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

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

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Excellent choice. Nice mix of people and the staff was very helpful. Recommend the mutton and the toffee pudding in picture. read more

Under the Stairs - Toffee Pudding. - Lounges Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I don't know who the creative screwball in the kitchen is, but.... Amazing! We went here on our last night in Edinburgh and Scotland, and what a wonderful choice. The staff was friendly and responsive. The cocktails were VERY creative and delicious, and the food even more so. Can't detail all of it, but dessert involved beets, whipped yogurt, chocolate/hazelnut and ice (?). Sounds crazy: was mind blowing. Thanks for the great experience. read more

I hear it's owned by Scandinavians.. You can tell by the minimalist style and underground comfort. Peppered with vintage style, mismatching furniture but a ice-cool white tiled DJ booth it's incredibly "fashionable" without being something that will date. Friendly, laid back service and is genuinely somewhere you can spend hours in. My friend introduced us all to the Falafel burger with smoked cheese and caramalised onions. I think I may have kissed it and then her, and then took credit for finding it, which I now admit to be wrong. The sweet potato chips with 2 special little dipping sauces is exactly my kind of thing. Possibly one of the best meals I've eaten in Edinburgh. read more

Under the Stairs - logo from official website - Lounges Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I was in Edinburgh for work last week and since I had no idea where to eat on my short lunch break, I used the yelp monocle (looooooove it). Under the stairs seemed like a great choice: good ratings+quirky location. Sign me in! I unfortunately didn't have much time so I went for the easy choice: veggie burger and sweet potato fries. The fries were nice and crispy, and the burger came with a dollop of raita (would need more to be honest). The restaurant itself is really cool, with a lot of mismatched retro furniture. The staff is super nice, and they made sure I would be in and out within 30 min. I enjoyed my veggie lunch by a nice fire, in a completely deserted room. I asked why that was, and the staff explained that they had just opened 10 min ago, they don't usually have a lot of people in for Sunday lunch. Fair enough. Would definitely return, need to try their dark chocolate beetroot cake with white chocolate mascarpone. read more

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Now that I'm back Stateside, I often find myself wishing that I had an Under the Stairs of my own to comfort me during the long, dark, rainy Portland nights. The little low-ceilinged basement bar is cozy as all getout, with couches, armchairs and tiny tables for two packed in like sardines - cozy, cozy sardines. It gets busy early and stays busy late, but the helpful staff will somehow manage to wrangle you a table at the last minute. If you're after a bite, the kitchen will deliver in spades. We've tried the pan-seared coley, the mushroom thyme rigatoni and the beef burger, and they were all excellent. The portions aren't heaping big, but the flavors will have the classiest of patrons licking their plates. While the kitchen is more than competent (and turns on a light when a dish is ready instead of clanging a loud bell) the real draw of Under the Stairs are the cocktails. Mary Under the Stairs is spicy and hearty, Chili Palmer is equally spicy but simultaneously refreshing, the Mango Margarita is just sweet enough and You're A Plum is plum perfect, featuring such rare ingredients as plum liqueur and nettle cordial. As far as I'm concerned, there are few places better for curling up on a rainy day and nibbling on a charcuterie platter or fresh crab cakes while savoring a meticulously-crafted cocktail... or three. read more

On first impressions, I have to be brutally honest and say that this place doesn't look like much. Tucked down a flight of stairs on the edge of the grassmarket, if it weren't for the sign on the railings outside you wouldn't even notice it's even there. However, once you get inside it's a whole different matter. The furniture is quirkily mismatched yet somehow still stylish, the bar is extemely well-stocked with a huge range of drinks you wouldn't expect to find in an average bar, and the staff are extremely friendly and polite. More importantly... they make a great dirty vodka martini! At one end, there is a full set of DJ decks and the barman told me that they do put on a live set once every two weeks or so (nearby residents permitting!) At the other end of the long, low-ceilinged venue, there are vintage comfy sofas to while away an afternoon on - something which is very easy to do in a place as relaxed and chilled as this! Rather than being a bar that serves the odd bit of food, or a food place that serves drinks, it does seem as though Under The Stairs manages to do both equally well. The food menus are printed on LP sleeves and contain everything from burgers to salads to pastas ranging from £6-8. The one that won me over was the Falafel Burger with Mint Yogurt Dip, topped with Applewood Smoked Cheese and served in a flatbread for £7.85. If you're not feeling that peckish, I spied some other people sharing the bread and various dipping oils alongside their bottle of wine, and I have to say it did look tempting. For 2 main courses, a cocktail and a pint of Kirin you can expect to get a bit of change from £25; the drinks prices are the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars... everything else about this place is amazing! read more

