The 49 best bars and drinks in Edinburgh

Panda & Sons is such a fun spot with incredible vibes — the speakeasy entrance, décor, and overall atmosphere make it worth the visit on their own. It’s a great place to hang out, and the staff were warm and welcoming. That said, while I loved the experience, the cocktails themselves didn’t leave much of a lasting impression. They were creative but a bit forgettable compared to the energy of the space. Still, I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a cool, unique night out in Edinburgh.

Atmosphere: 7/10 Located in Edinburgh’s New Town, Panda & Sons hides behind a barbershop façade on Queen Street—a classic speakeasy entrance. Once inside, the space splits into several small rooms with mostly table seating. The bar itself isn’t the visual centerpiece, and the backbar feels underwhelming compared to the lively buzz in the space. The vibe is vibrant and fun, though the music volume crosses into too loud territory, making it harder to fully relax. Drinks: 7.5/10 Recommendation: Panda Martini The menu is creative and structured into chapters by drink preparation method. Conceptually strong, but execution doesn’t fully live up to the idea—flavors are low in complexity, and balance could be improved. Glassware and garnishes are basic, while coasters and menu design show some creativity. Presentation overall feels restrained for a globally recognized venue. Service: 7/10 Water is served on arrival. Staff are friendly, but service is on the slower side—likely due to the fragmented layout and not enough staff covering each room. The team is approachable, yet professionalism and attentiveness vary depending on where you sit. Reservations are recommended; pricing is average for Edinburgh.

Great unique cocktail place. Sort of a speakeasy feel, but go there for the friendly staff, great mixologist, cool atmosphere and unique drinks. If you have a standard in mind, you can do that but ordering off the chill menu provides the best experience. The drinks are expensive but worth it for where you are. The aesthetics are great and the details, like the cryo frozen fruit, on the drinks is wonderful.

Fun space with creative cocktails. Some of them weren’t a hit but with the size of the menu, you are guaranteed to find some you love. Our second round choices were all amazing. The staff were super friendly and helpful. A fun spot to try with friends.

We got reservations but didnt feel like we could have needed them. Place is beautiful. Themed throughout but elevated. They are currently on an ice cream trend but all the cocktails we tried were super well balanced nothing too sweet or creamy. Just perfect. Service was great and the fastest in EDI.

This fabulous subterranean cocktail lounge is simply delightful. If you enjoy superb drinks set in a stylish background- look no further . It’s worth booking in advance as it’s a popular venue any night of the week. The staff are great hosts and the welcome is warm. The Mixologists / bar staff are excellent in every way. Thanks to Alexa and other servers who made every customer feel so valued.

You can't miss out on this bar in Edinburgh! Love this bar so much that you know they have well earned the top 50 bar recognition. Staffs are super friendly, knowledgeable, and energetic. Cocktails? You have to come and find out it's more than just a drink, it's an art. (And the best is that, they also have a whisky and wine menu) And the atmosphere is amazing for many occasions: dates, friends gathering, solo nights... We are very lucky to be seated after a short wait, but please remember to reserve in advance (especially for Fridays and weekends) to avoid disappointments!!

Tucked away in a subterranean hideaway in Edinburgh, Bramble is a true sanctuary for cocktail lovers and a masterful example of a modern-day speakeasy. This isn't just a place to grab a drink; it's an experience in craftsmanship and atmosphere. The moment you find the entrance and descend the stairs, you're transported to an intimate, dimly lit space that feels both cozy and sophisticated. The buzz is quiet, allowing for genuine conversation, and the decor is understated yet incredibly cool. It’s the perfect spot for a date night, a catch-up with a close friend, or a quiet solo drink. The real star of the show is, of course, the drinks. The bartenders here are artists. The menu is a fantastic blend of original, inventive concoctions and perfectly executed classics. I highly recommend trying their namesake, the Bramble, which is a beautifully balanced and refreshing masterpiece. Every drink is made with meticulous care, fresh ingredients, and a clear passion for the craft. The service is exceptional. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable without being pretentious and are always happy to offer recommendations or talk you through the complexities of a cocktail. In a city with no shortage of great bars, Bramble stands out as a genuine hidden gem. It’s a place where quality, atmosphere, and a perfect drink all come together seamlessly. It’s an essential stop for anyone who appreciates a world-class cocktail experience.

Bramble completely lived up to its reputation. I was impressed by how well-crafted every cocktail was — we tried three very different ones, and each had balance, depth, and its own distinct character. The menu feels fully thought-out, with something for every palate, and the cozy setting with moody lighting makes it the perfect spot to settle in for the night. A must-visit if you appreciate great cocktails in an intimate atmosphere. Pleasantly surprised by their whisky cocktail aura ! A++

Cutest hidden bar in a great center al Edinburgh location. Great selection of drinks and kind staff, prices are high but not too bad considering it's so central. Very busy but was Saturday night.

From reviews, I had high expectations. They did fall a bit short. Drinks were good but seem to fall short of what I think they should be. The balance of ingredients wasn't excited very well. Overall it was more a meh experience. I would like to say however, I'm a cocktail snob and have had many from all over the world so it's a high bar to stand out.

Cool underground vibe with amazing bartenders. Cocktails were really unique, innovative, and tasty. Recommend!

Adore these speakeasy type of cocktail bars. Great bartenders and an interesting menu. Really well made cocktails and great atmosphere.

This place looks like a dive bar, but the drinks are really elevated. Classic flavor combos, plus some really unusual and creative options. The space is dark but clean and comfortable. It’s an easy place to hang out for a few hours. We sat at the bar and had a great time chatting with the bar tenders. Neither of us had an empty glass all night.

We had the set lunch menu the food was beautifully presented and the flavours were wonderful The waitress was very pleasant and attentive All in all a 5 star experience!

Nice dimly lit space that works well for small groups as well as couples. Came for the Sunday roast; got the lamb shoulder and veggie Wellington. The hash brown starter was delicious.

This was an impulse visit and when I saw how busy it was, I was prepared to not get a seat. But they squeezed me in. Service was brilliant - my waiter didn't seem to rush, he smalltalked with everyone, but he was paying so much attention to everyone and everything going on around him. Food was perfect. It was so good that I had to order an additional dish. I was just peckish, so I only did the small starters: rabbit, salmon and beef. Everything was balanced and the rabbit, especially, was just brilliant. It had capers, so I feared they might dominate, but it was so beautifully balanced 🤩 Would definitely visit again!

Called in here for a cocktail when our usual go-to place was closed for a staff event. Glad we did, we'll definitely be back. The cocktails were great. The ambience was really good as was the service. We weren't going to eat but managed a few smaller bites once we saw how good the food looked around us. We weren't disappointed, it was delicious.

I enjoyed the silver fox drink, the schnitzel was ok and the dessert was the right choice for my lunch. Nice and quiet.

Enjoyed the dinner tonight especially the red wine Syrah from France. I forgot the label of the Syrah though, appreciate you can share the details of Syrah that is served by glass at the Bon Vivant Edinburgh. Thanks much. 👍🏼

Fantastic staff who couldn't be more welcoming. The atmosphere was really friendly. The food was incredible - freshly prepared, absolutely delicious and it wouldn't be out of place in a very expensive fine dining restaurant. Thank-you so much - we will be back sooner rather than later!

Great spot for both intimate dinners and big group hangouts. The bar strikes a cool balance between rustic and modern, and their whisky tasting flight is a fun touch—especially for anyone visiting Edinburgh. We had the duck, hake, haggis, and crab cakes. All were decent, though nothing mind-blowing. The crab cakes came out a bit cold, which was a letdown. Overall, the food was just okay, but the ambience and drinks made up for it. Bonus points for their wine list—the Picpoul was genuinely excellent.

We sat outside because restaurant was packed. It was chilly but quiet and very nice. Waiters were very good. The pork chop was excellent. The flat iron steak was supposed to be medium, but it came well done. The honey and buttered greens were excellent. Definitely recommend to come here.

What a stunning bar tucked away in Advocate’s Close, right off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. We were visiting from London and looking for a great cocktail spot for the evening and this place absolutely delivered. Aesthetically beautiful, with amazing cocktails and genuinely attentive service. Not to mention their exquisite whisky collection, which is an experience in itself. The small plates were delicious too, making it the perfect spot to unwind. Highly recommended.

Need reservation. Deepseek recommended me to try, so I did. Good service and good vibe (the vibe is like a nice New American restaurant in the US…). Good service and cool decor. The food was decent but I had high hope. The steak in particular was underwhelming. 😕 The lamb rump is super tender tho.

It’s an overall nice place. We had soup, some starters, and really good truffle fries. The service felt a little bit pushy at times, but also quite attentive, so maybe it was just the Sunday evening vibe. The whisky Old Fashioned was great, and the cocktail To the Point - highly recommend, super tasty. Overall, an average good experience

Very cool spot for an afternoon drink. I had the Highland Horse and think it’s my favourite cocktail ever, would have loved to stay for another but we had a reservation to get to. The bar is lovely and location iconic

Absolutely amazing food and drinks, best Paloma ive had in a while. HOWEVER the service - nah so bad. Sam at the front desk was so RUDE like nah unbearable. We were 5 people without a reservation yea yea our fault but like we entered at 2 pm - rush hour was over and we even asked if they can split our table but as rude as she could be she said no. Understood 3 of us sat at the bar and 2 went up to the restaurant. Us at the bar had a lot of fun, bartender was amazing and whipping out some amazing drinks and the bar food was amazing too but the service as such a let down. Like do better guys. There were so many tables available give them for an hour and take them back in an hour but do better.

Very nice location at Grassmarket. We got a table on the rooftop and really enjoyed the beautiful weather and terrace. The fish & chips were among the best we’ve had in Edinburgh – crispy and fresh. Most of the staff were friendly, though unfortunately our waitress came across as a bit snobbish. Overall still a good experience.

We've been here for a drink and maybe something to eat. We really wanted a dessert, but the waiter did not bring a menu even though we asked two times for it. Our feeling is that they prefer people on the terrace to just go for a drink and move on quickly :) (they could have said though) That being said: - the terrace is nice, with close view of the castel (if you are lucky enough to see with all the Aperol decor); - the service at the entrance was very kind and helpful! - service on the terrace should be improved. - the drinks are decent & bathrooms are clean.

Gotta say not great! Was excited to come here for some light snacks and a casual dinner, and it was such a miss! The ambiance is great, good music, cute decor, but the rest is just underwhelming. We got the salted pretzel, but it was not salty. At all, no salt to be found!! And the cheese sauce was very gritty and flavorless, which is a bummer because beer cheese is not rocket science especially for a brewery type place. The corn ribs were dry and flavorless, and the sticky jack chicken bites were actually okay but needed some kind of dip to feel complete. We sat with dirty plates on the table and empty drinks for over 30 minutes while the wait staff walked by multiple times and glanced at our table and walked on by. We tried to use the QR code on the table to order more drinks and more food but the items we wanted were not on the menu online. Decided after near 40 minutes we’d to try to flag down a staff member but they were nowhere to be seen which is frustrating. When they finally came over they left the dirty plates that were now neatly stacked at the end of the table. The cocktails were too sugary and were filled halfway which is mental for a 12£ drink. Finished it in three SMALL sips. Taste was fine but overall would pick somewhere else if you’re a foodie. Can’t comment on the view because we were on the first floor but I’m sure it’s lovely based on photos.

