Alba Bistro in Edinburgh, City of

I visited this restaurant with a friend after a long day out. There was musing playing and the place was calm and relaxing. The food was delicious; we both had the linguini with prawns and pesto. We also order a side of garlic bread and a glass of rose. It was a good way to finish the day, fill up, and talk about the plans for the next day.

Lovely little cafe in a great location. Had some lively pancakes :)

Lunch stop here, best Caesar Salad, and tastiest, ever I'd say .. 👍😎 Friendly, no fuss, the perfect stopping off point on my circuit of Edinburgh old town - in the Grassmarket ... . #albabistro #edinburgholdtown

Had a great time! Of course, Grassmarket's a bit of a touristy spot and thus so is Alba Bistro. However my pasta dish was great (and I've eaten a lot of pastas in my life) and the staff was incredibly caring and nice! Even gave me a few tips on what to see and do in the city. I had a glass of the Malbec with my pasta which tasted lovely. I was there a little before rush hour, around 17:15 so that might’ve improved my experience. But I’d recommend!

Ate breakfast. As expected. Not the best, and not the worst. The Haggis was good. Sat outside because the weather was nice and we had some luggage. Waitress offered great service.

Great good, great service and quick too. Loved it.

Lovely place right in the heart of Edimburgh, if the weather behaves you'll have a lovely evening! The food was actually pretty good we weren't the biggest fans of the Magners cider thought. This is a very vivid zone , lots of people walking by so be sure you don't mind that when sitting outside. Staff was very welcoming and attentive however some of the food took very long to be served. Many nearby attractions, like I said right in the heart of Edimburgh 💙

The food took a little while, but the food was not bad, the fish fillet was good and the haggis was also good, the price is not bad for the high prices everywhere, here in Edinburgh you can't eat cheaper

Disgraceful! This isn't a restaurant, it's a scam! I'm writing this literally outside the place before I can even get back to the hotel. The food was God awful - every single dish! And they charged us £57 (without service charge) which was our most expensive meal in Edinburgh. £9 for a kid's meal of chicken nuggets which had 4 nuggets and some frozen fries. The chicken wings were £9 too and again, just 4 sad wings. I dont usually write reviews unless the need to recommend or warn is strong. This was a very strong case of the latter. Unfortunately, this was our last meal in the city and what a terrible way to end a nice trip. The worst part was that we gave up looking for better restaurants after being tired because every place was full. The fact that this place was empty should have been warning enough. Please don't eat here. Save yourself the regret.

Only had coffee but both times we visited was lovey and friendly looks like family run busy.

i had a fish and chips and that was amazing

Very delicious food - very friendly staff - Navia assist us today she was smiling all the time and other men staff were kind and welcoming Thank a lot and keep your food taste and greeting people in the same way

We drank coffee and smoothie, it was delicious and the price was normal.

I have tried so many cafes in Edinburgh but there isn’t better than the coffee here highly recommended, and the girl who makes the coffee she is the best

Allergies are accommodated! Excellent service and delightful staff!

Yum! I had the BBQ burger which was very good and filling. My friend had the pizza and enjoyed it too. The smoothies were very refreshing in the sun!! The staff were also very sweet.

What a great find in the middle of Grassmarket Edinburgh. The owner and staff were very friendly and made us feel welcome. Food and drinks were great. We highly recommend this place

This was a great place, Ive been here two times today, we loved the food! Thanks for your great food here!

Had a very poor experience at the Alba Bistro. Had to wait a long time to be served even though there were plenty of staff around, it seemed like they were more focused on arguing with each other or smoking outside as a group. I had the fish and chips, very poor as the batter on the fish wasn’t cooked properly and the chips were store bought and of low quality. Staff just left us to it, didn’t come over and check on us and I had to go inside to pay as all of the staff didn’t seem bothered about checking on us or clearing our plates away. When paying I wasn’t asked if the meal was ok and then they had the cheek to ask if I wanted to add a tip, even though the service was awful and the food was overpriced and of low quality. Wouldn’t recommend visiting this bistro when there are so many other great places to eat in Edinburgh.

The food was superb and the service was fantastic. Would highly recommend, as the food was fresh and flavoursome.

