Portcullis in Stirling

Great spot to drop in before or after Stirling Castle. Very cool interior and service and food great !

The staff are amazing! Really lovely place!

Excellent service staff couldn't have been more helpful and pleasant,food really good freshly made and hot will definitely visit again highly recommend, advise to book table as this is a very bust restaurant

Awful service! They do not know how to work when it is busy. After waiting more than 10 minutes for someone to help us, a waitress came telling us that we can wait at the bar for the next table that is free. We waited at the bar and after other ten minutes they told us that there is a cue of people to get a table before us. We left and found a great restaurant just few meters later.

This place has been there almost as long as the castle itself. Food is great and the portions are huge! I know dozens of people who have eaten here and not one of them had ever had anything negative to say.

Excellent place for lunch. Very close to major buildings of historical interest including Stirling Castle.

Had dinner at the pub, the steak pie was delicious and very generous portion, great value. Leanne was amazing , she was so fast , friendly and efficient that it was inspiring to watch. Thank you !

Super nice restaurant with great interior design (you feel like you're in a castle) right next to Stirling Castle! There are many traditional dishes and the food was really very good. Since the building also houses a hotel, it naturally has a more touristy feel. I can definitely recommend the restaurant.

Only went there for lunch but didn't disappoint, excellent menu, quality food and drinks served by efficient and courteous staff that went out of their way to cope with an extremely busy restaurant.

What a great find. We were so happy with our stay at th Portcullis. The location was amazing. There are many walking trails near the hotel/castle to allow for beautiful early morning walks. Food was amazing and this was probably the best bed and bedding I found on our trip to Scotland.

I ate the best chili con carné in your hotel 1 year ago and I still dream of it. I liked it so much that I returned to your place the next day to enjoy it a second time. Too bad Sterling is so far from home 😅 I would have been a loyal customer ☺️. I will come back

Siamo venuti qua per prendere un caffè espresso (molto buono) prima di visitare il castello poco più su e ci siamo fortemente pentiti di non averci fatto pranzo. Il locale è meraviglioso, ricco di storia e tradizione. I prezzi erano anche abbastanza buoni. Personale gentilissimo nonostante fosse molto pieno.

We stopped here for dinner and were warmly greeted by the staff. The food is a delicious and lovingly prepared work of art. We would come back at any time.

Reviewing the pub only. We made an impromptu decision to visit for lunch. It's just a lovely traditional pub. The atmosphere was great. The staff were welcoming and friendly. The menu is extensive with lots of choices. We went for the scampi with fries, fish and chips as well as highland chicken. Everything was delicious and freshly made. The prices are reasonable. For the 3 meals and 3 soft drinks we paid just under £50. Because it's a traditional pub, it's not overly spacious inside but there's an outdoor area. We didn't see a kids menu but our daughter was allowed to have a packed lunch which was amazing because a lot of places don't allow that. The location could not be better - right beside the Stirling Castle. We'd be happy to dine there again.

Haven’t been here for over 30 years quite sad actually 🙂 Went there with my wife for a wedding anniversary dinner The reception from moment arrived till we left was outstanding nothing was any bother to the staff My wife had the ham salad with potatoes this was superbly presented and tasted lovely I had the chicken with haggis again presented perfectly and tasted superb Had a couple of drinks and the bill was surprisingly great value Usually you find in establishments near tourist attractions the prices are inflated Not her worth every penny this will now be a regular place for me while visiting Stirling

Lovely bar meal with mum and dad excellent meal and service Just how they should be done 5 star

Very good food, very good service, next to the castle, better to book.

We stopped by for an early supper after visiting Stirling Castle. The dining room was absolutely charming with vintage/historic appeal. There was a fire going, adding to ambience. The food was served promptly and filled our bellies for the next leg of our journey into the Highlands. We had a bit of an issue with our rental car and our cellphones weren't working. Staff was very kind to let us use their phone to get sorted. I was surprised to see how reasonable the menu prices are. This place is situated right at the foot of the castle. If it were in the USA, they would have gauged you simply because they could. Porticullis was lovely in every way. Definitely worth a visit.

