We were on the Hop On Hop Off Bus and decided to hop off to get a beer. We chose this restaurant and we were not disappointed. The beer was cold and we enjoyed our beer at their outdoor area. We also enjoyed a plate of loaded chips. DELICIOUS! read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Ice cold beer - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Off the beaten path pub that didn't disappoint. Very nice staff. They had great advise on surrounding sites. Great place to stop for a pint. read more

Great bar next to the playhouse! We arrived late in the day after a long delay of flights. We were looking for good pub food and a good pint, this place delivered on both! We shared a scotch egg to start and it was very good overall, perfectly done and tasted great. I ordered the fish and chips and they were exceptional, I highly recommend! The fish is fresh and cooked perfectly and the chips were spot on. We went on a busier night so the bar was pretty full but they have a restaurant in the back which a bit quieter and had a full service staff to help. The service was good overall and the ambiance was good, note it is also a sports bar so they did have Rugby playing on the televisions throughout the bar as well. read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Scotch egg - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Amazing burgers. Really amazing. Our first night in Édimbourg we stopped by this pub, and went for the burger. It's a solid 10. I am very impressed . Good service. Cool ambiance. Good drinks selection. read more

There are many really good restaurants in Edinburgh - I was surprised to be honest by the choice. On this particular evening though it had reached 6:30pm, we were new in town and everything seemed booked. Gave the Theatre Royal Bar a call and they advised to come in soon and they would fit us in. And they did, very friendly staff, took their time to chat and answer questions. Nice atmosphere, the food was not gastro by any means but it hit the spot. Lesson - if you are in Edinburgh without a reservation then try this place. Added bonus if you are a theater buff like us - lots of autographed posters around and also theater living serving staff :) read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Signed posters of many big shows here - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Basic pub. Fancier on the outside than inside. But the beer was cold, the whisky was excellent, service was great. After dinner drinks so I can't evaluate the food. read more

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Great atmosphere, a top-notch and very good menu options. We had a great dining experience and the price was very reasonable too.

My wife and I had dinner here and it was excellent. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. The sticky pudding was so good we might have to go back again for more. The atmosphere was so nice with all the dark wood and the fireplace. read more

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Great menu for all kinds of eaters. Outstanding service and you can't beat the ambience! Live music! I would come back once a week if I lived in Edinburgh! read more

Great food and atmosphere!! The food had great flavor and the service was great. The price was just right!

Right near the theatre and our hotel. The experience was quite fantastic. An old school establishment with a lot of character. read more

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We picked this pub based on Yelp's reviews and weren't disappointed. The pub has a very old-school drama-Yama feel to it and I felt at home immediately just looking at the numerous musical posters on the wall. We had our dinner here and opted for a mushroom soup to start with a Mushroom risotto as main. The soup was light yet creamy enough to finish the whole bowl of it. The accompanying bread was kinda salty- very different expectations from me. Hubby loved it more than me. I personally loved the mushroom risotto very much. A good stomach warmer for the cold outside. read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Mushroom Soup with bread on the side and Mushroom Risotto - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The Theatre Royal is of course affiliated with its neighbour, The Playhouse. I don't know if it is in business terms, but certainly the theme of this bar is to please the theatre goers as they step in for pre theatre drinks and eats. Because of its proximity to the Playhouse, it maintains a high standard of service and quality. The walls are freshly painted a rich red, there are theatre posters from years ago framed in each corner of the space, and the large horsehoe bar serves up a number of nice beers and spirits. They serve up the usual pub fayre for lunch, and it's not too expensive considering its central location. The bar staff are friendly and although it can get busy when a show is about to start, if you aim to get here a couple of hours early you could set yourself up for the night with a relaxed bottle of wine and a wee chat. They have outdoor seating which is enjoyed by locals, tourists and theatre goers during the sunny afternoons. I like this bar. I would drink in it even if I wasn't going to the theatre, and make it my local if I stayed nearby. The exterior decor with the bugle players is interesting, making it stand out as one of the older and classier bars in the area. But what I like most of all about this place is that they keep their toilets clean and tidy. What's more, they pipe music through them. At long last I've found somewhere which plays elevator music in the bathroom. There's nothing worse than doing a wee and awkwardly knowing that your wee, along with those in the neighbouring cubicles, are amplified. Makes washing your hands beside your previously anonymous pee partner needlessly embarrassing. So even though they were playing Joe McElderry of X Factor fame when I visited, I would gladly take that over the icy silence that usually falls on bathrooms. A round of applause for Theatre Royal! read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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This bar/restaurant can't be missed, with it's rich exterior and important position right next to the Edinburgh Playhouse! It definitely fancier, and much larger, than many of the other bars and pubs in Edinburgh and has an enviable menu as well. Now that it's summertime, the outdoor seating is extremely tempting and I have to say I succumbed! The food is surprisingly inexpensive, and I had a delicious chicken burger with my beer. They also serve mains (I noticed they do a lot of fish dishes, haddock, salmon etc) as well as salads and pretty good-looking desserts... It's extremely cosy indoors, but I'm not sure much sunlight is allowed in there, so I'd definitely recommend heading there whilst the weather permits! read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This bar pretty much sums up everything that annoys me about the Theatre in one go. It's a bit gaudy looking, it's painted stupidly flambuoyant colours and the shakespearean life-sized figureheads suspended above the door are just a little too desperate and attention-seeking for my liking. And on the one occasion I drank here it was full of people that pretty much matched that description too. Yes, it's a really convenient location if you want a few drinks before you see a show, as it's pretty much inside the Playhouse building. But that fact also means that drinks are really overpriced. Obviously the other reviewers liked it considerably more than I did, but I have to say I am definitely not a fan. read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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After five nights in london finding this place was a godsend. The interior is charming, clean and well lit, while not too loud. Our waitress Hannah was fabulous and our food was great. My kids, predictably, had mac and cheese and claimed it the best so far in the UK. I had the bacon wrapped chicken...yummy!! read more