Today I ate seabass at this restaurant, wonderful! Friendly personal and comfy place

My general impression was so good 😊 we didn't wait so long, maybe 10-15 minutes so it's not too long. Dishes was tasty and hot) Our table was served by 2 men, one of them was very kind and friendly and had a very pleasant energy, as if we were waiting for him and happy to see us, and unfortunately, the other one did not feel that way (he was very tired and not very happy to see us)

Unfriendly attitude as soon as we entered. Didn't allow us to sit at a window seat. Coffee took 30 mins to appear. They weren't even busy. Poor service. Avoid at all costs.

I recommend Arabiatta good pizza very good everything on top, my server excellent bercem recommend being served by her

The pizza and penne arrabbiata are very good and the service is wonderful

Indoor and outdoor Italian restaurant. Excellent avocado and salmon salad, good atmosphere in very pleasant square. Would go again.

I liked the bistro with very kind staff

Nice food, very friendly staff!

Came here with 3 kids and two adults and we sat in a lovely table near the window, food was okay but the salad was very dry but the kebab was delicious, my server was great and super smiley and friendly ,she was playing with my kids and had a lovely kurdish name, would recommend getting the mix kebab skewers .

Nice atmosphere, very friendly staff, great scottish breakfast, awesome Moccacino, highly recommended. Greetz from Germany

Quaint little bistro/cafe. Staff were very friendly. We sat out front and had the Fish & Chips dinner which was delicious. Only disappointment was the onion ring which were obviously packaged and not really good compared to our meals. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area.

Cozy spot, nice people and tasty food:)!

We did lunch here and the place is nice and Cozy fish was good. Pasta was ok for kids and BLT was ok. Definitely a good spot for lunch while visiting Victoria street

Delicious Scottish breakfast, good service, hot food. Friendly staff and in ideal location for castle and grass market. Will come again.

We celebrated our little one's birthday in this cafe. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, providing excellent service throughout my visit. Alba Bistro is a must-visit for anyone in the area. Whether you're looking for a place to relax with a cup of coffee, enjoy a meal with friends, or just soak in the pleasant atmosphere, this café is the perfect spot. Highly recommend!

Ate pasta a bit dry, lacked a sauce, service was quick, prices were high, like in all of Edinburgh

The servers were very friendly, the atmosphere was Grassmarket-themed, however we didn't like what we ate at all.

Possibly the BEST fish and chips in Edinburgh. The food is excellent, just like the service. They treat you like a king! This is the perfect place to eat in Edinburgh.

Came here in the morning before visiting castle, wasn't first choice but everywhere that looked good was full. We walked in to a bit of a funny smell but that went away when we were seated. Service was pleasant and the food was ok. Ordered French toast but it was eggy bread. It was still ok but not the best. Others had breakfast roll, and again, only ok.

Very good attention. I arrived with my cell phone without a battery, and they set up a table for me near an outlet so I could charge it while I had dinner. We ordered pasta with chicken and very good pesto. The service was quick, and the food was well served and hot. The bathrooms, well, neither the dirtiest nor the cleanest. I recommend stopping by here. The 2 plates of food + tap water £28

I will give 10 stars if I can. Excellent service. Tasty food. Avocado and salmon salad is on top of the list. Angus hamburger, juicy and tasty. You can choice from large drink list. Everyone will find something for himself.

Very nice place, nice service, good food. Huge portions! We recommend 😋

Got a good table directly inside a window. Ordered Lamb shank and how good it was. As well as got duck chips. Nice, lovely premises with good staff.

Drinks are ok the food terrible steak pie tiny and clearly frozen burger tiny more salad than anything chips badly cooked so keep away from food and overpriced

Fantastic food and great service. Well worth the stop!

Great place to eat. The food and service were awesome.

Fish and chips were excellent with large portions. Staff were friendly. Going back again.

5 out of 5. This was our second visit and it did not disappoint. The first time we had the fish and chips. Today we tried the pizza. Both were excellent. The restaurant was extremely clean and the staff was very friendly, the server even remembered us. We will be back again before we head home.

One of the few restaurants that is actually open late and keep the kitchen open. The food was good. Nothing I would go crazy over but definitely worth the price. Now the tea and the vibes are fantastic. This is a great spot for a late dinner with friends.

The customer service was okay, very simple menu but I have to say that the food wasn't good enough. We ordered a pizza (we thought it was a safe choice) and it looked like a Tesco frozen pizza... I hope they change their menu because they have a good location and it is a nice place

I've eaten at the Alba a few times & the food has always been really good and well priced. The service is a little slow at busy times, because they have a small kitchen and a lot of meals going out. But, we won't be back. The waitress, obviously suffering from a cold, blew her nose on some kitchen towel a few times, then wiped her nose with her fingers, then didn't bother washing her hands. Some very basic hygiene lessons are required.

