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Usquabae

4.7 (41 reviews)
ModerateBars, Scottish
Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

Usquabae Photos

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Jack S.

In New Town nearer the West End of Edinburgh. It was not easily identifiable by the outside but since I'd passed it daily while walking in and out of town I decided to look into it. My first surprise was that the name roughly translated means "whisky". All I can say is it was on overall terrific surprise! My wife and I had a reasonably long day of tourism and while we enjoyed our entire day we were thrilled with how it ended. I'd made a reservation and had asked for an intimate table. When we arrived they placed us in a 2-person nook. It looked like they also had a 4-person and maybe 6-person nook...I don't recall :) But ultimately these are tables which are a couple of steps down off the main dining area which are surrounded by glass encased, shelved walls which encase various whiskies. And each nook has curtains outside the steps which can be drawn for privacy. Naturally the whisky menu was extensive and prices were reasonable, the service was very good and the food was also quite good. They also allowed us to take our time and enjoy our evening. In all seriousness, we could not have been more pleased with Usquabae!

Marc S.

Great little bar for tasting. Private booths that will allow you to take some scotch flights privately. Staff is very helpful at educating you on what to look for in your tastings. Get their great charcuterie plate to go with the drinks cleanse the palate between flights. When it's cold and wet in Edinburgh, be sure to stop in and get a nip to warm you up!

Bunker decor!
Clarissa M.

Usquabae! A wee hidden gem I've only recently discovered in Edinburgh. I'm pleased that I have--as a recent Scotch convert, Usquabae's West End location and surprisingly expansive Scotch menu had me at "whisky tastings." Good service and lovely meals top this one up to a place you can stop for either a nice dinner, atmospheric drinks and chat, or both! Usquabae appears to be a newer addition to Edinburgh judging by its clean and modern interior, which is refreshing--old man pubs are great, but it's nice to see something new crop up in the city. It sits in the downstairs portion of Ryan's bar, which makes it easy enough to find, and because of its underground location it has the whole dimly-lit, atmospheric vibe going. It has normal tables and even a few "bunkers"--little booth seating areas where you can have a meal, which is nice if you're looking for some privacy. For me, Usquabae ticked all the boxes for a fantastic evening. As my folks were visiting, and that lead to us deciding to check out Usquabae because they do whisky tastings. For a very reasonable price of around 17 pounds, you can sample the "Taste of Scotland" range of Scotch which allows you to try a Lowland, a Highland, a Spey, and an Islay whisky. All this while being guided through your drams by a knowledgeable whisky aficionado makes for a great night. My dad ranked it one of his favorite things done while over. Sure, it's no distillery experience, but when the nearest distillery (Glenkinchie) is 16 miles away and not readily accessible except by car, you make do. And Usquabae provided! So chuffed with our whisky sampling experience were we that we decided to reserve the same bunker we'd sat in for dinner later. Upon our return, we were served promptly by a chipper young gal who was absolutely lovely. Our service was on point, even despite the fact that there was a party of around 60 youngsters keeping her on her toes most of the evening. As someone who used to be a waitress myself, I clap bravo to her for being giving such excellently friendly service on top of dealing with all that. So let's talk about the foodstuffs. The food arrived quickly with steak mains for the parentals, and the two veggie options available for the hubs and I. All the food was excellently cooked and delicious, even, surprisingly, my husband's veggie haggis, neeps, and tatties. I don't normally care for veggie haggis, but Usquabae has some sort of magic worked there--it was surprisingly good! Not only that, but my folks' side of chips were perfect. I mean it. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, ugh. So good. My own risotto was just fine, but there lies my only real beef with Usquabae, but it's quite mild beef if anything. As a veg-head (*queue audience groaning*), risotto is just not my favorite. I mean, come on, it's rice. You can get pretty creative with rice sometimes, but it's still rice. The menu pinned at the door of Usq does mention a veggie pasta alternative, but it isn't listed on the main menu, which gives veggies all of two options for mains, which hubs and I have now exhausted in one fell swoop. That said, the prices were reasonable enough and the food was good, especially according to the folks. I think if there was just one other option for veggies to eat and said veggie portions (and the chip sides so I could stuff my gob!) just a smite bigger, I'd upgrade my review to a solid 5 stars, no questions asked. That said, I could see Usquabae being my new go-to restaurant to take visiting friends and family for a nice Scottish meal. I could definitely see myself going there for a nice, quiet dram or two if the desire so struck. Keep up the good work, Usquabae--you're a lovely joint!

Caz H.

New whisky bar in the west end. 400 whiskies to choose from and a few gins & beers. Lots of Scottish food on the menu from Cullen skink to balmoral chicken and cranachan. Big bar table, few seats at the bar then low tables and little private booths/cubbies for drinking & eating. A curtain pulls across if you want respite from prying eyes! Quite noisy and the space was nowhere near full. Not a bad place to stop in for a drink but would definitely want to be in a booth for more than just one. Well worth checking out!

The lamb rump dish
Diana C.

This food at this place was so delicious! We stopped by after a long day of walking around Windsor. I really was craving Thai food, so we found this Thai fusion restaurant on yelp. The service was quick and food was excellent!!

They have private rooms
Christina K.

