We had gone to several restaurant during our visit and this was our favorite. Entering the restaurant there is a bar with several good bartenders/ mixologist wearing leather aprons. Great selection of cocktails. The hostess sat us upstairs on the porch. We ordered the haggis appetizer and charcuterie tray. I had never had haggis and it was delicious. I had the 9 oz rump filet and it was best I've had in Uk. Other people at our table had the chicken breast and venison. Both were excellent. We will definitely be returning when we are visiting Edinburgh. read more

Great dishes! But it required 10% service fee although we are only two persons. A little noisy because a bar is at the ground floor

An amazing place to grab a bite and try some scotch. We stumbled on this place and spent a good two hours tasting whiskies, nibbling on appetizers and eating lunch. It's cozy inside, great atmosphere and wonderful, friendly staff. If you're in the area, this place is a sure thing. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Smokey Beasts Tasting List - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Traditional food with a modern vibe! We loved this restaurant and recommend it to anyone traveling to Edinburgh! Plus, the cocktail list was great! We loved our specialty drinks. read more

I ordered the crispy polenta with mushrooms, spinach, figs, and hazelnuts and it was so good. My husband ordered the ribeye with chips and he enjoyed his too. The star may have been the salted caramel chocolate mousse, we shared it and it was delicious. Great place. read more

Loved eating here. The food was amazing! The service was beyond great and the drinks were phenomenal. We got the taste of Scotland and I now have a new favorite whiskey. Each one of the staff makes sure you are taken care of! Definitely a great experience for the whole family or a night out with the gals. Books up pretty quick so make sure you make your reservation a day before. We tried to walk in and that wasn't happening! read more

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Waitress erupted in shocking fury for our table happily referencing "House Arryn" from Game of Thrones when a friend ordered an Arran whiskey. No explanations or apologies could quiet her fury read more

Sat our large party with no issues. Food was very good and the staff were very accommodating. I would definitely recommend.

This place was amazing. I had the chicken with a side of New Potatoes. Perfect! The wait can't take a little while, but it was worth the way. The cappuccino was also really good. read more

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

After a long walk in beautiful Edinburgh we needed to have a pint and a bit. Stoped in at the DA. Charming old structure on the great of old town. Stone walls. Candle light and dogs siting at the feet of their owners. We ordered some Scottish lagers. Cold and tasty. Fish and choirs for the hubby and fresh mussels for me. Delicious. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Mussels pints fresh bread chips and fish. Yum. - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

My first impression was complete surprise! I heard it was good but it exceeded my expectations. Off the path for sure and you need to walk into the close to get to it but you feel like you entered into a hidden lair. In my opinion, the food was excellent. Interesting menu with not too many options where you would get lost in trying to decide on what you wanted. The service I experienced was excellent. The waiter was very attentive and provided some stellar recommendations. I was really fond of the salmon charcuterie which is a nice departure from the typcal stuff you see at most other restaurants. One interesting item cod and curried cauliflower! This was a hit and I need to make it at home (or at least try). I will be back here for sure. Overall, I would recommend the Devil's Advocate the next time you visit Edinburgh. read more

The bar is really cool. They have a massive selection of liquor and can mix just about anything. The bar itself looks awesome and unique. They have several nice beers on tap. When we came in it was already packed with people but the door man let us in for a beverage not the restaurant. The bar area was full with people waiting for the restaurant. Only a short walk from the Royal Mile. If you're debating which bar to visit, I would add this to your list! read more

I'm guessing they derived their name from the Advocate Close you have to walk into to get here. Not terribly hidden considering how busy it was. First tip - make reservations, they legit had to turn away guests because they were completely full. Even though they need a quick turnaround on tables, the staff is super friendly and I never felt rushed. They are a locally sourcing restaurant so I decided to give it a go. Food service was fast. I ordered the truffle and hollandaise chips and the fried polenta with poached egg. Both were excellent. Great flavor, well seasoned. The only thing I wished for was my yolk to be a bit more runny than solid, but other than that, I'm really glad I gave this place a try. All in all I was also in and out in 50 minutes with a belly filled with awesome food. Portions were just right too. If I ever visit Edinburgh again, I'll definitely take another trip to the Devil's Advocate. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Truffle and hollandaise chips and Fried Polenta with poached egg - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We had attempted to go somewhere else, but it was unfortunately closed. So we wandered aimlessly until we saw tourists photographing one of the many closes in Edinburgh. The advocate close led us to a restaurant. At first we were slightly confused how to get in, but clearly you just keep going down the stairs and don't attempt the left turn. They advertised a dinner menu at the door and we decided to lunch here. We were kind of expecting the prices for lunch to be a bit cheaper than the dinner menu. But perhaps that is the norm when dining in Edinburgh and with the proximity of the Royal Mile.. I ordered the Swordfish main that was £14, which I thought was reasonable. The waitress returned to say that there was a problem with the communication with the kitchen. They were all out of Swordfish! This only left about 4 mains options, apart from the grill options (steak etc). Nothing really appealed, but finally I opted for the Crispy Polenta main with poached egg, long stem broccoli and hollandaise sauce £14. My OH had the fish and chips £15. I just want to say that we were both pleasantly surprised. The Crispy Polenta was a delicious dish. A bit like some sort of brunch dish, but I love brunch so this was ideal. The fish and chips were pretty awesome. The fish tasted really fresh and not that horrible oily-fatty way! So glad we discovered this little wonder. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Polenta, poached egg, long stem broccoli and hollandaise sauce. - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Only had drinks here. Couldn't get a reservation for the life of me. Tried 3 different days. Great atmosphere though.