We were eating on our trip to Stirling, the guide recommended it to us and it was a success. I ordered a homemade puree, since it was very cold, and it was delicious, although I don't know what it was. It was accompanied by bread and butter. Also highlands chicken, it was chicken with haggis and whiskey sauce (sort of) and it was delicious!!! If I traveled to Stirling again I would eat there again. The atmosphere of the living room is very beautiful, with a large fireplace, classic armchairs, very Scottish. There was a patio outside, but it was very cold. I loved.

Great food. Right next to stirling castle. Awesome owner and employees. Stayed here 3 nights, loved it and would stay here again in the future !

We have eaten quite well in this place. We ordered lasagna and macaroni and cheese, which were quite good and came in a good quantity. The attention of the waitresses was excellent, very friendly and the perfect environment next to the castle. Very clean bathrooms. They have a baby changing table. I recommend your visit.

We were lucky this place could accommodate our group after our visit to Stirling Castle. It was very busy but we came at the right time to get a table. Our server was very nice and entertaining. The food was good. This place might have been my favorite fish and chips of our trip. It was also exciting to see Blackthorn Cider on tap. We can never find that in the states!

I visited this local restaurant with a group of four friends. The staff welcomed us and made us feel at home. The food was excellent and as other reviewers mention very hearty. There are traditional pub food of fish and chips, burgers etc however some different meals are also to be found. There were two main meal specials and a desert special too. We enjoyed our food with staff being attentive but not over bearing. overall an excellent place for some hearty traditional food. it may also be worth booking as it seemed very popular.

I only went to eat and it seemed like a nice place, with Magnus food (exquisite soup of the day) at a reasonable price for its location. The waiter was great.

Very good food, excellent service, friendly and efficient. And the place was very cozy, very Scottish, we loved it :)

Location is good. But the waitress is so arrogant and rude. I regret to come here. Moreover, the dish is so small and can not match the price!

Must try for anyone coming to Stirling the steak pie is amazing and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. I really can recommend the portcullis enough with it's stone wall and open fire it's amazing

This restaurant sits right at the bottom of the hill at the end of the castle grounds. By then, you'll need a break, as we finished our 9:30am castle tour. So, the location is key. There are just a few tables inside; so, make a reservation for a casual lunch a few weeks before your trip, if it's durning summer. I emailed them and Val responded quickly. Note that folks who came in without a reservation were served outside, if possible. Because of frequent wind and/or showers, we ate all our meals inside. The food was delicious! We had large, juicy burgers and my husband had a chocolate milk shake. We enjoyed the great food and traditional pub atmosphere and were able to regroup for our next activity.

Prominent location above the Stirling town right next to the castle.. but also obviously ancient look of an solitary stony building.. it all attracts most of the visitors. And they won't be disappointed at all. Large warm fireplace is just underlining cosy atmosphere of rather smaller restaurant. Good Scottish cuisines, great coffee and mainly well chilled Guinness.. all worth the money! Their FishAndChips were fine and extra large!

Had the smoked salmon and prawn salad very fresh a tasty nice atmosphere friendly staff and saw neil oliver the Scottish historian and archaeologist would highly recommend 👌

Review for the pub/restaurant. Was passing through Stirling and was enticed by the good review score. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. The draught beer selection is not very ample, and I found food to be average. 5-star for the service, however, which was very good; staff was kind. Lovely spot in town, however, in a very nice area close to the Castle.

The Portcullis used to be my local back when I lived in Stirling over 12 years ago. It was my first time being there since and it hasn't changed at all - still has a great selection of drinks, food and a nice beer garden at a very affordable price. Plus once you're finished you have a gorgeous view of Stirling and the castle to greet you. What's not to love?

Horrible service. Waited 10mins at the entrance before somebody came and finally acknowledged us, then to be told they had no space unless we made a reservation even though 70% of the restaurant was empty. Rude and unprofessional. What a waste of a trip.

Lovely meal, staff very friendly and accommodating

Came here for a drink and an evening meal. The pub is set in a nice location and is lovey inside. Staff are incredibly nice and friendly - genuinely really lovely. So why not a higher score? The food was awful. Garlic bread fine. But the beef and haggis burger. As well as the steak were really bad. The accompanying salad terrible and like something out of the seventies. Would I eat here again? No. Would I enjoy a pint here? Yes. I’d truly love to score this place higher as the staff are so nice. But the food is really bad.

