Pretty good given the dearth of quality food among the tourist trap restaurants in the old town

I loved this place sooo much! Was solo for a few days and had a beautiful meal upstairs. Real Scottish food but with. A twist. Drinks were fun and plenty of whiskey flights. Affordable yet upscale enough for a date or just fun dinner. read more

The food is absolutely marvellous. Amazing service and a delightful setting just of Edinburghs Royal Mile. Excellent range of whiskies. 1000% recommend read more

See all

Inviting restaurant, the bar had a great variety. Food was delicious, got a variety and folks I was with was able to order what they wanted.

Amazing wine selection and the staff was so accommodating! Even though the place was jam packed- they let us in to celebrate my friends birthday. Will definitely be back! read more

From the name to the location, the ambiance, the food, the service everything was fantastic ! Our server Chevon was friendly, knowledgeable, and totally awesome! Best chips I ever had in The UK ! Chevon suggested a flight of scotch that was perfect, a bartender even came to the table and explained the different scotches and helped me to determine the aromas ! Great place a definite must stop when in Edinburgh!!!!! read more

We called ahead to check on gluten free bread as my daughter has Celiac and wanted a burger. They didn't have buns but did have gf bread so we figured we would try. We checked in and were seated. Our server asked about allergies and we mentioned that our daughter had Celiac. They said due to cross contamination they would NOT be able to serve her. We could eat but she couldn't. I have to assume they were sued in the pst as we have never been refused service due to dietary issues. This review is more of a warning to stay away if you have dietary issues. We were looking forward to try their food too as it was a nice space. read more

We arrived around 2-3 in the afternoon and didn't have to wait for a table upstairs. The staff was super friendly and recommended us dishes to try since we've never eaten in Edinburgh before. We went for the Black Haggis, Fish and Chips, and the Picanha Steak. It was our first time having black haggis and it was super delicious. The texture of the inside was grainy and the batter was super crisp and paired well together The salsa-like salad on the bottom had a good contrast in texture and the light flavor really went well with the haggis. The fish and chips was okay. The piece of fried cod was quite large and the portion size was generous. The batter was crispy and not too salty. The cod was flaky but didn't have much flavor. Since the tartar sauce wasn't too zingy and light in flavor, I think the cod should've had more seasoning. I think the chips really saved this dish. They're a thicker cut of fries (similar to steak fries). The steak was really delicious and cooked perfectly. I think the whiskey dipping sauce they gave really complimented the natural smokiness of the steak. It wasn't too heavy or oily. I recommend getting the steak over the fish and chips as an entree. Had a wonderful time eating at The Devil's Advocate and definitely recommend it to anyone who is visiting Edinburgh. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Black haggis - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Fantastic restaurant, a cut well above most of the restaurants in Edinburgh. Great ambiance, with extensive drinks list / we had a whiskey flight, and an old fashioned - and a liquor for desert - all excellent. We had the meat and cheese plate, chicken wings and a few other starters - each unique and well prepared. We had steaks for mains and they were the best sirloin I've had in years. Sticky toffee pudding for desert had clotted cream on it instead of ice cream - cream so buttery it made my mouth cheer with delight. A wonderful evening at a wonderful restaurant! read more

If a hipster bar and a speakeasy had a baby, this place might be it I just had to come here for the number one rated spot in Edinburgh. I wasn't super hungry so I stopped in for an appetizer and some wine after a day tour. The place is hidden down an alley, which gives it unique character already. I love the atmosphere and decor. I sat in a small booth off from the bar. The lighting is dark, the waiters are as hipster as they come and super friendly! I ordered the soup, which was a courgette and fennel soup - it was divine! I would definitely come back here next time I'm in town. Such a cool spot! read more

