Howies in Edinburgh, City of

Fantastic fresh local food, excellent service, and brilliant location and atmosphere.

Visited Howies with 16 people company dinner. Thank you very much for your amazing service and food!

Cullen Skink was absolutely awful, dish water with cubed potatoes and two pieces of fish. Risotto made with raw onions … truly awful and over priced wine … best to avoid.

Great food Good service Beautiful restaurant

Had dinner with my friends at Howies recently and was unfortunately very disappointed. Don't know where to start really but the first thing that went wrong was the cocktails we ordered. Our waitress told my friend that the spirit in the clover drink was some kind of rum (she was clearly just guessing) but it was whiskey... the drinks was anyhow poorly made and truthfully I could have made them better myself. We had to send one drink back because it wasn't possible to drink accordning to the taste 🙃. Secondly we were accompanied by fruit flies at our table the whole evening which wasn't very pleasant. The food was OK but my friends that ordered the stake was disappointed with the meat. Dont get why this restaurant still has good reviews, recommend you to go somewhere else. They also added a 10% service fee to the bill and charged my friends that had the steak 2£ extra for the sauce?! I also think our head waiter was drunk, or at least he was acting a little bit weird... That's my rewiew 👍

I loved the risotto but everything else disappointed me, perhaps due to high expectations given the reviews that can be seen here. Still, the service was impeccable.

Good food, a little overpriced for what it is. I was not convinced by the banoffee pie, definitely not the best I’ve had. Go for the Sticky toffee pudding!

The lunch menu was perfect. Despite of the different languages, Jess was extremely nice with us and help us with the allergies. We are gonna back for sure!

I wanted to try authentic Scottish food and here I found it. Located in the heart of Victoria Street, the most colorful street in all of Edinburgh, just like the surroundings, this restaurant will not leave you indifferent. Excellent value for money, a good menu, fresh products, wonderful attention from all the staff, especially the waiter who served us (I think his name was Scott), who advised us on the menu and was very kind and friendly. It is advisable to book in advance since it is a very popular restaurant. I also recommend arriving on time, neither before nor after, but at the time of the reservation. I was left wanting to try the Scottish salmon (I'll have to go back...), but what I dared to try (even though I said I would never do it) was the Haggis, and I have to admit that it surprised me as it was very good (at least here, as they told me later, they cook it very well). I loved the experience. I hope I can come back.

Great place to try typical Scottish food, both the quality of the food and the excellent service (they make an effort to explain typical dishes to you, to understand you if you are a foreigner...). Highly recommended.

This is the most crowded and unbelievably noisy restaurant I've had the misfortune of visiting. The noise seems to reverberate and bounce off the walls - terrible, just terrible acoustics. Don't even think about taking anyone on a date here and forget about it if you're neurodivergent! The food is adequate but the price-quality ratio is out of synch. The French fries were so soggy there was no point eating them. The haggis were fine. The cullen skink was lovely; definitely the one and only thing I'd have if I ever visited again (not gonna happen, though). The sticky toffee pudding was such a disappointment we didn't even finish it. All in all, and at almost £40 each, what a daylight robbery.

We had the pleasure of booking a last minute table at Howies and it might just be the best place I’ve experienced overall. The service is really amazing, all the staff are incredible attentive and a massive thank you should go to our waitress who is on the receipt as Chloe. She was incredibly friendly and made for a really great atmosphere. The place itself and the tables are well decorated and laid out, the lamps make a nice touch and add to the ambiance. You could clearly see the staff cared about the appearance to the restaurant. The food is actually really well priced especially considering the location and the early dining deal is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The food all around was clearly well thought out with flavours that really worked well together. Everything was very fresh and seasonal. I’m really surprised I haven’t seen people talking about this place enough. The small touches really make the world of a difference like offering to hang people’s coats and the shortbread served at the end. Hopefully the service charge is shared to all the staff as it was on the reasonable side too, we did leave a small tip on the card reader of about 5%. However it really didn’t reflect how we felt about the meal as we would definitely return so thank you!