I've been to Theatre Royal Bar a couple of times when in Edinburgh and while decent enough it's always lacking in atmosphere. There are so few patrons present any time I've visited I wonder how this bar survives. Although I've only dropped-in during daytime hours, so maybe it's busier at night. Quite a nice space; the interior is filled with theatre posters, dark wood, sparkling chandeliers and tiled flooring. I've never eaten in Theatre Royal so can't comment on the food, but drink's standard enough. However, service at the bar is curt and could be much warmer and more welcoming. Definitely not a bar I would rush back to.. read more

This bar is located next door to the Playhouse Theatre. It is decorated with theater posters with a huge bar. It can get rather busy before or after shows. You must go to the back if you are wanting to eat. It took our server several minutes before acknowledging us. She was not the most friendliest but not rude. We dine here for dinner. We both ordered the fish and chips. The fish & chips were okay but nothing special. Not worth the price in my opinion. They have a large selection of beers. Overall, if you are looking for good pub grub I would recommend finding another place. Other reviewers seemed to like this place but we were not fans. read more

I have finally got myself a dictionary with enough superlatives in it that I now feel comfortable reviewing the, what should be, World Famous Theatre Royal Bar. Working just round the corner from Leith Walk there are a multitude of options to choose from when considering what the works "local" after work venue should be. Having vigorously tested all options, several times each over the years, I am satisfied that the best venue is also coincidentally the closest to my work. Having been a patron of this establishment for many a year now I really can't talk highly enough of it...but i shall give it a darn good go! Firstly, the setting. Situated five minutes walk from the city centre it is within walking distance to everything a man could need. From a run at the local gym in the omni or a bite to eat at one of Leith Walk's plethora of restaurants to being a stones throw away from St Mary's Cathedral if ever you fancy a beer to rinse off your freshly cleansed soul. The Theatre Royal is perfectly positioned. (As also briefly mentioned it is also the closest pub to my work!) The interior itself is a haven for the theatre lover, with the walls adorned with signed posters from the various acts that have tread the famous boards of the Playhouse. There is plentiful seating around the grand looking island bar, through the back there are large tables where groups of friends can relax after a hard days work. The grand looking island bar, however, can cause a bit of consternation amongst patrons with slight difficulties in being always being seen on a busy night, this can lead to a bit of a wait to get served...but rest assured served you will be! Which leads me nicely on to my second point, the staff. These are some of the nicest bar staff I have encountered in Edinburgh - and I have encountered several. They are all very friendly and chatty and ever attentive. There is very low turnover of staff which I think indicates it is also not a bad place to work. The staff at the theatre are one of it's biggest assets. Thirdly, the drink. Like in most city centre venues the cost of drinks has steadily increased over the last few years. It no longer offers the obligatory bottle of wine for £5 or £1 a bottle of beer. You are paying for the location and atmosphere. After another seamless segue we arrive at my fourth area, the atmosphere. On any given day you can experience several different atmospheres in the Theatre royal, each giving it it's own life and personality. In the afternoon you can slip in and relax on one of the big seating areas in the back and have a quite drink or lovely meal. on a show night there will be a steady rise in numbers up until it reaches it's crescendo at 6:30 - 7 prior to the house opening next door. At 7:30 an exodus and you're left with a few locals and the bar staff starting to get set for the post show barrage. Finally, the food. The menu here caters for all. From the stunningly cook Steak via the de rigueur Fish and Chips to a personal favourite of mine - a vegeburger with cheese and bacon (just you try it before scoffing). The value for money for the food here is exceptional, the quality of food is of a very high standard and the portions are generous without being foreboding. My overall opinion of the Theatre Royal bar is that if they had rooms to rent I'd never leave! I would very much recommend you try it out and soon. And when you do...I'll be standing at the bar and mines a pint of tennant's...see you soon! read more