Under the Stairs - Lounges Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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This is a review dedicated explicitly to Under the Stairs' Bloody Mary, or, more accurately, their Mary Under the Stairs. It's really quite difficult to find a good Bloody Mary in Edinburgh. Sometimes when you go to a pub and order one, the bartender will just look at you with this hopelessly lost expression on their face, wondering what exactly a Bloody Mary is. I once ordered one in Teviot's Library Bar and all I got was tomato juice with a celery stick in it. Not a drop of vodka. It was disgraceful. Under the Stairs, though, does it right. They do it better than just right. Instead of using cheap vodka, it's made with Bison Grass Vodka, which, I assure you, will knock you out almost immediately. My friend mentioned this to me, and I laughed at her, claiming she was a total lightweight. How wrong I was. There're also chunks of cucumber, and sugar snaps, whole pink peppercorns, and fresh basil leaves. It's. To. Die. For. Ok, so it's a bit pricey (at 6.10 a glass), but utterly delicious. The burgers, as a side thought, were also very good. read more

Under the Stairs - Lounges Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Holy **** this place is amazing. Went here on a day off from touring and it was the best meal I had all tour. Get the fish board. It's to die for. Prices are also super reasonable. Hidden gem read more

Seemed that Under the Stairs proofed itself and transformed into a popular and successful bar in Edinburgh's night life! It was really busy on a Thursday evening therefor the service was rather good! Cosy atmosphere sitting in car boot sale furniture with arty decorations on the walls (Red Door Gallery) and little treasures in hidden corners (lovely old sewing-machines). The wide choice of drinks offers also German Erdinger and Japanese Kirin beer besides cocktails and classics - each to its own. Vibrant and young customers in a really nice atmosphere! Definitely worth one (or more) visit(s)! read more

Under the Stairs - Lounges Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is one of my least favorite restaurants in Edinburgh. I've been here for dinner three times -because I have several friends who do like the place- but each time was a bad experience. I find the food not very tasty and pretentious, but the problem is mainly the service: staff forgetting that we ordered something, not apologising for forgetting our order, making us wait for our drinks or the bill for over half an hour, not noticing that we are trying to get their attention so that we have to get up to fetch them, all happened to me more than once here. But the low point was last month when a mouse (!) walked over my feet during dinner. Again, no apology when I told the waiter after walking up to him to ask for the bill. read more

Under the Stairs, is a little known tucked away bar in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. Once when I heading there for a drink, I was about to enter, and some one came up to me and asked "do you know where Under the Stairs is?" it's really hidden, and easy to walk passed so keep your eyes peeled, for the conspicuous sign! The lovely thing about this bar is it's seclusion, there is mostly a local middle upper class clientèle. The music is usually chilled out and some nights there is DJ on, it's not too loud so you can still hold an easy conversation. The drinks are *shit hot*, all the draught beers are foreign, there is a particularly nice Japanese beer, the name of which currently eludes me. Beers are fairly priced around £3.50 for a pint. The cocktails are exquisite, they cost around £6 but its really not so expensive for the tip top quality. It has recently started doing food, but I haven't had a chance to try any. The setting is really relaxed, there is a large aquarium, a big fireplace, lots of exposed stone and soft lighting. Comfy seats are dotted around and, there are padded window seats. It's like a big social living room. The staff are efficient, not over friendly but service does come with a smile. I made the mistake of asking the Italian bar man if he was from Spain, and got a big grin, and short No. To describe this bar in one sentence (as a student) I would say: It's the kinda place you take a girl who is way out of your league for a drink. read more