Such an excellent (not so) hidden gem in Edinburgh! Tucked away down Advocate's Close, this is such a great little nook - a place to enjoy the charms of the Old Town while hiding out from the crowds that come along with it. I've eaten here a few times, most recently in mid-September. The menu was considerably more expensive than I'd seen it on previous visits: I'm not sure if this was a Festivals hangover or if they figured out they could charge more what they offer. It seemed like a bargain before, and a little over-priced this time at around £100 for two: that's with a shared starter, 2 mains, and a few cocktails. The food is what I think of as high-end gastropub - with twists on some classics. This visit I had a potato soup take on haggis, neeps and tatties. For main, I went for the venison with winter berries, which was cooked perfectly but a little too sweet. I was glad to have ordered fingerling potatoes on the side to balance it out. Where this place really excels is in its mixology. I love a gin martini and this place introduced me to the wonder of Death's Door gin in a martini - really smooth with a hint of vanilla. Though I usually go for clear spirits, this time I had an Encore, a concoction including Japanese whisky, strawberry vermouth, and balsamic glaze which was tangy and delightful. In every cocktail I've had here, each ingredient has really shone. The cocktail menu seems to change seasonally - find one with a couple of ingredients you like and give it a go. All in all the meal I had this time wasn't quite as great as on past visits, but I'll be back. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Table setting & an encore cocktail - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Really nice atmosphere, great selection of whiskey and wine, staff über polite and accommodating. We had the soup of the day (to share) and it was actually suggested by our waiter; the mains amazing: brisket and mushroom polenta. Thinking of coming back tomorrow evening. read more

What an amazing spot!! The food is amazing and the whisky selection is fantastic. My friend and I had the Tour is Scotland flight and I definitely recommend it. We had the soup of the day, a delicious blend of sweet potato and spices. We also had the fish & chips and the polenta and mushrooms! Such a wonderful blend of flavors in the crispy polenta. We finished with the creme brûlée--perfect finisher. The service is amazing and I'm very thankful we called ahead to book a table as they can get busy quickly. It can be a little hard to find but it's right off of High St through Advocates close. Can't miss it after that! read more

See all

Incredible, absolutely my favorite restaraunt we visited while in Edinburgh. Great service, awesome drinks and even BETTER food!! Located off of Advocate's Close down the Royal Mile, we stumbled upon this place while walking to new town. They bar area is large with plenty of room to stand either at the bar while waiting or at a smaller high top. Very cool selection of house cocktails and the bartenders seemed to be able to whip different things up off the top of their heads as well!! We were seated on the ground floor in a somewhat private booth. 3 of us split a charcuterie board of excellent selections of meats and cheeses and oil. I got the pan roasted pork chop with chorizo and sweet potato puree and it was by far one of the best meals I've had in months. Everything on their menu looked and smelled incredible from what we saw. I will 100% be returning to this place when we return!! read more

The Devil's Advocate - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I think the food scene in Scotland is often overlooked... We were unable to get in during a previous visit to Edinburgh, so we were ecstatic we got a reservation here far in advance. Wonderful energetic atmosphere, and we were seated upstairs overlooking the bar. Service was prompt and helpful. We started with sharing the smoked fish platter which was unbelievably tasty! My venison haunch was cooked perfectly with shallots, peas and bacon. It made me wonder why we do not get fresh peas in the US more often! They were delicious! My dining partners all had different mains including a vegetarian selection, and were very happy with their meals and the portions. The wine was reasonably priced and complimented everything. Definitely worth taking the many challenging steps down Advocate Close to get there when you are in Edinburgh! read more

Had a fantastic smoked seafood plate for lunch - everything on the plate was beautifully prepared and tasty - maybe the best smoked salmon I've had in Edinburgh. I was happy to see green stuff on a menu (rare in the UK) like a delicious arugula salad and zucchini/corn fritters. The service was friendly and prompt. I enjoyed the no-alcohol cocktail I chose, and my friends appreciated the beer selection. This restaurant and bar is close to the touristy area but is a high quality and lively respite. read more

This place gets a great review for so many reasons.. 1. Service was awesome! They got us in despite not having a reservation. The bartender was really helpful, the waitress was so friendly 2. The ambiance is rocking! They really kept an authentic feel to this place. They have everything covered from the quieter table, bar, louder room and outdoor patios. All are great. And the walkway you take to get there is so amazing 3. The food was top notch, they really worked hard to create a great menu and I saw our menu was different than what I saw on yelp prior, so they seem to change it seasonally. We got a shared appetizer and I got the Venison, it was cooked perfect. My brother got the pork chop, again cooked perfect! Top stars!! read more

