The Holyrood 9A

105

219

761

10 years ago

It's so easy to miss the 9A pub if you don't pay attention. The signage is very subtle. It's a short walk up the hill from the Macdonald Hotel (behind Holyrood Parliament building). The street may be quiet but the bar is almost guaranteed to be buzzing with people enjoying an ale or two and tucking to their excellent pub menu or homemade desserts. Definitely leave room for dessert! They have 4 burger options for vegetarians which is a bonus. It would only take a few tweaks for some of those to become vegan. Great pub and proper hidden gem. Seek it out. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Vegetarian haggis burger (hold the sour cream for vegan) Pretty darned good! - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Mark F.

Elite 26 All-Star

30

733

624

7 years ago

We've been to Holyrood 9a before and also had a good experience this time but I dropped a star due to a mishap of communication in ordering food vs waiting after a couple of beers. No biggie but I felt the mistake was on the servers part so that cost 1 star. Otherwise, the beers are good and selection of beers is also good. They do have a nice food menu so good choices all around. The bar area was too crowded to sit at or near the bar and, like last time, we were relegated to a dinner table, which was a bit cramped of an area. I'd like to try to find a time to come in where I can sit at the bar but that never seems to happen in all of the visits here so far. Like I said, beer selection was good and would put this on your list for a future visit. Oh, forgot, the men's bathroom is funny. When you open one door your inclination is walk forward, which is a wall but you might think it's another door but the bathroom door is actually to the right. Enough people make this mistake that they have an arrow painted on the wall but we still want to walk forward. You'll see what I mean :) read more

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Jody B.

Elite 16

1560

664

2831

10 years ago

Whoa now... how the heck did I manage to miss writing a review for Holyrood 9A or as I so loving dub it: my super-happy-beer-spot-of-sunshine-and-wicked-burgers-slash-unicorn-of-a-bar? (I don't actually call it that, because that would be ridiculous but it's going to sum up the remainder of this review, so go with it.) Any ol' spot can do beer + burgers. It's a classic for a reason and folks, let's be honest: it's a hard combo to really mess up, so to grab five stars on beer and burgers alone, you have to be throwing down some serious goodness. Here are five reasons Holyrood is worth these five stars: 1. One of the best craft beer line ups in town... ON TAP. You can bring in bottles of beer from every which way but you know a place is truly tipping their hat to craft beer culture when they are supporting a WALL of draft. 2. The Blue Murder burger: 6oz beef patty, flat cap mushroom, smoked bacon, blue murder cheese, quince aioli... a giant, messy, completely decadent way to eat a week's worth of calories in one sitting. Bonus points for the fact that this was suggested to me. Being of short and female stature, I generally get pointed in the direction of salads, so it was really refreshing to not only have a BEAST of a burger recommendation but getting said recommendation from another gal. 3. Which brings me to: the service. Table service is quick, bar service is friendly... I can't say a bad thing about it. 4. WIFI!! GOOD WIFI!! FREE WIFI!! (I rest my case). 5. Their fascinating dedication to those candles on the mantle of the fireplace. That is YEARS worth of patience and/or laziness and I salute it. The only gripe: your bathroom is too tiny and if there is more than one person in it, you will ultimately get hit by a door. Plus, the door into the bathroom is awkwardly tiny... But other than a brief eyebrow raise at a bathroom layout: I adore this place. It's not fancy, it's not pretentious: it's pub grub taken to a delightful level and I never regret popping my head in the door. read more

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Paddy H.