We had dinner here last night and were super satisfied with the goodness and quality of the dishes. The staff is really kind and friendly, a special mention goes to Pedro who we thank again from the bottom of our hearts. We are waiting for you in Naples for a nice pizza🍕

The ambience is okay but unfortunately the restaurant is a bit small and the noise level is very high (it feels like it's between the main station and the outdoor pool), which doesn't make it a cozy place for a quiet dinner. The waiter was on the move quickly but his first question was whether we would like a bottle of water at the table. When we said yes, he asked whether it was still or sparkling water. And as soon as we mentioned quiet, a few seconds later a bottle of still water for 3.75GBP was on the table. It should be mentioned that in the UK it is common to drink tap water and that it is served free of charge everywhere as “tap water”. When we looked around more closely, we noticed that it could also be found on almost every other table. There is absolutely nothing to complain about about the food; apart from the small portions and fairly high prices, it is very good. The starter was also great. Things are different with the drinks, we ordered a Scottish pilsner and were served an empty pilsner glass and a can. Apart from the fact that the can was neither well cooled nor poured into the glass, you then had to pay a ten percent service fee on the total price. Conclusion: A fairly small shop with high prices but good food. If you are willing to spend more than 50GBP per head to go home full, you have the opportunity to find good food in a loud atmosphere. To the owner's answer: Thank you for the feedback. Unfortunately, the "trained" waiter didn't explain anything to us about the service fee. Because of the circumstances described above, we would certainly not have paid the service fee in this amount. Too bad...

I don’t usually write reviews, but I had to make an exception because this was an incredible experience. The food is unbelievably good and perfectly seasoned. The waitstaff are friendly and attentive, and we were well taken care of from start to finish. I highly recommend this place!!!

Food was absolutely delicious and service was great! This was the best meal we’ve had in the UK.

There is only one word needed to describe this place - amazing !! The food is outstanding and the cozy atmosphere + the friendly service completes the picture. My personal tip, try the haggis 🙂

Very friendly service, traditional Scottish food and good quality. Very good quality-price. A site that our guide Marta from the Free Tour of Traveling through Scotland recommended to us

How good it is to eat here with the dish of the day. A highly recommended place that we loved.

I don’t think this place values their customers so if you want to feel welcome and appreciated as a guest this is the place to avoid. Having sat at the outer part of the restaurant which was dark and windowless we wanted to make another reservation for the following week in the lighter and “nicer” part of the restaurant. I was told by the lady at reception Karen in a very cool manner that my preference is noted but there’s no guarantee because someone could book the entire space or there could be a booking for a large group. I got the impression the restaurant was about getting as many people in as possible and catering for large group came above small group diners - even if they are returning customers! In the contrary we had a lovely experience at the Le petite Beefbar during our stay in Edinburgh which had great food at the same time service was warm and attentive…if you are looking for suggestions in the city!

A very cozy place to taste some amazing dishes. I made a reservation for my birthday and they gave me a lovely table in the center of the restaurant, that staff is very kind and makes you feel like home (big thank you to my waiter, he gave me amazing recommendations and had a beautiful smile). And the food was amazing too, I left very happy. You'll definitely spend some money but it's 100% worth it, this is a must if I ever go back to Edinburgh.

Excellent restaurant in the centre, good level of both cuisine and service.

Delicious food! Typical dishes and good atmosphere, recommended!!!

Really enjoyed our meal. Food was quality.

Absolutely an awesome lunch. Service was very friendly and efficient. Food tastes were awesome.

Excellent as always. Lovely staff, they work so hard and it runs like clockwork! Food was excellent too!

The three courses are really cheap at about 23. I have had the best haggis and desserts in Edinburgh. I must order them when I go there. The only drawback is that there are too few choices in the main course, and I can’t understand what the waiter is saying. The accent is too strong, but The experience is really good. If you go to China, just know it’s delicious. Don’t post the Little Red Book. Let’s eat secretly.

We visited Howies on our last night in Scotland and it was the best meal of the trip. The staff were all amazing and the food was just what we were after! Special recognition to our server with the colourful hair (whose name I have forgotten - sorry!), who made sure we had the best customer service.

