Makars Gourmet Mash in Edinburgh, City of

Favourite meal in edinburgh, thanks jess & jonny. Highly recommend the beef!

Spectacular, good music, service, and prices commensurate with the quality. Eimaer is very nice.

Food was amazing. Scottish egg, lamb shank and beef were incredibly soft, potatoes velvety and everything full of flavor. Sticky toffee cake was delish! Ash and Scott were amazing.

We were recommended this place by our tour guide and showed up without a reservation. They told us there would be a 20-minute wait for a table The food was outstanding. We both had the beef with mash and the lamb shank — absolutely delicious The prices were very reasonable, especially considering the location right in the heart of Edinburgh. The atmosphere was lovely, and even though the staff were incredibly busy, they were still so friendly and welcoming. The service was great. We especially loved the decor downstairs — very cozy and charming. The only thing I didn’t like was the chair — but that’s a minor complaint compared to how fantastic everything else was. Highly recommend!

After reading all the hypes and reviews of this place, we were very excited to eat here. However we found the food disappointingly bland. It was ok but we weren’t sure what the fuss was about.

Hard to say which I liked better(!)—the food or the service. Exceptionally friendly welcome at the walk-in entrance (didn’t have a resi), and somehow every person with whom I engaged from there was just as friendly if not friendlier. Even though I was just a party of one, they gave me a seat at a 4-5 top. Had the lamb over mustard mash and left no crumbs! Kidding—unfortunately the portion was so generous I did have to leave a little behind—but not for lack of tastiness—the meal was fantastic. Highly recommend for a great, easy meal

Absolutely awesome! Was very tasty. Everyone very friendly. More than recommended!

Visited Edinburgh for the first time and found that Makars was highly recommended online. From the moment we stepped inside we were greeted by friendly staff (Tate, Scott and David) who had great senses of humour. The food itself was delicious, after all day of walking all over town having a plateful of tender lamb shank and creamy flavoursome mash was perfect. The portions were more than reasonable as was the price. Highly recommend to anyone and everyone who finds themselves in Edinburgh.

Delicious food, quick and friendly service! I have wanted to try this place for ages and finally went yesterday, the veggie haggis was delicious and such a wholesome, cozy meal with the mash. I loved the sauce, so flavourful and I enjoyed every bite. So perfect 💕 lots of gluten free options too which is great for me. Loved seeing the mushrooms downstairs too Thanks so much!

Delicious food, in my case I tried a mini haggis and also the chicken dish on top of a bed of house puree and haggis sauce. The portions are quite generous and the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is quite pleasant at the tables in the basement. The serving staff is extremely friendly. It has a high demand in the afternoons so the wait for a table can be up to half an hour, so I recommend going to reserve and then return.

Had a great meal at Makars Mash Bar! The food was delicious, especially the mash — super creamy and full of flavor. Big thanks to Roman for being so friendly and helpful. He really made the experience even better. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for good food and great service.

We were looking for a traditional Scottish meal while in Edinburg and found the Makars Mash Bar as an option. It was the perfect choice! Nice and friendly staff, we had our table even before the reservation time (I strongly recommend making a reservation). Good menu, great prices and the food was amazing!

Great find. Excellent selection of veggie and vegan options - The lion’s mane was delicious 👌🏻

Best food I’ve ever tried! It was so good, we highly recommend this place. Hannah and Rae were great and very friendly. We’ll definitely come back :)

My favorite restaurant in Edinburgh! The friendly staff and wonderful food make my short work trips something to look forward to. A little home away from home, with delicious, high quality food. Thank you for always making me feel welcome, and taking care of me.

The only reason I give them a 4 is because the seats and tables were too close to each other. I get is a popular spot and tends to be crowded and they want to be able to fit many people but you can feel a lil bit uncomfortable. The food was well cooked but lacks of seasoning a bit on the meat. The servers were really nice. You can give them a chance if you want to try traditional local food. The fruit crumble was delicious.

Absolutely outstanding experience! The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making us feel truly welcome. The haggis dish (see photos) was exceptional — beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. The layers of creamy mash, rich and flavorful haggis, and sweet potato topping, all brought together by a perfectly seasoned sauce, were simply unforgettable. A place where you can really taste the passion and care in every detail. Highly recommended

Best mash potatoes ever tried. Went for second time unlucky full house. Met the store supervisor Bryan so kind and offered us desserts but we rejected. Don’t wish to accept free stuff. Just the foods there I think everything were good. Don’t forget to come here if you’re at Edinburgh.