See all

By far my favorite bar in Edinburgh! Delicious drinks, gorgeous ambiance, and a true feeling of Old Town. To top it off, sit in a dark booth for a romantic, delicious meal, chock full of fresh meats and veggies. Hidden off the Royal Mile, you cannot pass up a stop at The Devil's Advocate. Even just walking down the dark alley, you are thrown back into Medieval Times and feel as though you have snuck into a secret hideout. Once inside, the stone walls and candlelight feel magical. The bar itself is beautiful and the cocktail list is superb! Enjoy an endless amount of scotch, and be prepared to hunker down for a few hours. You won't want to leave! read more

Finally visited after hearing so much about this place and was not disappointed! Delicious food, great atmosphere, great service. Would definitely recommend!! Will eat here again on my next Edinburgh trip! read more

The Devil's Advocate - Crispy pork belly. Absolutely delicious! - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Cute little bar and restaurant that was near our hotel. The food was absolutely fantastic! I took off one star because, for the price, we left a tad hungry. I ordered the baked cod in a leek and artichoke sauce. It was so yummy, but definitely needed a side or bread. My husband ordered the lamb, which was a bit more substantial. For dessert we ordered the chocolate mousse. It had orange and almonds in the ingredients, and was something to write home about! And our service was really excellent. It was a Monday so we got in and a table was emptying, but I would suggest reservations. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Baked cod - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Awesome venue, novel and concise gastropub menu including interesting cocktails and craft beer, stellar service, sizeable food portions. It's upscale enough to make for a romantic date night. The Devil's Advocate is a modern looking buildout in a historic part of Edinburgh. Inside the venue, they've done an excellent job incorporating the original, now exposed, stonework with modern decors like Edison lights and exposed ceilings. There is an upper loft of table seating along with an open floor space near the bar. We sat up in the loft for dinner service. Interior lighting was very dim, which gives it an old tavern-like ambiance. The menu here is rotating and concise with limited options, which is a good thing. I went for some local beer on draft that tasted fresh and was served in a large mug to keep the tavern feel going. Wife went with a signature cocktail, which tasted great and was served in a chilled, stainless shaker. Wife ordered the whole grilled sea bream, which I tried and it was phenomenal. Bone-in, rock salted, crispy skin. Wow! I ordered the braised lamb shank, which needed some salt but was otherwise braised to perfection served with a unique carb base of al dente chickpeas. Service was phenomenal throughout the evening. Overall, this was one of our favorite dining experiences in the UK. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Grilled whole seabream. Unreal flavor - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

We couldn't get dinner reservations but were able to get a table at lunchtime during a rainstorm. My wife and I shared the small smoked fish platter which could be a meal in itself. I had the burger which was the best I've had in Edinburgh and my wife only needed the lentil and bulger wheat side. Two pints of the pilot stout and one Irish coffee were enough to wash it all down. Great service and vibe. read more

Quality food, good services, nice music and environment. I do recommend this place to go.

The ambiance was superb! Located on a little side street off the royal mile, it really makes you feel like you were transported in time to the 16th century. Be aware there are several steps and steep incline. The restaurant it self was beautiful! All stone and wood with modern touches. Now the food! I started off with the soup of the day which wa as pea, leek and zucchini soup. Was a little under seasoned and so I wasn't very impressed. But to make up for it I had the most beautifuly cooked piece of cod I have ever had!! Flaky, buttery seared cod with a light coconut curry and lemongrass sauce with shaved fresh coconut. It was really delicious! The service was outstanding very attentive read more

Nianh, Givan( don't know if I spelled it right ) and Ronney were serving us here. They were so lovely and helpful. They were all recommended amazing cocktails and food. Food is so lovely with great ambience. Highly recommended! Try their whiskey and princess and the pea cocktail very unique and sooooo good! read more

See all

Honestly, the food was excellent, but I am giving a low review based on how we were treated by the management. From the moment we sat down, we were rushed to order our food so we could be out before the next table arrived. Two of our guests were late because of a ScotRail cancellation, and the remaining 4 of us apologized and explained the situation the situation whilst ordering starters and plenty of drinks. We were approached by the manager twice, eventually forcing us to order our entrees. Our server nervously paced behind our table the entire time, needlessly coming over to remove items fill water cups in what felt like continued pressure to hurry. Remaining guests finally showed up, they were thrown two menus and forced to order on the spot. After all that, we still had to move to a table adjacent to where we were sitting for the final 15 minutes of our rushed meal. Oh yeah, and by the time we paid our substantial check, the other party that was apparently so important had no even shown up. read more