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Came here not too long ago, and my first impressions were good! It has a great design and quite a cosy place. However, the major downpoint is fairly expensive drinks and bad service! The staff insist on table service, which is okay, but not when you're waiting for the bartender to finish their dinner so you get asked if you want another one. I felt like I was waiting for ages, trying to make eyecontact with the waitress. Also, when a party has already started a dinner bill (I wasn't eating though) it gets complicated when you get the massive bill at the end! They should have a system like this: - go up to bar -order drink -pay for drink -take drink to table, or allow them to take drink to you (if they really want!) Voila! That in itself would easily notch this place up a couple points. read more

I've heard a lot about this place from friends so we chose to go here for a meal and drinks with my work colleagues. It's dark inside which I quite like. I was told that there used to be a lot more soft seating. It is now tables and chairs all cramped together. I felt like I was intruding on the couple that were sitting at the table behind us. I have also been told the food and drinks menu has changed a lot. Any way I had a look through the menu. It's a selection of small, medium and large plates and sharing platters. I chose the cuttlefish ink risotto with smoked eel, apples and pork crackling. This was divine. I've never had ink risotto before so was pleasantly surprised by the plate full of blackness. For a large plate this was not enough for me though. I have to say I probably have a bigger appetite than the average person. So of course I had dessert. I got the hazelnut cookies with ice cream. I was expecting a soft warm cookie but it was very hard. Still tasted nice but it was difficult to cut with a spoon. I ate it all, obviously. I felt the drinks menu was just a bit too expensive, however I have kept in mind it is Edinburgh, and the Grassmarket. I was having cocktails which I enjoyed most of (there was one I didn't like and gave it to my friend) and by the sounds of it everyone I was with had a nice time. I'm going to give 3 stars because I probably wouldn't chose Under the Stairs again if I were to choose where to eat in Edinburgh. It was nice but not great. read more

Really nice people. We ordered the lamb. It was a grilled cut of leg. So, it was a little tough. That cut might do better to be roasted or braised rather than cut off the leg and grilled. The beer list wasn't bad. We got the honey & sesame prawn tostada. We were expecting grilled prawns on a tostada. However, it is actually a tostada flavored like prawn, the way that prawn potato chips are. The meal was only so-so. I would give them another chance. read more

Under the stairs is a funny old place because on the one hand it's secluded and atmospheric enough to be awesome, whilst on the other it's cool and kitschy enough to be kind of annoying. That dichotomy is true of most things with this bar and more than for most other places for every negative, there's a clear positive that stands in opposition to it. Under the Stairs is in the minority of bars in the area that run exclusively on table service; meaning if the place is full when you arrive, you're not getting in. Taking the obvious limited space problem out of the equation (which in itself can either be brilliant as it keeps the place from becoming another city centre meat market) the table service is still a double edged sword of sorts with the most sway coming down on how attentative the staff are. If there are enough people on and they keep a good enough eye on how you're progressing with your drinks and food then it can be a great experience. If however you're having to get up and chase them down every time you want something else to drink then it makes the whole idea of not being able to go to the bar pretty redundant. I've been a couple of times before and find the staff and most of the clientele to be pleasant enough and it's quite reasonably priced for a "cool" city centre bar. The selection of beers is nice and varied and the food I've had was worth the money I paid for it (even if the falafel is a little bland - bloody good sweet potato fries though!) It's four stars then as long as it's on the right night and you get the service you deserve. If you turn up and it's pretty busy, it might be wroth knocking one of those bad boys off. I'd definitely check it out though and make your mind up for yourself. I'll be going again. Just make sure you check your bill - mine had an extra ten pound added on for something we didn't have which in these trying economic times is enough to feed a whole bunch of hungry Yelpers a whole load of fudges... read more

I visited Under the stairs for a drink on Saturday for the first time. I'm very conflicted with what i found. I love the place, it is so cosy and relaxing with big comfy chairs and a tropical fish tank. A great place for a date. However, the issue is unfortunately the staff. They offer table service which is great, if it worked. It took about half an hour to get my first drink. Repeat drinks were also an issue. At one point i was sitting without a drink and a waiter came and cleared the empty glasses away but didn't ask if i wanted anything, so we asked for a bottle of white wine and he looked at us as if we'd asked for a Swedish massage. All in all, this was pretty disappointing. Maybe if they changed some staff this place would be awesome! read more

Great food and ambience, awesome service, a bit pricey but ideal for special occasions or once in a while. Give it a try!

