The Devil&#x27;s Advocate

Great new bar in the basement of Steak at Picardy place, a huge refurb has resulted in an…read moreamazeballs bar to enjoy a few drinks! I'd even be tempted to come and watch the sport here. They do beer cocktails yay. We tried a tequila based sangria style one and a beery take on a Moscow mule. Both were really tasty. They have a huge range of draft and craft beers and do bottles with chaser shots a personal fav was the Aussie bundy rum with my beer! Bar snacks are on to keep you going but not full meals yet, though you could always head up to Steak if you're peckish.

Interesting sports bar under Steak on Picardy Place. I was a bit unsure as a previous reviewer said…read moreit was a bit of a lads' place. Anyhow the OH persuaded me to give it a shot for a quick drink to shelter from the rain whilst we deliberated on a venue for dinner. I'm glad he did. In addition to a decent selection of craft beers, there's a hefty cocktail menu. I tried the Ginger Tom Collins & it hit the spot. Just the right amount of ginger to pack a punch but not enough to be overpowering. The OH had a pint of draft beer & seemed happy enough. The low ceiling means it gets noisy even if it's not packed. There was a stag do, 2 birthday parties and hen group as well as some other folks. It was only just possible to hold a convo at normal volume & be heard. There's a decent sized courtyard out the back too but it was too wet & cold to try it out. I'd definitely visit again but maybe on a week night when it might be a little less noisy.

Bramble

4.5(98 reviews)

0.4 mi•New Town

Excellent cocktails - a must try bar for wonderful service and drinks. Super fun and unique menu…read morewith very fresh ingredients. Come here on a date, with some friends or even solo - you'll definitely have great conversation.

If you blink, you might miss The Bramble--but you'd be making a huge mistake. Tucked away down a…read morenondescript staircase off Queen Street, this speakeasy-style cocktail bar is exactly the kind of spot you hope to stumble into in Edinburgh. My family and I came here on a whim and ended up getting far more than great drinks. One of the bartenders, a local with the friendliness of a lifelong pub regular and the insight of a Michelin concierge offered up genuinely helpful food recommendations. He had a perfect mix of laid back charm, genuine enthusiasm, and a sharp wit. That kind of service is rare, and it stuck with us. Now, the drinks. Phenomenal. Not just "good for Scotland" or "pretty decent for a bar that doesn't scream look at me" these cocktails were creative, expertly made, and well presented. You can tell these folks care about their craft. Each drink was layered and complex without being fussy. If you're into spirits, this is your place. Yes, the bathrooms are a bit of a squeeze. Definitely built for function, not luxury, but they were absolutely spotless. Like, hospital-pristine. Whoever maintains them deserves a raise and maybe a trophy. Bottom line: Bramble nails it. Great atmosphere, unforgettable drinks, and service that actually makes you feel like you're in the right place at the right time. Skip the tourist traps and find your way down those stairs.

Outside

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Interior

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives

4.6(17 reviews)

0.4 mi•New Town

I was there on 30 October 2025 with a few travel friends, and it turned out to be one of the best…read moresurprises of our trip. The minute we found the door off the little lane on Rose Street, there was an air of mystery... exactly what you hope for from a "detective agency" style speakeasy. Once inside, the vibe was perfect for a chilly Edinburgh evening. Like, moody lighting, vintage-style furnishings, and that cozy, clandestine feel that makes you glad you made the effort to find it. The service was absolutely welcoming. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and even at 9p, mid week (when you might expect things to be winding down), the place was comfortably busy but not packed, but full enough to feel alive. Drinks menus came in little "confidential" envelopes, which instantly added to the fun. We ordered several cocktails that evening, and every drink was carefully crafted and flavorful, smooth and topped off with warm hospitality. I honestly did not have one bad cocktail. If I were to highlight a few things from our night - I came away loving the atmosphere, the attention to detail, and the general ease at which we were treated which is exactly what I wanted out of a night out in Edinburgh. If you're visiting Newcastle, upon, Tyne, Edinburgh, or just wandering through Rose Street and looking for something a little different... don't walk past this place. Bryant & Mack Private Detectives is a fun little secret with classic cocktails, cozy speakeasy vibes, and service that makes you feel like part of the case, lol. It's a fully immersive experience.

