusive. And to top it off, the bus from central Edinburgh stops right outside the inn door. The setting is bucolic, the food beyond delicious, the rooms cozy - I really hope I have another chance some day to stay here!

WE SEEMED TO hit every traffic light from Newhaven to Sir Harry Lauder Road as we journeyed south…read moretowards The Horseshoe. I cannot stand others' lateness, particularly when it comes to eating arrangements, so I was slightly embarrassed to call ahead and advise of our unfortunate delay. This unassuming restaurant with rooms is situated 17 miles from Edinburgh city centre, just outside of Peebles (Eddleston to be exact). I knew very little about it, bar the odd comment that "it has a good reputation" and held two AA Rosettes. After a torrid hour-and-a-half trek I was in need of a glass of wine, never mind a three-course lunch. Let's hope that those earlier comments were accurate. A chat with the Maître d' ed to a glass of a rather special Albarino (2014) "Contrapulto" from Rias Baixas, Spain being ordered. It had a stunning colour and texture to it with fruity notes and a hint of lemon. Its richness meant that it was the perfect sipping wine and I reckoned it would pair very well with the seafood dishes I was about to tackle. My starter was an eye-pleasing bowl of smoked pancetta, clams, coco beans and chorizo. It had a wonderful aroma to it. I delved in to find a slight bite to the beans and a rather opulent sauce-come-soup in the bottom that had a welcome smack of salt and smoke from the pancetta. The clams were grit-free, thankfully, and melted in the mouth along with little morsels of squid that graced the plate with a hint of the sea. There was no chorizo as billed, but I didn't miss it; the pancetta flavour was more than enough. Sarah elected to try the pressed pork terrine with sour cherries, cashew nuts, chutney and chicory. Serving temperature can often be an issue with terrines but this one had been allowed to come to room temperature before leaving the kitchen. It was moist and properly set with crunch from the nuts speckled throughout. The apple chutney sliced through the fattiness while the chicory brought contrasting bitter notes, as well as texture. An earthy sweetness was chaperoned in by some courgette ribbons but the best thing about it was the cherries. They weren't overly sour but really harmonised with the other tones of flavour. I fancied the roast but for reviewing purposes had to go for the hake with a crispy fish cake, broccoli and mussels since Sarah won the toss. I say that like it was a chore - it wasn't at all. The fish was beautifully cooked, crisp skin and all. The tasty flakes of hake marvelled in the puddle of juices at the bottom of the bowl where it gleefully played around with some tender shallot rings cooked well enough to still bring bite to the dish. The lemon flavour from the fish cake was what really brought this dish to life; its prominence was admirable and even complemented the expertly executed broccoli stems. Sweet mussels were a little bonus on what was a very accomplished piece of cookery. It would have to be a spectacular roast to top that main course and it was as equally superb. The sirloin of borders beef yielded with little resistance. The Litmus test for a great roast is in the spuds for me, but this attempt was spot on - crisp exteriors and fluffy interiors all round. A crunchy homemade Yorkshire pudding hit the brief but it was the medley of autumnal vegetables that made this dish memorable. The assertive, slight bitterness of the chard was met with sweet carrots and roasted beetroot, but those delectable onion petals were the real star for me. The only quibble here was that Sarah felt the beetroot could have been slightly softer. All good things must come to an end and my lunch concluded with an old-school vanilla rice pudding with poached apricots and apricot sorbet. The key here was that the rice pudding wasn't too sweet and the rice still had a presence. It was creamy but with waves of vanilla tantalising the palette. I got a flavour of cola bottles from somewhere that I really liked and the cold sorbet weighed in with a contrast in temperatures. Cherry savarin with cherry sorbet, vanilla and fig was another pretty dish. The savarin was moist and the different textures on the plate were a deligt to eat. Fig was the dominating flavour rather than the expected cherry but the combinations of the smooth sorbet and the cake, coupled with the vanilla cream, were divine. This was one of the most enjoyable meals I've had this year. The consummate professionalism of the service, outstanding cooking and exemplary wine offerings coalesced to create a fine dining experience that not only ticked all the boxes but came at an extremely reasonable price to boot.

