A family owned Gin Bar in Edinburgh's West End! We loved their creative menu, extensive gin selection and gorgeous atmosphere! So many different spots to enjoy your dinner and drinks at from cute private nooks, high top tables, or comfy booths. Excellent service with good recommendations. So happy to find this spot just around the corner from our hotel! Jolly Negroni Pink Wink read more

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Loved the old building with its quirky artwork and giant windows. Had the spinach yogurt tart which is out of this world delicious. The Edinburgh Fizz was most unique and delicious. The toffee pudding was yummy. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. Not a fan of gin but the choices were very tempting. read more

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Excellent food and decor. It sits just outside the shopping mall area so it may be a little hard to find. The bar is excellent and the food was fun. The menu is non-traditional but very good. Service was very good. We really enjoyed the special cocktails and our server was very fun. read more

The atmosphere is nice and opening. Big bar big tables can't complain about the music or anything. The short rib on the tappas menu is ok. Little over done and not saucy enough. Service is really slow here so make sure you have time allotted for it. Waited over 30 minutes for both first and second drinks plus 20 minute in between ordering. Food came before our 2nd drinks arrived. Big portions and nice style. If you like gin go to this place if not don't mind it. read more

The Jolly Botanist - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Over 80 different gins from around the world, knowledgeable service, and various seating options to enjoy!

I wouldn't say I was blown away or majorly impressed with the jolly botanist and maybe I'm missing something but for me the atmosphere, the decor was depressing, the staff seemed miserable and it's quite pricey. I think the amount they charge for a bog standard drink is completely ridiculous, I'd see the point if it was unique and different but it was a wine and an expresso martini and it cost the earth, I could literally get these drinks in any bar and it be much cheaper than what the jolly botanist charge so it's safe to say I won't be back any time soon! read more

This is a nice little Gin bar by the Haymarket station in Edinburgh. We walked past it and were intrigued, so we decided to stop by for a G&T. They have a good selection of gins, and they recommend a pairing of tonic. I chose one of their recommendations. They also have an interesting cocktail selection list. The ambience is pretty nice, and you can choose it to be what you want it to be. We chose to sit inside and enjoy the bar and have a chat. My rating is 50% for the drink, 30% for service and 20% for everything else-- a 5.0 for each of these makes the rating a 5.0 read more

The Jolly Botanist - A G&T based on what the bartender recommended - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Great little bar with an incredible selection of gins! We enjoyed a nice cocktail here on a recent tour of Edinburgh. Nice ambiance and obviously very popular with the locals. read more

Amazing cocktail bar with a fun yet sophisticated atmosphere. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. It's a nice departure from the traditional pub but still cozy read more

My second trip to the Jolly Botanist was much like the first. Decent service, a great selection of gins and several types of tonic with recommendations for pairings. Both times I've visited on a Friday afternoon and both times it was nice and quiet with lots of space and attentive service before 4pm, at which point the place is mobbed with after-work-drinkers. It's the exact type of place you'd go to after work - not a dive bar, some thematic things going on (the upcycled vintage mismatched trend) and decent drinks at a reasonable price. Just jolly enough. This was the first time I'd eaten here though, and frankly I was served the best steak sandwich I've ever had. The steak was generous and thick, cooked perfectly to still be a touch pink and plenty juicy. The pepper sauce provided was an excellent accompaniment and the floury roll was just the right amount of soft and chewy. It came with lovely mushrooms and tomatoes and some chunky handcut chips, all of which were tasty too. All in all it was a great plate of food which I was happy to pay £10 for. I had two Pickerings gins (I kept wanting to call it Pickwicks but it's not that...) with fevertree tonic and also an Eton Mess (a Jolly Mess according to the menu) for pudding which was also delish. The whole meal came to about £32 each which included two courses and three drinks per person. Service was fine, servers attentive and I appreciated that all the staff were inkeeping with the hipster theme (wearing braces, bowties and some with wee fancy moustaches) even though it felt a smidge pretentious. One star off a perfect review for handing us the wrong menus and then when we'd chosen stuff telling us we couldnt have it (forgivable if it wasn't for the fact that they didn't remove the lunch menus from the menus they handed out to other customers after us), and also for not a single smile from staff the entire time we were there. It'd be a half star off if I could do such a thing but I'll have to round it off. All four of the other stars are for that sandwich. I will be back for another go around of that sandwich. 10/10, would eat again. Come for the gin, stay for the grub. read more

The Jolly Botanist - A Jolly Mess from the Jolly Botanist! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Walking distance from my hub hotel! I showed up in Edinburgh and did little to no research. I flew in from S'ton and just kinda showed up. And what does this silly American know about Scotland? Um, like, nothing honestly... I knew that there was a pub attached to my hotel... And that the castle was less than a mile away. I ventured out at about 10pm. I strolled into this place and fell in love! The decor! The atmosphere! The people! The drinks! I had a gin and juice and maybeeee something else. Probably a gin and tonic. I kept it simple, ya know. Everyone was incredibly nice! And I didn't feel weird walking in by myself at all. Even the bouncer was so, so, super friendly. It's an Edinburgh must. It's the real deal! read more