Howies Victoria Street. When entering the restaurant our welcome was lukewarm .seat ok but draughty due to the door opening and closing. Food was good, no complaints there. However, on paying for the bill, we were asked by the waiter "am I bringing change back"...considering there is a 10% service charge, no there was no change. Very unprofessional. Will go back to Waterloo place from next time.

The sublimation.... of bad service. They couldn't be more unfriendly. The regular food

Incredible dishes! Very fresh flavor and affordable prices! I recommend making a reservation at least the day before. I went on a Friday for lunch, with a reservation, but there were several people who were left out because it was already full.

Everything is very good, the place is dark and the price is a little high.

Great food, nice place, excellent service

Really enjoyed our lunch here, each course was really good. Busy busy place but layout of tables mean did not feel like we were part of another table (been in places like that!). Would recommend.

Great food, great service, nice atmosphere.

MIKA AND SARAH ARE ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AND GREAT

Excellent food, service and very cozy place. Perfect for tourists, delicious Scottish food. The haggis has surprised me in every way.

Mika and Sarah are amazing and great servers

Busy restaurant with mid-ranged priced food. Excellent and tasty with lovely staff.

We had reservations at opening time for lunch. We were seated and warmly greeted quickly. Food was delicious - I would highly recommend. I tried the haggis and it was very good. I was not disappointed. I am glad we got to dine at Howie’s.

Delicious food and at a good price (not exorbitant). As in other restaurants, the first (starter) dishes are small (except the Cullen Skink soup). Very noisy place, they serve quickly to sit you down and there is a wait between courses (in my case 20 minutes). Otherwise, it is a recommendable place to eat in Edinburgh. It is better to make a reservation via the web.

Possibly one of the best options to try Scottish food. The haggis are very delicious, although it is important to go during menu hours so that they have a more affordable price.

Reserve a table. Good place to try haggis. Very good and prepared food at a good price for what it is. Very good service. Highly recommended place.

As far as food in Scotland is concerned, it is a good place, to say the least, very friendly service and good atmosphere, very small tables, excessively small, the price within what Edinburgh is reasonable...

Our favorite in the city. The haggies are delicious, melty and well prepared. The rest of the dinner was also very good, and the staff were lovely. A must see in Edinburgh.

Cozy and charming spot in the heart of Old Town - very convenient. The venison stew was really good. Service was albery good. Make a reservation, the place is not big.

Haggis was ok, everything else was really bad. Waitress was a bit rude . Fish was really small also bad combination with sweet beans. They didn't have few items on menu so they left us with no much choice. Prices are high for the plate size. Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone honestly I felt like a tourist trap . Plus they added tip and I had no choice. Shame on the stars that made me believe it was good.

Had a reservation and still had to wait 15 minutes. They couldn't make me a martini as they were missing an ingredient so I settled for a badly made Aperol Spritz. We had a starter which was the pigeon and were warned it had pellets in it from buckshot and it did! We both ordered salmon and it was completely tasteless. Not sure why people think the food is good here. It's in a tourist neighbourhood so likely that is why it is mediocre and we should have gone somewhere else.

Worst restaurant I’ve been to, and abrupt service from staff who clearly are more concerned about getting as many people in and out as soon as possible to optimise their income. Food was cold, when we asked for butter took 15 minutes to get one little pat of butter for 15 people. We were supposed to have a 3 course menu with choices but they decided what we would eat and didn't offer a choice. Complimentary soft drink was limited to Coke, Diet Coke or Lemonade - any other soft drinks incurred an extra charge! Gluten free bread option was 2 pre-packaged packets of Oat Cake which were like dry cardboard. Dry, stale dessert. TBH doesn’t deserve a star at all.