Awesome speakeasy in New Town…read more It really is on the hidden side, it took me a few minutes longer than I thought it would to find the door (look at the posted pictures, it helps). Once inside (you'll have to knock to get in), you'll find a cool little lounge with great cocktails, chill music, and amiable bartenders. We were surprisingly the only ones in there around 9 pm on a Friday night, which we thought was odd (as did the bartenders), but it meant we got to hang out with them and shoot the shit (meeting bartenders from all over the world is one of my favorite hobbies). Besides the fact that both were into motorcycles (and one came to Edinburgh once and immediately backed up his bags and moved over from Italy - props), we found out that they could make a mean cocktail. We, of course, started on menu, but wanted to see if they could do any variations, which they not only did, but nailed: "do you like bitter or sweet" - bitter "Floral or not so much" - surprise me "base?" - gin Dunno what it was called, but it was one of the nicest gin drinks I had in a town that is crazy for gin at the moment. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a good cocktail place, the ambiance is on point and the drinks are superb.

Bowery theater

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September gem

Picardy Place

4.6(9 reviews)

0.5 mi•New Town

Three and a half skewing positive. Extremely convenient location wedged conveniently between the…read moreinsanely touristy old town and the bourgeoning hipster Mecca of Leith, and directly abutting, I am told the epicenter of the cities gay scene. The lovely century plus old building is beautifully restored and tastefully updated. If the 3rd floor walk up room might count as a negative for some, at this point in life I appreciate anything that forces even an iota of more of something even suggesting of exercise into my life whatsoever. Staff was uniformly courteous and helpful with my needy jet lagged ass. Unfortunately what you gain in terms of a strategic location, and charm inside the premises, you lose in terms of the immediate view outside of your room. While the building itself and a few spare stragglers like it in the immediate area, as well as the plaque outside indicating that Arthur Conan Doyle's birthplace was in a once existing building across the street, suggest the surrounding few acres were once as lovely and ancient as most of the glorious historic streets of this ridiculously enchanting town, its sadly no longer the case. Somehow this district avoided historic preservation, and in its current stage is pretty much comprised of at least 50 percent active construction zones with gaping holes of torn up streets and massive building footprints. The remaining half of the area is already completed monolithic hideously modern shopping malls of the type I would suspect must already be gravely threatened by online shopping. As distressing as the view outside my window was to view during my short stay here, those stores proved convenient when I needed some adapters and a stop at a nearby apple store, and a mere 5 minute stroll put me firmly in the center of some truly breathtaking scenery. At the end of the day it offers a solid value and friendly hospitality in comfy and low key elegant accommodations in a central, if soulless feeling locale. Oh yeah; and one word of advise: This place oddly apparently has 3D TV sets in at least some of the rooms (which by the way, in a cute touch, are each named after one of Scotland's beloved "loches' aka lakes). Be aware that those glasses are in there for the TV, and do not make the same mistake I did and assume they were novelty son glasses there for the guests to take as souvenirs. I guess the fact that the sun barely ever shines in this country would have been a good indication that they wouldn't be offering gratis shades...womp womp...

A bar that's open until 3am is always a winner with a great team of bar staff and plentiful…read moresheepskin, which is great when your face gets a little warm from the vodka and wine and you want to snuggle up (i.e my entire New Year). it's a completely perfect place to spend the wee hours. What used to be a private members club is set in a tremendous Georgian townhouse set over 3 floors comprising of a restaurant, the main bar, a whisky bar, and four luxurious hotel rooms. The food during normal operating hours is pretty good, could do with fancying down as it's all a bit fiddly with the amount of jars and plates but it's really topnotch. However, we went on a meal deal kinda day but I don't doubt that the food normally might be a wee bit pricey.

Photo from official website

Pan roasted Scottish Halibut Fillet: Herb Crusted, Confit Turnip, Butter Poached Oyster, Star Anise "Air"

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Amuse Bouche: White Onion Espuma, Curry Oil & Baby Herbs

48 Below

4.0(1 review)

0.6 mi•New Town

Been wanting to check this place out for a while.. What a great reason than to attend an event for…read morecomedy night... Great little bar on Broughton St, a welcome addition to the great places to choose from in this little pocket of new town!

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The Black Fox

4.2(28 reviews)

0.9 mi•Leith

The entire idea of this space, amazing. Super cool design - very much detective style restaurant…read more The food is great, we had burgers and fries (as pictured below). The service was also fabulous.