I had the sweet potatoe lentil burger with chips and it was wonderful. We also had the fish and chips, exactly what you'd expect. They had burger and a beer deals for £15, which are actually a good deal. read more

5 stars for food! 3 stars for service. This place is to coziest spot for a cold, rainy night. I loved the vibe! They have a ton of whiskys to choose from and our waitress was very knowledgeable in helping us through it. The food menu is smaller but has so many yummy options. My husband and I both got the soup of the day (sweet potato) served with a huge slice of fluffy bread and then we shared a chicken dish that had sundried tomatoes and potatoes. I LOVED the chicken, and am inspired to recreate it at home! 5 stars!! The part of our evening that was annoying was the rush to get us out of the table. When I made the booking we were told we had the table for 2 hours - which is totally normal in Europe. I called later on to say we were running a half hour late but promise to have the table back by the end of our slot (9pm). When we arrived and sat down at 7:30 the waitress told us we needed to leave by 9. Got it, told her we knew that and that would be no problem. I think we told her that and another server we knew that about 5 times. It was SO annoying to keep being reminded! We told them we understood so their was NO need for the constant reminder. It really was frustrating. And like we had promised we were out before 9pm with extra time to spare! read more

Head down the winding steps deep in to the heart of old Edinburgh and you will find The Devil's Advocate, a bar like no other. Going to The Devils Advocate is like crossing over in to a mythical enchanted land. Through the large barn like doors and into a candlelit cave you are presented with a dark, rustic bar with exposed brick work - then to contrast this almost moody décor a smiling bubbly hipster member of staff bounces over and asks us where we would like to sit. It becomes clear at this point that this is not a simple bar but much more of an experience. The drinks menu is full of mad scientist style beverages with ingredients jammed together that on reading you couldn't possibly imagine how they would infuse to create something that was even drinkable. On first perusal I was unsure of what to order but when I mentioned to the friendly member of staff that I loved rum he came up with a suggestion that included; Havana Club, Stout and Egg! I know what you're thinking, was this drinkable? Unbelievably it was, although it must be said that it was more like eating a desert than having a drink, but I didn't mind this at all - in fact I wish I had been given a spoon! My visit was all to brief and next time I'm back in Edinburgh I will definitely be getting my compass out and navigating back to The Devil's Advocate. read more

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Ambience - incredibly cool Service - perfection Drinks - Best I've ever had Food - Killer This has been the highlight of our Edinburgh trip. My fiancé has made a new favorite drink in the black dog. It's unfortunate he will never be able to find one in the states. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful. He picked some great drinks for us. I cannot recommend this place enough. Please go here!! read more

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

I was excited to try this place after I found it on several lists highlighting 'go to' whisky places to try while in Edinburgh. Let me tell you, those lists did not lie, and this place did not disappoint. Over 200 whiskies in house (according to what I've read). The place is located down Advocate's Close pretty close to the top of the Royal Mile. You would never suspect that anything was down this sleepy little side alley. I arrived around 7pm on a Saturday, and it was hopping! I had only one goal in mind, and that was trying a few different whiskies. I made my way to the bar and was amazed at the wall of liquor. How do the reach the ones way up at the top??!!? One barman in particular was very helpful at walking me through their whisky menu. I described the type of whisky I liked, and he was happy to bring down a few options and let me choose. He also taught me the 'proper' way to drink whisky (with a water dripper to adjust the whisky), which is something I've never seen back in America. I tried three whiskies, and I really enjoyed two of them. Best part was the value - judging from the final tally, I probably payed £4-5 per glass on average. It would cost 2x as much back in the States! Their cocktail menu is also impressive, as is watching the very talented barmen make the drinks with a steady, precise hand. These guys are truly masters at their craft, as some of the drinks take several minutes to make. Thank you Devil's Advocate for the whisky instruction and suggestions, and thank you Edinburgh for your affordable whisky! I will return to Edinburgh, and I will call again at your fine establishment. read more