We were visiting a friend in Peebles and booked here for lunch. Although they were moderately busy,…read morethey coped with our group of five promptly and attentively, with a good deal of cheery banter and hilarity from the waiter making us feel right at home. I had one of the specials for mains, stone bass (fish) on a rather interesting celeriac 'risotto' with hiko cabbage - I have no idea what that is but it was tasty! Three of the others opted for grilled plaice fillet with crushed potatoes, spinach, brown shrimps in parsley butter, which also looked very good. The remaining member of our group chose the vegetarian option of roasted artichoke, spinach, truffle, parsley and almond risotto. I had been tempted to try that as artichokes are one of my favourite vegetables, but being dairy intolerant I was a bit suspicious of the risotto; a suspicion that was confirmed when they checked with the kitchen. No matter, the sea bass was delicious. The real prize was the dessert. Looking for the least dairy-containing item, I opted for the dark chocolate mousse with boozy cherries and salted caramel. This came in its own little sealed Mason jar and had what appeared to be some marshmallow pieces throughout the mousse, before you got down to the alcohol-soaked cherries and caramel at the bottom. This was an absolute taste bomb in your mouth - just sensational. I kid you not. If you have nothing else on the menu, I urge you to try this dessert!

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.

What a little jewel I found!…read more The Mill Inn is located in Coulter 5 min down the road from Biggar and 45 min from Edinburgh. It is easy to find as it is pretty much the only restaurant/bar in that area. It also has its own beer garden and in the summer this must be a plus. I believe that this building was once an old Mill and you might think so from the name it got today :-) Inside the floor is covered with typical Scottish designed red carpet, dark furnishing, wooden benches and beams. There is no doubt the restaurant downstairs has its charms. On the other side of the room, away from the dining tables there is a small bar with lots of different whiskey choices. Upstairs you will find additional seating and a small whisky bar with lots of different whiskey's on offer and for sale. The most expensive one costs £1500 Highland Park and last week they sold a £3000 special edition of some sort. No worries, you can also buy affordable whiskey from well known brands. Our voucher deal offered a starter and main course for a very good price. We ordered Shrimp salad and baked brie as a starter. The brie was soft and filling (you get two pieces), served with cranberry sauce. There was no brie spared. As a main we ordered Chicken Fajitas and it came with 3 sauces (salsa, sour cream, guacamole). Not only this, the chicken was served still on a hot plate, sizzling in delicious spices hot and mild, garnished with peppers and onions and a delicious sauce of some sort, which made the taste even more delicious. We also decided on coffee and with it they served a small piece of fudge, which was such a nice gesture. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. It is a very busy place and best you book a table before turning up unannounced. I will be back ! Whoop

One of the worst dinner services I've had in a LONG time…read more The food was barely mediocre. My lemon sole, a special of the day, was utterly tasteless, and didn't have the slightest hint of lemon. Not even a lemon wedge. And it was raw in the middle. Yuck! The worst part of our experience was the absolutely horrendous service, which was so incredibly slow that it was obnoxious. Waitresses buzzed past our table in their hurry to other tables, while we sat for an eternity. The only explanation I can think of is that my husband is Black, and we've encountered this issue before at restaurants. In any case, the service was downright inexcusable. I wouldn't ever go back.

First place we ate when we came in. Vibe was super cool, had live music. Got the fish & chips and…read moresteak pie, yummy first meal!!

7pm reservation, we were seated immediately. The menu is clever and there really seems to be…read moresomething for everyone. My frittata was light but full of fresh piping hot vegetables. The wine list is replete with moderately priced wines; honestly we would have been willing to pay more for a couple of even better alternatives, but I would not classify that as a complaint. Service was friendly and attentive and this restaurant is so eclectic and fun.

We visited this amazing restaurant that was listed in the Michelin guide. We have been all over the…read moreworld to dozens of Michelin stars places and this belongs amongst them. The staff was amazing and the food was incredible. The venison dish there is among the three best dishes we have had in our life. Highly recommend it! The wild mushroom appetizer was incredible as well. We LOVED our experience here!

