The best lamb rump ever. Was almost a miracle. A place to go for sure for a good dinner or lunch.

This is the one place I am disappointed that I did not make a reservation for in Edinburgh, so don't make that mistake. After unsuccessfully trying to drop in one other evening, the staff was nice enough to find us a table slightly before dinner rush, and we took, it, but had eaten so much that day that we only had room for drinks and appetizers. The drink menu is really inventive and we both loved our drinks. The terrine, black haggis and parmesan and truffle chips were very good. Great atmosphere and a must see in the city. read more

I don't get all the positive reviews. My experience at The Devil's Advocate was just okay and downright insulting at some points. I have a shellfish allergy, and most restaurants are accommodating of my condition. When I placed my order here -- a starter of fried black haggis and lamb for my main -- I was asked about any allergies I may have. When the waiter came back after checking with the kitchen, I was told that the kitchen serves shellfish and that there will be cross contamination as it's impossible to keep foods separated. I told them it was fine because my allergy is only severe if I actually eat shellfish, but it was discouraging to hear that the restaurant wouldn't try to keep potential allergens separated. The dishes I ordered were okay. The haggis dish was quite good. The lamb had good flavor but was too salty and very heavy on pearl onions which I don't enjoy. At the end of the meal, I paid for my table, and as I was leaving, a waiter stopped me from going downstairs and said "Oh, you know you can pay your bill here [upstairs dining area]." The situation was clarified when the person who took my payment came over to verify that I paid. While I'm glad it was cleared up, I felt that I was being wrongly accused of skipping out on the bill that I paid for. I think the staff needs some work on communication between themselves and to customers. For a place that supposedly serves dinner "by appointment only," I would expect exceptional service, and unfortunately I did not receive that. The bar area downstairs looked lively, and maybe the experience here will be better if it is kept to the bar only. read more

Even though the service is dismissive, I had high hopes for the food. My starter cauliflower soup was delicious and I was impressed. The main was okay, it was well portioned, but the sauce was slightly bitter and it lacked depth. Truthfully, I probably make a roast that tastes better than their brisket. Dessert was the same. Not well balanced and just fell flat. Back to the service, it seemed like there was one woman who was warm and engaging. The rest made me feel like they were doing me a favor by being there. read more

Great little restaurant off the beaten path. Food and drinks were delicious! Delightful find.

Fun pub with several levels and a lot of drinks options. Nicely decorated, a terrace and from what I could see a good menu too.

There is a reason Devil's Advocate has such good Yelp reviews. This place is cute, cool, kind of hidden and has a really nice ambiance and menu. The booths in little hidden alcoves makes having intimate conversation with friends much easier and the darker mood lighting is a nice touch. I came here with some friends for a girls night with food and drinks. The drink menu is pretty eclectic and has some really interesting options. The server had some good off-menu suggestions and everything we had was very good. One thing we did notice though is that the drink/price ratio is pretty bad. All our drinks came in tiny, fancy cocktail glasses of various forms. While adorable, this makes for about three sips before your drink is gone and you are looking around for another. The food was similarly good and eclectic, but small portions that were hard to share and didnt go far. Aside from the cost ratio, the only other real downside I see to DA is that service wasnt always the fastest. We waited for drinks a lot via table service, which seemed silly when we were three steps from the bar. The food came out pretty quickly, but it you wanted to get your server's attention for anything they were difficult to track down. Same deal with getting and paying the bill. Overall a nice place, great drinks, food and ambiance. Will definitely return, just dont be in a rush and be prepared to lay down some cash. read more

We stopped here with a group of 8, and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food was delicious, and there was a great selection of scotch, wine and beer. One of our favorite stops in Edinburgh! read more

All of the food was lovely. A group of us were in town for the Edinburgh Marathon and Half Marathon. Got a reservation easily a few days prior. Great ambience and food! read more

The atmosphere in this place is awesome. It's a super 'cool' and sort of dark (in a good way) place. We had a corner table so we felt really tucked away and enjoyed that aspect. This restaurant came up many times from friends, the internet, and forums of what to try when in Edinburgh. I have to say, I don't really get it. Of four of us, nobody loved their meal. Nobody hated it (except me), either. The menu was just too out there and the food we got just wasn't really amazing. The mussels were okay. The staff was hit and miss. One really nice bartender, another who was rude. Really nice host who sat us, fairly rude server. Personally I'd definitely look elsewhere, unless you're here for all the whisky which in and of itself was also cool too. However, they were out of the first 2 whiskeys we asked for, which was disappointing. I'd skip over this if it were me. Better places elsewhere. read more