The £5 beet salad is 90% cheese, 2% frisée, 2% grape tomatoes and 2% beet. It doesn't add up to 100% because the last 4% is you wishing you had gone somewhere else. 600% more beets for 50% less at any local grocery. Other than my sadness that their beet salad was so miniscule and entirely unbalanced, the restaurant area was reasonably clean and there were a bunch of tables in the back so it was possible to get a seat on a Saturday night before the show at the neighboring theater. There was a waitress, but after waiting for 30 minutes we opted to order at the bar. The bathrooms were clean enough, and the patrons friendly, though touristy. Definitely not a pub nor a fancy restaurant atmosphere. If you're looking for food, I think anywhere else would probably be a better choice for the money. read more

Best thing about this place is the dessert and drinks. Food is okay, but mostly overcooked. The service is friendly. The atmosphere is mostly okay. More of a bar than restaurant. read more

Touristy, yes. but the food was tasty and the drinks were plentiful. We came here because we noticed that this place was a bit more busy then the surrounding area. We were able to grab a comfy booth in the back room behind the bar. We had just arrived in Edinburgh so we really needed to sit down and get a game plan and stumbled upon The Royal Theatre. Our waiter was quick and efficient with great recommendations with the local drafts. However, he did disappear to play bartender later in our service so we had to track him down in order to pay our bill! I had the traditional Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, 'Hey when in Scotland!' I have to say, that I really liked it! My husband had the burger and was happy with it. He really loved all the ales on tap the most! The restaurant front looked like an old Scottish pub and the interior décor was very regal, with deep reds, beautiful chandeliers and signed theatre posters. I'm glad we got seated when we did as it the place was packed, I guess a play had let out when we left and I could see that they were a bit short on staff to accommodate everyone! read more

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The Theatre Royal Bar is one of the nicest bars in Edinburgh, and really sets off a night at the theatre. It's lovely from the outside, lovely on the inside, with a sort of French style décor which oozes style and sophistication. They have a good beer and wine selection, and the usual varieties of spirits and whiskies, so there's plenty of choice here, but because it's essentially the bar next door to the Playhouse, don't expect it to be cheap. Just remember you're paying for convenience, location and ambience in here, so I didn't mind a few extra quid for a round. I haven't sampled the food so I can't comment, but I know that they do some deals and children's meals, as well as seasonal specials. The prices were not at all bad, coming in at around £5-10 for a main, which is a bargain really. read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Lovely big plush, comfortable bar, with a gorgeous gantry. It's right next door to the Playhouse, so it's a good place to visit either before or after taking in a show. The Theatre Royal does get very busy sometimes, so if you want to get a seat, make sure you arrive early. read more

Have I not reviewed this bar before????? A firm favourite if attending the almost next door Playhouse theatre! hances are you'll meet some of the performers either pre or post show in here! Great decor great staff and drnks are reasonably priced considering it's location! Definitely worth a visit if in the area! read more

The attractive blond wood frontage of the Theatre Royal Bar offsets its surroundings nicely: the stony grey of the local architecture and the ultra modern glasshouse-styled Omni Centre sit at odds with each other and the pretty bar sits pleasingly in the middle. True to its name, this bar serves as a convenient place to drink either side of a visit to the theatre next door. There's a definite dramatic influence inside, as the walls are decked with posters of plays and musicals from yesteryear. This isn't exclusively for theatregoers though the place has a welcoming air, and your party can either choose one of the spacious seating areas, relaxing on the grand, plush upholstery or you can park yourself on a stool at the traditionally thick, wooden, bar. There's the best of both worlds, and at surprisingly decent prices. read more

A good option for watching sport on the big screenm pint prices not horrendous yet and a decent range of ales. I particularly liked the fact there's a framed photo of one line-up of The Exploited amidst the decoration on one wall of the back room. read more