Very good food and atmosphere! Our server Vasilis was great! Would definitely recommend this restaurant Especially to vegetarians!

Great spot for a traditional Scottish dishes

We saw it recommended on TripAdvisor and it was a great choice. The place is cozy, the staff very friendly, and the food was very good. It's a great place to try traditional cuisine. The portions are generous, though. We went around 1:30 p.m. and had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated because it was packed, so I recommend going early. Highly recommended.

Delicious food in a family-friendly restaurant. A must-go to every visitor of Edinburgh.

Stayed in Edinburgh for two days and went to Makars for dinner on both evenings because that’s how good it is!!! the food, the service, the atmosphere were all spectacular. Tried both the lamb and the beef shoulder and both were superb. Plus got the chance to try a proper scotch egg which was also delicious. 10/10 highly recommend dining at Makars! If you didn’t reserve ahead of time like we did, they also accommodate walk-ins so definitely give it a go!

I would give it 10 stars if possible. We ordered the slow-cooked lamb shank, and I have to say it was an explosion of incredible flavors, accompanied by delicious mashed potatoes and cheese. The beers are very good, and so are the desserts. The service was just as good as the food; "El Mexicano" and "Kristen Steward" (a local joke) are the best. Since we didn't have a reservation, we had to wait an hour, but it was worth it; the views are beautiful. I will definitely return and show you my review for a laugh. And I will also return to try the beautiful mushrooms they produce themselves. I truly have to say we were amazed by Scottish cuisine; it deserves to be more famous, but it is definitely part of the surprise and magic of the city. Thanks for my hat! See you soon. Greetings from Cancún, Mexico.

Went here solo for dinner without a reservation but the place was packed so I had to wait for 20 minutes. The staff were all lovely and the service was pretty quick. I ordered the slow cooked beef shoulder with gravy and it was such a hearty meal. Mash was great too. Devoured my plate within minutes. Although I would agree with some of the reviews; I wish the beef had more flavor especially after having been cooked a very long time. The gravy definitely made up for it though and maybe it’s just me but I wish my order had a tad bit more gravy! I understand the hype and it is definitely worth going here for the experience. Would come back if I can.

Wow! Fantastic meal!!! Definitely lived up to its worldwide reputation!!! Voted best casual dining in UK and top 9 casual dining spots worldwide in TripAdvisor! We would have to agree based upon our dining experiences over 10 days of dining out across the UK. Everyone in our group absolutely LOVED their meals. We had the Crown of Slow-cooked Beef, the Bonnie Prince Charlie Spatchcock Chicken, mashers of all sorts, soup, and broccoli….do not miss the long broccoli- in US we call that broccolini…It was incredible… all of it…

Excellent traditional Scottish food. Great staff. You need to book in advance or you'll be waiting for a seat, but it's worth it.

Go here. You have to. The food is incredible and it has a great atmosphere. The reels and TikTok videos don’t do it justice. Sometimes a restaurant transcends hype and defines itself on a different level, and Makars Mash Bar is that restaurant. It’s worth every penny, and worth making a reservation.

The food here was unreal! I have a beef allergy and they were so conscious with my food which is really appreciated. It’s really affordable and the applewood mash was something to write home about for sure!

Supper restaurant so much I recommend

Great location, local food, meat or veggie. We liked the service, the place and the food!!

First time in Scotland and this place was great! Food was amazing! Drinks really great too! Highly recommend!

Great food and service as always!

This is a great restaurant! It was very nice of them to make an exception to let us in to eat for around an hour. The scotch egg is a must, and of course, the mashed potatoes! They were all extremely delicious comfort foods! Definitely should come over!

Managed to get a walk in table for 4 people at 2pm. Was given a free dish,The lions mane mushrooms, and bacon and spring onion mash in peppercorn sauce. Amazing, would order next time. The rest of the food was honestly fantastic food, and my two fussy kids loved it. I witnessed one of the waiters, ginger guy, explain the menu to some chinese patrons in Mandarin. Highly recommended.