Truly terrible service, extremely rude waitresses with aversion towards non-British tourists, to be avoided.

Popped in for lunch yesterday,hadn't been in a while and it did not disappoint chile was so tasty.

The restaurant staff were friendly, the atmosphere was nice, and the prices were cheap compared to a hotel restaurant, but the fish and chips I ordered were average. For dessert, I ordered a latte, which I liked because it was large. Because it was located very close to Stirling Castle, there were many customers.

It was a perfectly successful lunch! We wanted a good, typically British meal and we were not disappointed. To begin with, the setting immerses us in an authentically local atmosphere. The service was fast but not rushed, and the staff were lovely. We ordered two glasses of wine which were generously served. We ate a “portcullis burger” and a “steak pie”. Both dishes were hearty and the plates varied (lots of side dishes, that's a real plus). The food was very good. Enough to change the minds of those who say that Scottish and English cuisine is bad!

For the restaurant only: Great food and reasonably priced for the portions you get. I had to take half with me to the hotel! Just right after you’ve been visiting Stirling Castle.

Went here yesterday for the first time was absolutely beautiful garlic chili chicken was to die for and staff so lovely and approachable.

What a lovely place, good atmosphere and great staff. The food choice was ample, prices were reasonable and food quality was good. What sets this place apart from others is the quality of service by three very nice people - Kate, Anna and Leanne. These three could not have been any better - they were friendly, attentive and really helpful. I cannot praise the staff and this restaurant any higher. The photograph is simply so that staff know who has written this review. Thanks. Barry

Had a lovely meal here. Food was great and very good service. The staff were excellent. Booking is advertised as can be busy.

First time eating here, possibly the best steak pie I have ever eaten! Lovely woman behind the bar

A service of 10. The waitress has been super attentive!!

Excellent food, friendly and welcoming staff. 10/10 Sirloin steak was perfectly cooked and the portions are incredibly generous

We had dinner for 8 people, everything was perfect including the price, cheaper than expected

The food is very good, abundant dishes. The lasagna is very delicious, I recommend it. Good price-quality ratio. Very well decorated place.

After a walk around the castle on a cold wet day we called into the Portcullis bar for a hot drink to get warmed up. The tables in the bar were half full & the others had reserved sign's on. We asked if we could sit at the bar as there was only one person sat there & the other stools were unused. We were told we couldn't use them so we had no choice but to leave. Nice bar but unhelpful staff. "Avoid" to save yourself the hassle.

Food was great. Staff lovely and very friendly.

Good food, good service and a nice selection of beers

My wife and I chose here for our 45th wedding anniversary as we've been a couple of times before and really enjoyed it. This time it was a bit disappointing as we both felt the meal wasn't up to the usual high standards. I chose the chicken,leek and potatoe soup and my wife chose the breaded camembert my soup was delicious but my wife said her camembert wasn't hot but lukewarm. For my main I chose the sirloin steak and my wife decided in the hamburger...again she said the bun wasn't really toasted but still soft(like a normal roll) and we both thought the chips could've been in the fryer a bit longer. The meal was fine but wasn't up to its usual standards.

What an amazing place at the entrance to Stirling castle. This is a real homely, welcoming and warm environment - so much so we popped in for a drink before the castle tour and then immediately after. Emma is such a lovely person, so helpful. this is a must - whilst we never ate here the food looked amazing, and the people sat around clearly enjoyed it.

Fantastic visit with my wife. Quick check on Trip Advisor for local restaurants, reviews looked good and menu online. Was closeby and great location right at castle. Phoned and booked table no probs. Friendly welcome, nice ambience (great music actually 😁 ). Great menu choices - real comfort good menu with twists. Great service and we really enjoyed all three courses and bottle of wine. Good prices as well. 5/5 brilliant, well done team! 👏🏼 😊😊

We were just having a walk & found this place, went for lunch staff were lovely & helpful , food was great thank you all.

