Bell's Diner in Edinburgh, City of

Bell's Diner opened in St. Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh in 1974, the same year my wife and I moved into Stockbridge. They served the best burgers I've ever tasted. And no sweetish American-style buns and slobbery 'mayo'. The wine list starts at £21 a bottle. We now live 20 miles away but travelled in to have our final Bell's meal last week as the restaurant will soon be closing down. So, probably too late now for folks to get a table. Sad news indeed.

Staff were friendly enough and atmosphere was cosy... Disappointed with the quality of our burgers though, small dry and overcooked

Great burgers, great service. Just a proper old school burger place that does great food at a very reasonable price.

Excellent burgers and loaded fries in a funky diner.

Amazing tasty and juicy burger Have been coming here for a few years and I will say its one of the best spots in Edinburgh Staff have always been amazing and the food is brilliant The diet starts again tomorrow 😁

I used to live in the New Town and Bells Diner was a place to go for a treat. Still fabulous even after 30 years....

Cozy little diner with the best burgers in town. Be there on time or grab a beer in one of the pubs in the street while you wait on your table which is totaly worth the wait. You get a wide selection of sauces with your burger which you should definitely take advantage of. Ending the dinner with a delicious sticky toffee makes this a rounded and amazing dinner spot.

Reliable as ever. A Stockbridge Institution. Burgers- chips- sauce selection unparalleled- ice cream.

The best Gluten Free burger in Edinburgh. Most of the menu is gluten free.

I waited around 10 minutes in the door. Staff saw me but didn't even feel the need to acknowledge me. I would appreciate a simple greeting and informing me that they don't have any space for me if that was the reason why they didn't accept me.

Our thanks to the friendly hostess who took us in without a reservation. She served us within the time frame she gave us, and the hamburgers were very good. I highly recommend.

This cozy little bistro is OUTSTANDING! We didn't have a booking, but were given a table for an hour before the dinner rush. The service was excellent, and the food was beautifully prepared and presented. Each menu item had unique, individual twists, and there was truly something for everyone. Some of the burger additions were things I never would have thought of, like garlic butter, which made a delicious burger even better. My only regret is that I couldn't finish the last few bites of my burger, because I was stuffed to the gills. I would give this place ten stars if I could!

This spot is amazing. All the food is fresh and full of flavour. The vibe is great, the menu is exactly what you hope for when coming to a diner. 10/10, best burger spot in Edinburgh! The waitress, Celena was amazing!

Un lugar muy agradable, con música de 10. La mujer que nos atendió fue muy amable y atenta, y las hamburguesas muy buenas, con variedad. Muy recomendable.

Everything in this restaurant is just perfect.

Very thankful to have this diner local to us, simple decor but they let the food do the talking

We went here as a family after an afternoon concert nearby. We’d booked a table but arrived half an hour earlier than expected, yet we were seated immediately. The server was extremely friendly and helpful and we all thoroughly enjoyed our various burgers and loaded fries. I was particularly impressed that they offer four different types of vegetarian burgers!

Excellent burgers. My number one favourite in Edinburgh.

We’ve been to Bell’s Diner for many years and it’s been going since before I was born! The burgers are awesome and the options to personalise your burgers are endless! Don’t forget to choose as many sauces as you want! Don’t go over board on the size of burger though as you’ll be wanting pudding!!

Great food, small and lovely place. A bit noisy due to its size.

Evidemment, je recommande sans réserve ! Après avoir cherché un resto pour dîner dans le quartier de Stockbridge, et échoué malgré l'heure plutôt précoce (19:30-19:45), nous avons, un peu résignés, sonné (the bell) à la porte de ce Burger. C'était complet, mais la dame qui tient les lieux nous a dit "d'ici 15 min si vous voulez". 10 minutes plus tard, la dame nous a appelés et fait rentrer dans l'établissement. Accueil très chaleureux. Il n'y avait effectivement qu'une seule petite table qui venait de se libérer. D'habitude, je ne pratique pas trop les Burgers, mais là, j'ai été bluffé : ils étaient servis sur assiette, accompagnés de frites et de salade, et même d'une rondelle de Haggis... A disposition aussi, un plateau de sauces et chutneys. La cuisson de la viande était parfaite pour ce qui me concerne et les produits de qualité. Pas un grand choix sur la carte, mais peu importe, c'était simple et efficace. Et la bière venait accompagner à merveille les burgers. Encore une fois, tout cela servi de façon très sympathique. On n'est pas dans la grande restauration, mais nous sommes tombés sur le haut de gamme du Burger. Bravo aussi pour le rapport qualité/prix, et encore merci de l'accueil.

A wee gem in St Stephen Street consistently great. The best burger in Edinburgh in our opinion. Great service too,very friendly Well worth a visit.

It was fine. Burger was ok. We went as the Cambridge Bar was being refurbed. Wouldn’t go again as just a bit underwhelmed.