Visiting this for the first time a couple of weeks ago, I have good memories. We met up with some friends on a Sunday. They had some live music, but if you sit at the back behind the bar it isn't as loud. I like the farmer's barn look and feel about it, some likeliness to the Potting Shed, mixed in with the Teuchter's Landing, but suitably on the other end of the city which needs this kind of place. They have a big central bar serving all the 'Heineken' beer fare, like Affligem Dubbel, Amstel and some ciders too. Normal Edinburgh prices apply. Some of us were a bit peckish and we ordered a couple of platters. This was very nicely prepared, good food selection and just about enough. The service is very friendly, but could've been a bit more efficient. Some of the tables in this place are ideal for a nice bout of card or board playing and we had a very good time. (We played a card game) Recommended for the quiet hours in the day, as I can imagine it can get quite full and noisy. read more

The Jolly Botanist - The bar - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

So my last couple of visits has upper my star rating from 3 to 4 stars. Still on the pricey side for Morrison street, I think the location near Haymarket is the secret. Better service since I was in first but still could be better. I would like to not have to prompt everything. The junipero was very nice indeed, I would have that again. They stock fever tree tonic but didn't have the Mediterranean tonic which is the best. read more

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Don't have too much to say about this bar. I was hesitant as first as I know it's a place for gin lovers and I don't like gin. I was so happy to see they have cocktails without! I had the tropical summer cocktail (I don't remember it's name exactly). It was so nice that I got another. I was absolutely enchanted by their cut glasses. They're so beautiful! I was there on a Friday night so it was no surprise to me that nearly every table was reserved and that it was jam packed. Still, I think it's a nice place and I would go back for another cocktail! read more

The Jolly Botanist - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

It's the first time I went there on a Sunday evening and it was still very lively, but at least you could get a table easily for 6 people. And we even got a very cozy spot in the back. I sooo love the interior. It's really funky and unique with all the random teapots, bird cages, sparkly glass chandeliers and various sizes of mirrors being part of the interior decoration. The bar is good sized and holds a substantial selection of various booze. Having said this, I was quite disappointed at the lack of Heineken beer, Radler or one of Heineken's new Cider products on the market called Cloudy Apple Cider. Well, apparently it's a Heineken pub. Service was nice too. We ordered a cold meat and cheese platter, which was quite good and got served in a timely manner. In the summer the glass wall opens and you can have a drink whilst enjoying the coolness of fresh air flowing through your hair, warming up to a lovely summer breeze. I will be back! read more

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Gin, Gin and more Gin but also non-gin options. The Jolly Botanist drinks menu has three pages of gin with matching tonic suggestions. They also have a page of gin cocktails and another of non-gin cocktails. During a relaxed Friday night we sampled quite a few of the gin cocktails and they were all really nice and well presented. Having tried all three types of Edinburgh Fizz, the rhubarb and ginger ones were my favourite, it tasted almost like a rhubarb and custard sweet in liquid form. The decor is interesting and a bit industrial/hipster. It works well in the space and I really like the copper piping lights. The only negative of the Jolly Botanist is that it was really loud. The music was far too loud to be able to have a conversation without feeling like you were shouting. read more

If I'm drinking, I'm drinking gin. One last drink for the road led us to the Jolly Botanist. JB has shabby chic interior; chandeliers, old, worn-in books and a hefty gin selection. I couldn't help but thinking some authentic music would go with the old-timey vibe they're going for. - Some background jazz really would be the cherry on the cake! Service was great, with the barman offering us recommendations and talking us through the gin options. I went for a favourite of mine: Caorrun gin. It came with Fentiman's tonic and a garnish of orange and ginger and was delicious. I don't think my budget could stretch to drinking here all night since it was on the expensive side, but for one or two drinks, the Jolly Botanist won't break the bank. However, the reason that it's just three stars for me is that there were quite a few fruit flies in the bar. Having had a home invasion of the buggers, I know just how hard they are to get rid of and just how fast they double in quantity. But it's so easy to look up home remedies online, many that customers wouldn't even notice. It really isn't pleasant sipping a gin and tonic in the presence of flies! - Especially when they've fruit and other fresh garnishes by the counter. Perhaps they need to ensure these are stored away so as not to attract them in the first place. Also, there was some green mould on the wall behind us. It seems like the JB is in need of a little TLC. At the moment, the Jolly Botanist is a one-drink stop for me and one I'll probably wait a little time before indulging in again. read more