I can't believe I've never reviewed this place! It's been in Edinburgh longer than I have and I've ended up here at least once every three or so months. Under The Stairs is what I'd describe as 'grand' ....in a very Irish way. I should clarify, it's alright, it's ok, it's not first in my list but it's not last. Honestly, I think it's on some other list as I've never had a 'oooh, I think we'll go to Under The Stairs tonight' feeling. Since they started the table service the demographic shifted up a wage and age bracket simultaneously. The cocktails are great but not the best around. The drinks selection is good, the food looks great (I've never eaten here), the clientele are all very trendy....and yet, meh. You won't find any craic here besides that which you bring with you- and I think that's why I've never fully warmed to it. And holy moly the toilets....I do not like them. A good foot of space under the door! *insert 'Nope, Nope, Nope' gif of your choosing* read more

Tucked away literally under some stairis is this Grassmarket gem. Great drinks, ambiance, and food with friendly service. In town for the week and looking for places to check out; was recommended here thanks to yelp and I'm happy I stopped in hungry. I had the soup of the day (hearty and peppery celeriac, parsley and parsnip) with crusty grain bread and the blackened trout over a bed of leeks, fennel and grains in a spiced and just a hint sweet buttery cream sauce. It was really lovely and I highly recommend. I only wish they would've still had some the dark chocolate beetroot cake left as well to top off such a tasty meal. Next time i hope. read more

Under the Stairs is a nice bar, eclectically furnished and with a fair range of drinks and good food, however it is also a bit pretentious and the staff can seem surly, no good thing when the bar has a strict table service only policy! This is what you have to look forward to assuming you get into the place as the door staff have a very definite bias toward letting the female of the species in, in preference to their male counterparts... In short, meh Under the Stairs you could be a great bar, you do have good food and drink however the attitude of your staff is just to be blunt, naff! read more

I've been to Under The Stairs once or twice in the past and liked its ambience and cocktail menu, but this was my first visit for food. Unfortunately, I didn't have a very good time. We had placed a booking for eight people and had a table set aside for us. I arrived to find that the place was freezing; not the best atmosphere to eat your lunch in. The back door was propped open, so the rear of the restaurant felt like a windy alley. It was baltic! I sat with my jacket on for the whole time. We ordered food, but had to wait approximately 45 minutes to an hour - I can't remember the exact wait time, but it was absolutely ages. A couple that arrived after us received two courses and left before we got fed. We were all starving, so even with plenty chat to keep us occupied the wait for food was ridiculous. The saving grace was the actual nosh. I ordered the goats cheese and potato salad dish, which came in around £7.50, so not too expensive. Unfortunately, because we'd been waiting for so long it wasn't enough to fill me up. The portion size was not really big enough so I wouldn't order it again despite being nice - I really expected a large salad but all I got in the way of greens was a sprinkling of rocket. Not ideal. Everyone else seemed to have a lovely meal, however. The falafel burgers and beef burgers were massive and came with amazing looking sweet potato wedges and a side salad. The lamb kofta looked brilliant too. So I clearly ordered the wrong thing. Pick the burger and you'll be good to go. After the main course, we waited a loooooooong time for the plates to be cleared. We wanted to order hot drinks but the table service was very, very slow so again we waited a considerable amount of time. We got to order hot chocolates, but when mine arrived it wasn't warm enough, and it was the same situation with another diner on our table. The guy did return our beverages lickety split with much hotter milk, so I was happy with that but it shouldn't have arrived luke warm in the first place. All in all, a mixed bag. The place is quirky and cool and is affordable, but the service was very poor, the windy draft was terrible and I didn't really enjoy my meal. For me, there were too many negatives to make this a good experience and I won't be back for food again. read more