BEST burgers in Edinburgh and brilliant gluten free options

Kleines Restaurant mit übersichtliche Karte, gute Burger, schneller und sehr freundlicher Service, einfache aber angenehme Atmosphäre,. Samstag Abend sehr lebhaft, was wir als angenehm empfunden haben.

Tasty burger and great service.

Busy and bustling restaurant in the heart of Stockbridge, highly recommended. Booking essential at the weekend.

Wow what a find in Stockbridge!! I cannot believe I’ve missed this little delight which was right opposite my local pub 😂 It came recommended to me by the local pub as it was pretty full for dinner last night for St. Patrick’s Day! I was not disappointed at all!! A small but cosy burger diner/cafe.. I came at around 2030hrs and it was completely full but the lovely friendly lady dealing with cafe said to come back in 10mins as she’d have a table. As promised she had a table ready for me so immediately ordered an 8oz burger with roquefort cheese and bacon (with side of fries). The waitress came out with a tray of sauces for me to choose to add to my burger which was really fun as there were all sorts, all homemade. The burger was cooked perfectly with so much flavour and the combo of Roquefort and bacon was perfect due to the saltiness. I cannot recommend this place more and I will 100% be going back (which is probably a bad thing now I know where a decent burger joint is here in Edinburgh/Stockbridge 😂🫣). Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fantastic wee place with a great cosy atmosphere. The waitress did an amazing job serving a full restaurant all by herself! Plus the food was delicious and great value for money. Would heartily recommend.

Restaurant agradable al barri de Stockbridge, bona hamburgueseria a un preu raonable, servei eficient i molt amable, tot ben servit. Recomanable si s’està per aquesta zona. Millor reservar abans, és molt petit, però t’atenen ràpidament si hi ha lloc.

Great burger! And I love that mustard sauce/relish they have.

Cool 👍 das Essen ist sehr gut, mit freundlichem Personal 😊👌

Friend of mine had family who work there, been a couple of times now. They don’t mess about with portions, very generous. Place has been going years, and it makes sense why they are still around. Can’t wait to go back.

Really awesome and innovative burgers!

Really good burger! They give you a choice of sauces and relishes to choose from (there are a lot! & they are good!). We had a very sweet and helpful waitress the first time. We went back the next day, before closing time, and a gent told us we couldn't come in because they were too busy. What?? Not sure what that was about.

Simply excellent food & service

Nice little qwerty place. Service was amazing food was even better. Can't fault any off it. Will be going back again !!

Bell's is an essential local regular haven. You feel comfortable ordering all of the frills as the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and the restaurant is dog friendly. The garlic bread is the best I've ever had, basil salad dressing is so good 🤤. Go for the 4oz burger patty if you're going to order starters, unless you're like me, 8oz challenge all the way. Ask for medium rare for your patty and get a sauce to accompany the burger. The hot fudge sundae pancake is to die for (sneaky secret ice cream inside). Do it.

Just amazing food and service was outstanding! Cannot wait to go again 💜💜💜💜

Lovely tasty food. Great atmosphere

40 years since I first ate here, still a great burger.

Mega burgers, plenty of options to get it just the way you like it.

When I have the choice, I usually prefer eating at small, family-run businesses, as I trust they are the ones who provide genuine food and the best care for their customers. Of course, I have to trust online reviews when I don't have direct knowledge... This time, it didn't work unfortunately.

Got a medium beef burger with cheese and my wife had a chicken burger as a takeaway. She really enjoyed hers. My burger was delicious. It has always amazed me how difficult/rare it is for restaurants to get the meat part of the burger right. It just needs to be fresh not minced to hell and not solid like a brick. To achieve a 10/10 from me this would have had just the cheese, the onion, the burger and ketchup and tomato. No cucumber 😊 that’s it. I also hate the fact that a lot of places seem to do brioche buns as standard. So unnecessary imo. The bells bun was perfect. Really good job. Will be trying out the veggie options in the future.

Really enjoyed our meal here. Great food, great service

Brilliant burgers 🍔 😋 delicious dips, friendly staff. Family run restaurant since 1972 that caters for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. I had the nut burger, my wife had the normal meat burger and my daughter had the spicy bean burger and they were all fantastic. Portions were very generous, I would highly recommend this establishment 👍😊🍻

Tasty, unpretentious burgers. Great coffee (with yummy homemade shortbread). Friendly service. Recommended

Superb, cosy burger restaurant in the heart of Stockbridge. Well worth a visit when you are in Edinburgh.

Probably the oldest and best burger restaurant in Edinburgh, still the best with out doubt, give it a try you will not be disappointed

Fabulous, great food, excellent portion sizes, very well priced and friendly staff.

Excellent grilled chicken, chips and ice cream. Terrific service. Small space (a challenge during pandemic) but great place.