Very busy place, the staff ist is polite and helpful. If there is no seats available, they do offer to send you a text message to let you know when a table is ready for you if you decide to Reservate with short notice a table

Fantastic meals, service was great

I would like to go there again to try some other food, but unfortunately I did not have time. Next time!

All of the food was absolutely outstanding! The Scotch egg starter was very nice. I had the incredibly delicious and tender beef shoulder that just fell apart, that came with lovely smooth mash and amazing gravy covering the lot. My partner ordered the lamb shank and was equally impressed all round! For dessert, I had probably one of the best sticky toffee puddings I've ever tasted. Our server Jacek was really chatty and friendly, he was attentive and the service was quick. The restaurant was busy but we didn't feel rushed to finished. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Edinburgh!

Really glad we went there, even though it took us a few tries to get in. I had the lion's mane mushroom with mustard mash and would absolutely recommend it. You might have to book a table about a week in advance. We managed to get in by showing up for lunch, about 15 minutes before they opened. There was already a line outside but we did get a table once the opened. The night before they told us they were fully booked even for walk-ins.

This is our third visit and my first choice for my birthday meal. I'd recommend booking as it's extremely popular . The food and service are excellent and thank you to Anya for the birthday dessert 🎂. We'll definitely be back.

First visit to this place on Saturday after trying to get in on the Friday. Easter weekend in Edinburgh was super busy we thought we could book online, however, it was fully booked and only taking walk ins. The reviews sounded amazing and with the very busy ques for walk ins we thought it must be very very good and worth waiting for. We weren't wrong! Wow! Just Wow 👌 the food was outstanding, very full portions size's all cooked to perfection. We both had the haggis starter followed by the beef and mash and lamb shank. It was out of this world. To be fair all the dishes we saw going out looked amazing. The wine was lovely, and went perfectly with our dishes.menu was great with lots of choice. Very reasonable priced in the heart of Edinburgh. My only critique is that there is not one in Glasgow 😀 the place was mobbed, lovely atmosphere, the staff were ran off their feet and all very friendly and welcoming. Great service..we will be back

Absolutely make a reservation and eat here. Savor it. Every bite was delicious. We had the slow-roasted beef should with olive oil mash, broccoli, Scotch egg, and topped it off with a crumble for dessert. The best meal we had in Edinburgh. The service is attentive, polite, and positive. Loved this restaurant!

Wow!! This place is amazing to say the least. This is how food should be cooked, simple ingredients, that are cooked to perfection. I had the shoulder of beef with the horseradish mash. It came with a side of pickled slaw, which complemented the meal perfectly. For dessert I had traditional Scottish cranachan which was divine. Service was first class too, super attentive service and very friendly. Highly recommend that you book in advance as there is always a Que. will definitely be back.

Great place, friendly service and busy atmosphere. The lamb shank with cheddar mash was excellent, and the veg haggis was OK. An extra plus for the gluten free stout and many alternatives for allergies

Absolutely delicious and hearty meal. Worth the wait if you’re a walk in.

Good food and price. Service quite quick. Better to book in advance.

After putting our names down for a table (estimated 45 mins at the time) we came back and it was worth the wait. Husband had the lamb shank whilst I had the mushrooms. Super tasty so can see why it’s popular. To note there are two restaurants. One for walk ins and the other for bookings. To save disappointment make a reservation. If you like to take a chance, be mindful that the staff are trying their best to manage customers expectations.

What an amazing place! Cosy and friendly vibe and the food? Wow! Absolutely amazing! Very much looking forward to visiting again.

A great experience! Described as the best Haggis in Britain and it's true! Everything is really good and despite the endless wait, it's definitely worth it! Special mention to the sticky toffee pudding: also the best I have tasted!

The line was packed in the morning for walk-ins, so we came back around 2pm and only waited 30 minutes. The Scotch egg and lamb were a bit underwhelming, but the lion’s mane mushroom was delicious. Would absolutely recommend that, and the sticky toffee pudding!

I’d give it more stars if I could! Best food we had in Scotland on this trip! Lamb was perfectly cooked and veggie haggis was devine according to my partner. Excellent staff. Always return when I visit Edinburgh!