Absolutely amazing! A great place to bring a date (have done so), extensive drink menus, chill environment, and amazing cocktails. Well some of them are amazing. The Mango Margarita isn't exactly a great combination. I love tequila so gladly finished my friends drink, as the mango does not mask, or lessen the flavour of the tequila. Traditionally Margaritas are made with a more bitter flavour. Maybe Acai would be interesting? The Citrus punch is good, but the Mojito is what has brought me back 3 times in one week. read more

Make sure you look down if you're scurrying along on Merchant Street. Rare to find amazing, creative cocktails alongside a spectacular food menu. It's hard to do a burger that is notable among all the good burgers out there, but the sauerkraut/pastrami on the obviously homemade ciabatta made it standout. The veggie fritters (gluten free!) were crunchy, fun and flavorful. The ambiance is cozy, the staff friendly and helpful, the music chill-- a lovely afternoon spent in their arm(chair)s eating, drinking, reading, and watching the feet of Edinburgh's residents and visitors pass by from Under The Stairs. read more

Excellent food and service. Great selection of beer, wine and cocktails! A bit surprised by the 10% service charge added to the tab. It's not that we wouldn't have rewarded the servers, but it made me feel targeted as an American. I can't tell you if they add the charge to everyone's bill or not. I can say it was not our normal experience in Edinburgh to have the service charge added. read more

Under the Stairs is probably the perfect place for a solo traveller. I always felt cozy and comfortable to be alone, but never too detached to feel awkward and lonely. Just like any solo traveller will tell you, when they say that a place is perfect to be alone, they also mean it would've been better with someone ha. The dim lighting, cool tunes, comfy couches, laid back staff make a terrific atmosphere for a date. The place is not the the traditional gastropub that seem to be sprouting on every corner of the UK. The fare is light and everything that I've ordered has had an asian influence. The cocktails are a bit pricey but the single malts are reasonable at around 4 quid a pour. read more

I am a firm believer that the Bloody Mary is a drink for all hours of the day. If you are a fan of the Bloody Mary, get the Mary's Stairs. It was spicy, fresh, and delicious. Only stopped by for a few drinks on a Monday night but from that experience I would say this is a tasty cocktail bar. read more

I came here on the recommendation of a friend of mine who used to study in Edinburgh, and I'm so glad we went! We were there on New Years day and it was absolutely packed! Service was a bit slow, but it was no doubt just because there were so many people packed in there. I mean, it WAS one of the few restaurants open on New Years Day. I went with the Miso Salmon salad and my husband went with the lamb steak. Both were fantastic. My salmon was quite filling, but still left me feeling like I'd eaten something good and healthy. My husband's lamb steak was cooked PERFECTLY and it was so full of flavour. I will definitely be coming back here the next time we're in edinburgh. read more

Phenomenal service, great food and very reasonable pricing. This gem is hidden, yup, under a set of stairs. It's easy to miss. As you wind up Candlemakers Row, hang a left at Merchant Street and look underneath the Italian restaurant (Divino I think it's called). We're pretty jaded by snobby, rude service in Los Angeles (Santa Monica, Venice, etc.) so we were especially surprised at how trendy this place seemed to be and yet, the servers were so damn friendly. They seemed very concerned that we were comfortable, made sure we didn't order more than we could eat (so we didn't waste money). The cocktails were interesting and delicious. There's plenty for vegetarians and vegans (and it's not old school veggie like you get at Henderson's - these vegetarian/vegan dishes are made with care and have layers of flavor). Try the cheese or vegetarian board. It'll provide good noshable treats that'll easily fill you up and it's great for sharing. This is a total "recommend" for any tourist. You'll be treated as sweetly as if you were a local. read more

I've been here a handful of times, most recently for dinner with friends for my birthday. As Jenny L and Chris M have said, it is a small place about half-filled with (pre-booking required) tables, and the rest of the space isn't terribly conducive to standing about. Because of this, they stop letting people in before the place becomes sardine packed, which is really rare, and really nice. My meal here was very reasonably priced (three mains, a bottle of wine, two cocktails a whisky, and a dessert, about 60 pounds) and nice. I'd read Chris M's review where he commented on the meh-ness of the falafel burger but I love falafel so much I had to try it for myself. Unfortunately I have to say I agree with him, but again as he said, the sweet potato fries were very yummy, and my friend's halibut was also apparently quite nice. I'm with the others on the service in that our waiter came by every five minutes looking for our order, but once we'd placed it it was pretty difficult to get anything else. I think I've decided that the trick is to go here during the week. It is considerably less busy and you can easily get a bartender to help you with anything. read more

Coming to Under the Stairs is much like having a wee drink in the various rooms of someone's home, with the soft glow of retro lampshades, kooky furniture, sofas, and general "shabby chic" vibe on the go. The crowd that come here relaxed, sometimes arty, and just a bit different, and I get a really good feel about lounging in here for a good while every time I come in, because it's ultra homely and welcoming. When you're sitting with a group of friends, because of the arrangement of the decor and chairs and tables, it's kind of like you're in your own little compartment of a room, which is nice if you're having quite an in depth chat, rather than party talk. Under the Stairs serve a range of very decent food, with some dishes available to share until midnight, plus they have a funky little cocktail menu, which includes the tasty pamplemousse cocktail with pink grapefruit liqueur and the good old classic mojito, which I'm always partial to. read more

Wandering along Merchant Street there's every chance you'll blink and miss this place. I did the first time I visited! Look more closely (erm!) under the stairs and you'll notice the cosy glow emitting from behind the windows, and happy folk enjoying a pint. Head downstairs and you'll find a quirky bar full of shabby chic, wooden tables and wonderful photography! I first came here with lovely Yelpers to do the popular pub quiz on Monday nights (9pm/£1entry) and have returned for more quizzing action since. The quiz is good fun and challenges the grey matter well! There is a great selection of drinks available, not a massive selection, but perfectly adequate, and the menu is interesting and varied. I had a risotto cake the last time I ate here, and it was delicious. The sweet potato fries looked tasty too however, as we know from previous reviews, they are only for the privileged few who order burgers! Prices are pretty reasonable too. Under the Stairs is too wee to have folk crowding round the bar and they don't really let people stand... so this bar is table service only. This is really the one main thing I dislike about the place. The staff are, at times, are not the friendliest or most attentive, and it quite often takes a while to catch their eye. When 'table' service is what they're all about, I would expect the staff to pay more attention to the actual 'tables'! And my top tip...you can't book a table to drink, so if you're coming in on a busy night, pub quiz for example, then make sure you arrive at least an hour earlier to ensure you have a place to sit! I like this place, it has a good vibe and I will, no doubt, make many return visits...but I really do hope they get the service issues sorted out! read more

This is the kind of place I love. Rustic cozy atmosphere, hip, but none too complicated cocktails, quality food, not ridiculously expensive. Started with olives and a whisky sour made with the bartenders choice whisky. In the USA we usually have a whiskey sour (bourbon) but this Scottish version tasted really good- mellowed with the egg white. Highly recommended. The olives, both black and green, were amazingly flavored, and the serving size was ample to share. For dinner I ordered the duck confit, and they easily substituted potatoes for rice. The duck melted in my mouth (duck is my favorite dish!!!) and the sauce flavored the green beans and rice well. I ordered an (expensive ) glass of Pinot noir with the duck as my cheeks were already red from a drinks session at the dragonfly and the whiskey sour. Overall no complaints about the meal, drinks, and atmosphere. When the three of us got the bill, I did see a Questionable open drink sale charge that seemed phantom. Additionally, there were some "Strange Guinness tactics" going on- someone ordered a Guinness and instead of taking it from the tap the bar tender poured it from a can and then stuck it under the Guinness tap for a while. Not sure what that was about. Overall I would definitely return to this gem under the stairs for a good drinks and eating session. read more