Really the best meal we've enjoyed in Edinburgh center. Our service was outstanding but that is nothing compared to the food!! Wow! The chef truly honors the ingredients available in a way that speaks to the locale, the heritage and the people of Scotland. This is a Do Not Miss if you find yourself in Scotland make your way here for seriously the meal of the year. In addition to the over 300 Scotch Whiskey list you will find a lovely wine list from Austria to California. We could not be happier and I plan to book in for a dinner as well. Recommend reserving a table for either lunch or supper- you will NOT be disappointed. The building is incredibly historic with amazing stone work, worn from centuries of use, the fresh lit (and real) candles the rustic tables and the absolute authenticity of the period shine through like you arrived off the boat from England to claim your seat at the table. I'm hooked. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Building - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This place is rated number 1 because it is number 1. Beautiful space, great food, very good wine list and fantastic staff. Agree that reservations are a must. A little hard to find for those of those of us that are directionally challenged. Also, if you have any walking issues, you might be mindful of the steep incline/decline to get to and from the restaurant. Not terrible impressed with our appetizer, can't even remember what it was, but our main dishes were delicious. read more

This review is roughly 5 years late, but it deserved to be written regardless. In 2014, my now ex and I were backpacking for months in EU/UK. We had just had a long day of traveling and found our way to our hostel (Royal Mile Backpackers if you are looking for one of these as well. Best hostel experience we had the entire time. Locals live there, lots of folks from all over, and a communal kitchen to share food!) We were exhausted and starving. We did not have much in the way of energy to search for the perfect place - we just wanted food and ideally the local cultural variety. We found this place on Yelp, food looked good, it was easy walking distance from the hostel, and we put our shoes on. I can ONLY imagine what the host was thinking when the two of us walked in the door. I don't recall what she had on, but it was of the similar level as what I had on - which was a Green Bay packers hat, a t-shirt, and pants from REI that zipped into shorts (customary for me on traveling days because I get hot easily). He greeted us and asked for our reservation. I'm certain I gave him a perplexed look back, looking in the restaurant which was mostly empty, and me knowing it was something like 3 PM (I'm guessing here). I think there were 1 or 2 other tables at the time - 2 people at a table. He sat us down all the same. We ordered the haggis in rolled oats as a starter because neither of us had haggis before. Always important to try out the things you have never experienced and this SIGNIFICANTLY reinforced that. It was INCREDIBLE! Because of trying it first here, we tried it a few other times elsewhere.... to extremely disappointing results. If it's your first time having haggis, this is the place. It will forever be ruined for me until I can make it back to Devil's Advocate. It was around this time that some other parties showed up to the restaurant. A 4 top of folks dressed in suits. Another table of folks dressed nicely as well. No matter, we were just happy to be eating. Then, the long table in the middle of the room that abutted our 2-top got seated. It very clearly was a wedding rehearsal dinner. My ex and I looked at each other like O.O More tables were seated very quickly and EVERYONE looked incredible - dressed extremely well. Our main dishes arrived - I ordered shepherd's pie. My mother always made this for me as a kid, but the poor white trash version. We didn't have much money and the ingredients when not using lamb are fairly cheap. Naturally, I wanted to taste the real thing. Wow! Wooooooooooooooooooow! If this dish is in your taste wheelhouse AT ALL, you MUST have it. At this point we are just laughing hysterically. The 2 clueless Americans, wearing clothes you'd be OK going to the grocery store in, looking haggard as all hell after 8+ hours of traveling, sitting among these finely dressed Scots when we didn't have a reservation. Feeling happy and full we asked for the bill to end hilarious misery of being in a place we didn't belong - at least the way we were dressed. When our waiter brought it to me, I was pleasantly surprised. How could food that tasted this good be this inexpensive? Then I realized I did the USD/Pound conversion backwards due to being tired. So what, roughly 6 times in the opposite direction of what I thought it was? Ahahaha. It didn't matter, my mistake just added to the night. I would GLADLY pay that amount again for the food and I hope to visit again so I can do just that. To the host who didn't turn away 2 schlubby looking Americans in a time of desperate need, when you had EVERY right to, "Thank you!" It was an all around fantastic night and one that I will remember forever. To the wedding party, we are SO sorry! I hope that you guys got a story out of it like we did and were laughing just as hard as we were. I cannot wait to visit Edinburgh again and I promise I will make a reservation next time. And not wear zip off pants. :) read more

Fantastic food. Haggis is a great entry to the dish. The marmalade whiskey is fantastic. Great atmosphere. Will be back again.