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

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I have been to many well-known bars around the world, and The Devil's Advocate is one of the best I have ever visited. Located in Advocate's Close, nothing about this bar program is less than superb. The cocktails, the alcohol selection, the staff, the environment, the ice; all amazing. It combines the best elements of many different bars in the SF Bay Area and eliminates the worst. Caveats: I visited on a Wednesday night, and had Kyle as my bartender. Your Mileage May Vary. read more

Good cocktail spot, wasn't busy early in the evening. Got the Doha date which was pretty good and def recommend. Didn't get food.

We couldn't walk past the Devil's Advocate simply because of the name. This place is a must if you are visiting Scotland as it feels like a traditional pub. We went in for drinks - mainly to enjoy different types of Scottish Whiskey. We were not disappointed. The bartender was well informed and provided us each with several drinks we enjoyed thoroughly. When we visited it was on the quieter side which made it a nice place to sit and have a drink and visit with friends. It's location is also very walkable from different public transportation sites and the downtown area. We really enjoyed speaking with the staff. This is one of the best parts of the Devil's Advocate. The knowledgeable and friendly staff. We will definitely be back. read more

Off the beaten path by the Royal Mile. Great spot to have everything Scotland. We had a flight of scotch as well as the haggis to start. It was excellent! The restaurant is extremely small so make sure you make a reservation. There is seating outside,however, very cold due to it being in a close. read more

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

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Awesome spot. First...you gotta find it. I won't tell you how to get to it, but once you do...it's sick. Tasty cocktails, dope ambiance and architecture. Bartender that really knows how to entertain and accommodate your drink taste preferences. Totally awesome. read more

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

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Oh #$%&. I'm going to keep this simple. One of the simplest restaurant settings to get you in the right mood. Dark, intimate, amazeballs. The pork and chorico burger with crispy "chips" (For all us Americans, it's fries on the best kind of steroids) was gluttonous and unforgiving to my body. If you don't go for the food, then you absolutely have to go for the drinks! The menu offers plenty of choices, and if you can't find something that you like (highly unlikely that this happens), ask any of the bartenders to whip you up something that tickles your fancy. I honestly can't picture them making a bad drink. Love that this place is tucked away off the Royal Mile in an alley (a "close" if you're in Edinburgh). I'm a lucky gal that I stumbled across this while taking a shortcut back to the hotel. I've gone back every single time I've visited Edinburgh! read more

Colour me impressed! I'd heard nothing but good things about the Devil's Advocate but hadn't had the chance to try it out yet (I was gutted to miss Yelp Edinburgh's 3rd Birthday Bash here!), but then my mum was through and I met her for a drink before she got the train home. And where better located for a pre-Waverley-pick-me-up than DA? You'd never know it was here if you started wandering up Advocate's Close from Cockburn Street, but then you turn the corner and voila! The space inside is lovely, I can only assume that it's been used as storage space for years, as a lot of the lower buildings of the closes have, and it still retains a bare feeling inside, with exposed walls complimented by warm woods and metals. Alas as it was Burn's Night they were not serving food (other than the special Burn's menu for those who'd already booked), so no light bites for us, just drinks. The cocktail menu caught our eyes straight away - there are none of your traditional drinks on it (though I assume they'd make you a margarita if you asked for one), but everything sounds delicious and is helpfully sorted into sections like 'Sippers' with subsections of 'Short', 'Long' and 'Up'. We both plumped for the Whiskey Swizzle, which was delicious. I cannot remember what was in it (other than a rye whiskey), but it was fragrant, refreshing and had a good amount of kick to it. We did only stay for one drink, but I'll definitely be back and my mum is already talking of bringing my dad here next time they're through. If this is where the Devil's legal representative drinks, then this law grad has gone to the dark side. read more

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

We waited for over 40 minutes for our food. The fried haggis tasted surprisingly good. The fish is overcooked. The pineapple dessert is just canned fruit in a jar. read more

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Love this place! It's got a great feel - lots of wood and stone. The cocktail list is superb and they have a good selection of beers as well. I ordered Jerusalem Artichoke soup and it was to die for. Pure deliciousness. Also had a side of roasted seasonal vegetables and they were divine. This place seems to be pretty popular, so I recommend booking a reservation in advance. read more

The Devil's Advocate - The House Advocate... Look at that scrumptious blueberry! - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Ambiance, food, drinks, service - they all deserve top marks. A piece of quiet smack in the middle of the bustle, I would describe this spot as trendy, but without the pretentiousness that can usually come with it. The cocktails were artfully prepared. I tried 2, and each had flavor combinations I had never experienced before. Delish! For dinner I had the courgette soup, and the rare roast beef salad, which had so many layers of flavor and texture. Really good stuff. And the dessert - this lemon concoction that was neither mousse, nor custard, but something so smooth and delightful, I can't even describe it. A great experience! read more

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

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The best service, the best whiskey, absolutely delicious food. Went twice on my one week trip.