I live locally and The Black Fox is a nice bar with decent food, however, after my last visit I…read morewon't be back anytime soon. The kitchen area is in the main bar which is fine but it's clear there is little done to clean the air filters, fans and cooker hoods - the smell of cooking oils hits you when you walk in the door and it sticks to clothes, hair and jackets for several days after you have visited. I have had the same experience on previous visits but had hoped it had improved. I appreciate space is limited but I feel more needs to be done to manage this issue.

0.1 mi•Old Town, Royal Mile

Our three choices

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Secret Arcade

4.4(28 reviews)

Wow - nearly 100 different types of vodka including straight, flavored, and direct from Poland…read more Dinner menu that includes appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Got "haggis balls". Had great fish and chips. Up a flight of stairs and not really advertised.... Well worth it. Only about 7-8 tables and a few bar seats though.

We came late on a weeknight and it was mostly empty. Bar is located above the restaurant…read more There were many different types of flavored vodka here, mostly from Poland. I opted for the blackcurrant and elderflower flavored vodkas. The blackcurrant was very good and the different flavors are just very unique. Definitely worth trying it out! 5 shots for 14 pounds. Decent deal.

Friendly and experienced staff will advise on every vodka!

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Haggis & Whisky House below Secret Arcade

Lady Libertine

5.0(8 reviews)

0.2 mi•New Town

Amazing, amazing bar staff. Friendly and very welcoming to visitors from countries…read more The drinks, chats and atmosphere were lovely. absolutely recommend and a must stop when in this lovely city.

Perfection. The best meal I've had in Edinburgh. Can't wait to go back…read more It really was the finest Paloma I've had and I can't recommend the duck salad enough. The upstairs was booked but the basement was a delight.

Baked aubergine (bottom) Roasted cauliflower (top)

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Treacle

3.8(82 reviews)

0.5 mi•New Town

I had a delightful meal. I was walking the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival, when I saw…read morethis spot. I was craving curry so I popped in for a bite. I was seated outside on the street immediately, which was perfect since I was in the mood to people watch. I ordered the butter chicken and some naan. The butter chicken was delicious but the naan was dry and not very good. Overall my experience was good. I scored low because naan makes the dish. And in this case the naan made the meal less than it could have been.

On our first visit to Edinberg and walked the Royal mile. Were thrilled to see Indian Street food…read moresign. The excitement faded quickly when the hosts greeted us by yelling at us to leave umbrella's outside. Fair enough. We ordered Lamb dish that said it's a street food. Nothing like any street food I've had before. Curry dominated Tomato taste. They might as well rename it as Itialian Lamb Marsala. The portion was less than half of any other Indan Restaurant. To their credit, they warned us to order 2 dishes between two of us. The Garlic bread was Regular Naan with green chutney lathered on it. What a disappointment.

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Priyanshi's extensive notes for the allergies/dietary restrictions for each dish. (what each marking means is on the my other menu pic)

Panda & Sons

4.6(123 reviews)

0.6 mi•New Town

Edinburgh, like many popular cities in the UK, is full of awesome bars, live music, and great…read morepeople. You could walk around drunk and blindfolded and manage to stumble in a place that checks all these boxes. Panda & Sons is different. Everything about Panda & Sons is intentional. You walk through a hidden door into a low lit room where everyone is cooler than you if you're me. The tables look thrifted, the chairs are mismatched, there's a random broken telephone booth in one corner, and yet it all just flows. And then there's the menu. This is a cocktail bar for a cocktail connoisseur. Despite many of the brands being retail (think Absolute vodka) the actual drinks sing. There's also a number of infographics on their process as well as certified local recommendations, but our bartender told us this was all back-patting and to just order what we liked. The result: Best drink I've had in Europe in a long time. I ordered a coconut Daiquiri served with white chocolate and I'm still thinking about it a month later. If you're in Edinburgh this place is an incredible stop. My only regret is not ordering more.

We were a little disappointed with our experience here. A lot of the drinks are very herbal and not…read morebalanced well. The best drink I had was one I ordered à la carte rather than off the menu, an amaretto sour. Prices were on par with prices in the area at about £14-15 per drink. You definitely need a reservation. They turned some walking in away at the door. I thought this would be a speak ways type of atmosphere based on advertisement but really it's just a loud bar with a fancy bookshelf door. Even thought it's listed top 20 bars in the world, i would skip it next time I'm in town, you could get a good drink elsewhere.