Top notch service, food, and drinks. We had great drinks and a snacky dinner (huge mezze board). Awesome date night! read more

As a gal who studied horticulture in uni, the first time my bus cruised past The Jolly Botanist, I immediately took note. I took even more note when I realized it was not only called something fanciful, but it was A GIN joint. Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Shortly thereafter my coworkers and I set up a gin-drinkin' date. The first thing you'll find out about the Jolly is that it's swanky cute. It's full of antique charm, all exposed brick and hanging low-light fluorescent bulbs. There's a cluttered mix of cushioned chairs and tables in a sizeable room, and when we stepped inside we noticed that the clientele was dressed pretty spiffily. Or perhaps we were just taken in by the two gents in full suits, as well as other gents sporting flat caps. (Nice!) Methinks this would be an excellent date spot, or just a good place for an excuse to dress up a bit. ;) Because all the tables were occupied when we arrived, we asked a server if there were any others. She said no and that she'd inform us when there was, so we proceeded to carry on with drink ordering. We'd already spotted a table when she returned to us to offer it up--points there! Most folk would have immediately forgotten in the din of a busy place. So without further ago we plopped down on two comfy smooshy benches. So far so good! Now on to the drinks! While the JB has an impressive list of gins on hand and our gin and tonics were perfectly fine (but not life-changing) , other non-gin cocktails were a little iffy in flavors. Unfortunately the same can be said of the food--for the price we paid, the food was standard at best. I ordered the cauliflower macaroni cheese, and my cohorts the quinoa. Again, it was decent grub but there was no ranting and raving involved at the end, which is sort of what you hope for when you pay a bit more! At the end of the day I'm content with my experience at the JB. Certainly the atmosphere and the dedication to gin alone is worth four stars in my book, but to seal the deal I think better grub and cheaper prices is due. Still, I liked it more than enough to return in the future! read more

I went to the Jolly Botanist with a group of friends before going out for dinner. As it was Friday night, the place was absolutely packed and very loud. I'm surprised I managed to give my drink order at the bar as my voice ain't the loudest. I like the décor in this place. Big chandeliers in the back, faded vintage look. Oh and the big TV screens add to the Victorian charm ;) Asked for a Hendrick's gin and tonic. Got one with Fentimans tonic water, which is not my favourite. I couldn't taste the gin from the tonic. Better ask for a different tonic next time. However, the glass the drink was served in was absolutely beautiful. Jolly Botanist have an extensive range of gins, so there should be something for everyone. Table next to us were having burgers so eating here is an option for sure. Not sure I'd pay £12 for a burger though, in a pub. read more

This place may become one of my favourite pubs to drink at in Edinburgh. I have only visited twice and on both occasions it was very busy though miraculously managed to find a table to sit at. One hiccup was when the waitress originally ask us to move as they forgot to put a table reserved sign but she was very apologetic and offered to find us an alternative table so no harm done. Some quirky decorations with an antique kinda feel, out of the ordinary drinks on the menu and very appealing food menu. Drinks at the bar were being served quickly as the bar was well staffed and liked how friendly everyone was despite being very busy. Top marks for their choices of gins, I liked their caorunn and monkey 47, I don't pretend to be a gin expert but it was delightful! One thing though their menu was puzzling to read... At that stage I was sober, I can only imagine having a few too many and staring at the cocktail menu to finally give up ordering a cocktail for being too much effort decrypting! The food was delicious, my friend and I struggled picking something off the menu as all sounded amazing so we ended up sharing. Fillet steak sandwich served with peppercorn sauce was perfectly seasoned and cooked, very tender and my personal favourite. The veggie burger with butternut squash, coriander and chunky chips was also flavoursome and very lush. As a still fairly new place I honestly believe they are doing very well at keeping me delighted in coming back. So I might well get jolly sometimes soon at Jb. read more

The Jolly Botanist - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Visited The Jolly Botanist for the first time on Friday. Really friendly atmosphere, quirky décor, great service and an excellent choice of drinks. The cocktails from the Gin Aficionados cocktail menu were to die for. There's more to gin than G&Ts! Highly recommended. read more

The Jolly Botanist - Edinburgh Fizzes (Gin and Prosecco flavoured cocktails) at The Jolly Botanist - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

If you're a gin phreaque (full disclosure - I am!), this place is a must if you're in Edinburgh. Just up the street from Haymarket rail station, and just down the street from the Edinburgh Convention Center, Jolly Botanist was on my walk back to my hotel from the convention I attended in Sept. 2018 - I went in once, and after that, I never made it past the place if it was open, for at least a cocktail hour visit. I did eat dinner there one night, which told me that the food was equal to the gin selection. read more