We spent a week in Edinbugh and stayed a few doors down from Alba Bistro, so we visited a few times for dinner. Every visit was a great experience and we were greeted with smiles by staff members who remembered us from one visit to the next. This might not seem like much, but the staff certainly see many faces over the course of a day given the high tourism in their immediate area. The menu selection was nicely varied, but not overwhelming. All the food we ordered was tasty and service was always friendly and prompt. I also found the prices at Alba to be more reasonable than some other places on Grassmarket square. I have no hesitation recommending Alba Bistro if you are in the area of Grassmarket square.

The food is good and the service is excellent. I went there with a big group and they were very efficient at taking the orders, serving quite promptly and allowing each member of the party to pay for their own meal. A very well managed establishment.

Super tasty food, big portions 👍 Try Angus Steak Pie😍😍

A very nice little Bistro with excellent prices. Especially ugur, he deserves a raise! If you are in Edinburgh, you should visit.

Menu is decent, we went for drinks and snacks, since it's on the grass market it makes the place quiet lively and enjoying. Our waiting staff was friendly and kept conversation friendly and short.overall good experience

Entramos aquí después de que mi mujer me mareara por toda la calle que está lleno de sitios para comer pero ella quería ir al de la soga y no se pudo (the last drop) no hablaré de dicho local porque no fuimos,pero bueno este sitio está bastante bien,cumplió su cometido,comimos un panini y un plato de pasta,precio asequible y buena ubicación (he de decir que el panini estaba especiado y sabroso pero me repitió el resto de la tarde)

Good atmosphere Nice water Clean toilet Very slow service for brunch ( 40 minute wait) Nice-ish staff, we asked if they were dog friendly but reluctantly accepted and limited us in a corner far from everyone. Food was very basic and expensive compared to other places

Food is amazing anda the staff is very friendly

Great pizzas this afternoon - very attentive staff - 🙏

Quickly sat, friendly staff, food was hot and presented nicely. Big menu, lots of options. We got the steak pie and chicken kebab.

Food was okay. Location is great.

Reasonable Scottish breakfast, but realised later the Apex Hotel breakfast was better, cheaper and there was more of it. The bistro is nice enough.

Good quality, friendly staff, welcoming environment. Prices not low

Unique place with the good vibes

Great customer service, was there this morning and had an amazing time, food was amazing, costumer service was amazing, server was sweet

Excellent service, friendly staff, very good quality. Recommended!

The best fish and chips I ever had:) Lovely service! Deffinetly recommend

Just loved the pancakes 😋highly recommended

Breakfast is good Over all experience good

Nice tasty breakfast pancakes were very good

I’m here on a vacation…..I wanted to try something really Scottish and I found it in the cuisine here…..simply delicious : )

Delicious food……highly recommended this place for perfect lunch and dinner with some drinks👍

I’m here with my friends for breakfast and coffees……simply enjoyed it…..and lovely staff……This was like a good start for my day…..

Came here for a dinner last night and was very happy with food and service,very polite staff and lovely tasty delicious food,would definitely recommend

I’m here on a vacation and was looking for traditional Scottish cuisine……the taste of the food here was on spot……loved the experience ❤️

Yesterday….I came here with my cousins……we order lot of starters and few dishes from main course…everything was on spot……personally I liked lamb shank a lot…..perfect👌

Everything was decent……I’m here with my boys…..we ordered few burgers and beers……the patties were juicy……complimentary salad and chips…..just loved it

A very good places for coffees and deserts……we had a lovely evening here…….loved the marlenka cake a lot……highly recommended ☕️☕️❤️❤️ Nice service friendly staff 😋😋😋

A lovely place for families and pastas……my family enjoyed pastas a lot……..we were back home with yummy tummies 🍝

I am here today with my girlfriend. We ordered pastas, I loved it👌…..it was amazing experience here……..lovely place and delicious food

I came with my family we order a couple of dishes very delicious food good presentation good and friendly service

This is a quiet restaurant with very attentive staff. The flavors were great and I would definitely visit again. The prices were also reasonable. I am from America so I really do enjoy being attended and looked after by my servers.

For family lunch is perfect, on saturday! Kids menu. The haggis with potatoes mash and the chicken puesto was delicius. And gin pink with tonic. Perfect. I would recomend!!