Thank you, Yelp, once again, for being my local food/fun tour guide while travelling. Devil's Advocate is a must-do stop in. Delicious, well prepared, well presented pub food -- with an inventive and varied cocktail list to match. It's a little hard to find unless you know where to look -- keep your eyes peeled for a tiny alleyway, with a deceptively ferocious set of steps leading downwards towards the restaurant (which will be on your left). Highly recommend any cocktail on the menu -- but if available, be sure to try to Button Up (gin, vermouth, mushroom, mint and moss). Light and refreshing the way the mushroom essence subtly lingers, and it remains perfectly chilled by a frozen stone cube. The food is delicious too. And it's a spacious, warm venue. Customer service cannot be beat either. Be sure to ask for Kelvin -- he is a real sweetheart! read more

Very cute and really good food. Located down Advocates Close, wouldn't find it unless you had a map. read more

This is a small restaurant in Edinburgh's old town. The restaurant is located along a "close" which is basically a stairway that connects the upper and lower parts of old town Edinburgh. The restaurant is located in an old building and rustically furnished commensurate with the old town period. Their food was excellent. I had the Sautéed wild mushrooms, garlic purée and rosemary croutons starter and the Beetroot tarte Tatin, toasted seeds, goat cheese and heritage tomato salad entrée. I also the Chorizo, manchego and chilli chips side. All were delicious. Service was excellent. The restaurant was busy; expect a wait unless you have reservations. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

See all

Nice place to get cocktails! Romantic, dimly lit and mysterious. Really loved this vibe. Tucked away in Edinburgh's hills and it has a great bar scene. Nice cocktail list! The only disappointment was that after the waiter gave us the bar menu and when we were ready to order, he came over only to tell us that the kitchen was closed. Wee bit annoying. Wish they didn't give us menu at all if they weren't going to serve us. Still, a great place to come for a drink. read more

A bit hard to find (as you have to turn down Advocate's Close and go down some steep stairs to find it) but it was PACKED on a recent evening with all ages, locals and tourists alike. Just came in for drinks as we started on the patio upstairs but it got chilly so we came down to the bar area. Lots of beer and whiskey to choose from -- we liked all we tried and the bartenders were cool too. REALLY OLD BUILDING TOO -- which is always a plus. Next time we'll try the food -- but all good here! read more

The server said "welcome back", and I was a little embarrassed, but what the heck, when you find great food while traveling, there is no shame in hitting the same spot 3 days in a row, here is why this place is so good: 1) location. 2 minutes away from the Royal Mile, but miles away from the noise. 2) food. The cheese and meat boards are sublime. With their delicious jams, pickled veggies, and damn good selection of cheese and meats. The ceviche is solid, but the crispy polenta with wilted greens and poached egg... EPIC! 3) drinks. The cocktail menu is a work of literature. Seriously, someone took great care is developing a consistent storyline based on Greek Theatre. The drinks themselves are a work of art. I kept coming back for the Jazz Hands - a perfect balance of all the ingredients. 4) service. Good people. Knowledgeable and friendly. Only flaw we experienced was the tiny gin pour in the gin and tonics compared to other spots around town. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Jazz Hands perfection! - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The location is oddly out of the way, but people definitely know where it is. Atmosphere is very cool, food very good, and drinks are great. Service is a bit sluggish. read more

We had a really good lunch hear. We ordered cream crowdie and crayfish tails, smoked fish platter and sliced roasted cauliflower. Everything was amazing. Service and ambiance are really good too. read more

Definitely recommend! The steak was absolutely fantastic, and the drinks were great too. The overall vibe of the restaurant was so cute too! read more

The Devil's Advocate - Ribeye steak - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Very neat pub located off the beaten path. You'll hunt to find this gem down the dark and winding coves of Edinburgh. I stopped for a few specialty cocktails before heading out on some ghost tours of the city. It's charming and welcoming. read more