Fantastic place to visit in Edinburgh! We had a roof terrace table with spectacular views of the castle, Staff were excellent and attentive, even offered to take pics with the castle behind us before we sat down for a delicious meal of fish and chips and chicken Caesar salad. Loved the atmosphere in the bar on ground floor where the staff worked hard to accommodate groups arriving early for bookings, nothin seemed too much trouble for them! Would definitely recommend for a relaxed dinner on the terrace or for hens and stags on the different levels as there were a few there having the best time! Loved the Photo Booth in the ladies and overall vibe, will be back for sure!!

I celebrated my birthday at Cold Town House rooftop last week, and it turned into one of the most memorable evenings of my life. Caitlyn, who served me, was so kind and welcoming, and she recommended a great vegetarian pizza and drink. When I mentioned it was my birthday, she and Lauren (the manager) went above and beyond — they surprised me with a beautifully decorated brownie presented like a birthday cake. The biggest surprise came when I asked for the bill and was told that the meal was complimentary for my birthday, and I only needed to pay the service charge. Their kindness, generosity, and genuine hospitality truly touched me and made my solo trip feel so special. Thank you Caitlyn and Lauren for making my birthday unforgettable — Cold Town House will always be a place I’ll recommend with a smile.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff all round. Staff were efficient, they were out of stock of the 0% lager though but I can settle for a coke. My mates loved the Nitro on pump

Decent place, tasters for the HUGE range of beers. Food was good, service good given we had a large party. Rooftop was nice with the views.

We came across this bar after hearing a local guy recommending it to fellow diners on holiday from Germany. As we both like the odd tot of whisky we simply had to visit . The bar has a quaint olde worlde feel to it, with the narrowest bar tables I've ever seen. But for us the highlight is the knowledge and enthusiasm for whisky that the bar staff have. Their Malt of the Month is a great idea. After listening to my preferred tastes in whisky the barman recommended the Smokehead for me and the Ardberg Wee Beastie for my husband. Absolutely, spot on....the Smokehead was exactly the right choice for my palate. We enjoyed it so much we then recommended it to visiting Norwegians sat at our dinner table later that evening. Definitely a destination for whisky drinkers in Edinburgh.

Nice spot to enjoy different varieties of beer and whiskey! For me it was bar hopping day for beer and I enjoyed the atmosphere being at The Bow Bar! Great atmosphere to enjoy your drinks and chat with good people!

AMAZING service! Despite being in a touristy area, my local friend highly recommended it and it's obvious why - the bartenders explained so much to us about whiskey and let us smell several before choosing. A few great beers on tap too. Cozy seating, nice energy.

Tucked away on a really aesthetic street, this spot has such a great adults-only atmosphere—perfect for a couple of drinks. Prices are super reasonable too, which makes it even better. And honestly, the Scottish pies hit the spot after you’ve had one too many (haha). Definitely worth checking out!

Do not come here for the limited pie menu, come here for the beer and whisky and certainly the atmosphere. Great place to people watch. Fun to see the various people come and go. Nicely situated in a gorgeous area.

The best real whisky bar in Edinburgh as far as we're concerned. The tap beer selection is also incredibly varied, leading to some difficult order decisions! Been coming here for all least 15 years, and it just gets better and better. Dog friendly, which wasn't as common back in the day. The staff fussed over our elderly pug, which was lovely. We will keep coming back!

It was a very cool bar. They have different types of beers and also whiskeys. I haven’t tried the whiskeys, but the beers were so good but only thing they were all warm not cold.

Atmosphere is very chilled with wood tables and chairs and stone walls. It is a lot bigger thank it looks from outside. I'd also say once you are past the threshold it's quite inviting, not sure the outside gives that feel. The range of ale/beer is good. The bar staff are very friendly and helpful. I'm not keen on the traditional tasting beers/lagers and the staff suggested the raspberry wheat beer which was delicious and very drinkable. I'd give yourself a good 30 -45 minutes to enjoy one. We were just over £12 for two drinks.

We came for the selection and it did not disappoint. They have great beers both on tap and in their fridge. Service was standard, not great but no complaints. The mish mash of tables and chairs is kinda neat, it gives off a real bachelor pad vibe, and I liked that they actually have a bunch of hanging bats....yup, they do.

Lively bar/pub. Reminded me of Pecos pub in Bangalore! Great whiskey sour and the Arran single malt was heavenly. The house lager is very tasty too. But don't try eating here. They have a tiny vegan menu! There are no hot dogs, alas.

Stopped by The Hanging Bat for a pre-dinner drink on a recent trip to Edinburgh. It’s a bar with real character and not just the painted wall murals, but in the atmosphere too. They weren’t doing food when we visited and I think they had a sign saying the kitchen would be closed for a while. They had a wide range of very different beers on offer, especially if you’re into trying some of the wackier end of the spectrum like sours, fruity beers and the currently over trendy IPAs. They were switching kegs of one flavour out for another one and updating the beers on the board while we were there. It was cool to see. We had a few dietary requirements in the group, and the barmen were happy to modify some of the cocktails to suit, which was nice. I went for an espresso martini and I enjoyed it. We sat, talked, and enjoyed the laid-back vibe. It was a great spot to kick off the night.

Awesome authentic Scottish beef cheeseburger and chili-covered hash browns. Numerous seating options and spaces for groups. Very attentive staff; easy ordering system for food, etc.

Amazing beer but the food is not even Ok. Very fatty and soft fries, onion rings are also wet of fat, not crispy at all.

Good pub! But then, a lot of Scottish pubs seem good. But this is a nice place to hang out.

Fantastic venue to have a group celebration. Nora & Carla were great to deal with as I was planning the lunch for 31 people. As my 5 star revue indicates the food was delicious, the service was prompt & attentive (esp given the numbers) and the room was perfect in size and located just off the bar so didn’t feel isolated. Highly recommend!!

This is one hell of a cool looking place. I have been many times over the years and the place is always holding it own. The drinks are very good and the staff some times are a bit sloppy not caring much but the look of the place is the big sapling point it is functional and finished very well. I would record this for an ice fancy night in Edinburgh and and good night out most night in there. Cocktails are good here but very very expensive the door staff can be a bit of a pain sometimes too but that is what it is like. A bit too cool for school. Enjoy

The Voodoo Rooms worth flying in for. Excellent staff Fabulous drinks Delicious food Fantastic Vibe Only in Edinburgh for two days, went to Voodoo Rooms three times. Staff are friendly, helpful, and excellent special shout out to Ben. The plant based food was stunning, I was in heaven. I can’t wait to go back for more. The Mushroom Bruschetta was worth a trip to Edinburgh alone. The Gluten free options were delicious. Thanks for a great time Voodoo Rooms.

A hidden gem, I'd say the drinks are affordable for the location and the quality. I have a similar place in my town and the drinks are 20-40% more costly. Totally recommended.

With a few days in Edinburgh we were looking for somewhere casual and relaxed for a midweek evenening meal. We were attracted to the Voodoo Rooms by the website and good reviews. Although there was no live music on the Monday night were visiting, we decided to give it a go. The room we were in had more of a bar than food vibe and was a bit smaller and less poloshed than we expected from the website. We were seated by friendly staff straight away in a corner table, which was quiet and relaxed. The menu is limited, but we knew this as it's available on the website. All three of us opted for burgers and fries. The food arrived quickly, and the portions were large. The burgers tasted good and the fries came with sides such as coleslaw. Overall, it was a good experience! Thank you!

My husband and I enjoyed dinner and drinks. We visited on a Sunday evening. We had the panko fried tofu and patatas brava. We had the best sabre and blood rose beverages after dinner. We also enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding. Everything was sublime! Service was great. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

I have been here several times and then went in 2 weekends ago and was appalled! The 'greeter' Emma, who was abrasive and downright rude to myself and my friend who went in for a drink after having been at the matinée performance of the ballet. When we said her attitude was appauling and we would be complaining at the way we were treated she quickly stated that if any complaints which where posted she would 'just remove them'. I think the manager was David? And the other fella we encountered i think was Kai? Neither of which were any help in resolving the matter or improving our customerexperienceof the place. The way Emma spoke to us was utterly uncalled for and frankly dusgusting. Training on how to meet and greet is obviously greatly needed!

Meg was amazing! I came in by myself and she was chatty and so welcoming. She recommended great drinks and made ne feel like she was interested in conversation even though I'm a tourist. Then came Logan... he was her perfect tag team partner! The music, drinks and service were a total vibe! The vinyl records were AMAZING!

Bad cocktail！ Chorma has a sense of dead fish smell. Whiskey sour is too sour at first trial, and too light after adjust, it’s so confusing. 4 drinks are all taste bad and charge princely, I don’t understand….

We loved this spot so much we spent two of our three nights in Edinburgh here! The cocktails are creative and delicious and Meg and the rest of the folks are so kind and welcoming. The vinyl is a fun touch and the whole place has such a warm and cozy feel. Can’t recommend Lucky Liquor enough! (Their sister bars, Bramble and Last Word, are great too!)

Recommended to us by a local, this bar is an absolute gem! Fabulous cocktail list and wonderful staff - we loved sitting at the bar watching them prepare our drinks and having a chat. The venal record collection is impressive as well - great tunes!

Great cocktail bar. We really enjoyed both their lighter cocktails, as well as their more spirit-forward options. Bartender Meg was great, not just for making the drinks, but she remembered my wife and I when we circled back to Lucky on our last night in Edinburgh and left us with some great recommendations for bars/restaurants/etc. for the remainder of our trip to Scotland.

Lovely bar that we stumbled across! Phenomenal drinks and a great vibe! Would recommend it highly quality cocktails in a fun and unpretentious atmosphere.

Exciting range of original cocktails that always hit the spot. The Bramble group have the best cocktails bars for a reason: quality ingredients and brilliant staff trained to a high level. Their hot dogs are good too!

Fantastic!! Charming old world pub with a dash of posh modernism. Outstanding service, outstanding cuisine. We opted for the Sunday roast and everything was just perfect. We were even seated where Queen Elizabeth had once sat and they had a plaque commemorating that on the wall. It was a nice surprise. They also have a wonderful courtyard and check out the bowling alley in the back. Never even knew it was there but it was super cool. 10 out of 10. Highly recommend.

