Salisbury Arms in Edinburgh, City of

Delicious cocktails and staff couldn’t do enough. Worth a visit for sure - hidden gem in Edinburgh

It was such a delight to walk in and be greeted by the lovely Katie in her festive Christmas jumper, radiating warmth with the brightest smile! From the warm welcome to being seated, every moment was exceptional. The customer service was second to none—you truly couldn’t ask for more! Such a friendly and inviting place for everyone to enjoy. Highly recommend!

We were there on Friday 6 December 2024 before heading to the panto, as having been a good few times before we expected the same good food and service as before, sadly this was not the case, we were shown to our booked table quickly enough but went very rapidly downhill from there, we sat for a good 30 minutes and no one came near, well that’s not strictly true, a lady came and put water in the table after about 20 minutes and my son in law went to order drinks but was told “I’ll be back in a minute”, she just disappeared, I eventually went to the bar to order drinks to be asked by the gentleman that showed us to our seats have you not ordered yet, I explained and he apologised and said to go back to my seat and someone will be with me shortly, he actually came up himself and took our drinks and food order, drinks came after about 5-10 minutes but we waited and waited for our food, restaurant was not exceptionally busy at this point, we had finished our drinks too by this time and again no one came near, another waitress we hadn’t seen showed a family to a table and took their drinks order, we waited until she had finished with them and said excuse me, she carried on walking away, we spoke a bit louder and still ‘did not hear’, any other establishment I have been in whether your server or not see empty glasses ask the customer if the need anything, we eventually saw the young girl that had brought our drinks and clearly shouted excuse me, she seemed a bit flustered and started to say something when the original girl who had brought the water came up, took the drinks order and we asked about our food, she apologised about our wait and said she’d put the drinks order through then go into the kitchen to see what was happening, she did this and actually came out with our food, nothing elaborate, 3 of us had ordered burgers & 1 steak pie, we think the food had been sitting under the hot lamps as the burgers were so dried out one was totally inedible, and, our side dish did not appear at all, again got an apology, but the girl did take the burger away and said it was removed off our bill and 20% discount would be given, now I’m not sure if that was whole bill or just food as son in law paid and he didn’t notice as he just wanted to get out and grab a snack before heading to the panto. We were so disappointed, to be honest if they were short staffed all that was required was to say right at the beginning that things may take a little longer than normal due to short staff then it was up to the customer whether they stayed and waited or leave, I get they may not want to lose a customer by going elsewhere but, to be honest I highly doubt we will ever be back now, so in my opinion it would have been worth the risk to be upfront, that is of course if that were the reason for the awful service and not nice food (other than the steak pie).

Booked on a whim, tough day at work. Went for the festive menu, wearing our Christmas jumpers. Excellent from start to finish. Scallops, Turkey Roast, and Christmas pudding. Go try it. You won't be disappointed

They confused order and steak was not tasty.

What a difference a year makes. A group of us, normally 9 or 10, book the Salisbury every year at this time. All our experiences have been really positive. This Saturday was an absolute horror show. We were placed in a partitioned area at the from of the Salisbury (and this may have contributed to our very poor experience) Service was shocking, often forgotten about, the food was nearly 2 hours from our entry to table and it was rotten, I had the steak pie which was obviously bought produce and not made on premises, it was tasteless, devoid of filling and a serious disappointment. Really really poor, so poor we have decided to go elsewhere next December

The surroundings and drinks are why people go here - the food is mostly poor for the price

We love the Salisbury arms. Great menu, very tasty food, lovely atmosphere and attentive staff.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The gastropub had some standout features. The sea bass was bursting with flavor, the lamb was tender, and the gravy was expertly made. The festive Christmas atmosphere added a nice touch, and parking was ample and convenient. Most of the hostesses were polite, but unfortunately, the one who served our starter placed the plate on the table quite roughly. It was unclear if this was intentional, but it did detract from the overall experience. While the food was excellent, the service could use some refinement to match the quality of the dishes. Very delicious food and honestly worth a visit

I have been to The Salisbury Arms before, for both lunch and dinner, with different friends and/or relatives and every time we are so impressed with the service, the food, the atmosphere. It is our go-to place that we love. Your team is amazing and we will keep coming back and recommending you every time. Thank you!!