During my entire stay in Edinburgh, this was by far my favorite whisky bar. What's there not to like? The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Prices were reasonable. Food was great. The inside is beautiful. Ending up coming here three times in a week. That's how large their whisky selection is. Do yourself a favor: check this place out.

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Great bar, but be careful not to sit in the upstairs tourist trap "Ryan's" by accident! You have to head down the stairs.

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Really good find. Nice selection of whiskeys and beers and the food is great too. Will come here again.

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Review Highlights - Usquabae

Tried the following dishes: haggis, fish cakes, half haddock, venison and steak and ale pie.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

The Devil's Advocate

(629 reviews)

££

Old Town, Royal Mile

Just an awesome, rockin' final meal in Edinburgh - fantastic food, good service and energized local…read morevibe! Absolute must to get reservations! We tried on our first week in Edinburgh and failed, but were able to make reservations 3 weeks out for our last night in Scotland, and we are glad we did. Pork cracklins were a bit hard and crunchy, but everything else was perfect. We had fresh bread and langostinis for starters, along with a smokey whiskey cocktail, the Smoked Indiscretion! For mains we enjoyed the poached Cod, and the Pork with Barley. Service was very good, and wine selection was extensive. Atmosphere was loud with music and locals' chatter in the bar below, but dark tables and heavy wood panels made it a perfect place for a couple celebrating 3 weeks of travel. Highly recommend a visit to the Devil's Advocate, if you can book a table in advance.

The Devil's Advocate is undoubtedly a treasure to find in Old Town Edinburgh, especially if you…read moreaccidentally take the News Steps to get there, only to realize you should have simply taken the steps up Advocate's Close from Cockburn Street. But they call these lessons, "character building," apparently. No matter, the Devil's Advocate is worth the search. Located in an old Victorian pump house halfway up (or down) Advocate's Close, the Devil's Advocate is known for a killer whisky shelf of more than 300 different bottles from various distilleries across the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbelltown, the Islands, and Islay. I finally sipped on a 15-year Tamdu that has convinced me to keep a bottle at home. Then there's the Clydeside 2024 Limited Edition Cask Strength that was wicked impressive. The bartenders are class at making and serving seasonal and regular cocktails that have their spin and character. My wife enjoyed gin-based cocktails such as the Clean Slate (with St-Germain, citrus, and sugar), Rose Garden (with Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Rosa, apple, lemon, and mint), and Bee's Knees (honey and lemon). I went full speed ahead with the scotch cocktails, which are essentially classics with a scotch-substituted twist. The Double Shot is an Espresso Martini with Dalmore 12 in addition to Kahlua, espresso, and demerara -- quite smooth without being too sweet. The Scotzia is a Negroni with Fettercairn 12, while the Boxcar is a Sidecar only with Aberfeldy 12. We enjoyed the bar for a few hours, watching the bartenders make magic while sipping on cocktails, while listening to 80s pop tunes. A great evening indeed.

Panda & Sons - Cereal Killer

Panda & Sons

(115 reviews)

££

New 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!

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - Difficult to find, but well worth it!

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives

(17 reviews)

££

New Town

I was there on 30 October 2025 with a few travel friends, and it turned out to be one of the best…read moresurprises of our trip. The minute we found the door off the little lane on Rose Street, there was an air of mystery... exactly what you hope for from a "detective agency" style speakeasy. Once inside, the vibe was perfect for a chilly Edinburgh evening. Like, moody lighting, vintage-style furnishings, and that cozy, clandestine feel that makes you glad you made the effort to find it. The service was absolutely welcoming. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and even at 9p, mid week (when you might expect things to be winding down), the place was comfortably busy but not packed, but full enough to feel alive. Drinks menus came in little "confidential" envelopes, which instantly added to the fun. We ordered several cocktails that evening, and every drink was carefully crafted and flavorful, smooth and topped off with warm hospitality. I honestly did not have one bad cocktail. If I were to highlight a few things from our night - I came away loving the atmosphere, the attention to detail, and the general ease at which we were treated which is exactly what I wanted out of a night out in Edinburgh. If you're visiting Newcastle, upon, Tyne, Edinburgh, or just wandering through Rose Street and looking for something a little different... don't walk past this place. Bryant & Mack Private Detectives is a fun little secret with classic cocktails, cozy speakeasy vibes, and service that makes you feel like part of the case, lol. It's a fully immersive experience.

Awesome speakeasy in New Town…read more It really is on the hidden side, it took me a few minutes longer than I thought it would to find the door (look at the posted pictures, it helps). Once inside (you'll have to knock to get in), you'll find a cool little lounge with great cocktails, chill music, and amiable bartenders. We were surprisingly the only ones in there around 9 pm on a Friday night, which we thought was odd (as did the bartenders), but it meant we got to hang out with them and shoot the shit (meeting bartenders from all over the world is one of my favorite hobbies). Besides the fact that both were into motorcycles (and one came to Edinburgh once and immediately backed up his bags and moved over from Italy - props), we found out that they could make a mean cocktail. We, of course, started on menu, but wanted to see if they could do any variations, which they not only did, but nailed: "do you like bitter or sweet" - bitter "Floral or not so much" - surprise me "base?" - gin Dunno what it was called, but it was one of the nicest gin drinks I had in a town that is crazy for gin at the moment. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a good cocktail place, the ambiance is on point and the drinks are superb.

Usquabae - bars - Updated May 2026

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