We stopped by the Sheep Heid Inn and it was one of those spots that just hits the mark. Tucked away in Duddingston Village, it's got that authentic old-pub vibe—think exposed stone walls, a roaring fire, and wooden beams that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. Claiming to be Edinburgh's oldest pub since 1360, it delivers on the history without feeling stuffy. Our server, Irena, was hands down the highlight! She welcomed us right away with a friendly chat, and her energy made the whole place feel welcoming. She shared some cool stories about the inn's past—like how it started as a rest stop for sheep drovers and got its quirky name from a carved sheep's head. It added a nice touch without dragging on. When it came to the menu, Irena nailed our picks. She suggested the fish and chips—crispy golden batter encasing flaky, fresh cod, with chunky chips and proper mushy peas on the side—and it was everything we hoped for in classic pub fare. We paired it with a couple of local ales, and everything came out hot and quick. As a bonus, she offered to take a few photos of us by the fireplace, which turned out great and captured the cozy mood. It was a relaxed, memorable meal that left us wanting to come back soon. If you're near Edinburgh, grab a table here and hope Irena's working—she makes all the difference. 5/5 highly recommend!

Excellent Sunday lunch. Good vibe, old and quaint. Had beef sirloin which was cooked beautifully pink. Good yorkshire pudding and BOTTOMLESS GRAVY!! Plenty of veg and some optional sides. Pudding options were good and we had after lunch cocktails which were well made. Server (Harry) was friendly and attentive. Forgot to take photos of lunch.

We stopped there at Sunday afternoon just for one beer because of historical value. However, Kamil, Craig, Martin, Harri, Archie were so amazing and helpful that we spend there alomst five hours. We had such a great time and experince. We also got a option to try historical skittle alley. It was such a fun. So we highly reccomend to vist this place. Thank you for everything Marika, Zuzana and Kateřina.

At first, I expected the oldest bar in Scotland to look as aged as you’d imagine a 600-year-old establishment to be. Honestly, it’s probably for the best that it doesn’t look run-down or dilapidated. Instead, it’s a higher-end pub with excellent meals, offering well-priced two- and three-course lunch specials. Our waiter, Harry, was fantastic, attentive, personable, and he made sure we wrapped up our dining experience with something fun, a game in the cool bowling alley tucked in the back. We played a few rounds, paid at the bar, and left smiling. Definitely add this spot to your list of places to dine and drink in Scotland!

On a Tuesday evening, our family of four enjoyed a delightful visit to this charming traditional Scottish pub. We tried the pan-roasted lamb rump and the sea bass fillet—both dishes were incredibly tasty. The warm hospitality and attentive service made the experience even better, thanks to the friendly staff members Kamic, Albi, and Rohna, who also gave us a tour of the historic bowling alley. I’d happily return the next time I’m in Edinburgh!

We had booked the Skittles Lane for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. Great fun and the team were friendly and service was good. A nice selection of drinks from the bar and they also have a QR code we used for drinks, rather than having to walk to the bar for drinks. Perfect for a few hours with kids

We had a great time at The White Hart Inn, the most ancient tavern in Edinburgh! The energy was fantastic—perfect for a couples drink. My wife enjoyed a lovely glass of Merlot, while I sampled a few different ales, all of which were delicious. The rich history of the place adds to the charm, and we can’t wait to come back to try the whisky

Zero rating on food as we only enjoyed drinks. That being said , after many many steps we were in need of refreshments and decided the White Hart was the spot. Its a cracking little pub , full of character and large outdoor seating area in the square. I chose the Belhaven Belter lager , cool & crisp. Great location for people watching and enjoying some afternoon sun. Will definitely return on our next visit to Edinburgh

Oldest Pub in Edinburgh serving great drinks, great food and a Warmth that reminds your bones that you have been to a Special Place. Tony the bartender was Very kind and engaging...gave us a tour of the old "Skittle Alley". The cellar dates back to 1516. Tell um Teddy sentcha!

I had the best haggis I've ever tasted here! I can still vividly recall the flavor every time I think about this pub. The potato and carrot mash were incredibly creamy, and the Haggis just melted in my mouth. The schnitzel with chips was also delicious, crispy, fresh, and full of flavor. They have an excellent selection of beers and ciders, and the atmosphere in the pub was fantastic. I can’t wait to come back!

Made a reservation in advance, got the worst table in the pub, that was very poorly cleaned right before us. Beer is okay.. the prices aren’t displayed on the menu. The whole staff has a very “this is just my job” attitude, zero friendliness or a single smile. As for the food… please do NOT order the food, it’s so mediocre. I make better mac and cheese at home, the side salad had old salad leaves in it… the haggis was bland and tasteless.. since we had something to do afterwards we didn’t complain and ate what we could. Maybe it’s our mistake, that we can’t tell a tourist trap from a normal pub. The toilets are a disaster, water (we hope) all over the mens bathroom floor. Also don’t feel the best stomach wise after eating:). Many better places in Edinburgh, don’t waste your money here.

Found this place late at night while out bar hopping. Had an excellent musician playing, kept the crowd entertained. Good drink selection, cool atmosphere.

Had a lovely meal here. Alex, a wonderful blonde lady, was fabulous at helping my friend and I pick out what to eat and drink. At the end of the night, we were joking we wish Alex would ditch her shift to hang out with us. She was great, if you have her while there, ask for her recommendations. The pea soup and the veggie haggis were delicious. The sticky toffee was also a delight. Alex recommended to have that with custard and wouldn't you know, she was right again. I would go back.

When we arrived, there was only one other couple there and us so the atmosphere was very quiet. However, the cocktail selection was incredible. There was too much choice, to be honest, and would have preferred the selection being smaller! I went for the Banana Split cocktail, and it was delicious.

An excellent venue with outstanding service. Although it was obvious I was a tourist, I was made to feel genuinely welcome. The décor is stylish and modern, and the cocktails are fairly priced. I’ll certainly return. Keep up the great work, and best of luck to the whole team!!!

Very cool vibe, friendly bartender, and a kick ass menu. My new favorite bar.

We wanted to find a quiet cocktail bar on a Saturday evening and this was the place! Great atmosphere with good music playing at a respectable volume. The selection really brought back my 90s nostalgia. The service is attentive but not intrusive. The cocktail variety is impressive and the prices are reasonable. The presentation of the menu was like an unfinished canvas. I am looking forward to coming back and try all the colours!

Booked a table at short notice for pre meal drinks. All the cocktails are 12.95 each and looked delicious but we opted for the value menu of Esspresso martinis and Pornstar Martinis at 6.95 each which were great!

Went for drinks for a birthday celebration, not been in a few years and it was great to be back, the effort put in to all the drinks and menu has always been really impressive! Served by a lovely lad on the bar, unsure of his name unfortunately, was on the bar 5pm onwards on Monday. He went out of his way multiple times to create amazing personal cocktails to suit us individually. 4 if us had 3 cocktails each and we all shared them as all 12 were insanely good. We'll be back ASAP.

Love the whole menu concept, so creative! The drinks are great and had a lovely chat with Grace who was a great help 🩷

Wonderful cocktails and even better bartenders who make them! This is a MUST do for anyone visiting or local in Edinburgh. Peter is fabulous, definitely ask for him! More than just gin, they can make anything you can think of!

Brilliant place, helpful staff, and amazing drinks. We have been coming here for years. Always good with my cat onyx, as he loves to chill in the little caves. Door man always attentive and staff behind the bar really know their spirits and cocktails. Will be back next week as usual. Thanks guys😊

This place is a hidden gem, located under The Huxley and right next to the over-crowded Gillie Dhu in Edinburgh’s West End. Fantastic atmosphere with very attentive staff. My favorite (non whisky) bar in Edinburgh!

Excellent cocktail bar. The atmosphere was fantastic, very chill and clean, and the cocktails were high quality. The bartenders were friendly and helpful, and they made us cocktails to our taste - even letting us try some cocktails they were working on (their take on an amaretto sour was phenomenal). Highly recommend

Lovely chilled atmosphere. The staff were amazing, really attentive and knew their stuff when it came to cocktails. The cocktails were fab!

If you like gin, this is the bar for you! So many great ones to choose from. They have tasting flights as well as fabulous cocktails made by bartender/mixologist Luke. Highly recommend!

A man brought a cat in and strapped it to his neck and the staff thought this was okay. We asked the bouncer if he’d seen the cat and he just said “it’s fine”. Disgusting treatment of animal, don’t come here if you care about pets. Horrible experience.

We came to this nice cocktail bar by chance and enjoyed it very much. The team is very professional and knows their way around with the drinks. The atmosphere was nice. We recommend it

Great little bar with an equally great whisky selection. I enjoyed multiple tasting flights curated by the bartender that were perfect. Service and cocktails are great!

Went here on a Wednesday night. Drinks were nice, service good but could have been more alert on when we wanted to order more. Atmosphere is propably great on a busy night, quite calm when we were there

What a treat -- what a truly delightful cocktail bar that happens to make the eponymous drink very very well. Cozy ambiance, pleasant candles & creative decor, and awesome staff who were both very friendly and very knowledgeable. I'm quite glad I went out of my way to come here tonight. Be aware the entrance was a little tricky to find as it's below street level.

Excellent, low-key spot for cocktails. Walked in on a weeknight and had our pick of tables. Very casual and cosy vibes. Bartenders were very friendly and happy to answer questions and give recs. We meant to just have one drink, but they were so good we stayed for another round!

This little charming bar made our first night in Edinburgh so special! It was a cold rainy night and the fireplace, the service, the vibe and the cocktails made us feel so warm and cozy! Absolutely loved it! They get all my stars. ⭐️

A very nice cocktail bar, lovely and knowledgeable staff. The atmosphere was great, will definitely be back.

One of the best Sunday roasts in Edinburgh – and now our new favourite. We ended up here by chance after another restaurant had sold out, and I’m so glad we did. I’m a big roast fan, and this was easily the best I’ve had in a long time. Everything was spot on: the homemade cauliflower cheese, rich gravy, and pigs in blankets were a treat, while the beef, Yorkshire puddings, and perfectly tender veg were exceptional. We practically licked the plates clean. To top it off, the staff were genuinely friendly and welcoming – the whole experience was a joy from start to finish.

Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was ruined by the service, particularly by a waiter named Daniel. He was incredibly rude—the most unfriendly waiter I’ve ever dealt with. He dropped a dirty spoon on my grandfather and didn’t say a word. No apology, no attempt to pick it up—just completely ignored it. He also brought the wrong dish and again, no apology. When we asked for help with the menu, he was arrogant and unhelpful, acting as if our questions were a nuisance. To be fair, the food was good, and the special we tried was actually very enjoyable. It’s a shame the service didn’t reflect the same quality. A great meal shouldn’t be overshadowed by bad hospitality.

This one was hard to rate. We came all the way from the states and were only spending two days in the Edinburg area so we carefully preselected our dinner reservations months ago. The venue was beautiful and is steeped in historical design and ambience, however it was loud and no one could give us a good answer about who we should check in with when we arrived at our 8pm time. The servers were rushed and left us without attending to our drinks for a very long time. The drinks were excellent but way too expensive. We order the Scotch eggs and the scallops for entries. For $20 USD we got TWO scallops in a soupy but interesting mix of sauces and beets. My wife said her Balmoral chicken was peppery and too salty. My pork cutlets were fantastic. Really it comes down to feeling like we were in the way and the servers were too stressed to do a solid job making sure we were taken care of. I think we'd go back if we're ever in Edinburgh again but with so many other choices maybe not.

Really enjoyed our meal here. The vibe in the bar seemed a bit more fun than the restaurant side. We had the Sunday roasts and they were delicious and huge portions.

I came here as an accident walking back to our Airbnb from the new register house and I am so glad we stopped in because it is such a beautiful pub-in restaurant. As I understand, a very famous movie was filmed here years ago. Every single one of my favorite whiskeys was on the shelf here and the bartender from Arran was incredibly nice and helpful. I recommend the Scotch egg and the Cullen skink.

I had a steak sandwich which was amazing. The potatoes are super good. My wife had the cooked oysters and they put bacon on them which I was in a huge fan of but overall super nice experience also the beer was amazing. It's a bar so the service was not amazing but really great vibe there and more of a local place than a tourist place it seemed.

Ambiente 20 von 10. Edinburgh’s must go to. Oysters extremely tasty and super fresh. Absolut recommendation and I will come back. Love this place.

We visited here as part of a vegan meetup to try the new menu offerings. The venue has a good vibe & loads of really tasty beverages on offer - I highly recommend their cocktails. There were 12 of us in attendance, & the team did really well at getting our food out to us all at the same time. Their menu mostly consists of vegan/veggie fried chicken, served in various configurations. Between us I think we managed to cover most of their menu - between us we agreed that the vegan fried chicken is amazing; a really good texture, flavour, & is not too oily. However, the vegan Mac & cheese leaves something to be desired - the flavour was ok (it's a Cajun take on Mac & cheese), but the texture was subpar; it was rather overcooked pasta with a very watery sauce. The way that the Mac & cheese is presented makes you think that it has been baked, but this was really not the case. This was the main let down of the meal, especially when other venues in the city have set the bar quite high. On the whole the portion sizes were good, burgers well constructed, & side dishes were really good. I would recommend a visit, it's a great venue close to the city attractions & show venues, & has a welcoming team.

Service was less friendly than all the other places we've been in Edinburgh. I thought the food was very oily. I had the tacos and they did taste good but I didn't feel great after eating them due to being greasy. The margaritas were yummy but pricey. Nachos were mediocre.

ALWAYS recommend Paradise Palms! the BEST LGBTQ+ space in Edi as it serves itself to be a fantastic social space (great cocktails, abundant events) and also a cosy eatery (delicious food as pictured - totally recommend the fried cauliflower! 🤤) A must for any Queer Folks looking for something to do in a quirky spot in Edi xxx

In our 3-day stay, we went there twice, because we were really fascinated by the place and its menu that is completely vegan. The chips were a bit overseasoned in my opinion but that's subjective.

It’s a cool bar but I think Google must change the name from restaurant. It’s literally a plastic laminated tiny page with only fried stuff. I am glad they only serve vegan food but if someone is trying to find a vegan place to have a proper dinner that’s not the place to go, it’s just deep fried junk stuff. I don’t know why it’s called a restaurant on the map. They have cool design and lots of cocktails etc it’s def a bar. Also quite expensive just for this junk food, not a real meal. I guess go if you want a bar for lgbtq community but honestly I wish the quality of food was there as well or just rebrand it as a bar not a place to eat.

Super cute place, loved the very inclusive vibes and the great music. Service for food is quite slow, but the all vegan food is very delicious, a bit spicy but tasty! Had a smash burger and fries and was very happy afterwards. Fantastic cocktails as well. Reservation are recommended as it is quite busy and the tables are limited.

Over hyped to be honest. Bit of a grubby place. Had big expectations, but let down on the basics. If you are looking for vegi and vegan, head to Rabbit Munch/Meadow's Tap.

Lovely little bar. Staffs are very friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately they stopped doing food so not had the chance to try. I will be back just cos I love how quirky the bar is.

Bennets Bar is a storied old Victorian pub with loads of character. Excellent selection of local cask ales and Scotch whiskies, all served in a warm and lively atmosphere. The crowd is diverse, making it a great spot to soak up local energy. Bartenders are attentive and friendly, and it’s just a short walk from the Haymarket transit hub—perfect for a pint before or after exploring the city.

Must visit place - one of the oldest bars in Edinburgh. Comfortable and cozy not in the front and back parts. It’s super interesting to be reviewed interior while having a pint of beer - many tables still have original picture (maps) and the entire bar cabinet is original one, from the 18th (?) century.

Amazing place. The beer is great and the atmosphere is unique. Such a lovely place to have a couple of pints after visiting the old town

This is a fun old pub. Interior is classic and rustic with tons of history which you can see on the walls, on the floors, on the bar. Solid cask ale selection and some tasty haggis bonbons. There's a second room in the back but it was pretty quiet in the main room when I visited. Some folks started trickling in after I arrived and quite a diverse range of ages. A classic pub a bit hidden by the construction but these are the places that you remember and hope to never disappear.

Loved every minute being there. The staff were super friendly and absolutely knew their Gin and Whiskey. It is such a lovely authentic location that I absolutely can recommend.

Brilliant wee pub! In for a few drinks and a great time was had. Great pint of T and some Rock Rose gin and a cheeky old fashioned! Will definitely be back!!

It’s a pub so not going crazy with this review. The service is mediocre. The loaded crispy chips are fantastic. The Asian sticky chicken thighs were really good as well. Beers on tap were solid. Interesting theme to say the least. Haha

One of the places that you must visit while visiting Edinburgh and enjoying some historical small events. They are not offering special food or drinks, but the ambiance makes it special. Enjoy your time with friends in this place.

Great spot. We loved the history. The food was delicious. I had the garlic chicken schnitzel and it was great.

After learning about the history of this pub on three tours, we knew we had to stop in. The vibe did not disappoint, and the food was great!!!

Visited July 2025 Had the starter Haggis Neep Tatties to see what Scottish food is about (not my kind of food sorry) Bacon and cheese burger though was excellent. Temperature on the pattie was on point with a good sear. Fries were crispy outside and fluffy inside. Overall a great spot for pub crawlers

I rarely give 2 stars but this visit was disappointing. For the first time in my life wine was served in a plastic cup at a pub. On top of that my food arrived very late because of a problem with their printer. The location has potential but the overall experience fell short.

We were struggling to find a place to eat that also had a good Scottish pub vibe and The Last Drop was perfect. The servers were so courteous and accommodating. Of all we ate I have to strenuously recommend the Sticky Chicken starter. Absolutely heavenly.

This place is so cool, our waitress was amazing! The atmosphere is loud and proud, if that's not your thing, they have the front section for quieter diners, they have thought of everything, the band was good, the fairies were cheesy but a nice way to introduce the evening atmosphere. The highlight was that fillet steak 🤤 I would jump on a plane just to have dinner here 👌🏻

We popped in for a few drinks on a Monday afternoon. The staff were really helpful and polite. Great drinks selection, we tried the Scottish and Bavarian beer flights which were good. Also had the pretzel trio for a bar snack and enjoyed these. Thanks again.

My locals cousins took us here for lunch. Being from aus, we loved this. Food was good,service was fab. Beautiful setting. Huge place. Really enjoyed it.

Visited on Tuesday and booked the £10 afternoon tea deal , was really looking forward to this and it wasn’t a great experience. We were not expecting fancy for £10 but we love Brewhemia so wanted to try. It was a Tuesday afternoon so quiet but staff weren’t overly chatty. The afternoon tea. I don’t even think it’s worth £10pp and I would have been livid if I had paid full price. The selection was good but the quality was not. Sandwiches , quiche and sausage roll. Small but tasty. The scones were inedible the cheese scone was bland and the fruit scone was as hard as a rock. Scones arent meant to crunch it was more like an overdone rock cake . The cakes were 3 small squares of lemon , marble and chocolate. They were beyond dry and a little stale tasting. We left very disappointed and would not recommend this experience. I would have mentioned it to the staff but the girl who took our payment was very disinterested and didn’t even ask how it was so we paid and left.

Wow, one of the best dining experiences I have ever had! The service was amazing, the food was phenomenal and to top it off, there was a super talented singer playing to the restaurant with his guitar! We had the cheese fondue which was sublime and I must recommend. Don't forget to grab a few butterscotch shots too! Special shout out to Martha, Ava and Anya for such a special experience they provided for me and my new fiance, we will never forget it, and we will be back!!!!

Amazing food - the steak was delicious and I loved the experience of making the meat on your own. Very friendly customer service.

A very big space with a modern approach in terms of decoration. Not a typical pub, but an interesting place to enjoy beers from from Czech Republic and the most commercial beers of Scotland. The music had a Latin American vibe to it, which was confusing. Maybe it was a thematic day, I don't know. Service was great as always in Edinburgh. It's worth a visit though.

Great place just down the road from our hotel and what a great way to while away our last night in Edinburgh. Eclectic decor and years of history in this family owned pub with exceptionally friendly and efficient staff. I went for the whole seafood experience with deliciously silky smooth scallops to start followed by an excellent seafood platter. Cavier and rollmop herrings were both new to me and were both delicious, pickled fish what’s not to love!!!! The risotto was also highly praised by my better half!! Overall the dining experience was excellent , the cheese board at the end delicious and the house dram, “The Golden Drop”, a lovely easy drinking Speyside style scotch. Loved this place - give it a go you won’t be disappointed!!

Had an excellent experience at this restaurant! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Special thanks to Mariusz and the team for making the evening so enjoyable; their friendliness and attention to detail really stood out. We went with Mariusz’s recommendations, and every dish was spot on: beautifully presented, full of flavour, and perfectly paired. You could really tell how much passion and care goes into both the service and the food. It’s dog friendly as well so a winner in our books. A fantastic place all around - great food, great people, and a lovely vibe. Can’t wait to come back!

Went for the proper Sunday Roast. The inside is charming, and the staff was warm and welcoming. We’re on holiday and had the best time! One of our favorite meals!

Great pub with amazing sea food and vast whisky selection eclectic decor adds to the ambiance

Recommended by our Airbnb host….it did not disappoint. Probably a pub more locals use than tourists. The food was exceptional and the service was excellent. Interesting decor and felt really warm for a pub that is 100 plus years old. Highly recommend.

A beautifully eclectic establishment serving some lovely whiskeys. Prices are about right. Didn't order any food so can't comment there, wouldve been nice if the staff knew about whiskeys but wasn't a problem. The place looks fantastic, would love to see a vintage bandit/automaton in there but that's just my opinion (can source if you want one). Will definitely be visiting again when next in Scotland.

Friendly and professional service, delicious food, great atmosphere inside. We made a reservation in advance but due to heavy traffic had to postpone it 30 mins so we called and they kept our table for us. Parking at the back was very handy too. Highly recommended!

Really enjoyed this small bar just a bit outside the most crowded areas. Bartender was friendly as were several patrons. Did not feel filled with tourists, other than us. Live music in back area of bar was playing at about 1500 hours. Best option we found for live folk music while in town. Well worth wandering around the neighborhood. Looked like very limited food menu.

The bar tender was great at finding us a new Whiskey to try based on flavors we liked from past Whiskey. The music was very beautiful. The atmosphere was a mix of local pub, and mature neighborhood university.

Great atmosphere! Small, cozy pub with musicians taking turns playing by the fire. Met some Scots here and ended up staying for hours.

The only food available is crisps, nuts, bacon or scampi fries and the recently added jar of pickled eggs. There are a couple of fast food places adjacent if you're hungry though. Nice selection of beers and ales and a few rums alongside a staggering selection of whiskys. The staff are very friendly and happy to recommend a whisky to suit your taste. The music is a nice addition and not demanding of your attention. Great place to strike up conversation with friends you haven't met yet. It's definitely on my list of places I'd happily revisit.

Do you like a wee dram? Do you like how it smells and looks in the glass. Do you like good bar tenders and friendly banter. Live music? This is the place.

Lovely pub (not very big) with friendly stuff and amazing musicians who play folk music all evening

If you like a lot of personal space, this pub probably isn't for you. If you are happy to forego that in favourite of an electric and friendly atmosphere, then Sandy Bell's is a perfect choice. This relatively small bar is overflowing with character. It has a great musical theme to it and the traditional music which is play live regularly here is always top tier. The service is always provided in a friendly fashion, and despite how busy it can be, the staff always do a great job of getting everyone served quickly.

One of the most fun atmospheric places I have ever been to. The decorations and gothic theme were top notch! The staff were very friendly - one of the female staff members (not sure of the name) was very nice and helpful and I felt at ease there as a solo traveller. Food was delicious. The show was such a great edition to the experience. I would recommend everyone go there and I definitely will be back 😊.

Pretty full in the upstairs area as expected, but got some good seats on the balcony on some very hard chairs with premium view for the Frankenstein decending. Sweet bartenders with easy service at the bar. Possible for easier seating down stairs in the karaoke area with just as good atmosphere. Cool concept. Nice selection in the bar. Did not try the food unfortunatly. Nice music choice, mostly rock/metal

Great pub and well decorated. If you like frankenstein and spooky decorations. I also enjoyed a themed cocktail and this tasted great In the basement there was a dungeons and dragons event hosted by students from the university of edinburgh. And it also looked very cosy and a great place to hang out.

Really fun, busy but not too noisy, decorations were really good and didn't come across as just a tourist spot, I regret not buying myself a t-shirt. I would recommend booking a table as it's very popular. The food was pretty decent, nice pizza and decent value.

Reserved spot for 10. But actually sat 12 which we needed. Really great atmosphere with decoration to match. 2 large screens for sport or showing Frankenstein movies. Went to bar to order drinks. Very poor selection on draft and some had ran out. Some of us wanted cocktails but a lot of them on menu weren't available due to lack of ingredients (send someone on a shopping run ). It did feel like the customer just had to suck it up instead of the bar making the effort to have what was advertised. We also ordered cajun waffles fries that everyone loved. Pizza was also good quality. But garlic flat bread came out and was like hard marble. Toilets did leave a lot to be desired. Mens downstairs. The only 2 cubicles available were out of order. Ladies downstairs of the 5 cubicles ... 2 doors had no locks and 1 the door didnt actually fit the frame to close. . . . If a bit of effort was made, the frankestein bar would have been a great spot but we left just feeling it has rested on its laurels and become a tourist trap with little effort for providing whats advertised

It’s a pub that you never saw and you have to visit at least ones in a lifetime. The Frankenstein Pub has the atmosphere that the name says. Just Frankenstein!!!! You feel like you are in a totally different year, environment, even planet ! This pub is just amazing. The one and only problem is the stuff. Totally slow, unprofessionals and don’t even know there job. The is just a menu which is not fully informed so for a Jameson that I order I paid without knowing how much does it cost and how many ml he put on my glass. The price for the drink it was ridiculous expensive especially if you see the measure that the guy used. Totally happy with the bar, absolute disappointed from the stuff !!!!!

Went to this place at night. Great service, drinks and music. I’d recommend this place to anyone who visits Edinburgh. They were playing the 1931 Frankenstein movie, which was pretty cool. If you stay long enough you will witness the monster come to life.

Lovely experience, the staff was helpful and you really enjoy the vibes. Downstairs is the bar area you can enjoy a drink and a good snack, upstairs is the dinning area which is great to take your meal and take a break from all the visiting. I loved the ambience, the music wasn't loud, just perfect to relax and enjoy their food.

We went to the restaurant upstairs and the food was excellent. We got the meat pies and the mash. If you haven't had a Carachan dessert yet, I highly recommend you save room to try it. We have been told that the dish is just as traditional as haggis, and we really enjoyed it. The establishment itself was pretty busy, so we had to wait for about 45-50 minutes before the three of us were seated. However, the wait didn't feel too long because we were able to hang out downstairs and have a couple beers.

We arrived without reservation and the local was almost full. We waited less than 5 minutes and they gave us a table. The attention was so good and the woman with the red hair was so gentle with us speaking spanish and helping us choosing! The food was amazing, the drinks too and I recommend the toffe pudding! It was delicious. I tried my first haggis here with the Balmoral chicken and was a good surprise!

We waited an hour after we ordered to get food. However - the food was good and the staff was friendly- if you are in a hurry I would probably choose some place else. Just clarify before you sit.

The restaurant, Nichola's ale &gin establishments since 1873, is located upstairs in the famous Scottish pub, Deacon Brodie's Tavern. It is centrally located on the Royal Mile, close to all the main attractions. It gets very crowded during lunchtime. They offer an extensive range of Scottish whisky from the fruity to the smoky,enjoy premium scotch with a trodiontal meal e.g lamb haggis. The seafood is also quite fresh and taste at just average level.

Deacon Brodie’s Tavern is a must-visit if you’re exploring Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. This lovely, lovely pub offers a great atmosphere, amazing pub food, and exceptionally friendly service. We sat upstairs, where the ambiance was cozy and welcoming—perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing. I had the Chunky Chips, and they were absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked—crisp on the outside, fluffy inside, and seasoned just right. My wife’s meal escapes my memory, but I do recall her saying it hit the spot and satisfied her hunger completely. What makes this tavern truly special is its connection to one of Edinburgh’s most intriguing historical figures: William “Deacon” Brodie. By day, Brodie was a respected cabinet-maker and city councillor, even holding the title of Deacon of the Wrights and Masons. But by night, he led a double life as a burglar, using his locksmith skills to rob the very homes he serviced. His tale of duplicity and downfall—culminating in his execution in 1788—later inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The tavern itself dates back to the 19th century and proudly honors Brodie’s legacy, with decor and storytelling that bring his legend to life. It’s just steps from where Brodie was born and hanged, adding a layer of eerie charm to your pint or plate. Whether you're drawn by the history, the hearty food, or the cheerful staff, Deacon Brodie’s Tavern delivers a memorable experience. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates a good story with their supper.

It was a lovely tavern! Ties in with a lot of local history, has nice decorations, and a fun energy. We had to wait quite a while for a table, but the food was incredible so it was definitely worth it! Big portions, lovely flavors.

Fun little 'hidden' bar tucked behind an old fortune teller theme park attraction. The drinks are great and there's a fun grabber where you can get random flavours and the bar staff will use those to make a cocktail. The champagne foam cocktail was incredible. This is a great place for couples.

Great cocktail selection. Really friendly & attentive service. Love the tarot theme, could be worked into the atmosphere a bit more. A place I keep coming back to and would recommend! (boozy ice cream also available)

Cool entrance. Magical. Raised expectations. We were slightly underwhelmed by the bar itself. Just a bar, they didn't quite deliver the atmosphere. Excellent service! Nice drinks but nothing special (personal opinion), great selection of options though. Bonus points for the booze ice cream.

I came here twice during my stay, and both times were good. I have to stay the absolute best part of this place is the staff and owner. They are all such legit friendly, kind, and awesome folks, and with excellent taste. Such good vibes here. If nothing else, I would return just to chill at the bar with them. It's the kind of place that goes out of its way to make it an experience. The decor is fun -- and hilarious. (I'm sorry, 50 Shades of Grey wallpapered around the toilets is the best use of that paper I can think of. Brilliant.) The rest is a sort of tarot/shady psychic/occultish vibe with a strong owl flavour. Which I adore. They have some cool machines to play with but unfortunately both were broken when I visited. The menu is very rum heavy, and lots of sweet fruity drinks. Not really my style, but if you're down for some vaguely tiki, easy drinking cocktails, you'll find something. The predominantly rum offering is why I brought my friend back the second night cos her fav spirit is rum. The second time we came the place was absolutely packed full, and the guys were so nice finding us a seat since he recognised us from before. That is awesome service and we super appreciated it. The cocktails I tried were fine. Again, it's not really my tastes so it's hard to judge. I tried two and neither really hit that special mark. However, they obviously put thought into them so I would def recommend the signatures to people who lean sweet and fruity and don't take themselves too seriously. So while I would definitely return for the great experience and vibes from the staff, I don't think I would order from the menu. I'd love to see what they can do off-menu. And next time, I wanna get on that Instax wall too!

Wonderful little cocktail bar hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The cocktails were delicious, and the service was very friendly. It's table service, so I recommend you get your order in quickly, otherwise you could wait a while (as happened to me).

Hidden little cocktail bar down stairs and behind a secret door. Very fun and quirky! We did walk in and manage to get a seat near the bar but I would recommend booking in advance as they was very busy. Great choice of cocktails which are very tasty but quite strong. Loved the different decor! Seems to be very popular as there was a queue to get in when we was leaving. Would recommend a visit!

I loved this place. It was recommended by one of the bartenders at a different bar in Edinburgh (Lucky Liquor). It’s a nice spot to chill with friends and grab a nice drink. I had their Old Fashioned which was finished with a spray of Lagavulin (absolutely loved it). I forget the name of the other drink but it was minty creamy and finished with shavings of a mint chocolate. The staff is friendly and helpful. Overall I had a great time!

Convenient to our accommodation, The Blue Blazer felt like stumbling into someone’s charmingly eccentric lounge room. Untouched in the best way, with a real sense of character. We dropped in after a morning walk and explore, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed ourselves here. We asked some questions on some of the local ales, and ordered some of their crisps and beer nuts to share. They had a stack of board games, so we grabbed a couple to play. Enjoying our little break, I went back to the bar and asked if we could put a few of the whiskeys together into a couple of ‘build your own’ whiskey flights, for an informal tasting. I looked up the tasting notes and we had fun trying them and rating them amongst ourselves. It was a lovely way to pass some time in the afternoon. The bar staff deserve a wrap: friendly, relaxed, and they knew enough about what they were selling: both with their beers and the whiskeys. They made sure we were comfortable and well looked after in a good-humoured way. I’d definitely pop back in next time I visit Edinburgh.

One of the best spots in the city for cask ale, with a focus on bitters. Very friendly staff and with a lovely, spacious back area, it's a staple of Edinburgh's classic pubs.

Lovely pub with not bad beer range

Same owners as Bennets Bar and similar vibe. Cozy, rustic, authentic. Popular and crowded for a reason. Great selection of beer and whiskeys. Great corner pub for a pint either after work or during any time of day. A fun experience and certainly a great escape during a rainy day.

Top pub... Fast, friendly and professional service from Ciaran... Best pub in Edinburgh!

Great place with fantastic staff who are passionate about what they do. Great ales, beers, whiskies and of course, the free cheese and biscuits are a great bonus!! £5 "Drambola" as well if you're unsure of what you want!! Love visiting here when in Edinburgh.

Blue Blazer has been on my radar if I was to ever return to Edinburgh and now that has happened. Lovely spot on a quiet Sunday afternoon with a pint of Fyne Ales and my thoughts to myself. Hopefully return before I leave on Tuesday.

The drinks are delicious and on par with the rest of Edinburgh for cocktails. The inside is relaxed and comfortable and makes you want to stay for a while. Great place to meet up with friends or for couples. We were £56 for four drinks, that did include a 10% service charge which we were happy to pay. The only small downside are the ladies pilots are down two flights of stairs and are quote shabby compared to the rest of the decor. One toilet had no toilet roll and the hand dryer didn't seem to work.

Raging Bull came recommended as a place that makes award-winning Espresso Martinis. We tried a few different variations—Toffee and Banana, Vanilla and Chai, Chocolate and Coconut, and each one was unique and very good in its own way. I also had to give one of their Peach Pornstar Martinis a go. We came by early and visited again later when it was busier. The wallpaper and overall vibe of the place added to the experience. It is stylish and a little playful, but still relaxed. It’s the kind of bar that knows what it’s doing when it comes to making yummy cocktails. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Edinburgh and appreciate a flavourful and well-crafted drink.

What a fantastic place to sit and have a cocktails with friends. Dan was certainly the man tonight. I ordered a cocktail that was not to my liking as far too creamy and without hesitation he changed it to the most delicious drink ever. Thank you Dan you are doing an amazing job.

Really beautiful bar with amazing service. Dougal was so helpful and knowledgeable when I couldn’t decide what to get. He recommended a coco colada and it was delicious! The bar has a large selection of interesting and tasty cocktails. Could not recommend it enough!

Mackenzie our server was great. The cocktails were amazing, I had the phish food espresso martini - best one I’ve ever had! Would come again. Way too hot in here though.

We came in as two people and were quickly greeted and welcomed. My family ended up coming to meet us so 2 turned to 8 quickly and the staff handled it with such grace. The cocktails were some of the best I’ve ever had and it is was such a vibe inside. This atmosphere isn’t great for large parties but we never felt like we were an inconvenience or out of place.

Came to the raging bull to do the tasting menu with my partner for our anniversary and Ben liked after us amazingly, couldn’t recommend the place and service more. Cocktails and service are on point!!! Lovely chilled atmosphere perfect for couples or social drinks with friends

We stopped off here at the whiski bar and had a lovely meal for 2. We had the salmon fillet and the house burger. The salmon was a very nice treat, and the burger was top tier, the chips were very nice. I will say however the pepper sauce was £4 extra, which was a lot considering we already ordered a lot of food. Also I think some of the staff could have been a bit nicer and welcoming, as I sometimes found they didn’t even want to help us, and if they are including a service charge for a party if 2, you should at least make the customers feel like it’s deserved. Overall would recommend however

The steak pie was impressively nice. Love the flavour and have been missing it since then. Was here at the start of Oct. The place is slightly warm and stuffy. Personally would like it more if the place is more cooling. Of cause the warm maybe good during winter

We dropped in for a drink here after stumbling across it by chance and we are so glad we did. The venue is beautiful - inside and out and looks and feels super cosy. The decor is stunning too. The staff were so nice and welcoming, accommodating us without a booking. The drinks list is very good and reasonably priced for the area. We wanted to stay all night. The food looked amazing so we will definitely be trying that next time. Thanks for making us feel so valued - we will be back.

I had an awesome meal at Whiski Rooms in Edinburgh and would totally recommend it. I went for the lamb, and it was cooked perfectly — super tender, full of flavour, and honestly one of the best I’ve had in a while. For dessert I tried the cranachan, and wow… it was amazing. Sweet, creamy, and packed with that fresh berry flavour. The place has a great atmosphere too — cosy, lively, and very “Edinburgh.” Staff were friendly and made everything easy. If you’re looking for a tasty Scottish meal in the city centre, Whiski Rooms is definitely worth a visit!

We visited on Sat 08th Nov 2025 as I had a Cheese & Whisky tasting voucher as a birthday present and we decided to make more out of it by having lunch before the tasting. I confess to having been slightly apprehensive that given the location it would turn out to be a complete “tourist trap venue”, the very opposite was the case, an excellent welcome, service, food and experience from start to finish with reasonable prices given the very central location. The staff are very efficient with greetings and welcoming as you enter, no hanging around looking for tables etc. The ambience is superb with stunningly tasteful décor on a whisky theme of old advertising posters etc.our table was good for people watching and gave a good view over Princes St and the Xmas set up. For lunch we both had the Chicken & Avocado sandwich, this was truly excellent a good sized, very light and fluffy Ciabatta with plenty of nicely warm juicy grilled Chicken, Avocado slices and mayonnaise and a generous portion of fresh green leaves on the side. Our side of chips was freshly made, crisp on the outside and fluffy indoors – definitely moreish! We rounded this of with decaff coffees, nicely sized, lovely flavoursome coffee which is not true of many fresh decaffs. Drinks – we restrained ourselves to fresh orange and lemonade with a whisky/wine tasting to look forward to. The portions and settings we saw heading for other diners looked generous and very well presented. The tasting itself was an exquisite example of hospitality, professionalism and attention to detail. We really appreciated the alternative of arranging to provide wines for my wife who doesn’t do whisky, these complimented the cheeses beautifully, full marks to the chap who made the selections. We did call in beforehand and discuss if this could be done. This was an experience to remember and savour and that goes for the cheeses as well, the portions of which were not mean. The four cheeses, all sourced from IJ Mellis consisted of Cheddar, Isle of Mull Cheddar, Connage and Strathearn Blue, these were beautifully fresh, served at spot on room temperature and were good sized portions. They were paired, in order, with Glencadam (very light), my favourite Tomatin (rich sherry notes), Glenallachie (Robust!), and the Kilchoman which being islay was fairly Iodine on the nose but only very slightly on tasting and just on my tolerance. They did a superb job on the wines, a Hungarian? Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot and lastly a Hungarian Tokai dessert wine which we are definitely going to try and track down, again these worked perfectly with the cheeses subtle and robust in turn and beautifully balanced for flavour. Eleven out of ten to Becky, three days into the job and on her first tasting who did an excellent job of describing the cheeses and whiskies and is an absolute walking encyclopaedia of history and knowledge on the distilleries the whiskies are from, the stills and the production and science of whisky, all presented in a friendly, informative and informal way. Thoroughly recommended as a venue just for food or for a tasting – we now have an excellent additional venue to go to with visitors.

We came here totally spontaneously. The food was really great, service was friendly, very nice atmosphere. Would definitely come again.

On our short trip to Edinburgh we’ve been here 2 times and can say we loved the rum and raisin cocktail and the cullin skink which was a first try for us. Lovely atmosphere and service.

Had Friday dinner at The Abbotsford Bar & Restaurant and really enjoyed it! The place was busy, so booking online in advance is a good idea. Servers were very friendly, portions were generous, and both the beef ragu tagliatelle and steak pie were full of flavor. The sticky toffee pudding was a perfect finish — delicious!

We were very fortunate to secure a table, it would be best to make a reservation to ensure you have one. The staff were very friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a welcoming atmosphere. While the meal was pleasant, we were disappointed that the cranachan dessert was unavailable, which we understood was due to reduced kitchen staff.

We were looking for a last-minute restaurant when my partner suggested this place. We booked a table for a group of five and arrived to find the pub downstairs and the restaurant on the second floor. The pub was old but charming, transporting us back in time. When we dined, the restaurant was understaffed, with only one chef at the time. Unfortunately, not all the menu items were available, such as the haggies. Instead, we opted for risotto and their steak and ale pie. Both were delicious and flavorful. The depth of each plate was amazing, with the pie being more impactful in terms of flavour, while the risotto was more subtle and calm. Despite the short staff, our server was very patient and attentive. I’ve never drunk a whisky before, but when I asked for a recommendation for someone starting, she suggested Edradour. It was a great start for me and helped me fall in love with scotch. Thank you for that! I highly recommend visiting this pub and their great customer service.

I gave food 4 stars only because they were out of fish and chips, which my wife wanted. So she had the potato and bacon soup and we split a dinner salad, I had a burger. We sat at the bar because the main restaurant seating was upstairs and we needed reservations, which we didn't have. However, that said, the soup was excellent! The burger i had was one of the best burgers I've ever eaten! The food was so good we made reservations for the next night, sat upstairs this time, my wife got her fish and chips, I had a steak. Excellent! Service is great, Atmosphere is what you would expect for a typical Irish pub. Fun time. Fun time.

Beautiful old pub with lovely restaurant upstairs. The steak and ale pie was delicious, so was the bangers and mash. Great selection of drinks available. The waiter was excellent, very friendly and knowledgeable. Had dinner here on my first night in Scotland, hoping to return again before I leave!

Fabulous pub serving gorgeous, hearty homemade food. Pies to die for! I was nearly defeated by the steak and ale one, but managed it-my daughter wolfed down the special of the day, chicken, bacon and parmesan pie. Staff were very friendly and accommodating, atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Fabulous value for money in a city centre location. Wouldn't hesitate to return next time we're in Edinburgh. Brilliant experience.

Love this resturant. It’s nice and not that noisy. Also it has this old fashion cosy vibe with great staff who is friendly and gives great service. Food is delicious too!

My partner and I did the Gin and Cheese Tasting Tour and was very enjoyable! James was a fantastic guide, and his knowledge of the gin world was very impressive. We are not huge gin lovers, but we really liked the gins and even better... the cheese was delicious! After the tour, we then sat on their front decking to enjoy a drink in the lovely sunny weather. Recommend this tour if you are looking for a gin tasting that is a bit different!

Excellent time here. Good selection of whiskeys and the food is delicious. The peppercorn sauce here is amazing and worked beautifully with the haggis bon bons. Steak was beautifully cooked and the sorbet washed everything down nicely. Had a slither of the House of Tully Singleton after referral from the bar staff - excellent choice and it went down a treat. Comfortable seating and friendly staff.