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Osaka Spritz - singer fresh!

One of the spaces

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41 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Satenik G.

2 years ago

The ambiance of the restaurant is incredibly cool, making for a unique dining experience. We ordered a chicken dish with broccolini, which was absolutely delicious. However, finding the place felt like navigating a maze, involving a descent down several flights of stairs. We had reservations for 9:15 PM, expecting a leisurely meal since Yelp indicated the restaurant closed at 11 PM. Unfortunately, upon arrival, we were informed that the kitchen would be closing at 9:30 PM, giving us just 15 minutes to order. This limited our choices significantly, as we couldn't order appetizers and many main dishes were already unavailable. It was a disappointing experience, and the restaurant's website should clearly state that while it remains open until 11 PM, the kitchen closes at 9:30 PM. read more

P T.

11 years ago

I am an-almost-70 woman from Scotland with little experience of hiring a car anywhere. With Europcar I got smooth, trouble-free booking, collection, instructions and return at the end of my trip. Courteous personnel all the way, but I was particularly well looked after by a young lady at Dublin airport who patiently explained all the things most drivers would already know and I didn't. All anxieties were banished and i had a lovely holiday in the Emerald Isle. read more

Julio R.

213

3 years ago

Devil's Advocate in Edinburgh is one of my favorite spots in the city! The interior is stunning, and the atmosphere is always lively. The drinks are amazing, and they have a great selection of food as well. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they always make me feel welcome. I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a great night out in Edinburgh. read more

Faruk M.

9 years ago

This is the worst place I ever been especially the service more especially with the tall blonde guy he is the worst person in service I ever seen in my life I don't know how he is keep working in that place. He was cleaning he nose with his hand and serving customers without washing his hand he thought no one seen him. That was so disgusting. read more

Brittney A.

9 years ago

Why are these people harassing me over fb for not liking their establishment. Please stop being cry babies and take your review. Please learn from it and learn how to treat your clients. Enjoy Edinburgh!! Stay away from this shit place! read more

Grant W.

10 years ago

Used The Devil's Advocate as a venue for a networking event. Great quality service and food, lovely people, easy to work with and the place itself is in a lovely location and it has a lovely private feel to it. I'd recommend it. read more

Ronan D.

7 years ago

We were like, completely inexperienced about anything. It was nice. They helped us. Good quality. Reasonable prices. The waitress was like, my dream girl. I wish i could come here every night. And be happy. read more

Alex J.

8 years ago

Most of the drinks that we ordered were out of raft and not available! Bartender made something weird calling it a homemade cocktail which was tasting disgusting! read more

Justin B.

8 years ago

i feel like this place because its too perfect about everything i hope i will be back more. i love it. i will come with my friends

Ashton T.

8 years ago

Best restaurant in town. Everything here is great. The employees are very friendly and friendly. I am very pleased to be here.

Diana K.

4 years ago

Great food, the chicken is excellent. Great service and beautiful restaurant. Wine list is short but with good selections.

Melissa W.

9 years ago

Great food, drink, and service. A little loud for those of us over 50. Be sure to make a reservation in summer season.

Jocelyn D.

8 years ago

Best rest in town. Everything here is great. The employees are very friendly and friendly. I am very pleased to be here.

Danny H.

6 years ago

great table considering we were walking in at the time, great food and the prices shocked me on how good they were

Jen D.

8 years ago

Great food and amazing atmosphere. A little hard to find if you don't know your way around but totally worth it.

Cheryl H.

8 years ago

I feel good all the time, I will go back here with my parents and friends, i love this place and nice view

Greg G.

137

7 years ago

The place was a little hard to find, but the atmosphere inside is nice and the food was delicious!

Mitch B.

182

4 years ago

Great atmosphere and great cocktails from the standard classics and beyond. Hidden little gem.

Jim H.

116

4 years ago

Get the charcuterie and cheese plate. Enough for two and plenty to take back to your airbnb.

Vivek G.

9 years ago

Great little find - friendly and cool atmosphere - and most importantly great cocktails!

