Howies in Edinburgh, City of

An excellent restaurant, great food and wine and the service was excellent. The building itself is also very beautiful.

One of our favorite stops in Edinburgh whenever we manage to get over from the States.

A great restaurant, excellent food and wine, very busy so do book!!

Lovely restaurant! Very accommodating to my allergies, great food and service.

Food very good. Service ok but girl very quick and a wee bit abrupt which is unusual. She was better when it got quieter so maybe she was stressed. Anyway still very good.

We ordered a steak, fried salmon, and haggis. The haggis was surprisingly good, especially for someone like me who was a bit hesitant to try it. The staff were friendly, too.

Really nice lunch in beautiful surroundings

First time here and I'll definitely be coming back. Good service. Good meal and reasonable price.

Lovely choices for all courses. Friendly and helpful service, great food.

What a lovely restaurant with just the right ambience. The service was super and the food was really delicious. I would totally recommend this restaurant!

I had pan-fried salmon, haggis, chocolate sundae, and white wine (Viognier). I want to try local cuisine and specialties on my trip to England. But if you're a Japanese person who feels that the food is bland or oily when eating out, I think you should come here. It's not oily and makes the most of the ingredients' flavor. I think you can eat food that makes the most of the fresh ingredients. The salmon main dish had crispy skin, but it wasn't overcooked. The seasoning was just right, with the umami and saltiness of the salmon. The asparagus and other vegetables that came with it were fresh and not fried unnecessarily. Unlike other haggis, it wasn't oily. It had the richness and texture of the original innards. The mashed potatoes were also very delicious. The same goes for the chocolate sundae. The mousse, chocolate, and ice cream go really well together. The only downside is that it feels expensive due to the weak yen. If you visit for lunch, you can still eat without worrying about the price. Also, the main dish will probably take some time to prepare, so it's a good idea to come early or order appetizers and drinks and prepare to relax.

First night in Scotland and Howie's didn't disappoint. Great attentive engaging servicd. Enjoyed cullen skink Scottish Salmon, bread and olives and sticky toffee pudding. All were great. Highly recommend.

The staff went above and beyond to welcome us and help us celebrate our honeymoon. Out of this world food and service. I highly recommend this resturant.

We took 4 American friends who were very impressed with the food.

It was my first experience with Scottish cuisine and I truly enjoyed it (more than I expected). Delicious cullen skink, haggis and fish. Highly recommend it.

Enjoyed, but with two of us wearing hearing aids will use the dinning area to the front next time. The buzz in the main room was great but not for us.

My guests loved our dinner at Howie's Waterloo Place. The atmosphere is always lovely, the staff are kind and helpful, the food is amazing, but last night there were many comments of "This is the best I have ever had!" Well done to everyone and thanks so much!

Wonderful lunch. We were made to feel important and cared for by Kris and the team. Wouldn’t hesitate to go back. Lovely experience.

Lovely lunchtime meal. Waiting team were great. A couple of us had upset tummies later in the day-both of us had the Cullen skink.🤔 The rest of the party were fine. This didn’t spoil our day out tho.

Lovely welcome, quick efficient service and delicious food, just the right sized portion all made for a great re-union lunch for our part of 14 people

Lovely waitress, bit of delay with main course but dairy free dessert was delicious

Things to do in Edinburgh to eat real fish and chips. Tasty and hearty. Very friendly service.

We had an excellent lunch, service, food and drinks could not be faulted. Look forward to returning ASAP. We'll done Howies!

Lovely meal with excellent service. Really appreciated the attention to allergy requirements. Thank you!

What a great little restaurant. Excellent service. Delicious food. Reasonable price. Easy convenient location. Definitely a go to place for a nice dinner.

What a lovely lunch. My friend had cullen skink to start, I had the terrine - both delicious. We both then had the catch of the day, and the cod was amazing. Great service as always. We were last out, but there was no attempt to rush us or encourage us to leave before we were ready. Well done again Howie's. We'll be back.

Had been recommended before , but this was my first time , everything was fantastic , definitely coming back.

A lovely restaurant with a typical Scottish atmosphere. We ate very well, and the service was quick and friendly. I recommend it if you are in the area. It is best to book in advance as it is often full.