Could not explain how disappointed I am... I booked a table for 5 with a note that we have a dog. I received a call from them saying dogs are not allowed and asked if if i want to keep the booking and I told them no thanks. However I got charged 50 pound no show fee. After I reached out to them they said I did not tell them to cancel the booking during the call. I requested them to go back to the audio recording of the call and send me copies of the recording (three times!!) but they refused to do so. And of course they refuse to refund me the no show fee although the booking was cancelled. I am tired of arguing with the manager Karen since she ignored me every single time when i ask for the recording to prove that I cancelled the booking but she kept saying they kept the table for me for extra 30 minutes which is nice and kind of them. I will take the 50 pound as sunk cost but cannot help myself to write a bad review on Google for the first time.

Very good food. Affordable prices. Scotland's best vegetarian haggis.

Superb place and delicious cuisine, the hagis starter particularly recommended, impeccable service, the fish cooked just right and fresh crunchy vegetables and sauces to accompany, very fresh and fragrant. Well done to the team.

We have been to this restaurant a few times now. The food was always excellent and the service was courteous and friendly! The only downer is the quite high noise level in the restaurant.

After traveling in the Scottish Highlands for a week, I arrived in Edinburgh and found that this restaurant was a bit overrated and probably worth 3.5 stars. Mainly because the portion size is too small and the price is on the high side. The food isn't bad, but it's not amazing either. The biggest disadvantage is that the dining environment is super noisy and it is not easy to chat, which makes people want to leave as soon as possible after finishing their meal. A 10% service fee will be charged, but there is really no service (just basic food delivery, water delivery, etc.). Although it was known when booking, this is the first time I have encountered it among the restaurants in this trip to Scotland. If you mind, Choose carefully.

We liked it so much that we went another day of our stay in Edinburgh. Quality cuisine, typical Scottish. Better to reserve. The staff is very attentive and friendly. I loved the soup of the day both times I went. The Cullen skink is quite good, although it has a powerful smoky flavor. The dish I didn't like is the “Duo of Scottish beetroot…”, because of the mix of flavors; other people might like it. The atmosphere is somewhat noisy. If you go at certain times they have a two-course menu option for £18.95 and a three-course menu for £23.95. 100% recommended. The banoffee is not like the one we drink in Spain. It's not bad, it has almonds.

While visiting Edinburgh we got here twice, one for lunch and the other for dinner. Both times were exceptional. Good mood in the restaurant and food was super tasty and well made. They have a menu for lunch, which is very convenient. If I have to add a bad point I would go for tiny tables and small toilet.

Excellent friendly service. The haggis was great but I wish there was 3X as much –very small serving for offal which is regarded as a cheap cut. Not sure how you’d share this with friends. Hake was nice but not unforgettable. My mum makes a killer sticky date pudding and sadly Howies didn’t compare. They went for a sort of thin, fruity caramel where I would normally expect a rich butterscotch caramel. May have been better if there was twice as much of it. All of this said the food came out at lightning pace, and the service was some of the best I’ve experienced in a long time. I got the early dinner special and it ended up being well worth the money.

Came in on the off chance, staff very helpful considering I needed gluten free. Food was to ‘die’ for and satisfied our hunger! Would definitely recommend!

I love a good Howie's me. Their haggis is sensational

We were recommended and we understand why, everything was delicious. We ordered meat haggis, vegan haggis, salmon and risotto and for dessert the cheese board. All delicious. Super nice staff and fast service.

Highly recommended to try the typical Scottish dish. Very tasty and very good service

We discovered it the day before. It was full there, so we made a reservation for the next day. The food was absolutely fantastic!!! The service was ok, even if one lady seemed a bit annoyed. Wine with the main course was forgotten. The lady at reception made up for it with her mood. You sit very cramped and therefore have a lot of noise. Every space is used for sitting. But we went somewhere else to have a nice drink with the chef.

The staff was very kind, from start to finish, I ordered the beef which was brought exactly as I wanted it, a delicious soup and the traditional haggis, very good too!!!

Disappointed by the overall experience, especially by the haggis and the banoffee pie which were supposed to be their specialities.