60

93

91

13 years ago

I finally took myself along to Game Dev Edinburgh this week after attempting to for months. Every second tuesday game developers meet up and chat games and other things, check it out. Anyway, this place is just round the corner from my work so i had a chunk of time to kill before the meet up happened. The bar is dominated by a pretty huge mirrored spirits section. They've got all sorts, and most of it is pretty decent stock rather than tons of the usual smirnoff keech. I got blethering with the bar manager about various booze types and I may have committed myself to trying various silly things in the future. as well as many spirits there are many beers of craft variety. i think about 12-15 different taps plus numerous bottles (although a fairly shocking cider selection.) I overheard the aforementioned bar manager talking about various drinks in great detail so i took the opportunity to quiz her about what was on offer and what might suit my tastes. I suspect she might have been trying to get me tanked as she kept suggesting stronger and stronger beers (8% beer on a work night?!?! eesh...) They were however all very tasty and she presented me with tasting testers without prompting which pleases me deeply. So much nicer than the glare you get from bar staff. How dare i want to check i like the taste of something before i buy a pint of it indeed. I digress. I had a burger (naturally) and it was damn tasty. Beer mustard, hop rolled cheese, fresh crunchy salad, and a decent slab of minced beef. winner. The piri piri chips were nothing special but crunchy and salty so by no means bad. Perhaps the chunky variety are better? I didnt order a pudding myself but someone at gamedeved did and it was gargantuan. Like bigger than the head of the girl who bought it. I was offered a sample and the ice cream, sauce, and crunch combo i taste was certainly very tasty. This place is always rammed at weekends but was pretty quiet on the tuesday I went. I'm sure i'll go back again! read more

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Tom I.

Elite 15

59

37

188

11 years ago

Bit of a flying visit before my train back to Manchester, but well worth it. I had The Hollyrood burger; beef, mustard, red onion, blue cheese and tomato - bloody gorgeous. It wasn't ostentatious and massive but (cliche warning) just right - one of the best burgers I've had in a long time! To wash it all down I had a Fallen Brewery Chew Chew, a really flavoursome salted caramel milk stout. Well worth a visit of you want a well Crafted, delicious burger. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Burger and beer, chips were nom. - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Ben C.

67

7

8

10 years ago

Great place to go, you can definitely walk your burger off going up the hills back to the Royal Mile! A good range of sauces. Glad to see they have chilli ketchup! Staff were attentive, and we're constantly refilling out water. What we got: Blue cheese burger, sweet potato fries. Burger patty was succulent and the blue cheese complimented it well. I'd go for that if you're after something rich and filling. A very generous portion of Sweet potato fries cooked perfectly! Burger review: Quality: 9/10 | Creativity: 7/10 | Value £: 7/10 Other wee things: Service: 7/10 | Ambience: 6/10 read more

The Holyrood 9A - Blue cheese burger, sweet potato fries - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Molly M.

Elite 19

262

219

87

8 years ago

This is a great place for pub food and also full meals. I came here on a Friday night with a party of 4 people and didn't have to wait very long. The service was quick, and I enjoyed the chicken and bacon salad for my main course. I also had the cranachan for dessert, a raspberry compote with cream, and it was delicious. read more

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Shaina W.

552

8

0

9 years ago

Just bodied "The Black Deer", aka 6oz of venison and happiness. After eating it, I had to take 10 minutes of silence to let the perfection marinate. While I was eating this dish, I could not stop. If you love tender flavorful meat with an unlikely mix of the sweetness of beets and the deliciousness of the blue murder mayo, you HAVE TO TRY THIS. Wish I could give this dish a 6/5. Wish I could rewind my life clock and have it presented to me hot off the press again. A must try at the Holyrood. **edit: AND THE CHIPS! Great with the seasoning in the table and some salt. Super enjoyable experience overall. read more

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Richard T.

Elite 18

51

116

958

10 years ago

We were looking for a nice meal on our last night in Edinburgh and the Holyrood 9a delivered! This gastro pub has a great atmosphere, with quiet background music and really very friendly staff. Burgers are the main fare here, and what Burgers! I had the Blue Murder gourmet Burger, which was lovely. I'd also recommend the Haggis Bon Bons to start. Yum! There is a fine selection of beer and the manager even took time to sit with us to offer some options. Our bill was £95 for three of us eating three courses with drinks. Good value! Highly recommended and I'd love to visit again. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Donuts with beer ice cream and chocolate sauce. Nom! - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Sushi X.

Elite 13

145

259

217

10 years ago

What I Ordered: Bacon Blue Cheese Burger and Beer Ice Cream w/ Mini Donuts Flavor: Very tasty burger with good quality ingredients. I wasn't a fan of the beer ice cream, but that's just my taste. I'm sure if you're more of a beer drinker, you'll like this. Service: Friendly and attentive. Atmosphere: Great nightlife atmosphere. Lively crowd. You can tell this is one of the more popular eateries in Edinburgh. Price: Good for the quality. Location: In the heart of old town Edinburgh. Great location. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Bacon Bleu Burger - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Holyrood 9A - Beer Ice Cream and Mini Donuts - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Nick S.