Loved the character and pathway to arrive at this neat dining spot. We started our dining experience with truffle potato chips (aka American version of fries), yummy! For our entrees, we ordered the pork chops and breaded squash with cashews, green and chickpeas. Both were equally delicious! read more

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LOVED. 4:30 on a Tuesday provided Great ambiance and a diverse crowd of locals - just a few tourists. Would be a local favorite if I lived in Edinburgh. Charcuterie cheese and meat plate was just right. Prices were very reasonable! read more

You map app will help you find the entrance to this great restaurant. Look up for signage on the walls. We took a chance they could seat us for dinner. They were quite busy but happily found us. The food was excellent and service was great. A must go when in Edinburgh. read more

Food was DELICIOUS. Everybody loved their meal. We split the whiskey flight that would be good for a whiskey lover but too much for someone who doesn't care for whiskey. Would absolutely recommend. read more

Just a great spot to have a beer, some fish and chips and take in Edinburgh -- great atmosphere and a cheerful staff to boot.

Fun upscale pub-style restaurant. The tapas were great, and the ambiance was fun and upbeat. I am not a scotch drinker, but for those that are, [others in my group are] they have a selection of scotch that cannot be beat. Go for the fun, food and laughs! You will be happy you did! read more

My wife and I dined here and had amazing food and drinks. Definitely make reservations. Our first drop in we learned they were booked so walk-ins are uncommon. The next day we called to make reservations for that evening. The bar is wonderful and the ambience of the restaurant is very nice. read more

oh man this place is so cool! It's a tad hidden but whenever I have a visitor and we're looking to feel classy and get some really well made pricey cocktails this is a move. Food looks good too! read more

Ice selection of spirits and beer. You can enjoy at the bar or take to the patio. Dinner is a limited menu but the beet risotto was well done. Make sure you have time as the staff is friendly but not rushed. read more

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

Hidden gem! to kick off our Scotch adventure. The pork and venison were A1and the whisky cocktails were top notch. Definitely worth a stop. Seems like a place the locals go. Collin one of the bartenders made a wonderful cocktail with laphroiag not on the menu. Truffle fries were on point and there haggis potato soup well made. Atmosphere was happening, make sure u reserve a spot since dining is limited. We were lucky to get in for a quick dinner before the reservations came in. read more

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It's a very cool place! The ambience was great and the food was fantastic. Perhaps most memorable were the cocktails we had there. They were very creative and very tasty! I would go back next time I visit Edinburgh. read more

Very good food! The cod and chicken were both amazing. Service was incredible as always. Will be back for sure!

Haggis was a lot better than I imagined, though this is a pretty classy joint to try it in. I spoiled myself to some scotch, crispy haggis and the cod. Everything was delicious including the white wine I ordered. The dtaff are friendly and this has potential for a very romantic dinner experience. I would go back anytime I want to treat myself. read more

Fantastic bar and restaurant. To be honest, the gin and tonic I ordered (with Harris gin) was better than the house specialty cocktail, so the mixology may or may not be your taste, but fear not--the bar is well-stocked! All the food was delicious, and the service is great. read more

Pub is located downstairs and dining tables are available on both floors as well as outdoors. Enjoyed a flavorful dinner meal and cocktail/beer. Romantic lighting and atmosphere. read more

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Beyond knowledgeable bar staff for whiskey, excellent food, wonderful atmosphere. After a long day of sightseeing, it was a delight.

We had a blast at The Devil's Advocate. Perfectly hidden off the beaten path near the Royal Mile, wonderful wine and whisky selection, great food! read more

This place is fantastic! It's a little hard to find as it's down a side street, Advocate Close, but once you arrive you're greeted in an amazing old building by a friendly staff and a creative menu with an extensive whiskey list. I had a drink off the menu, Fizz Me Now, which was refreshing and well balanced. My husband asked for something along the lines of an Old Fashioned and they delivered with a whiskey twist. After that, we described what we liked to drink and the bar tender, Will, surprised us with delicious concoctions. We had two more drinks and each was better than the last. Will also showed us the base spirit he used and described the flavor profile. Very helpful when navigating all the whiskey and gin Scotland has to offer! We also had the charcuterie board to snack on and it's one of the best I've had in long time. The cured and potted meat was great and the accoutrements were the perfect pair. Two relishes, one of capers and cornichon and another that had egg yolk and spicy peppers really made the plate. We shared a half board and that was the perfect snack for two. This place is a must go if you're ever in Edinburgh! read more