Italian flair in Edinburgh... loud, hectic, spirited… Great food - you should experience it

We were recommended by the guide and it was a big disappointment. They ask you if you want water and charge you for it, instead of giving you a free jug like in the rest of Scotland (there were some at other tables). The two-course offer has fine print because apparently the entire table has to order a main course. Finally, they charge you a 10% service fee (optional) when the waiter was not friendly at all (we paid it because in the end a Spanish guy served us who was friendly and explained everything to us). The canned and bad beer (they bottle it and charge it like Peroni). The correct food (the offer again has small print and does not include several dishes).

The steak & burgers quality were great. It comes with chips that are so small and short they look like leftovers. Was unlucky to have a rude waiter but the rest of the wait staff were nice.

Despite the restaurant being fully booked, the MDs offered us a beautiful table for 1.5 hours. We enjoyed a lovely early dinner! Mika, our waiter, went above and beyond! Fantastic experience!

Popped in for their sticky toffee pudding which hit the spot!

Nice restaurant in the main street of Edinburgh. Typical fish dishes and soups. Good choice of European wines. I recommend for quality and price.

Traditional Scottish food is very good and at a good price, even the desserts. To repeat another day without a doubt

Lots of fun and a very good introduction to Scottish food

Service is very disappointing. The waitress gave us a bill even though we haven’t requested it. Why would we want a bill while we are having our dessert? Even worst, the waitress come back with a card machine asking me to make payment while I am still eating my dessert! We had the table for about 45 minutes up to that point. Surprisingly, the waitress told us they have added 10% service charge to the bill. How this kind of service worth 10% charge? Perhaps, they think all customers are tourists and will not be back anyway. Please improve your service and don’t ruin Edinburgh’s reputation. Post reply update: Thanks for your reply. You have confirmed that it’s your company policy to ask diner to make payment while eating. By the way, at no point I have been informed about the time restriction during my stay.

Good food & even better service!

Food was great and quick and the service good as well. I got the Catch of the day and really liked it.

Howies is a must on a trip to Edinburgh. We love the food in here, especially the Cullen Skink. We've been a few times and never been disappointed. I'd recommend making a reservation as it can get busy.

Great friendly staff and superb artisanal food for incredible deals! Fish was so fresh and haggis was specifically delicious. Fast service as well!

The food was good , the place nice .. unfortunately had some problems with the service even though the made us not pay the desert and drink .. I just don’t like to get excuses just to keep customers calm is always better to admit the mistake. Nice place and nice location

Kinda crowded but not that noisy. One of the best haggis in town.

average food, forgettable location. after booking at 9pm well in advance, we were placed at a table next to a wide open French window on Victoria Street, everything would be fine if it were 28 degrees, unfortunately the thermometer stopped at just 10 degrees, compromising the culinary and social experience of the evening. generally when I enter a place I hope to eat in a warm place, maybe without a jacket or hat, and above all, after our request to close the aforementioned door, we hoped that our request would be granted by the place. in response, we were given the following answer: "unfortunately it's too hot in the kitchen, therefore we have to keep the door open". probably the place strongly believes that the enviable position it enjoys is enough, without caring in the slightest about the experience lived by the customer; in fact we stopped at the table the minimum necessary, also to be able to continue the holiday without illnesses, therefore we think that this is a strategy to have a greater turnover of tables and therefore more customers unaware of what awaits them. AVOID

I went with some friends by chance to that restaurant and it was really worth it. The guy who helped us spoke Spanish and was very friendly. The food was very good and the place was cozy. I recommend it.

Wow, what a sensational restaraunt. First class presentation. First class staff. First class food. After a couple of poor experiences in Edinburgh we certainly hit the jackpot with Howies. Do yourself a favour go to Howies and taste the flavour.

Best restaurant I’ve been to while visiting Edinburgh. Ate there four days in a row as it was so delicious. Everything on the menu is incredible. The haggis is in fact exquisite. The service was really nice as well. Everyone was super lovely. I will definitely go there when I’m back in Edinburgh.

The starter is always Huggies! The main dish is grilled fish, which is delicious. Even if the staff doesn't speak English, they use a translator to kindly take orders. It's a great restaurant!! Reservation is required! It's super delicious!