It's the luck of the draw at this place. It is unfortunate that I made a second visit, because I was planning on giving it 5 stars initially, following a mid-week visit. We had fantastic service on Wednesday night with our server Jaime. There was a great atmosphere of locals watching football and fabulous food coming out of the kitchen at a very reasonable price. The haggis spring rolls are a must! The selection of beers, ciders and wines were impressive. Even though tipping is not required or even requested on the bill, we did not hesitate to press pounds right into Jaime's hand on our way out the door. It was a great experience. Why not? Then on Sunday night after a very long day out we were in the mood for just a quick, light snack & a beer. We looked at the places nearby and decided that it was safest to go back to the place we already enjoyed so much. What a mistake!! The women who were working on Sunday night were humorless, untrained and just a mess in general. The barmaid with the long, curly, black hair and glasses was incapable of describing any of the beers/ales on tap or matching them to what I told her my preferences are. I said I like full bodied, hoppy or creamy beers and she suggested something that she compared to Budweiser Light. What? My companion was in the bathroom and the waitress suggested that we wait until she returned before continuing to answer my questions. Why? So she could Google the beers and figure out what they were? She was so clueless that we were hesitant to ask her to bring us water at the same time she was off to get water for the man at the table next to us. We didn't think she could handle the multi-tasking. When she brought the food to the table she had no idea who had ordered what. This despite the fact that the place was very slow and we were a 2-top. Thank goodness the kitchen was still on their game! When the check came, my business colleague and I asked to split the bill, something that every other establishment in Edinburgh has cheerfully done for us over the past week - including this establishment. She hurriedly pulled back her hand that had held the credit card scanner and said that this was not allowed unless we got up and went to the bar ourselves to handle the bill. This wasn't an issue 4 days prior. WTH? So I finally got up and went to the bar, whereupon a short haired woman piped in and told me that I must have imagined the whole thing with Jamie because they changed their payment policy loong ago. No splitting. They were doing me a big favor. Then a pleasant barman proffered me the very same credit card scanning machine that Curly Sue had snatched back only moments ago. I has to tell him a few times how much I needed charged on my card, because the short haired woman seemed to have a lot to say to support her tale. When she finally asked how much was to be charged the barman and I chimed the amount in unison. Sheesh. So they ran my card and my companion then had to approach the bar to do the same. I knew something would go wrong do I suggested she carry the original check with her. She did. And she paid and we left - without tipping, of course. But wait - it wasn't over. As we walked away from the table, the barman approached us and showed me a bill for nearly 3 times our tab and said that there was some sort of a mistake because we had only paid a fraction of that. I looked at the tab and it showed all sorts of ciders, etc that we had not ordered. And besides, with all that hub bub, you'd think we were done! He smiled apologetically and said that his co-worker must have made a mistake. Yeah - in professions. Curly Sue and flat-haired Fanny are not about the people business. Less telling of tales and more attention to detail would have allowed me to maintain my planned 5-star rating. The only reason it isn't lower is that Jaime and the kitchen were so awesome that first night. Just avoid Sunday nights. read more

They do some interesting beers here, but it just isn't the kind of place that I like to drink. It is far too grand (and bright!). If that is your kind of thing though, you'll be happy as Larry! The sport on TV didn't help my thoughts either; it seemed to demand your attention. All this clearly didn't bother all the comedians whose signed photos deck the walls. Worth a lookand seems to be a bit of a local institution. read more

i just had a pint before go back to hotel around 17~18. nice atmosphere kind stuff and cheap price. read more

Theatre Royal Bar - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

A lovely Sunday afternoon pub, or a nice place for a pre-theatre meal or bevvie. With its warm coloured walls and huge open fire places, the Theatre Royal is a cosy place for curling up in these up-coming winter months. The hot chocolate is divine if you need a stomach warmer, and though Ive never eaten there, the food looks and smells delicious. Sit at bar stools at the front of the bar and watch the folk of Leith Walk, or if you can nab one of the HUGE tables at the back (seriously, I had to shout to my friends sitting opposite me!), do. The view of Carlton Hill is amazing. One of those places nicer to be in when its raining. read more

Very attractive bar, located next to the Playhouse. On my first visit to the city I mistook it for the theatre building but I gave up when I saw the bar staff inside.Its prices are a bit up but n general Theatre Royal Bar is a great place to meet with friends and spend a calm afternoon together. The outside look of the bar is very impressive: with royal colours and beautiful flowerpots. In the summer, the bar is extremely busy and it is hell of a problem to find any free seat.Very often the cafe is flooded with parents with young children and the passing by crowds of Fringe visitors can make you feel quite dizzy if you are rather unused to it. read more

Very nice bar especially after seeing a show clean and very friendly staff recommended read more