70

1593

1955

13 years ago

Holyrood makes one hell of a burger, but it's got a few flaws that keep it off my "NOM OMG MUST HAVE" burger list. The ambiance, look and layout of the bar are a perfect combination of pub and Prohibition speakeasy. The menu is probably the most extensive list of burgers and beers I've ever seen. The burger presentation is top-notch. So what could possibly be amiss? Sadly, the most important thing. Although they say they cook everything to medium by default, my order of medium rare came to me grey as a direwolf's coat. To further complicate matters, the sourdough bun was toasted to the point it would snap in half if flexed. Now, it's a testament to the quality of the ingredients involved that despite these flaws, this was still one SERIOUSLY TASTY BURGER. Almost perfect. If it had been medium rare and the bun soft, I may have lapsed into a burger coma and died happily right on the spot. The draught beer I enjoyed with my burger - Caesar Augustus - was billed as a blend of lager and IPA and could not have been a more brilliant burger compliment. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Two pints of Caesar Augustus; a lager/IPA hybrid! - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Holyrood 9A - The Holyrood burger with sweet potato fries - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Holyrood 9A - Very cool interior - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Jonny L.

28

316

325

16 years ago

Recently taken under by new management and revamped, this is the sort of pub you had to know to find. It's no that its tucked away down some tiny wee alley. But there isn't much reason to go down Holyrood road other than to get to St Leonard's Land Gym or a detour to the Parliament. This is unfortunate as The Holyrood 9A is a great wee pub. Actually it isn't that wee, it's much bigger on the inside than you would first think. Its interior is cosy, traditional but with a revamped, fresh twist which isn't altogether stunning but nice all the same. They have a great selection of beers. But the main selling point as everyone who goes there knows, is the burgers. I get pretty annoyed when all I get when I order a burger is some slab slapped between some dry buns and a wee side salad. But here the burgers are much more impressive and there are is a greater and far more creative selection than your typical bar meal. This includes a veggie option! A nice pub with a good selection of burgers and beer that make for a great afternoon/evening visit. read more

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Bill S.

6

33

47

11 years ago

As part of the Fuller chain of pubs, they have a menu of food, beer, drinks and wine that should satisfy everyone. It also well located between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, so it's a great place to stop on the way down the hill. We had burgers, the Venison and the Halimmi, and side salads instead of fries. Two beers and the food came to £25.25, more reasonable than in London pubs. The Chieftain IPA was phenomenal! Be sure to ask questions about the rotating beer selection . It's a young crowd at mid-day, maybe because of the huge selection of craft beers, and the music is at a level that allows for conversation. read more

The Holyrood 9A - The Venison burger and Holyrood burger with side salads. - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Ali C.

Elite 19

45

121

1039

9 years ago

They used to have the best burger in town. I particularly loved the Pork & Chorizo burger. Unfortunately, better burger joints from London and other independent ones have come to claim the title from them. So now, unless you are here for the beer, the food seems a bit substandard. The beer selection is good with guest ales from time to time. However, the place can be a bit crowded and gets really hot on a Friday night. read more

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Alex R.

Elite 15

63

148

0

14 years ago

This is an ace bar if you're a fan of beer or burgers. I really enjoy having a good feed somewhere with a good atmosphere. They are the same group as The Southern and The Red Squirrel. I'd say they blow the Red Squirrel out the water and are on a par with the excellent Southern. Staff are good and knowledgable. The bar is big and spacious. There is adequate seating and you can book a place if you want to! However this does mean that Friday nights, Saturday nights and some brunchtimes this place can be busier than a doctors surgery during winter cold season. I recommend - Burgers, trying some beers and enjoying them! Brilliant for a quick meal/pint on the way to/from the station too as it's only a few minutes away! read more

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Richard D.

Elite 15

122

85

273

12 years ago

It doesn't feel that many years ago that you really struggled to get a decent beer in Edinburgh, yet now there is a new craft beer bar opening up every week. Holyrood 9A, therefore, probably counts as one of the old-timers in the craft beer scene and follows the familiar formula of regularly changing guest beers but where is differs from most is the quality of the food. You must try the Sweet Potato Fries! They are tremendous, the burgers are great too, but SWEET POTATO FRIES, order them on their own or with a burger, just try them. There are three distinct seating areas but my favourite is in the back room where the candles are creating their own artwork by melting around the fireplace and it's a great bit of the bar to eat sweet potato fries! read more

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Flora C.