The Devil's Advocate - wine_bars - Updated September 2026

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Angels with Bagpipes

4.4

(136 reviews)

We are here tonight on our first night in Edinburgh and loved it. I actually messed up a…read morereservation somewhere else (Not used to seeing two times on a reservation.) and we came upon Angels with Bagpipes. After the other restaurant (named for the Devil, oddly enough) was ridiculously rude, but the staff at Angels with Bagpipes was wonderful! The drinks were great, the food was incredible and probably the best meal we've had the entire time in the UK. We had a crab appetizer and bread. Then for the main course the kids both had the filet, I had the chicken dish and my husband had a carrot risotto. I almost never eat chicken out at a restaurant but this was so tender! Everything on the plate went together very well. My husband loved his risotto too and I agree it was delicious. I hope you can make a trip to this restaurant when visiting Edinburgh. Truly angels in the kitchen and with the staff.

Given that this place is in an extremely touristy part of town, surrounded by souvenir shops and…read morefamous landmarks, you kind of have to appreciate the effort they put into their food presentation and service. Most places survive on knowing they can serve terrible food and still bring in the tourist crowd. These guys are serving up some healthy and hearty cuisine with a nod to their Scottish roots, but with a more sophisticated take. Everything packs amazing flavour. I came in just a few minutes after they opened for lunch, so snagging a seat was easy; however it filled up in record time, so reservations are highly recommended. The menu offers everything from light seafood salads to hearty steak dishes, to a few veggies options that leave nothing to be desired. Yes, they serve haggis, too, and I have to say, it wasn't bad, even for my first-timer's palate. They fry it up and serve it in ball form, so the taste is mild and appealing. My BBQ Lentils and Vegetables dish was beautifully presented and so tasty, I didn't miss the meat. Cocktails, wine, and beer are also available, so pick your poison.

The Ivy On The Square Edinburgh

4.3

(71 reviews)

Was looking for high tea while in Edinburgh and was very glad I picked The Ivy on the Square. It's…read morea bit past the National Gallery and in New Town (as opposed to Old Town). Ambiance was super cute and upstairs even cuter I think (we were seated downstairs) and service was excellent. - Afternoon tea - 5/5 and I've been to had 50 or more high teas in my life in places such as London, Hong Kong, NYC, San Francisco, Honolulu... What was great about this high teas was the unlimited tea and coffee and they had many dairy milk alternatives: soy, oat, almond which is very unusual and appreciated! I had: - iced vanilla turmeric lychee matcha - 5/5 so delicious! And so unusual! - The Ivy English breakfast tea - 4/5 solid tea offering - truffle chicken salad sandwich on small roll - 5/5 - egg salad on wheat bread - 5/5 - smoked salmon on cream cheese on top of pastry puff pastry - gave this to my husband who downed it in a second so must have been good! - two raisin scones - 5/5 delicious! With clotted cream and strawberry jam - lemon poppyseed muffin - 4/5, husband ate it, was a little too sweet for me but super cute with bee on top - raspberry crème brulee - 4/5, solid offering - chocolate mousse in a pot - 5/5 super adorable presentation of the dessert in a little flower pot with chocolate cookie crumble "dirt" and mint leaves as the "plant" I almost didn't want to eat it! For all of this the price was very reasonable and my husband who does not appreciate high teas could order his beer and some smoked salmon off the à la carte menu. I highly recommend The Ivy on The Square for high teas!

A couple of our traveling companions tried the Ivy in Dublin. The Edinburgh location was close to…read moreour hotel. Service from hostess to chef was excellent. I have to say that at least every restaurant we ate in the first question from servers are there any allergies? Every restaurant was super accommodating with an unusual allergy. Food was excellent and the drinks were on point. Great experience and highly recommend The Ivy.

The Outsider

4.0

(279 reviews)

Such a cute place. And the view of the castle from here was amazing…read more Super helpful staff! I am a member of a flight crew and as I was eating dinner I was asked to get catering for a flight literally the next morning. I asked the manager if he could make me some take away (to-go) steaks cooked rare to be cooked further on the plane. (I'm a private flight attendant and we cook and plate everything onboard). He went out of his way to make sure I recieved all the items cooked perfectly. Passengers left raving about the food!!! And these are passengers that definitely eat the best steaks. The manager even talked me through a playing game plan and I ran my thoughts of the dishes with him and wow, perfect outcome. I personally got the coley fish dish and started with some cheese. I am a big bleu cheese/stilton girl and it was all amazing. Everything was so good I used the bread from my cheese to mop up every ounce of juice left from coley plate. Great service, great views, and incredible food. All local and ever changing menu to fit what's in market. You'll see handwritten additions to each menu like the cheese and fish. The steaks were the 35 day dry hung flat iron steaks.