A real favourite! Under new ownership since summer 2015, this stylish, friendly restaurant is a…read moremust visit. A great bar area with a huge range of gins and great selection of cocktails. The menu changes monthly and is always innovative and the decor feels very light and almost Scandinavian- it's decorated beautifully for Christmas. Have never had a disappointing meal!

What a find! Wonderful food, drinks and service. As a vegan I don't expect a lot from any menu but…read moreI have found repeatedly, especially in Scotland, that there are always great choices. I had a lovely sausage in garlic, cranberry and tarragon gravy and fresh vegetables. My husband had the fish special and raved. If you are in the area, I highly recommend this lovely little pub.

To this day their Steak & Ale Pie is the best I've ever had, wish it wasn't across an ocean or I'd…read morebe a regular for that alone! Delicious and tender beef, savory gravy and a light and flaky top all made this a meal I still dream about, definitely try it if you have the chance!

With so may average pubs in Edinburgh, this one really stood out. Best off so far. I had the…read moreShepards pie which was fantastic and mostly meat. Veggies were perfectly cooked and seasoned. My daughter had the duck, and it was the best meal on our trip for her. Generous portion perfectly cooked and seasoned. Very impressed and I would come back in a heart beat. Very few pubs were as good as this one.

Well, we had dinner on one of our last nights in Edinburgh, and it did not disappoint! Get your…read morereservations! The upstairs dining room (bar side) is absolutely charming and welcoming, and the staff could not have been better, or friendlier. The food? Come ON! Really grand! We started with the chips and dip (fries with Sriracha Mayo) - they were crisp and the mayo was just spicy enough. My husband had a sizeable portion of fish and chips, which was perfectly cooked, and had a light batter. I had the most delicious burger, with bacon and cheddar; mash on the side. All the food was hot; well seasoned; and quickly served. The Doric has their own GF beer on draft, which is quite good, and a selection of regular beer for those of you who don't need GF. Great selection of scotch, as well. Make your reservation ahead of time, and don't miss the oldest pub in Edinburgh!

Such a friendly and beautifully set restaurant. The food is picturesque and top notch. Everything…read morewe had, from the large portions of bread paired with roasted red pepper humus to the flaky and flavorful cod, was exceptional. The wait staff is helpful as well as friendly. They prepared a table for us even amidst a packed house. Know that this is not just a restaurant, it's a date night restaurant. We brought the kids, which was perfectly okay, but the setting and price is more date night worthy. This place is terrific! Enjoy!

Good haggis, but overall underseasoned and underwhelming…read more My fiancé and I visited Howie's and had a mixed experience. We started with the haggis appetizer, which was genuinely delicious hearty, comforting, and reminded me of a Salisbury steak with gravy and potatoes. If you're going, I'd absolutely recommend starting there. Unfortunately, the rest of the meal didn't live up to that strong start. My fiancé ordered the ribeye with fries, and once again I have to say: Edinburgh really struggles with fries. These were bland, oily, and needed a serious dose of salt. The ribeye itself had no seasoning, which was disappointing. While the peppercorn sauce was good, a quality ribeye should be flavorful on its own without having to rely on sauce. I ordered the salmon with beets and potatoes. It was decent, but, like much of the food we've had in Edinburgh so far, it could have used more seasoning. The ingredients seem fresh, but the flavors just don't sing. For dessert, we shared the banoffee pie. It was light and not overly sweet which I appreciated but it was just okay. Not memorable. Service was another weak point. Our server wasn't rude, but we were largely forgotten because there was a large party seated behind us. At this price point, you expect attentive service. I understand Scotland doesn't operate on a tipping culture, but when restaurants are charging higher prices (and often more than comparable U.S. restaurants once converted from GBP), the quality and attentiveness should match. Overall, Howie's wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. Amazing haggis, decent dishes, mediocre seasoning, and slow service. For locals who prefer milder flavors, this might be a solid choice but for visitors used to more robust seasoning and higher service standards, it may fall short.