Portions were absolutely massive and full of flavour—especially loved the lamb shank and mash combo. The real star though? That sticky toffee pudding. Easily one of the best I’ve had! Cosy spot and great comfort food, perfect for a hearty meal.

Stay away. Absolutely useless staff. Opening hours are just made up.

We went to the walk-in restaurant. The waitlist system worked well. Service is friendly and the food is delicious and hearty. Very pleased!

One of the best meals we had on our lifetime to be honest, not just in this city. The chicken was so tender and the portion enormous. The angus beef was also to die for. Also tried the sticky toffee that was incredible. We expected it to be great, but not that good. DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE!

Simply amazing! Delicious meat and mash and the friendliest staff! Had to open up the button on the jeans for dessert, but definitely worth it. Recommend to reserve in advance!!

Started off really well on my first trip to Scotland. Great place. Hearty food ♥️

They serve warm food, lovely staff

So tasty, delicious and well presented food experience. I chose the lamb. All staff efficient and friendly. You should go if you are in the city!! Important: I had to wait for an hour because I did not book in advance. However, it was worth it!

Nice food, the waitress (I think her name was Amy) was super kind

Really good food! Staff was super friendly. A bit of a tight space, but worth the stop!

Most amazing, service was excellent. The only way we could get in was eat on the deck, a bit chilly but so worth it!

Incredible food (lamb shank, cranachan) and friendly service

We got to dine at MMB 24 hours later, also attempted to get bookings online. But it was so busy. Being patient by queuing won us a place which was well worth it. Totally recommend the shank and the beef as mains . Thank you to the team that took care of us.

During our planned holiday in Edinburgh, we had the chance to visit this restaurant known for its traditional dishes, which was on our itinerary. The place was quite busy, and it was clear that it’s a popular spot. Despite the crowd, the service for both drinks and food was impressively quick. I believe the speed of service was due to the fact that many of the dishes had been prepared in advance using traditional methods. We managed to try almost all the key items on the menu. The meats were cooked to a nice balance, and the presentation was simple and traditional which, in my view, shouldn’t be overly interpreted or modernised. When it comes to traditional cuisine, it’s important to respect its roots and subtleties. That said, I felt the meats could have been more flavourful if they had been marinated a bit longer; they tasted somewhat plain. It seemed that the gravy was used to compensate for the lack of depth in flavour. It wasn’t bad by any means, but there’s room for enhancement with a bit more attention to seasoning. One downside was the seating arrangement. Our table was extremely close to the next one, making it feel like we were dining with strangers which was a bit uncomfortable. If you’re in Edinburgh, I recommend giving this place a try, but also make time to explore smaller, more traditional establishments for a deeper experience of Scottish cuisine.

Vegetarian options available (albeit low protein). 1.5h wait is common unless you have a reservation.

This is your sign to make your reservations!! The BEST Haggis dish ever!! The appetizer could have been my meal, but of course, I had to try more than one dish! The walk-in restaurant is separate from the reservation portion. The servers were very friendly and didn't make us feel unwanted since we had an infant in our reservation. It was a perfect meal after exploring the castle!

Read the reviews online. They weren't wrong, great food, great staff, great service

We had the best lunch here after visiting the castle. My husband and I split the lamb shank over cheddar mash and ate every single bite! Service was fast and friendly, and we saw lots of travelers, including larger groups and families with children. Would definitely return!

There are 2 bars within 20m of each other! The lamb shank with mashed potatoes and gravy was perfect. Very polite staff. Unfortunately, they leave the side door open even when the outside temperature is 8 degrees. This is also because there are actually people eating outside in these temperatures. In any case, we were cold because of the point deduction for ambience.

Had My 50th Surprise Birthday Meal Here And Had An Amazing Time,Staff Were Brilliant And The Food Was Incredible.This Place Is Amazing And Highly Recommended

I choose my locations from others experiences and Google never fails me! This place is awesome. Amazing atmosphere. Attentive staff. Authentic food. When in Edinburgh, you have to try this place.

Great vibe and great people. Henrique and Jonny were excellent. They accommodated us at a very very busy time. Thanks so much. Food was out pretty quick. Their drinks were good. Lamb, soup, mashes and mushrooms are exceptional. 1 star out for chicken being tough with gamy after taste and lamb sauce being salty.

Amazing food. They have a brilliant reputation for good reason.