5

4

1

13 years ago

It was the best burger I had in my life!!!!! The cocktail are good too and the staff is great too read more

The Holyrood 9A - Barbecue burger! - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Steph D.

Elite 12

69

151

5

15 years ago

An open letter to Holyrood 9A, From this day forward I will refer to all things in reference to your food. Last night's make out was as sloppy and covered with pesto mayo and buffalo mozzarella as Holyrood 9A's Shroom Burger (the other ones are better, I promise... keep reading) You look as thin and light in that TopShop dress as the french fries at 9A. This lesson in semantics is as useless as the coleslaw at 9A. This massage is as soothing as a 9A Shroom Burger when I'm nauseated and have a huge hangover. That Latin dancing last night was spicier than 9A's PiriPiri. That drummer with a commitment problem I've been dating is so bad for me, but SO GOOD... just like the food at Holyrood 9A. Holyrood 9A: You're now the yardstick by which I will measure all things delicious, spicy, filling, soothing, flavorful and so bad it's gooooood. Do you even use yards here? The Metre stick... that sounds weird. read more

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Rachel R.

153

236

310

11 years ago

I like Holyrood 9A, it's got a good selection of beer and the burgers are pretty blimming decent. I've been in many a time for drinks but only ate here for the first time recently. Now, if you've eaten at Red Squirrel or the Southern (which I have), you'll know what to expect - a whole load of burgers. And they're good. You've got the option of seasoned and/or sweet potato fries, and I assume that like at RS you can swap out the bun for another burger (for a small charge) if you're gluten free. All three pubs are some of the best for beers in Edinburgh, with an excellent tap selection and loads of bottles. Definitely worth having a look. Service wise, it fell down a bit here as we had to flag down the waitress to order "Oh, you're ready?", well, yes, it had been fifteen minutes since she'd given us the menu and like I said there's only burgers on it so we didn't need that long to choose... We had a similar experience when trying to pay. To be fair to them, it was busy. On the whole, I like Holyrood 9A and its sister pubs, and for its location it's definitely one of the better options in the area. read more

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Aviva J.

301

74

115

11 years ago

Love the beer selection here. I'll be the first to admit I am picky when it comes to beer. Perhaps I'm a craft beer snob, but hey, if I'm drinking beer it needs to 1. taste good and 2. have a high alcohol percent. They have light and dark beers, hoppy and not so hoppy. Whatever you want, they got. I recommend asking for a flight of beers first so you can determine which are your favorites. All I can say is I wish we had the Holyrood 9A in Glasgow. read more

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Tesni W.

12

21

2

12 years ago

It took us a while to find this place, but we went the wrong way and then took another wrong turn ending up with us taking another wrong turn, but hey that's just down to my lack of map reading ability! When we got there it was quite busy as they were due to start a beer tasting but they managed to find us a table, we were promptly served by lovely the lovely staff who got me my apple mojito as opposed to the normal one on the cocktail list. They had a large variety of beer on offer, which sadly I know nothing about, choosing a beer for me would be a bit like choosing a horse at the grand national, you go with the most unusual name? The menu is varied and I went for a tandoori chicken burger, which was lovely although probably one of the messiest burgers I have ever tried to eat! My boyfriend had the Holyrood BBQ burger which was apparently also really good! There was a really good atmosphere here and it wasn't that expensive! read more

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Sarah M.

11

12

11 years ago

I popped into Holyrood 9A for a quick drink after work with some colleagues & although I had heard good things I was pretty disappointed. I went for the draft cider & it was reasonable but nothing special. It was very busy, despite it being a Thursday evening, & we ended up lined up at the bar with people constantly pushing past us. We were initially told we would be put on the wait list for a table, but this seemed to go out the window as other groups walked in off the street, grabbed a table & weren't moved. The staff were also rather brusque, and my general sense was that we were just in the way. Overall, it seemed like a decent - if slightly pretentious pub - but I'd advise picking a quieter time to visit. read more

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Angela B.