A fantastic place to eat, never shy from gud portions so be prepared and turn up very hungry if you're not used to healthy sized portions. Highly recommended

Dinner was amazing 🤩 Chateaubriand steak for 2 was the best I’ve ever had and excellent value. Service amazing and a special mention to Ross for his informal bit attentive hosting. Will definitely be back.

Great little restaurant/bar. We’d not planned to eat here so hadn’t researched it or pre-booked. It’s only small but luckily they had room for us (party of 5). Good food, good service, nice range of beers, reasonably priced with a lovely ambiance. If we didn’t live 220 miles away we’d eat certainly visit more frequently. Worth a visit after a walk around Stirling Castle which is just 2-minutes away.

Early evening dinner. Was recommended a beer when I described what I prefer. Perfect. A lot of food at a very good price. Very friendly and attentive staff.

The bartender was a very nice guy, polite and gave very good info about local beers. The enviroment is great.

Pequeño restaurante al lado del castillo, la comida muy rica y las camareras encantadoras. 20€ de media por un plato principal.

The staff is really nice and the food delicius. I really like the room. Highly recommendable!

Excellent food & reasonably priced. Understaffed but the two who were there did their very best for everyone! 5 stars for the staff!

Comida deliciosa en el restaurante

Just stopped for lunch. What a decadent treat! Definitely want to come back again.

First time at the Portcullis great food and service Jamie is a great host 👌 Will definitely be back 🤩

Great food, excellent service. Can't fault it and will definitely be going back

Amazing place and staff. Congratulations guys, you are the best. From Portugal we were all very plesead to meet all. Big hugs

Lovely pub grub. Friendly staff. Beautiful real fire for those winter months.

Nice food, well priced! Totally recommend

The location is lovely at the top of the town next to the castle. The Portcullis is in a yold stone building. Inside the restaurant it's cosy with a beautiful large fireplace. It's not too big. Feels cosy and welcoming. The staff are friendly. The food is your usual standard food which is perfect for a nice meal with the family. I didn't stay there.

Dinner was excellent, big portions. Beef strips with garlic and ginger, beef was tender and a very good dish, would recommend. Chicken tenders dish would recommend as well. Waitress was very helpful and made sure we were very welcome and everything was to our taste Would highly recommend this restaurant.

Just in for a meal staff was very friendly and helpful

One of the friendliest bars we visited during our entire trip to Scotland. The man working behind the bar took the time to explain the different whiskys to us. He was super friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Although we didn’t eat there, the food looked great and I’d definitely try it if we visited again. Also the open fire was perfect on such a cold day 🥶

Great meal, the staff were friendly and very accommodating. I felt safe to eat here even with all my food allergies and intolerances.

Great place, food and service! James was a fantastic host explaining us lot of typical food and drinks :) i fully recommend this place!

Excellent service and excellent steak as per usual.

Comimos muy bien, pero es que la atención de las chicas fue perfecta. Estuvimos muy a gusto y nos quedamos con un excelente recuerdo. Repetiremos si vamos por la zona. Un 10!

Popped in to have lunch. There was a massive sign saying that we had wait to be served. After 2-3 minutes and no one assisting us, we went over the bar. We were told we could take a seat by a friendly staff member. Yet again another wait, with no communication as to how to order etc.... we did not even get a menu. After 5-10 minutes we walked out. Definitely a place where the bar is a priority over the food side of things Sad... cause the roaring fire was so inviting... but nothing else

The quality of the food continues to deliver such amazing value for money…. The surroundings are hard to beat and friendly staff just make sure that your night is as enjoyable as it can be …. It must take a lot of hard work to keep up this standard 😊

Lovely pub restaurant beside Stirling castle. Hearty tasty food. Friendly staff

Booked a table.Two staff could not cope with a full restaurant. Went home after waiting and waiting.

Omg the food was DELICIOUUUUUUUS !!!!!

This is one of a handful of places my family go to on birthdays/occasions and have been for years. The food is always good and good value. It's the vibe that makes this place special as its always the place we have the best nights, it's cosy fire and warmth always puts you in a good mood.

Dog friendly ONLY outside We stopped for a drink after visiting the castle with our dogs. We had a coke and whiskey outside. Dog bowls outside.