We did a gin and cheese tasting and had a fantastic time. Our guide was named Neil and he knew so much about gin, including its history. Great energy and kept me interested the whole time. Who would’ve known gin and cheese goes well together but it truly does - would recommend and worth it!

We did the gin and cheese tasting experience with James. Firstly, I must say that he was an incredible host - he knew so much about gin! He was very entertaining, informative, and very funny! The gins we tried were so good, and i was surprised to find out that 56North have their own distillery (South Loch). We got to try two of their gin, I really loved the citrusy one. So refreshing and yummy! It was a really good experience, I very much enjoyed it. We stayed for a further drink after the masterclass - I had a spritz made with their own gin (it was delish!). My partner had the Parisian Lovers cocktail and their strawberry gin. Both of them were really good!

Good Brunch, Amazing crispy Bacon on pancakes and maple syrup. Nice waitresses with quick service.

A wonderful experience! The gin and cheese tasting was expertly crafted and Neil was the most enthusiastic, knowledgeable host. Would definitely recommend as an essential part of touring Edinburgh!

Did a wonderful gin tasting! South Loch gonna are delicious and the tastings and information presented have totally changed me from avoiding gin to wanting to taste more! Great presentation!!

We told some of our friends that we wanted to try good haggis, and this was a recommendation. It tends to get busy after lunch and into dinner so I recommend you make reservations. The staff is incredibly helpful and can answer any questions about the menu and great drinks. The food was incredibly flavorful and filling.

Popular and busy pub. The food was a definite step up from pub grub. Highly recommend the haggis neeps and tatties. Great selection of draft beer and whisky. Sometimes tough to get a server’s attention but they were always helpful and correct.

Delicious food. Fair prices and good portions. Lots of drink options. Atmosphere was cool upstairs and also in the bunker. Great spot to catch a game or hang out with friends. The desserts were okay but all the other food was excellent.

Nice atmosphere and great food. There is a gluten free menu, I tried the gluten free fish and chips and it was great and the warm sticky toffee pudding was amazing !! We absolutely loved it ! Friendly staff too !

I really liked the place - their fish and chips and Cullen skink soup were some of the best I’ve had. I’ll definitely come back next time I’m in Edinburgh.

Local joint that is a freehouse (independently owned) so it’s the real deal when it comes to the Edinburgh pub experience. Can be jam packed, especially during broadcasted football matches. Felt at home, and made several new Scottish mates— fantastic time.

We went to Teuchters Bar for dinner on a Friday night, and they went above and beyond to accommodate us and our one-year-old son. The food was fabulous — hearty, flavorful, and everything you’d hope for in a Scottish pub meal. The atmosphere was cozy and authentic, exactly what you dream of when imagining a classic pub experience. We only wish we’d had time to go back again!

This place was incredible! Every seat offers a magical view. Champagne menu that offers any level of cost and celebration. We ordered a couple small plates that were both divine in taste and presentation. It was March, so too cold to sit outside, but they had blankets on the seats for those who wanted the outdoor experience. Our server was most lovely! Really wish I had gotten his name to give him due credit! It was our favorite drink experience of our trip. Highly recommend this lounge. Even the restrooms were top notch with a large vanity area and private sinks in each toilet.

The overall quality of the breakfast was good. Market Street Breakfast - The sausages and black pudding were good. The bacon was too salty. Berry and elderflower loaf - Not bad. Porridge with Maldon sea salt flakes - Not bad.

Quite a nice place to visit. There are some great views but depending on where you sit you might only be able to see grey roof tops. The outside seating has nice views when the weather is sunny but only small tables.

Prepaid £75 for the cheese fondue experience, so you’d expect perfection — instead, I got something that tasted like packet white sauce pretending to be cheese. Service was lovely and the views are stunning, but that’s where it ends. Feedback wasn’t taken seriously either. Save your money: grab a cocktail, get your photos, and eat elsewhere.

Lovely spot right next to Waverly. Great views, Interesting cocktails and good nibbles. It can be as fancy and pricey as you want, making it a great sunset date spot, though book beforehand and maybe suggest a private nook.

Last night me and my friends visited Nor Loft for the first time. What a stunning place! Great city views, attentive staff and the most important- delicious cocktails and big choice of champagne. Had some nibbles too and everything was delicious! Would definitely recommend to visit, either for a friends night out or romantic date.

Great rooftop bar with a view over the centre of Edinburgh, sadly it was torrential rain when we were there and we couldn't make the most of the outside area, however the interior is a very nice place to be, warm, comfy and with plenty of choice, we had some nibbles (butter chicken sliders wee great as was the cheese and chili popcorn) and a few drinks, although this is a champagne bar, there is plenty of choice the house lager is great. Our server was great, friendly, knowledgable and interested in our night without being overbearing, I didn't catch her name but she was a highlight. It was my wife's birthday and as a nice touch they brought out a couple of birthday chocolates. Very classy. Overall this venue is definitely worth a visit and even on a piss wet Scottish day. We had a great time and will return.

The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they’ve done a great job creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The burger had a unique flavor and came with a side of fries. I’d recommend pairing it with a drink—this is the kind of burger that really goes well with a beer or a glass of wine. 👌

Excellent food here! Staff were friendly and helpful too! I had the Dirty BBQ Chips (Cajun chips, smoked applewood cheese, crispy onions, bacon bits, salt horse ranch & buffalo sauce)…. Wow!! this was soo good!! definitely be back next time I’m in Edinburgh!

Nice to find a pub/bar (thanks Andy) that deviates from the usual Scottish beers and focuses a bit better at proper craft. Well located not far from Princess Street and the Royal Mile and has a good mixed crowd students as well as office workers. It’s on the small side and has an outdoor area of a sort, but the overall atmosphere is pretty good. Has a decent selection of beers in cans and bottles to go.

Great spot to try beers from around the British isles. They'll pour in 1/3rds, 2/3rds or pints for you, so you can assemble your own tasting flight. Staff are knowledgeable and service is good. Enjoyed their cauliflower bites.

Great atmosphere! Great drinks! Great food! Some of the best chips we had on our trip! Loved the cauliflower bombs as well. This bar has a great character to it.

If you are looking for Belgian beer in Edinburgh this is your place. Pretty good selection of bottles and competitive prices. Lovely well informed staff. The burgers are delicious. They have a very thin high walled garden with a very loud extractor! Not great for a quiet conversation.

A super cute and cozy place for burgers and beer. Both burgers we tried were delicious, and the fries were well done. The portions aren’t huge, which we actually liked. Absolutely worth it, and the place was full of lovely people.

A hidden gem in Edinburgh for modern Italian cocktails. Booked in advance and was seated right away — highly recommend making a reservation. The Paper Plane and Negroni were outstanding to start, and the crispy focaccia was perfect on the side. Staff were super friendly (even surprised us with a free shot alongside the Paper Plane!). If you’re looking for a stylish spot with excellent drinks and great service, this is the place.

Fabulous little bar for high quality cocktails. Good menu - with a nice mix for people with different spirit and flavour preferences. The negroni flight was delicious, with the wild strawberry version worthy of the hype!

We loved it here. We had made reservations, but they weren't really necessary early evening. The space is very intimate and classy. Friendly service, and great cocktails and snacks.

Hey Palu — hands down one of the coolest cocktail bars I’ve ever been to. There’s a reason it’s currently ranked the 16th best cocktail bar in the UK — and after visiting, I totally get why. The vibe is incredible, the team is amazing, and the cocktails? Absolutely top-tier. The drink in the photo is called The Godfather — and yes, it’s served with a portrait of Don Corleone himself along with a tiny, adorable music box playing the film’s iconic theme. I mean… what?! I’ve genuinely never seen anything like it. It was so creative and so well executed — I was blown away. The cocktail itself was just as elegant as the presentation: a beautifully balanced mix of Scotch whisky, amaretto, and apricot. Simple, refined, and as classy as the Godfather himself. Service was fantastic too — warm and welcoming. If you ever find yourself in Edinburgh, make sure Hey Palu is firmly on your list. You won’t regret it.

First time here and was amazed! I ordered three cocktails that night and I felt very satisfied of everyone (even if I got failed on paper plane challenge)! I will definitely come back again.

Possibly the best martini I have ever had? Lovely, knowledgable and chatty staff making beautiful drinks. The Paloma was a banger.

Came here a few times in November right before and after our engagement and we absolutely loved the place. The staff is very friendly and helpful in ordering drinks and making suggestions, the ambience is great and the bar itself is gorgeous too. All drinks were delicious and creative. Each time we came was on a weeknight when it was quite calm, would love to come back on a busier night next time we're in Edinburgh. A must visit for any cocktail lover looking for a drink in Edinburgh :)

We ordered the fish and chips, loaded steak taters, bangers & mash, and sticky toffee pudding with ice cream, all well prepared and satisfying. The beer selection was solid, and the staff recommended Caorunn gin, a Scottish option that was smooth and enjoyable. The service was friendly and attentive. Overall, a great spot for classic pub fare.

We walked up and down Grassmarket looking for a pub with room inside to escape the cold and managed to squeeze into Biddy's. Drinks were reasonably priced although bar service was quite slow. We shared a scampi spice bag between us which came out quite quickly and hit the spot. The "Irish curry sauce" advertised on the menu was definitely just tinned McDonnell's, but it was nice nonetheless. The staff need a better system for table numbering and ordering because twice we were offered somebody else's food by the waiter!

Delightfully fun loud gastro pub with live music. Grab a table when you can and order up some hearty Irish grub. We had the Irish stew, grilled chicken burger and some yummy warm Irish brown bread.

We had such a great experience here! We were served by Lulu who was absolutely fantastic — so friendly, helpful, and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. She really bent over backwards to look into things for us ( I’m picky with wine) and make sure we were happy. Great service and a lovely atmosphere. Also the spice bag was yummy according to my partner who smashed it

Get your self down here, great bar live music and tonight the most most miserable barman in the city. Despite the T-shirt beard and glasses he’s having a terrible day and wants YOU to have one also. A real shame, after all the customers with their own woes HE wants to share his !!! Tut tut

The best vibes are always here ! Everytime I come to Edinburgh it’s a must visit for me ! Especially at night it is very fun !

We visited Biddy's today to watch the Ireland rugby game and the atmosphere was great with a fab singer! Our food was lovely, I had the chicken spice bag and my dad had the seafood chowder. We were served today by Lulu, who went above and beyond for us, she was so lovely and attentive and ensured that we enjoyed our meal!

Very cool venue. Just my vibe. Multiple rooms and great cocktails. Loved the cinema.

What a cool place! We were there for a paranormal investigation. The place is definitely haunted! Can't wait to visit for the whole experience.

Edinburugh's Perfect Horror/Goth Bar. Great atmosphere and music. Definitely gonna go back the next time I revisit Edinburugh

This bar is one of my favourites in Edinburgh! The drink prices are not too expensive, and the vibe is super cool. There’s even a cinema inside where you can watch horror movies!