421

301

362

15 years ago

I went to this bar/pub knowing absolutely nothing about it at all. I'm not from The Edinburgh so I'm not familiar with many of the bars/pubs there. Stumbled across this place when through for the festival this year to see Tim Vine (who was very funny btw). We left quite early for Edinburgh so by the time our show had finished we were well ready for eats. This place clearly specialises in Beer and Burgers - 2 things I like rather a lot. From what I gather this is a fairly new bar but it has already been nominated for the DRAM Awards Best New Bar. S'nice. Myself and my boy quickly got a table - it was messy when we sat down but with it being the Festival season and just past the lunch rush we excused this. We helped ourselves to menus and in the meantime our table was quickly cleaned and cleared anyway and the polite waitress then asked us if we would like any drinks. This is a bit of a bug-bear of mine - you've only JUST sat down/looked at the menu and straight away you're asked what drink you would like. This would be FINE if I was a predictable drinker (have the same drink everywhere) but I am not; I like to try new things and everyday, depending on how I feel, it depends on what I drink. This day I was very thirsty and therefore very glad to see the extensive draught beer menu - at least 19 beers I spotted! Wowzer! Because I was rushed I picked a beer that wouldn't have been my 1st choice had I been given more time to look. Oof. ANYWAY, I digress - I chose a pint of West St.Mungo lager (had it before, really like it) Now I don't know if I imagined this but I swore I seen Brooklyn Lager on the menu after I had already ordered and I do *love* a pint of Brooklyn so I was kicking myself that I had felt rushed into ordering. Dang. Service was swift - the waitress that brought our drinks also then took our food order. This place specialises in quality burgers of all kinds. But fear not my vegetable loving friends! They DO cater for the veggies - with 4 types of veggie burgers on their menu amongst other non-animal dishes too. Also on their menu was tasty sounding breakfasts (only served til 12 Noon though...not very good for us late risers), various salads (who orders a salad when there's burgers on the menu?!) and other types of meaty sarnies. I opted for the (unadventurous) Cheese Burger and my boy ordered the Cheese and Bacon Burger. Both arrived swiftly and made my eyes go 'BOOOIIIINNNGGG!' like in the cartoons of old. Our HUGE burgers came on a wooden slab to make us feel even more Paleolithic-like (Ug!) and served alongside were lovely skinny crisp fries and a wee bowl of fancy coleslaw. Also in the burger was a delicious beer mustard mayo and the usual dill pickle, lettuce and tomato. I had to halve my BEAST BURGER coz being a dainty fingered lady (Ha ha) I could not handle that cow sandwich all in one go. All was very tasty and along with the beer I was one very satisfied lady indeed. After eating I thought in my wee head wouldn't it be grand to have a bar like this in Glasgow. There most probably is one but I've not came across it yet. Only downside was the teeny-tiny ladies toilets. Made me feel like a giant and when a place serves such good burgers they cannot expect all their lady patrons to be the size of Victoria Beckham. Boo and hoo. I would most definitely go back to The Holyrood 9A and next time try another good beer and another mammoth burger (not *actually* made with mammoth). read more

The Holyrood 9A - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Lawrence L.

10

64

173

10 years ago

It was on my list the whole trip but we finally visited just before leaving Edinburgh. We both ordered burgers - I went with the venison burger. Really satisfying and both moisture and texture were there. Really a nice burger. The beer selection is really good, too. Definitely recommend a visit. read more

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Lauren C.

Elite 14

25

63

19

13 years ago

The pal works here so have been in on several occasions now. Fantastic beer selection but we were a bit famished so had burgers set firmly in our sights rather than brewed refreshments this arvo! Burgers were great. I had the Holyrood BBQ with peri-peri fries, and I have to say, despite hating this word, it was amazeballs. I didn't finish it entirely but I think that's because I'm not an endless dustbin, not anymore anyway. The BBQ sauce was just the right side of sweet, not overly sugary the way it often can be. I'd go back tomorrow hungrier and have 5 of them bad boys! Also the staff are pretty great, but then I'm biased there! :P read more

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More info about The Holyrood 9A

9A Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8AE
United Kingdom
Old Town
Directions
0131 556 5044
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.theholyrood.co.uk/

Full menu

Hours

What time does The Holyrood 9A open?

The Holyrood 9A opens at 9:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does The Holyrood 9A close?