I love this pub!! Has a great selection of food to choose from and lovely staff. A bit pricey but overall a great experience

Great venue, but be prepared for a hike. Last visit we made the mistake of coming here later in the night (meaning more drinks in) and boys was the climb back up an experience Anywho, the environment is warm and inviting as is the staff. Expect to pay about 10pound/drink and also expect to enjoy every sip of it. Cheers! read more

Food was really great. The ambience was really cool too. The staff was very nice consistently coming over to make sure everything was good. Location is easy to navigate as well as easy to find. read more

Definitely worth a visit! Located precisely underneath our window, we decided to give it a go on the way back to the hotel, after a whole day of sightseeing. And what a good idea that was! Saturday evening, no reservation and yet, the super friendly staff managed to seat us upstairs. The food was delicious but the cocktail selection was a delight! Grilled haloumi cheese & watermelon starter was excellent and so was the vegetable carpaccio. Light, yet super tasty - perfect introduction to our mains. Both, the pork fillet and the mallet were cooked to perfection, beautifully plated and delicious. However, the cocktails were the stars of our evening. We had several and could not agree on a favorite one, so I guess we need to come back :) The upstairs eating area is much calmer than the bar and lets you have a conversation. Loved it! read more

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

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This was our last place to eat at for our trip to Scotland and it was by far the best! Service, atmosphere, food was all excellent and it lived up to the rating. Would highly recommend if visiting Scotland! read more

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

Nestled in the middle of an alley, the Devils Advocate is a hidden gem! It can be hard to find if you're not looking closely. The cocktails are fantastic. My favorite was Foragers Club. We were there around 4pm and sat downstairs. They were getting ready to start serving food upstairs at 5. Since it was too early for dinner food, we were able to order off of the "nibbles" menu. The Truffle Parmesan fries were AMAZING. I wish I could put that sauce on every food I eat from here on out. We had to leave before 5pm, but I hope to return to try the rest of their food! P.s. our waitress told us that next time we come for food it might be best to pre-reserve a table as it can get busy! read more

Just popped in for a drink & got a wee table upstairs on the mezzanine level. Service was prompt. Nice vibe but does get very noisy when full due to the low ceiling. Great selection of cocktails. I had the "pick a pear" one & it was lovely. Looking forward to working my way through the rest of the menu :-) read more

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

For starters, you simply must walk down the alley from Lawnmarket so that you can enjoy the incredible view of The Scott Monument. My traveling companion and I stopped in for a drink and dinner (what Americans would call "late lunch"). The decor is splendid and we felt a bit naughty walking in wearing tennis shoes and carrying bags of souvenirs, but we were quickly and enthusiastically seated upstairs. I had the beet and tomato puree (soup) and finally warmed up after and afternoon of wandering around in "warm, sunny, Scotland." I had the lamb burger-cooked to perfection with an excellent flavor profile of goat cheese, beet root, and middle Eastern spices. My companion had the roast beef salad-tender juicy chunks of med rare roast beef doused with olive oil on a fresh bed of sophisticated greens with a sprinkling of sharp cheese. Unlike other diners, we stuck with beer, bit wet did try the desserts. Save room-I had the lemon and my companion had the chocolaty mousse and we BOTH contemplated living the bowl! We left by 5pm, but I would return for an excellent evening! read more

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

First stop in Edinburgh after checking into our hotel. Super cute place. Quaint, cozy with just enough historical ambiance to be cool but not pretentious. They seated us right away for dinner even without reservations. We got there at 6pm on a Tuesday night. Maybe we were just lucky. Very friendly and warm staff. Food was awesome. Probably one of our best meals thus far in the UK. I had the delcious perfectly seasoned succulent pork belly. Fat never tasted so good. My friend had the lamb dish. Perfectly prepared and paired with fresh tomatoes and potatoes. Whiskey selection is wide and far (local to the States to Japan). Pages and pages of it. Loved it. Would definitely recommend this to friends near and far. Just make reservations ahead. read more

The Devil's Advocate - Pork belly dish. Yummy!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH