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Under the Stairs

3.9 (79 reviews)
ModerateLounges, Gastropubs
Closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

Under the Stairs Lounges Photos

UNDER THE STAIRS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Intimate
Moderate noise
DJ

Recommended Reviews - Under the Stairs

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Alice W.

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.

Nice fire on a coldish day
Cecilie C.

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.

Fiona H.

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!

Julia S.

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.

Stephanie K.

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)!

Literally Under the Stairs

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Photo of David Z.
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15 years ago

Good food. Excellent prices. Eclectic atmosphere. Good alternative to the omnipresent pub fare in Edinburgh.

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10 years ago

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7 years ago

A treat for some students (price wise). Nice interior, service and fish tank. Slightly salty fish, otherwise enjoyable.

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15 years ago

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14 years ago

This was one of our favorite lounges in Edinburgh. It's very cozy. Great drinks, good food & friendly service.

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16 years ago

One of the nicest looking bars I've been to in Edinburgh which has a unique homely feel. Expensive, but worth it.

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13 years ago

Food is high quality, delicious and inventive. Service is friendly and prompt; atmosphere is "funky." Don't miss this wonderful place.!

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Under the Stairs Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Under the Stairs

Make sure you look down if you're scurrying along on Merchant Street.

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The Voodoo Rooms - Mushroom stroganoff

The Voodoo Rooms

3.9(78 reviews)
0.4 miNew Town
££

We decided to stay and have a cocktail at the VooDoo Rooms after exploring the Midnight Lunar…read moreMarket. What a vibe this place has going on! We were lucky enough to just show up and grab a semi-circle shaped booth by the bar without any wait. We LOVED that a) the cocktail menu clearly stated "All drinks vegan, please inform staff of any allergens before ordering" and b) that they had the shape of the glassware next to the drink name. The bartender even took some time to make recommendations based on both what was most popular with customers and what the house/staff favorites were. We ended up going with the Porty Licks (gin, pineapple liquor, passionfruit, toasted almond topped with edible flowers) and Green Room (bourbon, peach liquor, lemon, peach, basil yuzu). Both were really well balanced drinks! Next time I'd get the King Khan (spiced rum and a mango oat lassi) or the Hare Krishna (mango, oat milk, chilli, coconut cream, and cardamom - sounds like a lovely non-alcoholic beverage and dessert)!

This place is a gem! I greatly appreciate a vegan option, an actual tasty one at that! The mushroom…read morestroganoff was perfect! It was so flavorful! My non vegan friend even picked into my plate. Great drinks! The staff were friendly and attentive! The decor of this place was amazing; looked like something out of a movie. I'll definitely slide by on my next trip!

Photos
The Voodoo Rooms - Cool fixtures

Cool fixtures

The Voodoo Rooms - Behind the bar

Behind the bar

The Voodoo Rooms - Spice up your life

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Spice up your life

Panda & Sons - Cereal Killer

Panda & Sons

4.6(115 reviews)
0.7 miNew Town
££

Panda & Sons is one of the top speakeasy around the UK and I see why. The aesthetics and delicate…read morecocktails make it worth a visit. The service was great. I ordered the bird cage and it was nicely smoked and had a great smooth taste. I don't think I would've liked this drink anywhere else but I liked it here. It wasn't all about the presentation but the drink was actually good. I must say you have to make a reservation well in advance. Many people come here in groups. Overall I definitely recommend this speakeasy in Edinburgh.

I want a redo. Being…read moresomeone who makes cocktails at home as a hobby, I'm always someone that's looking for cool bars to try when I travel. When I visited Edinburgh recently Panda & Sons was one of the places I was looking to the most. However my experience was left feeling very mid. It's one of those things when you research a bar where I live and see also this fun and fancy decor and think to yourself, "Looks cool but are the drinks actually good?" I didn't want to think this though. I spent a little time reading the Switching method in their menu and thought that was a cool preparation method. But when I tasted my Birdcage for example, all I really tasted was Whiskey. I barely tasted any Aperol or anything else. The reason why Im still giving this place a higher review than I normally would is because of the service and ambience. If you've never been, getting down to the actual bar for the first time is a treat in itself. I feel like this was just an off night. It definitely was a full house the night me and my friends went so it's understandable that maybe things just slipped this particular night. I know from personal experience that when the ratios are a bit off, sometimes the flavors just kinda fall flat like an old soda and that's kinda what I tasted in my drinks that night...at the same time I still at least tasted alcohol. A good amount. Now you may laugh and say, "What do you mean? Why wouldn't there be?" Well...where I come from in the states theres places have cool decor and service but serve you drinks with barely any booze and charge you and arm and leg. Thankfully I was stumbling home a bit that night so no harm and no foul. I shall return for the runback the next time I come to Scotland!

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Panda & Sons - Osaka Spritz - singer fresh!

Osaka Spritz - singer fresh!

Panda & Sons - One of the spaces

One of the spaces

Panda & Sons - Birdcage (back left), Mr. Worldwide (front right)... can't remember name whisky drink in front

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Birdcage (back left), Mr. Worldwide (front right)... can't remember name whisky drink in front

Bramble - Nomad Soul

Bramble

4.5(97 reviews)
0.5 miNew Town
££

If you blink, you might miss The Bramble--but you'd be making a huge mistake. Tucked away down a…read morenondescript staircase off Queen Street, this speakeasy-style cocktail bar is exactly the kind of spot you hope to stumble into in Edinburgh. My family and I came here on a whim and ended up getting far more than great drinks. One of the bartenders, a local with the friendliness of a lifelong pub regular and the insight of a Michelin concierge offered up genuinely helpful food recommendations. He had a perfect mix of laid back charm, genuine enthusiasm, and a sharp wit. That kind of service is rare, and it stuck with us. Now, the drinks. Phenomenal. Not just "good for Scotland" or "pretty decent for a bar that doesn't scream look at me" these cocktails were creative, expertly made, and well presented. You can tell these folks care about their craft. Each drink was layered and complex without being fussy. If you're into spirits, this is your place. Yes, the bathrooms are a bit of a squeeze. Definitely built for function, not luxury, but they were absolutely spotless. Like, hospital-pristine. Whoever maintains them deserves a raise and maybe a trophy. Bottom line: Bramble nails it. Great atmosphere, unforgettable drinks, and service that actually makes you feel like you're in the right place at the right time. Skip the tourist traps and find your way down those stairs.

Excellent cocktails, very quaint and comfortable atmosphere. Outgoing and personable staff. We had…read morea little bit of a hard time finding it, *** look for the green astroturfing just underneath the dry cleaners** there is a stairwell leading you down to their entrance.

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Bramble
Bramble - Outside

Outside

Bramble - Interior

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Interior

Under the Stairs - lounges - Updated May 2026

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