A tiny haunt tucked into a nondescript alleyway that serves a mean old fashioned? Hell, they had me at the entire shelf of Japanese whisky, the rest was just icing on the cake. After a colourful (read: boozy) start to our evening, myself and visiting Edmonton CM turned to the ol' Yelp mobile to continue our shenanigans with a few cocktails. Even with a map in front of us, it took three walk bys before we spotted the wee little alley that leads to this wee little cocktail bar. The stairs down (or up, depending on your vantage point) are perhaps the city's best sobriety test. I'm sure the door gents just watch and only allow those who can make it down without looking like they'll pitch to their certain death at any moment. Because of this, I very vocally pointed out the difficulty level of high heels on uneven steps as we teetered down in the rain. With a quick shake of the umbrella, we stepped into a beautiful gem of a bar. I can't speak for the food, or the seating in general. To be honest - we saw the bar, and happily stayed put for a few rounds, but for that, I can happily speak to the quality of the libations. It's a long standing tradition that I judge a bar by the oomph of their old fashioned. The Devils Advocate did not disappoint - they served up a beautifully balanced drink, made with care but without the 15 minute show you can get at other "we do good cocktail" joints. It was well made, without the pomp and much appreciated by our little party. But where this spot truly won my heart, was with a brief glance up to an entire shelf dedicated to Japanese spirits. A nice Yamazaki or Nikka is my newest whisky obsession and hailing from Vancouver, where you're lucky to see one or two bottles on the go, the sheer promise of a 5+ range? This lady is a happy camper. Service was lovely, quick and no bs. The folks milling about the bar are a fun mix of eclectic professionals and the vibe is one that makes you want to pull up a chair and put back a few. I didn't get a chance to ask about their wifi, but seeing as though they open at 9am, I daresay with a good signal, this will fast become a regular "office" soon enough. Either way, come cocktail hour, I will definitely be back. Afterall, I only tried two whiskies while I was there - more research is definitely needed. Worth getting lost for, and as always, mind the stairs. read more

The food was amazing -- one of the better meals I ate in Scotland. The restaurant itself... not so much. We made a reservation (essential!) and went for dinner on a Friday night, and loved the food, but not much else. Setting:3 stars. Really cool space, but they were blaring rap music so loudly that I could barely hear anyone speaking. People walking in seemed rather baffled as well -- it was just weird for the setting. Also, FULL of hen parties on a Friday night. Service: 2 stars. When we went to ask about our reservation, we were told we were early (we were there 5 minutes early) and we should not have asked until it was exactly time. The hostess told us not to ask again, but to go wait, and she would find us. She was rude and brusque, but I figured it was late, loud, and she was tired. But then, she never bothered to get us. We watched her chat with friends for 20 minutes and pointedly ignore us... finally, we got frustrated and went upstairs, where the waiter was like "oh, there you are, we've had your table ready, what were you doing???" Ok then. Once we were seated our waitress was helpful enough, but when we got the bill she manually zeroed out the tip line. I wasn't sure if that was because she wanted to force us to give her a cash tip, or didn't want any tip... but I was confused. Maybe it's a cultural thing? Food: So this is the redeeming part. I had the burger, and my husband had the ribeye. Both were cooked perfectly, and they were amazing. We'd had a lot of lack luster food, so this was a pleasant surprise. Both entrees were quite salty, but it worked. 5 stars. TLDR: sure, stop by if they aren't busy, but not my scene on a Friday night. Loud, rude staff, but good food. read more

Seriously, this place is an alcoholic's fairytale come true. SO much Whisky......SO much Gin....SO much alcoholic goodness all under one roof. Such a great location in Edinburgh with an AMAZING view of the city as you descend Advocate Close. The bartenders are amazing. They are true chemists/artists as they concoct your drinks, whether it's something off the menu or something tailored to your specific taste. The place is high-energy and hopping and you'll find yourself amongst a crowd of discerning drinkers...naturally I felt right at home. The prices are very reasonable as well, and I can honestly I paid less here and for a MUCH more creative and tasty drink than at swanky high-end bars in Manhattan. Go Edinburgh! And go, Devil's Advocate! read more

BEWARE...CAUTION...so, high expectation met with reality. This is a prime example of what happens when a European restaurant gets high reviews on Yelp and cannot keep up with the demand...of tourist Americans ( which I am). We booked a reservation for 9pm and were seated at around 9:15. Prior to that we had one of their signature cocktails at the bar which were average at best. The place was packed..,with American Tourists. When seating, nothing on the menu was what what described on Yelp. Great, they change their menu but seems it was downgraded to chicken and pork. Finally, at around 9:30, maybe later, the server came by and simply asked us what we wanted. No Hi, how are you etc. we to,d her we would start with a "starter" and have some questions to which she replied, you better hurry, the kitchen is closing. While waiting in the server, I had ordered a beer from the bar called a blonde. It tasted like a wheat, grapefruit, strawberry, rice, cinnamon, insert 10 other flavors, and it was undrinkable. So even before the snotty server came to our table, we were a little miffed. The terrible beer, the average cocktails, the long wait, the extremely loud patrons, the supper small packed in table, we left. Fortunately, the restaurant next door, Angels with Bagpipes, was able to seat us and we had an amazing meal. Through crisis comes opportunity I guess. Very disappointing. I guess I should have been suspicious to the sign in the door looking for help. read more