The Holyrood 9A closes at 12:00 AM (Next day) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.The Holyrood 9A closes at 1:00 AM (Next day) on Friday and Saturday.

Mon-Thu, Sun 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Next day)Fri-Sat 9:00 AM - 1:00 AM (Next day)

Food & Alcohol

Does The Holyrood 9A have catering options?

No, The Holyrood 9A does not have catering options.

Does The Holyrood 9A have a drive thru?

No, The Holyrood 9A does not have a drive thru.

Does The Holyrood 9A have a happy hour?

No, The Holyrood 9A does not have a happy hour.

Does The Holyrood 9A serve alcohol?

Yes, The Holyrood 9A serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does The Holyrood 9A have TVs?

Yes, The Holyrood 9A has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does The Holyrood 9A have bike parking?

Yes, The Holyrood 9A has bike parking.

Does The Holyrood 9A have outdoor seating?

No, The Holyrood 9A does not have outdoor seating options.

Does The Holyrood 9A have parking?

Yes, The Holyrood 9A has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Does The Holyrood 9A allow outdoor smoking?

No, The Holyrood 9A does not allow outdoor smoking.

Does The Holyrood 9A have free WiFi?

Yes, The Holyrood 9A has free WiFi.

The Holyrood 9A Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - The Holyrood 9A

“I obviously ordered the haggis burger and it was possibly the best tasting meal I had in my entire time in Edinburgh!”

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4.4(116 reviews)

0.8 mi•New Town

Out of all the places I've been to in Scotland, I think Queens Arms was one of my favorites…read more We had reservations for this place recently and when I took one step inside, I was already in love. I mean who doesn't love a good pub? You get great drinks and great food at an affordable price. As I write it makes me think of think of when Zidane reunites with Freya in FF9. Sometimes we don't wanna eat at fancy Michelin restaurant that has small plates but charges a premium. Sometimes we just wanna cut all the BS and just get a nice hearty meal. And thats what we got. When we sat down we found out that they were doing a Trivia night. Normally I would have told my girl to pick another spot to eat but for some reason I was cool with it. There was even a table nearby with kids(yuck). And you know what? It was fine. That's because we had been sipping on some amazing cocktails. If you also partake, Gin and Mezcal enjoyers will love the Bramble and Hibiscus Crush. What color are Luigi's overalls from Super Mario? That's such an easy question. Wait...what do you mean Luigi's overalls are blue? They are green. Look at this picture onli...Oh... One of the stars of our meal was the Haggis. This was the first time I had ever tried it and after trying it at multiple places Scotland, Queens Arms I feel has done it the best. I love the complexity of the flavors of the meat with the creamy and pepper flavors of the peppercorn sauce. If you've never had Haggis, you definitely have to try it here. The best part is that it comes with mashed potatoes too! Shoutouts to the Fish and Chips if you are also into that. One of my friends ordered that and I definitely had to go back in for multiple bites. Finally the roast. The Sunday Roast should just be an automatic order if you happen to come here on a Sunday. You get so much food and it's all so damn tasty. They'll cook a roast to whatever doneness your heart desires. We went with Medium Rare and it came out perfectly. If you didn't have enough flavors with all the extra sides it comes with, they also give you gravy to pour on anything you want. Thanksgiving basically came early this night. But as I looked around and admired all the bookshelf's and all the families have a nice dinner with their loved ones, I just thought about how happy I was. I was finally here! This was the start of my trip. Queens Arms has set a high ceiling on great experiences in Scotland. We even went back there a couple of days ago just because we knew we would be able to end the night on a good drink. But in the end I think if you are Edinburgh, you have to come to this place. It is one of my favorite experiences I've had in Scotland so far and I dream about when I can come back again.

Came here on our first night in town on the strength of the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed…read more We enjoyed a fantastic Sunday roast including a delicious pavlova for dessert. The kids meal of mac and cheese and fries was perfect for our picky little eater, though big enough for at least two!

0.1 mi•Old Town, Newington

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Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

Salt Horse

4.7(12 reviews)

Such a lovely and knowledgeable team at the Salt Horse. We were immediately welcomed and offered…read morelots of pro tips. While Hubs was on a quest for cask ales (they didn't have any here), we were delighted by the craft options here. We took a spot and enjoyed the vibe. Even though it was 6 pm on NYE, it was still a chill spot where others are around but you can still hear the person next to you. Definitely check it out!