Elegant setting with decent food. I ordered the filet and my husband ordered the venison. Both were well cooked, but the filet lacked flavor. I even ordered the garlic butter, but it didn't flavor the steak anymore. The steak was cooked to perfection! Kudos for that,

As always Howies is Fantastic Food and Staff Service Amazing, Great Value for Money and Lovely Ambience Please Visit , I go back regularly as It is Such a Lovely Restaurant and Has Amazing Staff who are so attentive

Had a wonderful meal with friends. Our server, Kris, was exemplary.

I had the haggis appetizer, and it was superb. Venison casserole (more of a stew for Americans) was savory and delicious. (Order bread with it. Trust me.) Ended with the dark chocolate crémeax dessert. Perfect meal.

A big thank you to Howie's for making our family catch up over lunch so perfect. There was a lovely atmosphere in the restaurant coupled with a relaxed feeling of spaciousness. The food was superb and the portions were absolutely perfect with there being neither too much or too little. The staff were all very attentive and I particularly liked the way the bill was presented to me explaining that a service charge had been already added provided I approved. I particularly liked this touch as many restaurants don't tell you a service charge had been added and you end up tipping twice. Well done to all the staff at Howie's and am looking forward to another visit soon.

We Had a very pleasant Dinner at Howies. Great Food, very welcoming Services situated in a historic building next to Calton Hill. We would definetly visit again

Amazing service from the minute we arrived and even a joke with one of the servers as we were leaving 😊 The food options are varied and I did have slight food envy of the table beside me. However my food was amazing, perfect flavour and good quantities. One of friends is a coaliac and there is a separate gluten free menu and they have separate cooking utensils etc in the kitchen to make sure there is no contamination. My other friend is a vegetarian and she liked that there are vegetarian options and vegan options. All in, this is one of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh

We went to this restaurant for dinner, table for 4 people. Waitress very friendly and attentive to our needs. We wanted to try typical food, but not the usual pub. Very positive experience, too bad it was the last dinner otherwise we would have returned the next day. Fair price compared to the high standards of the city.

Fab food, great value, lovely atmosphere. Thank you to Elise for making us welcoming and serving us so well. Mixed party of vegetarian and meat eaters - all very happy.

Great for a ladies lunch. Big room and very busy, so can be a bit noisy, though dividers help a bit. Good choice on menu, including vegetarian options. Attentive service, good atmosphere and central location - our go to place for a catch-up lunch. Would recommend

Great food! Great staff! Wonderful atmosphere ❤️

Needing food & refreshment after a healthy walk around/up Carlton Hill we walked in to Howie's and thankfully got a table for two! Staff team were brill and nothing seemed a problem! The food was excellent and service from Milda five ⭐! Well done Howie's, Waterloo Place! We'll defo by back!

We had the most fantastic family dinner at Howies Waterloo Edinburgh! Krys and Lara did everything to please us. They did an amazing job! They made us feel as we are coming every week! The Haggis as starter was fantastic! We did not expect the fine taste! The steaks were a point! But on the top was the slow cooked pork belly! The dinner finished with pudding …. Thank you dear Krys and Lara for this remarkable evening!

The service was very slow, it took an hour from ordering to the main course being served. We arrived at the store at 17:30. Since we did not have an appointment, the store clerk told us that we needed to leave the store before 19:00. But the food was all served at 18:40, and I finished the food in a hurry in more than ten minutes. The taste of the food was also very average. The venison I ordered was very fishy. I couldn't eat it at all after a little. There was a lot left over. This was the worst meal I had in Edinburgh. Although there were quite a lot of locals in the restaurant, I don’t recommend it at all❌ The service was extremely slow—it took a full hour from ordering to the main course being served. We arrived at the restaurant at 17:30, and since we didn’t have a reservation, the staff informed us that we had to leave by 19:00. However, the dishes weren’t all served until 18:40, leaving us just over ten minutes to hurriedly finish our meal. The food was mediocre at best. The venison we ordered had an overpoweringly gamey taste, and after just a few bites, we couldn’t eat any more, leaving most of it untouched. This was the worst meal we had in Edinburgh. Even though the restaurant seemed popular with locals, we absolutely do not recommend it. ❌

If you’re vegetarian or vegan then I would avoid this place, big lump of cabbage (burnt on outside) on the set menu left a lot to be desired. The veggie haggis starter and sticky toffee pudding were both decent to be fair bringing up my overall score. Staff and venue are decent too.

Large retirement party nearby so it was a bit noisier than we expected, but our experience was still very good

Lovely menu, great service, fabulous building. Was, however, very busy and very noisy, and our table of 6 had great difficulty chatting to others apart from those they were sitting next too.