Such a niche fun spot! I love the theme and the spaces, drinks are great too. Creative place, unique. Totally recommend if you feel like trying something out of the ordinary, prefer alternative heavier music, or like the gothic horrors!

Gender neutral toilets are odd in that there was only one male who kept using the toilet which was used by ladies only. No sign to say it was unisex. There were no trans ladies using the loo just a bloke in cargo shorts who kept going in. Me and several other ladies did not feel safe. After asking the security about it I was told it was ok for him to keep going in so I left the venue. Poor music choice, about as alternative as a vanilla ice cream.

Creepy looking bar. I went to a gig in the cellar. Good music. Great selection of beer. Highly recommended for the gothic vibes. Oh and yeah, it's the most haunted pub in Scotland. Forgot that part!!!

I visited this place as a female solo traveler to experience the Scottish atmosphere and was not disappointed. Great place to enjoy live music. But be careful since the place is small and crowded. 🌸

I was looking for an authentic place to listen to Music and have a few beers at the end of a long day celebrating my wife's birthday. The Royal Oak certainly filled the bill. I asked about singing Happy Birthday to my wife and the talented Brendan- the man playing that night- said " I can do better than that, do you play guitar and sing?'" I said yes. That lead to me doing 40 minutes of songs and of course singing for my wife. What I didn't expect was the entire room full of patrons would sing along on EVERYTHING! Amazing people walking in off the street singing along?!!! Yes. I was invited "...back anytime". Oh how I wish I could go there every week. I play venues throughout New England in The US and never have I experienced a sing along crowd like this. Small, Cozy, Friendly. I suggest that no matter if you play musical or don't you should get to The Royal Oak while in Edinburgh. You will mix and party with locals and travelers. The place is a magnet for anyone walking by. Great selection of drinks Cask Beers and the Bartender looked like Kiefer Sutherland from Lost Boys:),

Great little pub, visited last week at the start of the Fringe and was treated to some live music. Great atmosphere and friendly bar staff.

If you’re looking for a Scottish pub with character, this is one of the best! Very few pretentious people and regular live music. The mood can range from ‘dark and broody’ to a right ‘knee’s up’. I’ll always recommend popping in and getting one pint. You never know what the atmosphere will be.

The absolute best pub in Edinburgh, Ive spend my best nights here. Vibe is amazing and the servers are super chill. It is a bit small but that isnt a bad thing, it makes it extra cozy.

Never experienced such a thing. Just been involved in a session at Captains Bar - fantastic. Playing at Jazz bar later. Thought we'd pop in for their excellent 80 shilling ( which features in one of my songs bye the way). Having a giggle with piano player over Nic Drake song and refused service!!! Assumed I was drunk not happy. Deary me 😂😂😂

October 8th, I was tired after hiking the whole day on Arthur's Seat and the city center, but anyway, I wanted to enjoy a little the real Edinburgh atmosphere, music and a couple of beers after dinner at my Airbnb. So I decided to take a bus back into the city center to visit this place (as ChatGPT recommended), but the only thing I could do at the end was to turn around and leave, because the unfriendly waiter didnt want to serve me at all. Never again.

Elite Drinks & A Moody, Gorgeous Spot! I had an Chocolate Chili Espresso—easily a 10/10! The subtle heat from the chili balanced beautifully with the bitterness of the espresso and the richness of the chocolate. Not too sweet, just perfect! I’m honestly coming back just for this. Of course, I couldn’t stop at one, so I also tried a Spicy Margarita, and it was delish—easy to drink, with the perfect balance of spice and tang! My partner went for an Innis & Gunn Lager, a classic choice that never disappoints. Since it was Friday Eve and getting a bit lively, we grabbed some food to take away: • Bang Bang Chicken Sandwich (£13) – 4/10 The mango chutney and shredded cos made it a bit too sweet for my liking, though the fried buttermilk chicken itself was really good! • Spice Bag with Pulled Korean Ribs (£12) – 9/10 Pulled pork ribs, fries, Korean BBQ sauce, and pickled chillies—loved this! The flavors were spot on, but the paper bag made it a bit soggy by the time we got home. We’ll definitely be back for the drinks! The staff was lovely, and the whole place had such a moody, gorgeous vibe. Can’t wait to visit again!

Such a beautiful pub with an amazing beer garden! the staff are very friendly and welcoming i would highly recommend

Fantastic food, great atmosphere. We sat outside and it's a lovely little sun trap.

Popped in for a quick lunch and the food was delicious, my wife had the Pulled Chicken Spice Bag which was superb but far too much even with me helping to eat it. I had the Shrimp Happens bun which was also superb. Bottle of wine with meal and young girl who served was friendly and helpful . A very pleasant lunch .

Stopped in here on the way home. A beautifully presented pub. We had lunch and were pleasantly greeted by a fancy new menu with some delicious food. Can reccomend the 'Carne ASADA Fries'. Everything was great, do yourself a favour and get down here!

The two bar ladies were absolutely phenomenal!! Made the experience!! Recognised us after being in it for an hour, went twice and felt at home!! The food was reasonably priced and the portions sizes were fantastic!! Shame their taps weren’t working but the female staff were more than accommodating! Highly recommend this bar, was fantastic, went two days in a row and will definitely be back!!

Nice atmosphere but totally shocking service. Ive been sat at my table for 45 minutes and totally ignored by waiting by waiting service. Had to go to the bar to get a drink. Any half decent place (in my experience) should come and offer you a drink within the first 5 minutes of being seated (if not sooner!). Waitress has no interest in us. Avoiding eye contact. Not responding when being asked politely "...excuse me". Just about to leave now and get fed somewhere else. Won't be back and don't recommend.

Great atmosphere in his pub. Spotted a sign that said burger and pint for £13 - a good deal when a burger alone is £13.95! The veggie burger was pretty dry but it was alright - chips were really good.

I needed to kill some time in Edinburgh while I waited for my gynecologist appointment. This was the perfect place, the nachos were so cheesey, the bar was nice and quiet (but not too quiet). It was 1pm on a Monday and everywhere else I went to was heaving, scary. There's a cool beer garden but it was windy and I needed to charge my laptop for my appointment.

Exceptional in every way. A hidden gem. Great food, four gluten free beers on tap, beer garden. Beautiful interior. My favourite pub in Edinburgh.

We visited on a family trip with high hopes based on the reviews. We had a reservation for eight, the table was ready, and the atmosphere seemed friendly enough at first. Two of us went up to the bar to order just for ourselves, but the bartender told us to come back with the full order for the whole table — fair enough. When I returned with everyone’s order as requested, he made eye contact, rolled his eyes, and deliberately ignored me while pretending to be busy and serving others instead. Completely rude and dismissive. Thankfully, a second bartender stepped in, took our order, and was professional and attentive throughout — we tipped him for that. The food was fine, but the attitude of the first bartender ruined what should have been a fun family night out. There are so many warm, welcoming pubs in Edinburgh — I’d skip this one. Spend your money somewhere you’ll be treated with respect.

Great local pub. Friendly staff, variety of beers and good food. Definitely a place to try if you want a local experience and minimal or no tourists. Perfect backroom for a larger group.

Not been here in years, what a fabulous, new town bar and not far from our house. The weather was fantastic, so we were lucky to get a table outside, as you can say the outside seating area is lovely. Great spot, highly recommended. So chilled!

Super friendly and helpful staff, good beer selection and prices are decent. Not sure why they call it a gastropub as the steak pie I had was standard pub fare and nothing gastro about it. Dog friendly as I saw at least 4 dogs onsite.

Hired out the private room for my birthday and it was absolutely amazing. The space was perfect, felt cozy but still had a great lively buzz. The staff were all super helpful and attentive, with great communication when enquiring about the space and leading up to the party. The cocktails are all delicious too. Can’t recommend enough, thank you so much for making my night so special!

We had a great evening celebrating our wedding anniversary here with some delicious cocktails. We had four different drinks each one even more delicious than the last. The descriptions of the cocktails are enticing and very witty, my favourite was Put Your Honey Where Your Mouth Is, a drink topped with yoghurt and home made honeycomb - to die for! The staff were brilliant, congratulating us and kindly taking photos for us. A great night out! Thank you!

Very interesting and tasty cocktails! I especially appreciate the option to get them half size to see if you like them. Service was friendly and enthusiastic and the bar has a nice vibe. Lovely for a date night ♥️

Cute place for a date night — good cocktails and relaxed vibe. Worth noting they’re cashless and some European cards might unfortunately be declined too

We hired dragonfly for a private event - they provided a beautiful room with a private bar and excellent service. The cocktails were amazing and Arran couldn’t have been more accommodating. Thank so much for a really fun night.

The bar staff were friendly and all properly trained so you can have your drinks tailored to your tastes. Great interior decor and really spacious with two floors. The drinks were out of the ordinary; great if you’re wanting to find cocktails that are different from the usual. Quite strong tastes. Prompt service. Can’t wait to visit again.

Fantastic little place, came three nights in a row because the service and drinks were so good. Cheese selection was the perfect pairing to the drinks. Lots of love to the bar staff for making all our visits so lovely.

We had a fantastic evening at Nightcap bar. From the moment we walked in, glasses of water were brought to our table — a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the night. Hannah greeted us warmly and provided excellent service throughout. Sophie was behind the bar, mixing cocktails with real flair and expertise. Every drink was perfectly crafted, and the selection of whiskies was impressive. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, with soft music and fabulous surroundings adding to the overall vibe. A brilliant place for a drink — we’ll definitely be back!

I have a very nice evening in the Nightcap. I got there before the storm (left around 11PM) and had 2 special cocktails. Got to hang at the bar and the two bartenders that were working that night were very cool. I think it was Nicki and the guy that lived in Australia, France and so many other places -sorry, forgot your name-. It was a good place to end the day and I got some good advice for the rest of my trip in Edinbrugh.

Such a lovely place we stumbled across and got a few cocktails that were delicious. The guy with longer hair and skinny jeans was very helpful and accommodating. Would recommend!

Really lovely bar. Early in the evening is very calm and cozy. The bartenders are very welcoming and down for a chat. As a solo traveler it was lovely to have someone to chat with. I was told it gets busy between 1-3am. 10/10 recommend

Stopped in for one last drink for the night and fell in love with the place and stayed for longer. Very eclectic drinks but they know what they're doing! Server recommended we try the feta cheese mezcal marmalade negroni and as crazy as it sounds, it works and it's delicious. The staff was very friendly and listened as my wife described what she was looking for and they made her a drink that checked all the boxes. Highly recommend.

We had an absolutely fantastic night here tonight. Amazing cocktails and atmosphere, and even more amazing service. Would recommend to anyone thinking of coming here. We loved it here ❤️

Excellent late night bar. The young lady bartending made great cocktails and was very engaging with everyone sitting at the bar. I ended up staying way too late having too much fun. Definitely a great place to close out a night