Stopped by for a quick beer, enjoyed the service and beers. Would recommend anytime nearby.read more

Rose and that

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Pickles of Broughton Street

4.9(20 reviews)

0.6 mi•New Town

We were doing our regular research, hoping to find the perfect anniversary restaurant, when we…read morestumbled upon Pickles on a map. A quick Google search later, we decided to add this to our "must visit while in Edinburgh" list. This wasn't our anniversary restaurant, of course, but we knew we needed to dine here at least once. It was a long walk from our hotel, but it was a nice way to see parts of the city that we wouldn't normally have gotten to. The restaurant itself is nestled in the basement (or downstairs) of a cute building. It's small in there, but they're very good at maximizing the space they're given. We settled in at a teeny-tiny table off to the side and swiftly ordered a couple of pints. The menu is very straightforward: you're either getting a meat and cheese plate, just a cheese plate, or pates. We decided to share the Mixed Meat & Cheese platter. We figured that we'd snack and drink some Scottish beer, then head off into the night to find our "real" dinner. Thing is, though, that combo platter filled us the heck up. The waitress came out with the meat and cheese plate and a box of bread, oatcakes and crackers, and my husband and I had a "where is all this going?" moment. But our pro-waitress dropped the plate on the table and popped the bread box into a shelf on the wall next to us - a shelf that neither of us ever even noticed, to be honest. The meat and cheese selections were delicious and paired really well together. Kind of hidden away on that shelf (holding the bread and oatcakes) were a couple chutney jars. That chutney - lots of fruit pieces and complex flavors - brought a lot to the cheeses. We really did love the food, the surroundings, the beer and the staff. I wish we had something like this back home.

Comforting environment, food and drink. It's like being in your own home, warm with friends. Staff…read moreare helpful and friendly. Enjoy yourselves.

Cheese platter

The cheese board

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Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

Badger & Co

4.5(76 reviews)

0.8 mi•New Town

My wife and I visited for dinner and had a very nice time. We were celebrating our honeymoon. The…read moredecor was so fun and cozy, but also a bit more upscale than I anticipated. We were there at the beginning of the Fringe Festival, so it was pretty crowded, but the service was high quality regardless! I could tell they communicated very well as a team. We tried several dishes. The chicken pot pie was very tasty, but perhaps a little over done on the outside - not necessarily a complaint just an observation. The pesto pasta with mayo was a little too rich for my palate but my wife really enjoyed it. The bread was phenomenal, simple and delicious. We also had the cabbage, which was straightforward and enjoyable. My wife had an old fashioned and liked it a lot. I had the Cold town lager and it was excellent. All in all a nice experience, and I would recommend to those looking for a semi upscale dining experience, but not to those looking for a fast casual dinner.

Badger & Co. was one of the places we most wanted to try while visiting Edinburgh. It was…read morecompletely booked on our first night, so we tried again the next evening and were fortunate to snag an 8:30 p.m. reservation. Even after arriving, we still had a bit of a wait for our table, but we were able to order drinks from the bar while we waited. The atmosphere is what really makes this place special. The Wind in the Willows theme is charming and thoughtfully done, creating a cozy, beautiful space that feels uniquely Edinburgh. As for the food, it was good but not outstanding. Two of us ordered the chicken pies, one had the steak pie, and one had the macaroni and cheese. Everything was enjoyable enough, but nothing really stood out, especially considering the prices. Service was fine, though not particularly memorable. Overall, I would recommend Badger & Co. for the ambiance, decor, and experience rather than the food itself. It's a lovely place to stop for a meal or drinks and soak in the atmosphere, but the food and service didn't quite live up to the hype for us. 4/5 stars.

0.4 mi•Old Town, Royal Mile

Wagyu burger with chips fried in beef drippings.

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Deacon Brodies Tavern

3.5(176 reviews)

Love love love Ambience, people, food, drinks…read moreVibe! Loved it and will go again Plus the service

We were on the top floor. I believe the women's restroom was at the top of the stairs and the men's…read morewas at the bottom of the stairs. We had Haddock and Chips, Chicken Schnitzel, and a Chicken Burger ... and Irn Bru! There was a bit of a wait, because we arrived in the middle of lunch hour, but they got us in before the time estimate they gave us. The food was good, and there was a lot of beautiful woodwork to look at while we were waiting. This is a fairly well known place with historical significance, so if you're looking for a quiet place that's not busy, this isn't it. I liked the food. I liked the decor. The folks working there were nice. ... and that's what I want when I go out to eat! Whee!