We’ve just eaten here. Really great food and the staff are top notch. The chicken burger was mint.

Delicious food, friendly staff great value for money.

Great people, lush burgers definitely worth a visit. Book early to avoid disappointment!

Great burger, loads of topping options. Really good loaded fries. I tried the blue cheese butter topping which was really good but I think just the blue cheese without the butter would have been better.

absolute hands down best burger this side of princes st! support your local businesses and try out the many delicious veggie options. Also the shakes are excellent

Great staff. Good big burgers and lots of chips. Try the caremilised onions, they're delicious. Milkshakes are great too.

Visited last night after a hard Bell's craving. We weren't disappointed. I opted for a 6oz beef burger with cheese, and some fries. Other half had a 6oz beef burger with cheese, bacon and jalapenos, with fries. We both had vanilla milkshakes. Everything was delicious! We're looking at when we can have a wee sit in experience, as miss it, but takeaway does us fine for now. We'll be back.

Having just left a deservedly negative review about another recent local take away I had, credit where credit’s due I thouroughly enjoyed the take away burger I had from Bell’s Diner. The tastiest (medium size) beef burger, lovely sesame bun, crisp fresh salad and my extra toppings of cheese, egg and bacon were all excellent. I’ll be back!

He vivido en Edimburgo y sus alrededores toda mi vida, casi 44 años, y acabo de descubrir el placer de Bell's Diner por primera vez hoy. Qué puedo decir, la mejor hamburguesa que he probado en mucho tiempo y probablemente la mejor que he probado en Edimburgo. Ambiente agradable y relajado y servicio amable. Definitivamente volveremos muy pronto. PD: ¡batidos también!

I have been frequenting his wonderdul, homely restaurant for over Thirty Years. Enjoyed every minute, with great food, atmosphere amazing. Never once been disappointed, recommended to all my friends, who think its fantastic.

Food was awesome, fresh & tasty. good service.

My favourite burger place in Edinburgh. Fab burgers ordered to size and delicious hot fudge sundae pancakes. Love the place and have been going there for years.

We went on saturday evening and we had a take away. Great food and the spiced lamb burger was extraordinary, the chef Is a genius.

Just had a takeaway burger and milkshake from Bells Diner and wow it was fabulous! Missed the restaurant since lockdown and were very excited that they are open for takeaways at the weekends .. didn't disappoint .. in fact we are wondering when it would be appropriate to go back for our next one 🤔. Thanks Bells Diner staff xx

Best place ever, bit biased tho cos my mum works there lol

They know what they're doing and they do it very well. No snobbishness, no nonsense (which is rare for a Stockbridge business now). Just a good burger (with no grease) on a normal bun and with plenty fries. I had low expectations before visiting but I was massively impressed and can't wait to return. I wish I'd ordered a bigger burger as I could have eaten a lot more! We enjoyed the chocolate and nut sundae for desert. The waitress is friendly, incredibly efficient and never looks hassled even when the place is full. The atmosphere on a Saturday night is fun and relaxed.

Esta pequeña joya nunca decepciona con una excelente comida solo igualada por la amabilidad del servicio y el ambiente relajado.Lo más destacado son los champiñones fritos, las hamburguesas (incluida la hamburguesa de nueces) y el helado de chocolate caliente, que es extremadamente sofisticado. Si hay una mejor hamburguesa en Escocia, todavía tengo que encontrarla.

Basic, straightforward cafe in a central location in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge area specialising in burgers. Straight to the burgers: superb! Choice of sizes and meats. All homemade. Great choice of toppings and sauces. And, excellent value. Deserves five stars in its category.

We ordered a 4oz beef burger & a 6oz beef burger with applewood smoked cheese. Both were served with salad & fries and you could also help yourself to a large selection of relishes. The food was fresh, well cooked & tasty. They stock Innis & Gunn beers which were also excellent. The restaurant was quite busy but the service was relaxed & friendly. We did not have dessert because pancakes or ice cream was quite a limited choice. We would recommend Bells Diner and will visit again! 😁

been there for dinner with my wife, since the famous pub at the opposite side of the street was too crowded. We've had a mushroom's soup and an omelette. Both were VERY good. Nice and smiling young waitress, cheap bill. I'll definitely return when I'll be back to Edinburgh.

Me topé con este pequeño restaurante hace un par de años y realmente lo disfruté, así que estaba ansioso por volver a intentarlo en un viaje reciente a Edimburgo. ¡No me decepcionó! Buena comida, a buen precio, servida con amabilidad y cálida bienvenida. Definitivamente vale la pena una visita si estás en Stockbridge.

Locale tipico con menù tradizionale e b io na scelta di birre. Prezzi economici.

Great food, my partner and I loved the burgers and the service was warm, friendly and helpful.