I come along to the pub quiz sometimes so although I'm fairly limited on the menu I thought I'd rate the quiz instead! First the more traditional stuff! It is a lovely place to sit and drink with friends. The decor is chilled and it is comfortable and cosy. I like the fact you're sort of packed in with everyone else which makes for a really lively atmosphere sometimes but at the same time makes it feel quite European and relaxed. Food - never had it but their specials are always very tempting so I'll have to go soon and check it out! Drinks - they have an excellent range of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails but these have been lauded at length in other reviews so I reckon I'll leave it to those who have explored the available tastes on offer more broadly. Service. Slow and sometimes a little bit cold if I'm being brutally honest. The staff seem frustrated and rather annoyed some of the time as it seems to be quite hard for them to get around and take orders. Also it's a bit weird not just being able to go up and order at the bar. However It's not enough to actually make me drop marks but perhaps the only thing stopping this from being a 5 star review. The Quiz - IS FANTASTIC. I've no idea who the dude is that runs the quiz but he's awesome. He is clear and writes some interesting questions. He's also got a strong anti cheating policy which I strongly encourage. It's just long enough to be appropriate for a school night and the competition strong enough to keep you coming back. Get in there early if you actually want to get a seat! So! That's my review of just the quiz... I really need to control my mind spew sometimes. read more

Interesting to see quite a diverse range of opinion on this place. I have eaten here twice and I have to say I've enjoyed the atmosphere and haven't had any of the problems referred to. I admit, however, that there can be an air of confusion upon arriving, regarding the slightly (only slightly) odd restrictions regarding seating, eating, and table service. I had heard (unconfirmed) that this was a licensing issue, but that doesn't fully explain it. We should all admit, also, that while the format of the place with its blurred boundary between bar and restaurant is not UK typical, it's not so strange a format for other places. Anyway, Under the Stairs has a nice vibe and decent Food. What I particularly like about it is that there's decent gastropub fare like burgers, fish 'n' chips, etc but they also do less intense, less stomach-busting options as well. I like it. I'd go again - but understand maybe not everyone's cup of tea. read more

The term 'hidden gem' gets thrown around liberally these days, but this bar truly deserves that title. They house furnishings I'm convinced were snagged from a skip, yet have managed to skilfully place them under the 'shabby chic' umbrella. A DJ booth sits casually close to the diners and the bar staff are all top notch. One of few places to sell Kirin Ichiban (a Japanese lager) which is a mouth watering novelty. The food is excellent too, I recently scoffed a expertly cooked rib-eye steak with mash and a red wine reduction. Great for casual drinks and quality food. read more

Under the Stairs - Lounges Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

A chic, hidden bar/restaurant tucked away off Candlemaker Row, Under the Stairs is not as pretentious as some of its George Street counter-parts. With comfy sofas and armchairs set around a wood burning stove, this bar offers classy drinks, continental lagers and tasty nibbles. If you're after something more substantial, it also has gastro-pub style meals, which, if I'm honest, are sold at gastro-pub style prices, with a main course costing around £10-15. As it's a small trendy hang-out it's probably worth booking ahead if you're eating, but as a place to have a quiet drink and escape the bustle of the Old Town it's ideal. Definitely worth a visit if you can afford it. read more

No. Just, no. I've been back several times and I just keep being disappointed. The manager and staff, as Jen has mentioned, are rude beyond believe. They'll rudely tell you to sit down, as there's table service, but they won't actually come and take your order for quite some time. Also, the place stinks. I'm sorry, there is a very persistent and bad smell that lingers. It's been quite noticeable on my last three visits and as a result I haven't been since. Don't get me wrong, the food is lovely, the cocktail I had was marvelous, but the rudeness of the staff, the smell, and just the way you're treated means that I won't be back in until this place changes owners. No way, no how. read more

My husband and I came here on our recent trip to Edinburgh, and I absolutely loved it, wished I could have brought it home with me. First off, the atmosphere. Loved that all the tables and chairs looked to be yard sale finds and hand me downs, although a lot of the tables were really short. Fine for me, but might be annoying for a taller person there to have dinner. The menu was right up my ally, especially after a week of sampling heavy pub foods. The cocktail menu is super creative, and my bloody mary had tons of veggies in (the only thing I love more than a good bloody, is a good bloody with food in it). Food wise, there was plenty of options for a veggie and seafood loving gal like myself. The only reason it gets only 4 stars is because my conchigle needed more sauce, but that's just the opinion of a flavour whore. read more