Three of us stumbled upon The Outsider while out looking for a place for dinner. It was so good we…read morewent back with 2 more friends a few nights later. Nice pleasant room with good size tables and very helpful, friendly courteous wait persons. Very good steaks, and fish, and affogato for dessert. Go to read the creative food descriptions on the menu!

The Doric

4.3

(152 reviews)

What an amazing experience. Great historic establishment…read more I got my first taste of Haggis and it was grand. You have to go here !

Just sat down for a traditional Sunday roast, and sadly, this was definitely not the place to go…read morefor one. The beef was uninspiring at best, and the whole experience left me feeling rather disappointed. What made it even more disappointing was the rather grand announcement on the menu: "Gilmour's Roast Sirloin of Beef served every Sunday Lunch from 12-4pm, while stocks last." Well, that certainly set my expectations high! The wording made it sound as though people were practically queuing around the block to get their hands on this legendary Sunday roast before it sold out. Having now sampled it, I suspect they'll have enough beef left over to see them through to next Sunday. What arrived was two rather sad slices of very dry beef. I was expecting a generous portion of beautifully roasted, succulent beef--tender, juicy, and practically falling apart at the mere sight of a fork. Instead, I was presented with something that appeared to have spent rather too long contemplating its existence in the oven. A bit of gravy might have helped, but I suspect even a full-scale rescue operation would have struggled to bring this beef back to life. Now, the sticky toffee pudding was an entirely different story! Absolutely delightful. Warm, moist, and delicious, with a generous helping of rich toffee sauce and a small dollop of ice cream. Proper British comfort food at its finest! If the Sunday roast was the disappointment of the afternoon, the sticky toffee pudding was the hero that swooped in to save the day. I would happily return for that alone. The service was lovely, with friendly and welcoming staff, and the restaurant itself is in a fantastic location with a wonderful atmosphere. It's a great spot to sit down and enjoy a meal. Unfortunately, when you advertise a Sunday roast as though it's the hottest ticket in town, you really ought to deliver something worth writing home about. In short: Come for the atmosphere, stay for the sticky toffee pudding, but perhaps give the Sunday roast a miss.

WHISKI Bar & Restaurant

4.0

(203 reviews)

The food was excellent and so was the whiskey. We had two different flights of whiskey both…read morecompletely different. He got their haggis to go along with it and it actually made the whiskey taste a ton better. Had in the back of the bar/restaurant. If I ever get back there then I will definitely go back.

This was our final meal on the Royal Mile before returning to our hotel. I also smelled that fishy…read moresmell when entering as posted by another reviewer. Our meals were fine. I had the fish and chips which was a nice portion. The biggest problem was the waitress acted like it was too much trouble to wait on us, plus had to fix the check twice. When I asked for a cappuccino she said just turned the machine off, it was only 7:30pm.

The Cafe Royal

4.0

(115 reviews)

Beautiful, historical bar on the down an alley of Edinburgh. We only went the to the bar side, we…read moredid not eat here. We went in the evening during the week, so it was not overly busy during our visit. The interior is beautiful: gold and dark wood, molded ceilings, ceramic art on the walls. The bar loops around the center. We had a minor issue that they did not make my friends drink correctly, but mine was good. Overall, a lovely visit in an amazing city.

What can someone say about such an iconic place? The architecture and decor are classic; beautiful…read moreand sumptuous. Somehow the words don't seem to reflect the beauty and warmth of this place. The food is also top notch. Their take on haggis and neeps is quite nice with just a bit of warmth to it. Great Scotch whiskey selection. The waitstaff is professional without being stuffy. Just a lovely experience overall. Certainly, there are loads of tourists, but you shouldn't be put off by that. It's a big open place and you and your party can enjoy yourselves without worrying too much about what's going on around you.

Howies

4.2

(229 reviews)

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!