Eh wow. How friggin gorgeo is this place. First of all, if you're going from the high road, you have to step through one of those little laneways that seems like it's going nowhere but turns out to be like a portal into a whole other old Edinburgh world. Also the laneway is called Advocate's Close which I thought was kinda cool. (Laneways and passageways and doors into streets - jeez Edinburgh you're mad covert) Anyway. Back to the Devil's Advocate. The name is quite apt as it's a tempting dark spot with lots of naked flames around (gorgeous candles. If hell is like this, sign me up tbh). It's got that perfect mix of old and new - contemporary finishes over old, old stone. It envelopes you as soon as you go in and makes it rather difficult to leave. They have an incredible selection of whiskeys. And knowledgeable and sound bar staff who can explain and recommend each and every one to you. I didn't get to try the food but I bet it's great. It's all bloody great. Go. You just might not ever leave... read more

Impressed! Although it's tucked round a corner hidden from sight, if you're "in the know" this place is a hidden gem. Decorated tastefully in keeping with the age of the building. All wood and mismatched chairs and tables, the place has a very cool vibe about it. We had a very warm welcome upon entering the bar. It wasn't busy but there was a few people dotted around. Clearly these people have heard of the new bar on the grapevine as I can't see how it'll ever get any passing trade tucked away as it is although there is a hotel next door. We were greeted by the bar staff and shown to a table upstairs. They only started serving food from Sunday so only had a small menu on offer. No mind! The steak and pork burger for me and the steak sandwich for my partner. What I liked about it was their "no problem" attitude when I changed my dish, swapping blue cheese for cheddar and removing the black pudding. I felt the food options were slightly over complicated and fussy however I can see what they're trying to do which is take simple dishes of burger, macaroni, haggis etc up a level. Although neither of us were drinking I checked out the small cocktail menu and wine list. Looked interesting and quite reasonable. They made 2 lovely bramble and apple virgin cocktails for us so we could get a small flavour of what the bar staff could do. Yum!! The waiter serving us was extremely friendly and likable. I'd like to come back at a time when I'm not driving and when their food menu is a little more extensive. If they can match the same quality of service at a busier time they'll definitely get 5 stars!! And you guys know how tights I am with my stars. Haha :) read more

"We should check out that new place down Advocate's Close!" we said. Little did we know that it was a new regular haunt in the making. Great food and a massive list of whisky (and whiskey) coupled with no-BS serving! Shame about the beer selection, though. Aside from the odd G&T and White Russian, I'm no big fan of cocktails. When I'm at home, I tend to prefer a straight up single malt if I'm not having beer or wine. When I'm out, I find spirits are almost always way too expensive. So! When I'm out, it tends to be wine with the food or beer at the bar. And the beer selection is a bit on the sad side when compared to the massive list of whisky and the general quality of everything else at Devil's Advocate. So, that's the "bad" stuff out of the way (not so bad, really, just a matter of choice.) Let's move on to the good stuff! I fairly regularly get visitors from out of the country, and when I do, I have a small selection of places I tend to recommend for food. Devil's Advocate has now joined First Coast (great and diverse food, decent prices), World's End (reasonable, proto-scottish pub-grub), Grain Store and Blackfriar's (Both high end, for when my parents visit and insist on paying). I almost always order at least the black haggis bonbons to start with as they are a great and easily shareable haggis/ black pudding treat for people who are curious about haggis but not quite comfortable getting the full haggis, neeps and tatties experience. I really should start considering other options for myself, as the other starters look delicious! Their burgers, though not the BEST I've ever had, are fabulous! Chunky and full of flavour and come with similarly chunky chips. You might need a fork, not necessarily for eating the burger (though it is one of those "take the top off to eat it" jobs) but for protecting your chips from the thieving fingers of your cohorts. You have been warned. They change up their menu every now and then, and usually have a Fish of the Day, which is always worth considering. Their vegetarian options are limited but just as worthy of consideration as all the other meals. Last time I went, both my partners in crime opted for the butternut squash risotto after considering that and the oxtail, and it was great! For the record, I've tried their oxtail, and it's QUITE good. It's been a while since I've had their desserts, I'll make a note to try them next time I go. The service isn't full of unnecessary pleasantries, nor are they overly polite, but they're (usually) friendly and always effective and have always treated me and mine well. They know what they're doing and they do it well. That isn't to say they're terse or in any way unhelpful, just that I never felt like they were imposing a manufactured "friendly" atmosphere on us, as can happen in a lot of places. All in all, a great place to go for food and cocktails, just not one I would stay in afterward to drink. And that's fine. They can't be everything to everyone. read more