This is THE place in Edinburgh to try some all time Scottish/British classics! The staff is very kind, shout out to Henrique in particular which was very patient and kind with our large group!

It’s worth the hype. Make a reservation and enjoy!

A very popular restaurant with traditional Scottish food.

It was good but the seat was uncomfortable.

The first time I came here was about 6 years ago, when I was studying in Edinburgh. After all this time, the quality of the dishes has remained excellent. Thanks to the staff - especially Ash and Neo - who were always kind and helpful.

Honestly everything is really good. Fast professional....all this with good value for money....on the other hand it is IMPERATIVE TO RESERVE otherwise impossible to find a place

Friendly service, food was 50/50, dessert was amazing. In all fairness, one of the mains was a vegetarian dish—and maybe not why most people go there. The lamb was perfectly done, all the sides were delicious, but the vegetarian sausage was a big miss! It was dry, bread like, dense, rather flavorless, and left a lot to be desired (although, the sauce was super tasty!). With all the mushrooms they grow and flavors I tasted in the other dishes, these sausages could have been really amazing. Scotch egg also could have arrived hot—it was lukewarm which gave me the impression it had been sitting for some time. To end, we had the toffee pudding. WOW—that was amazing!

The place was packed with people, luckily we had a reservation. Spacious environment with all nice workers. As for the food, the dish we ordered from the image (I don't remember the name very well) was very delicious, a good and fresh product.

We ended here through Google maps can complain though the food was great. It was a pretty busy place we had to put our names and wait but it was worth the time.

Food was incredible and portions were large. The beef and the lamb were tender and cooked perfectly. Definitely be back

The food is really good, but it's the staff that make this place special ♥️

I’ve wanted to try this place for a few years and glad I did. It’s an enjoyable meal, it’s hearty and feels like good pub grub. I opted for the lamb shank and sticky toffee pudding, personally I wouldn’t be in a rush to go back but a must try if you’re in central Edinburgh.

Must-go experience for any mash lovers. Please note there are two locations right next to each other. One covers reservations, the other one walk ins. We manage to get on the list for walk ins and ended up being called about 45 minutes after signing up. Their menu is pretty simple. Choose a meat (or veggie option) and a mash. That’s it. Simple. They got it PERFECT! Super tasty and quick!

Haggis black pudding ◯ Scotch eggs ◯

From the food to the service everything was perfect, so much so forgot to take photos of our main! Just remember to book as it does, deservedly get very busy.

It was good food. Hot, fresh, quick! Service was awesome and the greeters were welcoming and accommodating! Even if you’re doing a walk in, there are things around the area to do while you wait.

A super delicious dinner, quick friendly service,

Great services As well as the food. The lamb shank was so tender and liked so much of bacon potato mash.

Great food and a lively atmosphere. Make a reservation to ensure you’re able to get in and experience this amazing spot.

We went up to Edinburgh from London for a friend’s 50th birthday celebration and Makars Mash was recommended to us with good online reviews. We had to book well in advance which was a good idea as the place was packed. They also have a smaller walk-in restaurant a few meters from this one. There were 9 of us and we were all seated together at one big table and promptly. The food was extremely tasty, decent portion sizes with good value for money. The service was also excellent. The only negative really was the white wine we ordered wasn’t to our taste, nor was the bottle cold. This, however, was a relatively minor issue as everything else was great. I had the beef with cheese mash with extra gravy which was absolutely delicious. I will definitely visit Makars again.

We ordered the SCOTCH EGG STARTER as a starter, which we thought was amazing, 10/10. For the main course, I ordered the CROWN OF SLOW COOKED BEEF SHOULDER, 9/10, which was also very tasty, but for me the highlight was the dessert, VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH BAILEYS, 10/10. I had a draft IPA from Pilot, which was worth it. The place was nice, with good service, I really recommend it, I have no negative comments! We are from Brazil and have traveled to some cities in the UK.

Amazing place. Superb slow cooked lamb shank and vegetarian haggis. We walked in and managed to get a place after an hour which they contacted us once the table was available. The service was excellent.

Great little spot, make sure you book. Food was great, felt like it was home cooked.

This place just keeps on naking me happy each time I travel 550 miles to Edinburgh. Fantastic food

Great food. Great atmosphere. Fantastic service.