Red Bus Bistro - Edinburgh

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Reviews

1. Minkee Chong ★☆☆☆☆

   The food was acceptable but entirely forgettable. That turned out to be the least of the problems.Despite booking the 3 pm slot, we were asked to switch to 12 pm because we were the only ones reserved—requiring last-minute reshuffling of our plans. The staff were polite, but that was the only positive.This is not a tour in any meaningful sense. A handful of facts are mentioned in passing, and that’s it. Crucially, the windows were completely fogged throughout. When the guide pointed out sights (“to your left you’ll see…”), nothing was visible. One staff member wiped the windows once—lasting about 10 minutes—leaving the rest of us constantly wiping condensation with sleeves and scarves.Other low points: An utterly pointless toilet stop 15 minutes into a 90-minute trip. A second stop so adults could take photos in the driver’s seat (nobody did). Between them, at least 20–30 minutes wasted. Music consisted of 80s hits from a free Spotify/YouTube playlist regularly interrupted by adverts—cheap and immersion-breaking. Verdict: Overpriced, poorly executed, and genuinely frustrating. For the same money (or far less), grab snacks, board any regular city bus with clear windows, and see infinitely more. Strongly advise avoiding this experience entirely. 1/5.

   almost 3 months ago
2. Anna ★★★☆☆

   The tea bus tour has a really fun concept and is definitely a unique way to see the city. The upper deck offers the best views for photos and videos, especially if you can snag the cozy front corner seat. When we passed other tour buses, people were clearly jealous of our beautiful food setup! I appreciated having my own table, and the staff were very accommodating — the driver even offered to let me move seats when nearby passengers made racist remarks, which I thought was handled very graciously. Charlotte, one of the servers, was especially kind, attentive, and even helped quickly remove a wasp when I asked (I’m terrified of them!). It’s also a woman-owned business, and I got to meet the owner herself, who clearly cares about guest experience and staff recognition. While the experience was special, there are several areas that need improvement. The food looks gorgeous, but the quality is inconsistent. My Fanta was expired by a month, one gooseberry was rancid (which made the whipped cream seem off), and the tea was barely steeped — it mostly tasted like hot water. There are only plastic coffee cups, no teapots, and the lids are so tight it’s hard to cool down the tea, which is served boiling hot. The scones were a nice warm touch, though! The tour itself doesn’t include live commentary — there’s only loud background music, so you’re mostly guessing at what you’re passing. The route also loops a bit, so you’ll see some of the same buildings more than once. There was a 15-minute stop after a 30 minute transit for a bathroom and leg stretch break, which was helpful, though the photo stop location felt a bit random. Another downside was that a group of very loud (American - they were boisterous about being such) tourists were screaming song lyrics over the music. It really ruined the atmosphere for those of us who wanted to chat quietly or just enjoy the ride. I’d love to see a policy around respecting other guests’ experiences, as everyone else — including people from the UK and France around me- were all visibly frustrated with them. (I mention nationalities as I am Canadian and it helps to note cultural customs and mutual respectful expectations based on where you are and where you’re from.) Overall, it’s a memorable and well-priced experience with some truly wonderful staff and a fantastic concept. But with better food quality control, a bit more structure to the tour, and some guidelines for guest behavior, it could be exceptional. For now, I’d give it 3 stars.

   almost 5 months ago
3. Serghei Lin ★★★★★

   If you have little time and want to understand what you want to see most, definitely use this service. The entire trip the electronic guide tells you about the city and its attractions. You can ride for the whole day. Or you can get off at any stop, and then get back on and ride on. Definitely saves both time and money. The ticket is only £18, and children under 15 are free. There is staff at all stops who will answer any questions related to the service. Definitely recommend!

   almost 6 months ago

1. Rich Gregg ★★★★★

   This was a Christmas present from my sister for my mum Thora and me . We booked it for the 10th of April. The atmosphere was good the music was a bit loud but still enjoyed are selves. The food was really nice we had vegetarian so we can recommend the vegetarian. The staff were absolutely brilliant.

   almost 10 months ago
2. Paisley boy ★★★☆☆

   Me and my partner got a afternoon tea on bus as a gift .The guide george was very attentive and helpful .food was nice but not alot for the money not sure I'd of payed as It does cost quite alot . Atmosphere and tour where good bus was clean etc.

   almost 10 months ago
3. Karen Hiroz ★★★★★

   Great experience, lovely fun friendly staff. Great selection of sandwiches and cakes and drinks. Atmosphere was really festive and 3 birthdays on board, who got a happy birthday song. Nice touch, pics in the driver seat and to ask Jim questions about the wonderful vintage bus. Route we took showed Edinburgh streets in it's glory at Christmas. Can't recommend enough.

   almost 3 years ago

1. Claudia Z ★★★★☆

   Had an afternoon tea while enjoying a tour through Edinburgh. Everything was very nicely arranged, the food and tea was good. I was Just a little bit dissapointed about the route the bus took. I think it is possible to see a lot more nice things in 90 minutes time. But still a very nice activity to do when you're in Edinburgh. Recommandable.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Traci Tessone ★★★★★

   This was such a perfect experience! I took this tour on my own and the staff were so friendly and made me feel comfortable. The bus is so cute and the food was excellent! The gin pot was sooooo yummy! I had the perfect day, eating and getting a tour of the city! I felt sorry for the people on regular tour buses, ha! Don't hesitate, book!!

   almost 3 years ago
3. Phil Clarke ★★★★★

   Great fun. Highly recommend doing this tour. The food was lovely. Old routemaster bus in really good condition. Music playing quietly in background and tour guide saying a few bits about the buildings. Very friendly staff and very relaxed.

   almost 3 years ago

1. Selina ★★★★★

   Went with my dad and booked last minute by calling and luckily they had space. It was so much fun, good views of the city. Food was great, tea was good too! The staff had awesome energy. Would go again.

   almost 4 years ago

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