Many thanks to Liza and the chef for a wonderful evening. Two fish entrees, a beef, and a venison: All delicious. And their sticky toffee pudding is worth the trip by itself.

Fantastic quality food for very reasonable prices. Excellent staff who cant do enough to make the dining experience enjoyable. Many thanks to the Manager too who is so professional and interested in her diners

My favourite goto restaurant for lunch. We. Recieved a warm and genuine welcome from our dedicated, friendly and supportive Howies ambassador who tended to our needs throughout service and beyond and made our visit all the more special. Kris is a real asset to the Howies family who clearly puts the customer at the heart of everything he does. As for the food- wonderful as always on recent visits. The dip complimented the Calimari, which was delicious in the crispy and crunchy batter. And as always the Bowyers Venison casserole was melt in the mouth and to die for. Jackie never by passes the salmon main course which was also excellent. The Howies ( Made by a distant relative 😀) was delicious too. Al in all a wonderful experience topped off with the excellent and very personal , kind and attentive service given by Kris at your Waterloo Place restaurant Will definitely be back soon 😀

You really looked after our table very well leaving us to enjoy the special evening. thank you

Definitely make reservation beforehand! But the gluten-free menu was pretty accommodating and delicious

After several disappointing meals in Edinburgh, marked by overly heavy dishes, Howies was a true revelation. The cuisine is refined, generous, and full of authentic Scottish flavors. I enjoyed perfectly tender venison, enhanced by a rich sauce and accompanied by delicately crafted vegetables: tender carrots, lightly sautéed potatoes, and earthy red beets. The dessert, worthy of a fine dining table, beautifully concluded the meal. The service is warm yet discreet, and the ambiance feels like a French bistro — simple, convivial, but with a uniquely Scottish soul. A must-visit for true food lovers.

I went for dinner to taste the typical dishes of Scottish cuisine. The restaurant has an elegant interior, the staff is extremely friendly and the service is fast. We booked in advance as it is almost always full. Excellent experience! Absolutely must try!

Eravamo in cinque e ci siamo andati a pranzo il giorno di Pasqua e c’hanno riservato “un angolino” molto carino e con privacy disposto in parte su divanetti. Il cibo e il servizio sono stati buoni. Lo consiglio!

Excellent meal and only surpassed by the superb level of service from Agne. She was so attentive. This was an 80th birthday lunch and it was a great success so thank you.

We had dinner in the private dining room and everything was perfect from start to finish. Cannot recommend highly enough. Absolutely delighted with the food, service and the room itself. Thank you

Everything was delicious. Service was excellent and we liked the atmosphere very much. I highly recommend to everyone who is visiting Edinburgh

Visited twice during our 5 days in Edinburgh. Really excellent, food, atmosphere and service. I would recommend this excellent restaurant without hesitation.

At the top! Kris provided the service perfectly. Good food and good wines

Really enjoyed our reunion lunch. Everything was great. I would just point out it was 2 years ago we had a similar meeting and would you believe the menu was exactly the same! Perhaps a change would be appreciated but still enjoyed the food.

We hadn't made a reservation but were given a table in the private dining area which had a quieter atmosphere but is a lovely room. Our waitress, Agne, looked after us very well and the food was fantastic. I've eaten in Howie's a few times over the years but it was the first time for my friends who both day they would definitely eat there again when they return to Edinburgh.

I recently had dinner at Howies on a Saturday night and, unfortunately, left feeling disappointed. Our waitress was noticeably rude when taking our order and later when we asked for assistance splitting the bill. However, she seemed much more friendly and attentive toward other guests, which left us wondering if our treatment had anything to do with the fact that we are tourists from an Asian country. Additionally, when we received the bill, we noticed a £1 charge for a donation to an organization we had never heard of — and for which we were never asked to consent. While it was a small amount, I felt uncomfortable being charged for something without any prior notice. Overall, the experience left a sour impression, and I would be hesitant to return.

Very kind and attentive service, comfortable and refined environment. We were there for Easter lunch and they gave us a beautiful table in a niche where we had maximum privacy. Good steak but really too peppery. However, the roasted cauliflower wasn't that great.

Pretty pleasant brasserie but a bit limited menu choice! Reception at the entrance laborious

This is a very good restaurant, I eat here regularly and I think it is great

Visited here a week ago. Great atmosphere, incredible food. I'll be visiting again. Thank you!

