The 30 Best Bar pub in Edinburgh

“One of Edinburgh's best kept secrets! Situated on Edinburgh College's Milton Road campus, the delicious meals are cooked and served by students of the college. There may be a bit of a wait or occasional mix ups as the young people are mastering their hospitality journal but any misstep is more than made up for by the quality of the food, the local, seasonal ingredients and the happy atmosphere. A very economical way to experience really good food. The views are really nice too.”

“Amazing cafe with genuine Spanish cuisine. We had two sandwiches, a slice of tortilla, drinks, coffee and dessert and everything tasted great. It was full of other Spanish people, so you can tell it's the real deal. The owner was lovely and it had such a homey atmosphere. Such good value as well. Can't wait to visit their sister restaurant in Tollcross.”

“An excellent historic local restaurant. The food is delicious, the staff friendly and attentive. After finishing your meal, you should visit the ship's engine room, where every detail is very emotional.”

“Ignore the negative reviews. My partner and I had such a lovely experience here. The food was flavoursome, quick to come out, and the waiter was on top form. So so lovely and knowledgeable. ORDER THE SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN. It’s an underdog and better than the lamb - my partner and the waiter agree. Falls off the bone and is so flavourful. Bacon and spring onion mash is unmatched. Get it. Or regret it.”

“Great local bar! Pool table, live music, great jukebox and amazing bar staff! Jenna's a great bar manager & Kerri and the rest of the bar staff give a great service and you couldn't ask for a better atmosphere. Would recommend to everyone, any age.”

“We truly enjoyed our dinner at The Society! Our server, Bee, was absolutely wonderful as she is warm, professional, and attentive. She made us feel so welcome and even took the time to ask about my food allergies, which allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our evening. Everything we ordered was exceptional: the beer was refreshing, the Margherita Pizza was marvelous, the Steak with Chimichurri sauce was perfectly cooked and packed with flavor, and the Miso Aubergine was tender and rich. We ended the meal with the Toffee Pudding and it was absolutely delicious! Every dish was a highlight, and the service made it all the more memorable. Hands down, the best dinner we’ve had in Edinburgh. Highly recommend!”

“The owner greets you upon entering then will proceed to seat you and provide you with a menu. Soon after he will come back to take your drinks order. After drinks a different server came to take our food order. I had a pizza and it was absolutely delicious. I tried their special menu ravioli and it was amazing just like the pizza. The drinks were good and it was a bar so had alcohol. I also had a tiramisu which was a really good dessert. I would really recommend going to this Italian restaurant if you want Italian food.”

“We had a group booking here and tried the churrasco experience - it was fabulous! Delicious cuts of beef, chicken, pork and lamb always arriving, and access to the market table. Also tasted a brilliant wagyu beef!”

“Amazing staff. Absolutely loved the food. Loved the vibe. My first time trying Mese and it's delicious. I can't wait to return!”

“An absolute standout in Leith and one of the best seafood meals I’ve had, period. The atmosphere was warm and effortlessly refined. Our waiter was exceptional—elegant, incredibly knowledgeable, and perfectly attentive without ever being intrusive. The food was beyond delicious: beautifully presented, impeccably fresh, and full of flavour. Anyways, couldn’t recommend this restaurant more highly. A true gem and a must-visit if you ever are in the area.”

“A truly wonderful night. Luca was so helpful with the booking and it was for a special event and incredibly patient throughout. The service and food were excellent. We really enjoyed it and would highly recommend.”

“We had a lovely dinner at L’escargot bleu. The staff were very friendly and attentive, and the food was exceptional. The steak tartare is prepared table side and it is delicious.”

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

“Staff were able to seat 6 of us as walk ins on a Sunday around 12. We sat along the bar at the wall. One of our group was gluten free and they were able to accommodate to her with gluten free bread etc. Food was all really tasty and decent sized portions. Staff were so friendly!”

“I adore this place! Staff is so kind and Robert is an absolute font of information regarding whiskies. They were so generous with their time in sharing details and I'll be looking forward to my return later in the week and, I'm certain, many more times in the future! Cosy atmosphere. Exactly what you'd hope to find in Edinburgh. And it wasn't overrun by tourists, which is lovely! Slàinte!”

“Excellent little pub in New Town. Usually very busy on weekends and the odd weekday. Best to head as early as reasonable for a pint. Nice selection of ales as well as lagers, IPAs etc on tap. Very cosy inside so be prepared to stand and wait for a seat. Also met tbe previous owner, and if they're still coming you know its a great pub. Fires on in the winter, with a selection of books and games in 'cosy' the back room. Great pub, always love coming here.”

“Honestly our whole experience was amazing. The service was so good, all the waiters were so friendly and professional The restaurant manager let a have a table out of the way as my daughter hates loud noises. He was very polite and professional also. The food was excellent, im a 30 year chef and could not fault it. They use a renowned butcher for all their meat. And it really shows!!. It was like eating butter and cooked to perfection. We will definitely be back.”

“Lovely lunch! Excellent quality local dishes prepared with care. Mussels were as standout as was sea bass. Great, thoughtful service.”

“If you are looking for the closest thing to tasting fresh pasta while sitting in a restaurant in Venice- this is it! We have tried a number of Italian joints across the globe and this is as close to sitting in Italy as you can get. From the caprese and vegetable soup (soup of the day) as a starter, to the carbonara or ragu for mains, down to the pistachio cakes and tiramisu- you can do no wrong for anything on the menu. It’s a family owned restaurant and you can tell the pride they take with every meal. Make a reservation to avoid being turned away (we got lucky when a last minute table opened up- even waiting 15min outside). It’s worth the entire wait. You won’t regret it.”

“First time visiting the Royal since family moved to Penicuik. Stopped by for some food. The portions were very generous and tasted amazing. The Haggis Balls were excellent and the Pulled Pork was too. Friendly service, prompt and a very nice establishment. Worth checking out when in town.”

“Best lasagna I’ve ever had. Homemade noodles. From USA and this place in Scotland was amazing. Food came out piping hot which I love”

“Great caff. Very airy, big windows, and cool staff. Were always really chill and friendly when I worked in the building. Great to see it forever immortalised in Dept Q (previous annoyances over the caff being closed for filming now forgiven)”

“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!”

“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.”

“A gorgeous and quiet bar with exceptionally kind staff who were happy to walk us through their wine and whisky lists. A great spot to try some local whisky and a nice range of wines, with some great food too. Would really recommend stopping by and asking lots about the menus. We learned a lot about the local distilleries and the history behind various whiskies. The staff were lovely!”

“Lovely local. Last came here 20 years ago on our honeymoon, and I am most pleased to report that it appears to have not changed a bit. Exactly as I had hoped...”

“Such a cute place. The stuff was really friendly and the mulled gin amazing”

“Popped into the East Port pub in Dunfermline and found some great cask ale which is sadly lacking in Scotland. Had some Shining Knight from Loch Leven brewery which was crystal clear and a great drop as they say. Mitch and Gina, happy to let us sample before buying. Great job, just had the two, honest guv.”

“I was on soup kick while visiting Edinburgh and The Bailie Bar did the city proud! The soup of the day was Butternut and Coriander with a slice of focaccia. I was worried because butternut can be a bit sweet, but the coriander and hint of red chili balanced it perfectly. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere warm.”

“Amazing service. First Edinburgh experience and it as so welcoming! Great bartender.”