Howie's was our first dinner stop on our first day in Scotland. I wanted a nice restaurant that had…read morea vegetarian version of haggis (so I could dive right in...), and we had made a reservation weeks in advance of our trip. All good! This Howie's location is on Victoria Street (one of the most photographed streets in the world and the visual influence for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley...it's a few minutes' walk from the center of the Royal Mile, so the location is fantastic. Our reservation was on the early side, and the host made a point of telling us a couple of times that they'd need the table back after a certain period of time. We don't really dwell for hours in restaurants, so that note is not something we really needed, and after seeing it in the reservation confirmation, as well as being told twice by the host, there was a little bit of a feeling that the entire purpose of us being at Howie's was to get out as soon as possible so they can have the table back. Besides that tone-setter, the service and food were fantastic. Our server took a lot of time going through the options with us...she gave me a good perspective on the vegetarian haggis I was getting to help me contextualize its flavor and texture with the real thing, and was very nice! The asparagus and pea risotto I had was also beautiful and had good flavor. As a vegetarian, I appreciated that the menu had everything labeled with dietary restrictions. (which seems to be more of a standard in the U.K. than in the U.S., but this was our first dinner stop in the country, so it's worth noting.) Howie's gave us a good introduction to Scottish cuisine. Its location couldn't have been better, and our server was aces. I hope we gave the table back in time to not cause a panic. ;)

Under the Stairs

3.9

(79 reviews)

This was a standout lil place downstairs that takes you out of the fray of tourism into a hip…read moregastro/bistro atmosphere. Terrific food, unique local menu, tremendous small, choosy list of whisky, wine, beers. The beer pickled mussels amazing. Cheese plate terrific. Had a cod over white beans in tomato sauce. Smoked kipper pate. What I loved most is that the staff, kitchen , chef served really great food, cared about the ingredients, and just offered a hip environment. Highly recommend! Servers were cool and nice to us.

Every time I am in Edinburgh, I gravitate to Under the Stairs. In the summer months, it gets…read morepacked, especially later in the night. The first time, we arrived around 10 pm on a weekend. Thankfully a couple left just as we arrived so we were able to snag a table pretty easily. The drinks are lovely and the flavor profiles are rather unique. I love spritz drinks so I really enjoy that they rotate the flavors seasonally at least. The last time I was in Edi, I stopped by maybe 2-3 times on my way to or from dinner for a cocktail. I tried to order different cocktails off the menu to taste as many as possible. I enjoyed every one of them which is surprising. Sometimes when a place tries to be different and interesting, the drinks can fall flat. These were exactly as described! I don't often eat here but one afternoon, we grabbed a cheese board, roasted turnip and hummus. The turnip was DELICIOUS. I was shocked since I never really care for them most days. I liked that the hummus was served with (i think) endive leaves. It added a nice crunch to the bite. The cheeses and bread were great. I have never seen one particular item before.... Pickled grapes. Wow. They were so interesting. The vinegar flavor was not strong but it added such a unique flavor to the otherwise sweet fruit.

The Witchery By The Castle

3.7

(369 reviews)

Extremely unique dining experience, decor, ambiance. Extremely friendly and receptive staff. We…read moresplurged and went for the two- person lamb Wellington. Pricey but worth it for a one-time experience. We shared lobster bisque and steak tartare. The lobster bisque was disappointing but everything else to include the starter bread and butter were all extremely good. Make a reservation in advance or get turned away, this place it very busy.

We had a lunch/early evening meal here as it has been something we have wanted to do on our visit…read more The Witchery is a lovely designed with two rooms hidden down a beautiful close. Reservations are hard to come by so schedule in advance. The decor fits the idea of Witchery and it feels like a mixed dinning experience. Some fine dinning but not super formal. The staff overall were friendly and attentive. Our initial waiter less so. He seemed to loose interest when we order just one drink. He was friendly but not attentive; however, other staff were wonderful and took up his role when he vanished on us. One of the nice things by s is that we did not even have to say anything as they just filled in as he stopped paying attention. They were amazing. The food was solid but mixed. The appetizer smoked salmon and the desert pavlova were both lovely. Fresh, clean, and well balanced. We loved both the start and end of our meal. The middle was less exciting, the risotto was very well done with deep mushroom and complex umami flavor. Perfectly prepared and an excellent dish. The fish pie was beautiful and light, but lacked depth and complexity of flavor. It was solid but considering what the place trends towards in terms of culinary expertise it was underwhelming. We ambiance was wondering and the prices for lunch were higher but reasonable. Having the fish for dinner and at dinner prices would be very disappointing. We have friends who have had the beef and lamb and haggis and have raved about those meals. It is definitely a place we recommend and will come back, probably for a full dinner so we can see what that experience is lacking. Overall it is lovely dinning option, perhaps a little inconsistent in some areas but still worth a visit.

Greyfriar's Bobby bar

3.9

(122 reviews)