I was here at the weekend for my 30th birthday, and while it was nice, it wasn't as nice as I'd remembered. People were sat at our reserved table, and the waitress did move them, but they remained sat on the stools at the end with their drinks on our table. Was a bit disappointed that the waitress seemed happy with that and didn't move them on. We were ordering food, and after getting the menus and waiting, we weren't sure if it was table service or if we had to order at the bar. Eventually someone came to take our order. The food was nice, but nothing special. We all had burgers, which came with potato wedges, much nicer than with fries! The gin menu is extensive, but there are no prices in it. I know in most bars the prices aren't displayed, but if you're going to have a drinks menu, surely the prices would be a useful addition. When we asked for the bill for the food and drinks, they had forgotten to take off the £50 deposit that had been paid to secure the booking on a Saturday night, so we had to flag someone down again to get that sorted. Finally, the service at the bar was painfully slow, a good 10 minute wait for each order. The place was busy, but I don't think busy enough to justify the long waiting times. read more

We arrived to early for a table at a nearby restaurant so decided to go for a pre-drink. The bar was really busy, but for a Saturday night you have to expect that to happen. We were lucky grabbing a seat as a few people were leaving. So giving the bar was busy, I say that was jammy! The drinks list is quite extensive ... But the prices are expensive, I wouldn't find myself here for a whole night out. The interior of the bar is quite cool, seems to be on current trend to show the bricks and mortar. For a drink I would come here if in the area. For 2 drinks (wine and beer) it was £10.10, which was a tad expensive in our books. I don't think it would result in plural drinks unless you were suddenly rich! read more

Eye wateringly expensive gin and tonics, but gosh they are the business. Weirdly although the booze is extortionate, food and non-alcoholic prices are pretty reasonable. It's a bit hipster-tastic, but its niceness and proximity to the train station make The Jolly Botanist a perfect watering hole or meeting place if someone's got to jump on the train. It's good to see Haymarket with a cool bar like this. read more

Visited on Friday evening with friends and stayed for sometime, until our "final" round approx 11pm. The coke dispenser didn't work and after pointing this out, we got a fresh round of 4 drinks (doubles), but we were only given one bottle of coke. I politely asked for one extra bottle, then out of nowhere the server called me a w**ker! Still stunned, we soon found that this comment was made by the manager! When trying to complain to area manager, who happened to be on site, our concerns were not taken seriously or even addressed. I would strongly recommend avoiding this place, until they deal with this systemic attitude problem. read more

I think I may well becoming jolly good mates with this new joint. Over 50 gins from around the world served with suggested tonic and fruits in very pleasant surroundings... How wonderful. The interior is quirky and warm with lots of dark wood and green and has some lovely old antique furniture pieces and a fireplace. It's a big space with lots of little pockets of cosy seats and tables. The front window shutters pull over to allow the sun to stream in and let you have a nosy outside too which is a bonus for the Summertime! We tried 6 different gins during our visit which we really enjoyed - I'd recommend Royal Dock, Junipero and Adnams. They also have a cocktail list which is mainly gin based but with a great bar selection too. I did find the drinks a bit expensive around £10-£11 for 2 single g and t's, I know they are specialty gins but still a dear round! Never the less I really liked it's style and just love gin so I'll be back to try some more soon I'm sure! read more

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Love a great gin bar, but the food here was good enough to bring me back for a second visit. Molly was a great help in selecting both gin and food! read more

I loved this place. Quirky and old fashioned and full of Gin. Great service, great tastes and great vibes.

Has a huge selection of gin (over 60+). Had the BEST gin & tonic ever, made with Botanist dry gin and Fentimans Indian tonic water, with grapefruit garnish. Had the roast beef special for dinner which was "ok". Great atmosphere but crowded...we just got lucky and a table became available soon after we walked in. read more

Had the gnocchi and a gin cocktail. The waitress recommended an Irish gunpowder tea gin and grapefruit garnish based on my tastes. Popular spot. Busy at happy hour. Would definitely recommend read more

A bewildering selection of gins! I'm not a huge gin fan but there are still some pretty tasty cocktails there. Busy place with the after work crowd. read more

Went for their gin as a pre-dinner stop. Quite busy at 6:30PM. Filled with all kinds of people and group sizes. Running sports on telly. A pub feel that serves lots of gin inspired cocktails, some wines, bubbles, etc. some nice drinks sampled by our group of 7. They serve food, but weren't able to get a booking to eat. All enjoyed but thought it was a bit pricey. Service a bit slow, but lots of people working. Overall, decent place if you're in that area, but lots of similar choices elsewhere. Glad we tried it. read more

Cute gin bar in the west end of Edinburgh which serves a great breakfast with lots of options. Lots of drinks to choose from and the staff are very helpful when it comes to choosing a drink as they ask your preferences to Tailor it to your taste! I always like to leave decisions to the professionals! :) read more

The gin list blew my mind. The staff was very nice and the food was great! I can't wait to visit again.