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Innis & Gunn Brewery

3.8(78 reviews)

0.9 mi•Old Town

We came here because it was convenient to our hotel. Once we walked in, the place was empty except…read moreone table. They had numerous bartenders behind the bar, yet we could not get served. Once we finally got served, they would walk by us and never follow up again about needing additional drinks. We sat there for a while with empty drinks and could not get any service. Due to that we ended up paying our tab and leaving. They also had numerous bar flies flying around the bar and the taps. Even though it was convenient, I would not return.

I gotta be honest on this one, I have never had a scotch egg, nor Camembert. But these were…read moreamazing. The scotch egg is surrounded in sausage and deep fried. The Camembert, I found out, is cheese and jam. The bar tenders were super nice and we got out food really fast! This is a bar (18+ in Scotland) so it is a bit noisy! Amazing service and food though

0.3 mi•Old Town, Newington

Baked Camembert

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BrewDog Edinburgh

4.2(115 reviews)

Casual pub chain with shareable grub options. Came here for dinner with a couple of friends for a…read morelate dinner and we were able to grab a table easily. We shared wings and two small sides of fries and pickled cucumbers. They also have a deal where you get free dessert if you beat your server at Rock, Paper, Scissors, and they did honor it. Our server was really nice and I won a "Death by Chocolate Cake", which lived up to its name. The food was tasty and came out quickly. Credit cards accepted and we just walked from our hotel. They had a lot of deals, including one for students.

This brewery was good but not great…read more I was interested in trying some local ales. I went in 4 hours before closing, and there were out of a few of the local ales. I asked if they had any local ale recommendations from the bottled or canned beer, and they offered no feedback. Food was also not being served even though they were open another 4 hours. I did try one stout, but they only filled it 3/4 and charged me for a whole one. The orchard beer was pretty tasty. It was more dry. The beer tasted good, but the experience was disappointing. Not sure if I will return.

0.6 mi•Grassmarket, Old Town

Cheese and June special

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Lost Lager

The Beehive Inn

3.5(91 reviews)

Ambiance - a pub atmosphere with lots of tables and TVs…read moreService - certainly friendly enough when they drop stuff off, but nowhere to be found otherwise Food - Had the Karaage chicken, cheese and bacon burger, steak and ale pie, proper chips, sticky toffee pudding, and cheesecake. The chicken was okay, maybe a little overcooked. The mains were tasty, though the burger says served with onion rings and there were only two tiny rings. Technically not lying, but a misrepresentation for sure. The desserts were also fine. My biggest gripe was with the app that you used for ordering. It was very scattered, and not a great experience. It seemed to be the only way to order, as I said the table service was limited to the drop off. If you're going to force me into an app experience, at least make a better app.

Lovely day in Edinburgh! Another late lunch this time at the Beehive restaurant and pub. The…read moreatmosphere inside is flat. The layout is discombulated. Eating outside is the place to be on a beautiful day. It's open seating.You order at the bar and they bring your order to you. The tables are numbered and you provide your table number at time of order. We started with two pints of Tennants. Tennent's Lager is Scotland's best-selling pale lager. It reminded me of Innis and Gunn with a slight citrus taste. We then ordered salt and pepper fried calamari as a starter. It was OK, kind of bland. The Asian dipping sauce did give it a bit of life. Jan ordered the fish and chips. I thought it was the best we've had in Ireland and Scotland. I ordered the chicken sandwich on a Chibatta bun and it was below average. The chicken was cut into small strips, like you might find in a salad. I had a couple of bites that were all bread and it was difficult to keep the small strips on the sandwich. The bacon on the sandwich did little to help the overall flavor of the sandwich. Service is based on placing your order at the bar and waiting for it to be delivered. When the server delivered our order we were too busy looking at the food to notice that we had no ketchup or malt vinegar. Jan had to go and hunt that down in the restrauant. We arrived hungry and thirsty and both were taken care of, so mission accomplished.