Food and service excellent and location of table ideal for us with slightly impaired hearing. Thank you.

I think it is one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh. They have 3 locations throughout the city, as we arrived in Edinburgh we walked around and destiny took us to eat here. Spectacular service, very friendly and attentive waiters at all times. Free tap water, and we ate a dish and a dessert for 20 pounds per person, which seems like a more than correct price for the great quality they offered. I 100% recommend the burger, it was exquisite, as well as the mac&cheese. The lemon dessert was delicious and very well presented. Everything is excellent, really.

Touristy. Staff were really nice. Food was just okay. Price was too high, but to be expected in the heart of the tourist area.

Always great food and service at Howie’s Waterloo Place. The lunch is great value and everything of the highest quality. Highly recommended.

We took our friends for 50th wedding anniversary two course lunch. The service was prompt and with a smile, food was excellent and we all enjoyed our afternoon.

Went here for my birthday it was amazing, great service and the food was amazing. Much better than i expected. Lives up to its reviews!

Always great service and great food at a very reasonable price!

Good value for money with great Scottish classics, friendly and accomodating staff, in a very pretty place. Great to grab a dinner after a stop at Calton Hill.

Food, service and ambience were very good. Ev. The food could have a little more taste.

Everything was 5 stars. Definitely will come back

Food was very tasty and cooked very well! Service excellent! We were served my Kris who was very professional, polite and engaging! He looked after me, my wife and family very well! We throughly enjoyed our visit and I would highly recommend the restaurant as a place to visit!

Had a lovely evening and a great culinary experience!

Traditional cuisine. Plain flavored. Very busy restaurants need reservation in advance. Good stick pudding and haggis and salmon. Soup of the day is the best! Dear strew bit not recommend.

All very good and impeccable service... Almost perfect...

Another fantastic lunch at Howies Waterloo Place

I love the payroll receptionist🌸

"Discretionary charge" is not a common thing in this country and should be clearly started in the menu. Waiting times are very long.

Very rude staff at the front. Restaurant closed 1.5 hours earlier than advertised.

Absolutely fantastic lunch, as always, at Howies! Kris served us and was brilliant. Perfect balance of attentive, whilst leaving us to enjoy :) it was my mums birthday and he made it very special for us - it was very much appreciated. Best service I’ve had in a long time. Food and wine was great also. Will be back!

First time to visit Howies and was not disappointed. Kris, our waiter was very helpful and pleasant. Food and wine were excellent and would definitely visit again when we're next in Edinburgh.

Always a pleasure to dine at Howies. Food & service always excellent. Can highly recommend.

Excellent team running restaurant. Special mention of Beth - she was welcoming, efficient and added much to our enjoyment and experience.

We had a lovely lunch with family. Would definitely recommend.

I had the cullen skink and the catch of the day(cod). They were delicious. Service was fantastic too

Even though it is a nice place, we were surprised by the "discretionary" fee/tip that no one told us was optional and it added almost 8£ more to our bill. So be aware of that! The beer costs almost 7£ and it's in a can, I was badly surprised.

My beef burger was a bit tough. My friends’ meals were all fine.

Lively, vibrant atmosphere as always. No pressure to leave after we finished eating. Perhaps a little bit noisy for people with hearing difficulties

Excellent food, attentive and kind service. Lovely atmosphere

You can find an authentic Scottish food here. The price is not cheap but the quality is great. I love the great Scottish atmosphere in the restaurant. Try it before you leave Edinburgh!

Always tasty food. Good service and the 2 course menu is good value.

Fantastic food, good service, lovely dining room

While the atmosphere and the staff were very friendly, I was unimpressed with the cuisine. The Cullen skink was under seasoned and the carrot side was over seasoned.

Good as always. Service was a little slow after first course. But it was Friday lunchtime! I will be back soon.

Very good food with good prices and wonderful service. They have an extensive menu and the guy who served us recommended us very well. 100% recommended.

Got the early dinner sets Service was attentive and charming Haggis is tied best I've tried, and the accompaniments were great Cullen skink was pleasant and executed well as well Mains of cod and pork belly were overpriced, bland and not crispy. Famous banoffee pie has good reason to be famous, it's quite well executed. Banana taste comes thru and it's quite refined, not overwhelming Overall pretty good except that it's quite pricey, their traditional Scottish stuff are good but the mains are lacking