The best burgers in town. A small, cozy place with a lot of atmosphere and fantastic burgers! Don’t forget to leave space for pancakes!

Can't believe this has been here for nearly 50 years. I lived in Stockbridge for quite some time and I don't recall ever seeing it. That's my fault and my loss, for it's a gem of a place.

Despite the new owners, the burgers remain excellent and the service is extremely friendly

The milkshakes and halloumi fries are terrific. Unfortunately, the burgers are overcooked and the regular fries are bland. I hate to say it, but you might be better off ordering from McDonald's. You'll certainly pay less. The service leaves something to be desired too (e.g.,waiting 15 mins to pay one's billl).

Sehr gute Bürger und vielseitige Auswahl. Bürger Soßen können selber gewählt und portioniert werden. Sehr nette Bedienung

If you're after a very friendly, cozy little place for a quick bite to eat, you can't go wrong here. First rate service and delicious food. What more can one ask for?

Simply fantastic. Delicious food and friendly atmosphere, a must!!!

Whilst the food may not be 'instagramable' it sure does taste good. My partner ordered the 6oz and I went 12oz, both added cheese.The burgers were good, and definitely tasted like those you get from a cracking BBQ. The sauce tray is something different, and had a few things we enjoyed (sweetcorn and cucumber ones). Beer selection was good - a dark beer and IPA to wash it down.Service was excellent throughout. Will happily come back for another one.

This is an institution in Stockbridge and is a lovely little couthy place to eat. a real treat. Always enjoyable.

Found this place on our first night in Edinburgh. We rushed in 15 mins before closing and the owner cheerfully welcomed us, sitting us at a table and attending to us with just the right amount of care. Husband in the kitchen, wife out front...one immediately notices that this couple works hard to make diners feel welcomed, while ensuring that the food is expertly prepared. Comfort food served with a smile.

Found it by accident, only half a dozen tables at most, food was excellent and service was fast and friendly, would really recommend

Not changed much in years. Food fab. Simple with no stupid sides like mac n cheese. Cooked with love. Served with a smile & great old fashioned ice cream desserts like banana split and chocolate sundae. A family favourite. Price wise it’s good value too.

Después de arrastrar a un grupo de amigos del centro de la ciudad con la promesa de una increíble experiencia de cóctel en The Last Word Saloon, mi reputación era jodida porque tuvimos una experiencia realmente decepcionante. Sin embargo, donde fallé con los cócteles logré con la comida, llevándolos a una visita a Bell's Diner.

Specialty butters on burgers! Great burgers and the butter made it even better! We really enjoyed eating here.

They have this mustard sesame sauce... and I want to BATHE in it, it’s so delicious. I slathered my burger and fries with it. The way they cooked the burger was quite well done, it did make it a bit dry in my opinion, so if you like a rarer burger I would specify that when you order.

My family’s been going here for over 25 years! Tastiest burger in town in the cosiest spot. Best burger I’ve ever had! Nothing but good options on the menu. Just amazing burgers, steaks and salads. The communal tray offering an array of sauces, mustard and chutneys is out of this world! A must try restaurant if you ever in Edinburgh. Small restaurant so you probably want to book a table. Three size options for burgers and kids’ menu are available.

En un fin de semana familiar en Edimburgo, los padres de mis novios fueron a la universidad en esta ciudad y recomendaron Bell's Diner de hace 37 años, así que tuvimos que ver si seguía siendo tan bueno. . . y SÍ lo fue! ! Comida increíble, casera y muy sabrosa! ! La señora que servía era encantadora y sostenía el fuerte sola en una concurrida noche de sábado, un servicio brillante. Me encantó la bandeja de salsas, los piccalilli son un favorito personal! No hay lugar para pudines, pero la elección de panqueques y helados se veía deliciosa! Lo recomiendo altamente, definitivamente llamar por adelantado y reservar para evitar decepciones!

Lovely burger place. I had a delicious chicken burger and my girlfriend had a vegan spicy bean burger. They were very accommodating about her veganism. Recommended.

Great burgers, reasonable prices, an old time classic!

Great! The burgers are amazing, you definitely need to choose one of the butter and enjoy every lick of it. The place is definitely easy going and costumers can be all kinds of people. Remember to book if you want to go between 1800 and 2000.

An Edinburgh institution. The best burgers in town. Try a pepper burger with a delicious home made banana milkshake. Super lovely staff. Great value for money.

Fantastic food. Best burger I've had in a long time. Great service, good atmosphere Will definitely come back

Very small place. Nice burgers, but small portions for the high price.

Decidimos este lugar porque las críticas eran buenas y estaba lo suficientemente cerca como para caminar desde nuestro Airbnb.

Walked in for take away on an ordinary week night and had my order in 10 minutes time. Plenty of food for a small order!

might even go so far as to say this was a perfect burger. food was great. service was great. staff were lovely. would go again!