The service was very attentive and friendly. However, the seasoning was not the best, and for the Prices we expected something A little more elaborate or with better presentation. I wouldn't recommend the place in general.

Average sort of place in the Grassmarket. Food is reasonable, standard touristy stuff nothing special or terrible for that matter and service is friendly. Grassmarket gets very busy so this is an OK fall-back if everywhere else is full.

Restaurante correcto. Buena atención del camarero. Cenamos fish and chips y salchichas con puré con una salsa muy rica. Buen precio. Lo recomiendo para una cena informal y rápida.

The restaurant is clean and the food tastes good. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

We went there to eat breakfast , we have ordered 2 pancakes and 2 Scottish breakfast. The waiter has brought it all together and dropped the pancakes on my tea . I was all wet , my phone was wet , the pancakes were all wet too. He brought me another tea and said sorry. Pancakes were all wet but he would not bring new ones . We paid for the whole breakfast, they wouldn't even take the wet pancakes off the bill . I left all wet and unhappy! The breakfast was nothing special , not even hot. I do not recommend ! Do not go there !

The staff are very friendly! And the food is good.

Worst restaurant, worst experience in Edinburgh. I asked the waitress twice if the salmon was fresh and she confirmed that it was. I received super expired, frozen, old salmon. It tasted like chewing gum!!! I HAD DIARRHEA all night until morning after their stupid food. I paid 18 pounds for a mess! The puree that came as a side dish was a wash! Pigs eat better quality... this food is eaten by dogs in Asia. I DO NOT RECOMMEND! Liars and unserious!!!

We've been here on Christmas in the morning for coffee. The deserts were delicious and quite fresh. We decided to come back for Christmas Dinner. The food was amazing and the portions huge. The staff is really friendly . In general I was glad we found this restaurant. For sure I would recommend it to everyone who visits Edinburgh.

It was a perfect and unforgettable experience for me in Edinburgh. The food was delicious,staffs were very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was very pleasant as well. Highly recommended.

Lovely atmosfer lovely service specially the kurdish girl she treat us perfectly also the food lovely I can recommend this place to everyone

Lunch at Alba’s Bistro on Victoria St. for fish and chips. Was a little touristy but we had the window seat in the front which was nice. Food was standard tourist trap fare. Saw another tourist family walking by and said hi.

The dining experience fell short of expectations as the food lacked flavor and quality. Despite an appealing ambiance, the disappointing taste overshadowed any positive aspects. We ordered french toast and pancakes with nutella. And the only good thing was the nutella sachets. The pancakes were dried and french toast was bland. The menu promised a delightful culinary journey, but unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired.

I'm compelled to share our disheartening experience at Alba Bistro during Edinburgh's Fringe Festival in August 2023. What we expected to be a simple visit to get a quick snack for our aunt turned into an unpleasant and demeaning ordeal. My girlfriend and I stopped by Alba Bistro, not for a dining experience, but merely to pick up a quick snack for our aunt staying at the Apex Hotel. Instead of assistance or a basic menu, we faced unexpected rudeness. A Tamil or South Indian staff member, visibly on her break with others near the entrance, openly mocked us. This occurred while we were speaking to a different staff member who was attending to us. Our mere presence and simple inquiry seemed to be a source of entertainment for her and her colleagues. This incident raises serious questions about the training and management of staff at Alba Bistro. It's disconcerting that such behavior is overlooked, especially during a festival that attracts international visitors. Edinburgh is renowned for its hospitality, yet our experience was a stark contrast to this reputation. We left Alba Bistro not only without the snack but with a tainted view of what should have been a straightforward service encounter. It's unfortunate that our lasting memory of Alba Bistro is now one of mockery and disrespect, rather than a pleasant takeaway experience. I sincerely hope management takes note of such incidents to improve their staff training and customer interaction.

Wonderful service and wonderful food. After a long day of traveling, we were searching desperately for a place with a still-open kitchen. We got the soup of the day (lentil) and the chicken kabobs, and everything was delicious, but the chicken was to die for. The service was very kind and quick. I’d absolutely recommend this little bistro.

Pedir una pizza y que te traigan una pizza de supermercado que vale 3€ y pagarla lo equivalente a 20€. Horrible. Esto si que es un robo

We went there bc was close to our hostel and I wanted to try the Scottish breakfast. To food was good but nothing super special. The price for the food seems to be fair, the drinks in the other hand in my opinion are too expensive. My friend had the American breakfast and she also liked The food came fast so it seems that things may be pre cooked and just warmed In general I would recommend