Great food beer and whisky. Lovely staff made it a very nice visit. Free parking at the end of the day in the castle grounds. Would definitely recommend and we'll be back Thanks Toby, Suzy and the fluffy dog

I asked for a coffee and the waitress treated me with very bad manners. I thought maybe she was stressed, because it looked like she had a lot of work. But then with other customers, she treated them kindly. Very bad manners with foreigners, i would not recommend

Restaurante al lado del castillo de Stirling. Decoración típica de pub escocés, con chimenea. Muy buen ambiente y acogedor. El personal del restaurante muy amable y comida buena y abundante a precio razonable. Pedimos pan de ajo con queso de entrante y una lasaña de principal que no pudimos llegar ni a la mitad de la abundancia de las raciones. Repetiría sin duda

The menu is just that little bit different, The portions are large, well presented and delicious. You can ask for smaller portions. I went retro and had Cheese and Pineapple salad served with chips. The chips were piping hot and perfectly cooked. The salad was fantastic- cheese, pineapple, beetroot, coleslaw, grated carrot, sweetcorn, lambs lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sliced pickled cucumber. I only left the olives and celery as I don't like them and on another visit will say not to give them to me. It was attractively served decorated with 2 "spring onion trees"

Me and my wife decided to visit this restaurant again as it's been a while since we last here,and it's still a cracking place for excellent meals at a very affordable price. For starters I chose chicken broth and my wife picked camembert and for our main courses I chose steak pie and my wife chose beefburger with pepper sauce. I had a lager and wife had a gin and then a small red wine. Service was very good and staff are friendly and very helpful,in total our meal cost £56 and it was worth every penny. We will definitely return a lot quicker next time! 10/10

Amazing food, service exceptional and a very busy place. Would recommend booking in advance if you can

The service in the restaurant is outstanding and wine selection adequate. Sadly the food is average at best. Portion sizes are far too large and the taste is bland. With such a wonderful location this restaurant should be offering fine local product. Even something transitional. Instead it’s offering average tasteless food from a menu that seems suck in the 80’s. Such a shame, I was really looking forward to eating here

The steak was on point! But the overcooked under seasoned veg and deep fried mushrooms and frozen onion rings was a let down plus 20mins waiting oan a drink

Perfect atmosphere for the old section of Stirling right next to the castle. While we didn't stay at the hotel, we had dinner and Scotch here a couple times. The staff made you feel most welcome and the food was delicious.

Absolutely beautiful pub, excellent service! Definitely recommend!

Great location,just outside the castle. We only had a few beers. Every table was reserved, which was pretty silly as the place was more or less empty.

Thoroughly enjoyed lunch here during a day trip visit to Stirling Castle from Edinburgh. A sign on the wall read “Pub of the Year, 2023” and I can see why. We had good food at a good price, enjoyed cask ales, and found the service to be absolutely top notch. Word to the wise, however, to book ahead. We nabbed a table without reservation but a number of walk-in guests behind us had to turn away disappointed. This place, for its location, charm, and quality, seems to be quite popular among locals and tourists alike.

A family favourite amazing location really friendly attentive staff, and the food is always so good.

After a long drive we were happy to arrive here and things just got better. Our room was spotless and had a stunning view. Our evening meal was well above standard pub fayre. The Scampi was lovely and the Broccoli Cheese with Chicken was excellent. O cannot attest to starters or puds as I could only manage one course such was the generosity of the portions. I was also pleased to find an excellently kept ale on the bar. The above makes me likely to return but what stood out here was the excellent staff. The initial welcome was friendly and informative. A slight issue with the room window was fixed in a jiffy and a fan provided from private quarters. Bar was staffed and dinner served with politeness and friendly efficiency and ice water provided for the room (on the hottest day of the year) All of this was done by the same 2 young ladies who frankly should be teaching customer service such was their proficiency at it. Breakfast was simple and very nice, served by the friendly owner.All in all a great place to stay

Sitio bonito, sin reserva será complicado comer ya que hay pocos sitios para comer cerca del castillo. Horario amplio, comida variada y buen servicio. Highlands Chiken riquísimo 😋