Unfortunately I can’t recommend Howie’s as a spot for safe gluten free dining - the risotto is marked as containing gluten, and when I asked why as it’s normally naturally gluten free, the kitchen and server said that the rice contains gluten, which rice doesn’t (even ‘glutinous’ rice is GF). In theory I could have taken my chances anyway or chosen a different dish, but my heart had been set on the risotto and I didn’t feel safe eating there if there was such a miscommunication about what ingredients contain gluten, which is a real shame as Howie’s was always a highlight of my trips here from before I had to give up gluten.

It’s a fake place for tourists, food is good but for 45’ dinner they charged automatically 7£ as “discretionary tips” even if I told that I disagree…

Excellent service. Very accommodating as long as you stick to the time limitations. The food is mediocre and there are so many options nearby. The restaurant is cheap for the good quality they serve and I think that's why it's well reviewed in addition to the location.

Nice food, great location, very busy though! The service was so fast but you have limited seating time like us that were given 30 minutes only to eat 😅 so keep that in mind when coming to this restaurant. Overall okay, not the best in the city but good for a one time visit in Edinburgh.

We were delighted with all aspect of our meal here. We did have reservations before arriving which in August in Edinburgh is a must. The staff checked on us many times asked how the food was, were we happy, did we need anything. Food was very good. We were not rushed and things came in a good timing for how busy it was. Glad we came

Nice restaurant in a wonderful location. Lobster 🦞 was a must to have: delicious. Prices aligned to a premium restaurant.

Place in the center, better to book in advance. With the vegetarian dishes removed, the menu is not very extensive, but still includes local dishes. Smaller portions than the city average, and high prices considering this. The raw material is excellent and well cooked, certainly the best steak of our trip to Scotland, grass fed. This is why I don't give less stars. What we didn't like was the chaos in the place, the tables are too close together, without privacy, the waitresses barely pass by. They bumped into my chair and bag all evening, even though we moved the table ourselves to avoid it. They were running so much that they bumped into each other several times, we saw several glasses fall, they gave me the wrong dessert, etc. In short, an unpleasant atmosphere. Dirty bathrooms. They also already suggest on the receipt the tip to leave, 10%, but considering that you pay the equivalent of almost €5 for 4 slices of bread, and that I couldn't wait to go out for the chaos, I honestly didn't left... and wouldn't go back, even though the quality is high.

5 stars all round. Wonderful afternoon experience. The seared game pigeon was just perfect!

I had an incredible experience dining at Howies, even as a solo diner. Despite not having a reservation, they graciously squeezed me in last minute, which I really appreciated. I started with the cullen skink, and I have to say, it's hands down the best chowder I've ever had—rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. For my main course, I went with the roast lamb rump, which was cooked perfectly medium rare. The lamb was tender and full of depth, and it paired perfectly with Stewart’s St Giles beer. The dark, malty notes of the beer really complemented the richness of the lamb. Overall, I highly recommend Howies. The food, service, and ambiance were all top-notch. Whether you're dining solo or with a group, this place is definitely worth a visit!

Kids portion much bigger than adults main, tasty but absolute rip off on portion. Choose kids food! Adult portion are sadly tiny in size.

A magnificent surprise on Victoria St, with incredible attention. We made the reservation a week before landing in Edinburgh, and we were not wrong, since the menu is varied and the quality of the food exceptional. It is a very good place to take into account when planning where to eat when you are walking and sightseeing in Edinburgh.

As recommended by our airbnb host, Howies is a great venue. Had the special offer and in and out within the hour. Haggis starter, a wee dram, hake fillet. Lovely

Fabulous meal, attentive service from Holly and she was spot on with her wine recommendations! Highly recommend, but best to book as very busy - and very loud!

Slick and professional. Enjoyed a great lunch.

Incredible experience overall and the loveliest of servers! Both the lamb and the salmon were fantastic choices

Highly recommend,been to both restaurants,food is fabulous in both.recommend the Haggis starter ,and the Lamb for mains . Sarah at front of house (at Victoria street one ) is a lovely lady ,most welcoming