I'll be keeping four stars for now but had a pretty off putting experience here recently. A few weeks ago, The Man and I popped in for a last drink before home (about 10:30 or 11). We went up to the bar to order, but were quickly whisked to a table instead. This was fine, except that no one told the wait staff that there was a new table waiting to be served and we sat there for about 10 minutes until we were able to flag someone down. Drinks order placed, drinks received, all in order. Until our drinks were finished. We sat with empty glasses for long enough that "let's have one more" turned into "let's just go" When we were finally able to get the bill, we quickly handed over our money, the bill whisked away, and no change given. I get that tipping for table service is becoming more of a done thing, especially when getting special drinks like cocktails. But certainly not for beers, and not when I tried to order at the bar anyway. With the waitress well and truly disappeared, we had to go to the bar where we were faced with confusion about where the waitress had gone and hadn't we paid "AGES ago" anyway? Yes we had, we've been waiting for change. It all left us with a bad taste in our mouths. I would go back, but for goodness sake just relax and let people order at the bar and we'll be alright. read more

Hidden away down Advocate's Close, just opposite St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile, is the latest addition to Edinburgh's bustling food and drink scene: The Devil's Advocate. It is by the team from the Bon Vivant of Thistle Street and Stockbridge. Who serve fab food and delectable cocktails in both establishments. The Devils Advocate is in a very atmospheric location and the feeling of intrigue of walking down a misty close is fantastically complemented byt the warm and intriguing view through the glass windows. The building used to be an old pump house and they have retained a lot of the old features keeping it quite industrial and putting in a mezzanine floor - great for people watching! It manages to be spacious but snug at the same time. The cocktails were great and of the same quality as those served at the Bon V you will be glad to know. If you haven't gone you should put it on your list! read more

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

The Devil's Advocate is a beautiful gastro pub situated in Edinburgh Old Town, hidden from the very public High Street / Royal Mile. We got a table for 4 and only one hour and fifteen minutes to order-eat-vacate... I went diesel with a Courgette Carpaccio, heritage tomato, buffalo mozzarella & olive vinaigrette and a portion of Straw Chips. As you can see in the pics attached the starter size was smaller than the title itself...So, yes, it was tasty, healthy and minuscule... My friends ordered the Tweed Valley Beef Burger & the Teriyaki Salmon, both (taste-wise) on the satisfactory side of the scale. The service was friendly but a bit amateurish as the waiter-dude almost dropped a 33cl bottle of sparkling water on us from his unstable tray (he managed to catch it in time, though) and when we got the bill they add the wrong glass of wine which was £ 3 dearer than the one that my mate got. We pointed that out and the bill was kindly corrected by waitress Nastassia. Pros: handsome stone & wooden interiors, lovely atmosphere, cool food menu and friendly service. Cons: Expensive; considering the portion sizes/price ratio. Wouldn't mind to go for an encore... And yes; we managed to free the table before 14:15... read more

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Having sampled over 10 restaurants, pubs, and bars during my stay in Edinburgh, this was my favorite! Admittedly, we did not dine here, but I loved the ambiance and excellent whisky collection. This is a place that has a much more hip, modern vibe than most of its neighbor pubs in the Old Town area. The ambiance reminded me of a quintessential hip New York bar, but of course the scotch whisky selection is far better! In fact, we liked it so much here that we came back for a second visit in the span of 3 days. We shared some snack platters along with our drinks, and the food was delicious. I know a place is good when I love their olives, because I typically do not enjoy olives... the ones here, however, were to die for. Their prosciutto was excellent as well. I cannot speak to the dinner food, but I would not hesitate to try it the next time I'm in Edinburgh. They serve beers on tap in either full or half pints, which is handy in case you're not in the mood to guzzle a full pint. I had one cocktail while I was here, a whisky one, and it was amazing. read more

Good restaurant with a nice menu selection. The location wAs centrally locates too downtown Edinburgh and not hard to get too. Although the ambiance was great the music was just a little to loud as I felt I was having to yell in order for my date to hear me. read more