I have been to The Salisbury Arms before, for both lunch and dinner, with different friends and/or relatives and every time we are so impressed with the service, the food, the atmosphere. It is our go-to place that we love. The team is amazing and we will keep coming back and recommending this place every time.

Delicious food, beautiful restaurant and great service

Always a lovely experience coming here: the food is great and the staff are so good natured and wonderful! Highly recommended.

A stunning pub, located a short walk from Arthur's seat. The pub is a bit of a walk from the city centre but if you're willing to walk it, wow its worth the reward. My wife and I went here for the Sunday Roast and my goodness, 5 days later I'm still thinking about it. One of the best roast dinners I've ever had and a little sad that it's so far from where I live. The atmosphere and decor of the place are brilliant. The only downside I can give this pub is it's not closer to home. I will definitely consider going back on our next Edinburgh trip.

Most recent visit was disappointing. Service slow and food below usual standard

The restaurant is best for casual night out and special occasion. Had a birthday dinner weekend away and it was wonderful. Thank you for making the evening special.

Great meal celebrating a birthday. All good.

Long awaited return and we were required to sit outdoo to consume alcohol. The outdoor area is lovely and clean, just had drinks and nibbles this time. Had a lovely few hrs here, the staff were friendly and chatty as always.

Great restaurant, loved the atmosphere and decor. Very good food. They have free parking. The service was friendly and fast. I recommend making a reservation.

Lovely food in a warm and welcoming setting - perfect! Lily looked after us really well.

Lovely! Great service ! Very friendly. Nice food

One thing I have learnt is you can never rely on reviews specially if they are high end. I had the Pan fried Prawn, three of them on a plate not impressed partner had the sticky chicken again three on a plate. Taste was mediocre at best. We both got the sirloin of beef roast. The vegetable's were over cooked like mush. Beef over salty and potatoes tasteless crust. Wouldn’t recommend myself.

Nice comfortable place with good food ..a bit limited choice on lunch menu but v good value and quality for money

Great food and customer service .

Good food, friendly atmosphere.

A lovely Sunday roast with perfect Yorkshire puddings.

Great Sunday roast, but no redcurrant jelly or cranberry sauce :(

Really enjoyed our meal. Food was excellent. Emily was our server and was great - thank you!

Fantastic service, food, presentation, drinks, and atmosphere!

Great meal, and our server Emily was brilliant

Overpriced and scarce food dishes, disgusting music selection. It's just ok to have a pint.

Wonderfully relaxed family meal and the service was perfect very attentive. Many Thanks to Emily and the team

Emily was a fantastic server and the dipping sauce for the steak is to die for.

Realmente disfrutamos de nuestra comida que tuvimos aquí, que consiste en la hamburguesa sucia y flor de plátano rebozado. La salsa goteadora de ternera que venía con la hamburguesa era devine, definitivamente lo más destacado de todo el plato, pero tanto la hamburguesa como las patatas fritas eran especialmente buenas también. La flor de plátano que tenía mi compañero (que parece haber sido eliminada del menú ahora) era muy buena también, que era una porción muy generosa, con las patatas fritas siendo muy grumosas y crujientes, y los guisantes mullidos también muy buenos. Considerando que entramos para nuestra comida, en lugar de reservar, y que nos dijeron que podría haber una larga espera para nuestra comida, ambas comidas llegaron en media hora. El servicio de mesa también era bueno, con el personal muy educado. Ambos estamos de acuerdo en que esta comida fue nuestra favorita durante nuestra estancia en Edimburgo y sin duda lo recomendaría a cualquiera, solo esperamos que no quiten la hamburguesa sucia y traigan de vuelta la flor de plátano rebozado al menú!

Rating IMO: 4.4 Delicious Sunday roast, with a great selection on the menu. Friendly service and a nice ambience, with free parking.

Friendly and efficient service. The atmosphere of the pub is extremely welcoming and relaxing. The food arrived without any delay and drinks were delivered speedily. It was a great a Sunday lunch which offered excellent value for money.

The Sunday Roast was really delicious. It was our first time trying it and we loved it. We ordered the one for 2 people and it was plenty of food. The orange pssionfruit juice was also really good. The place is beautiful and the staff is helpful and friendly. Highly recommended.

Bright comfortable lounge, friendly service. Only had tea so can't comment on the food.

Mi esposa y yo amamos este lugar. Todos los platos son muy deliciosos y buenos. No importa de qué país vengas, puedes elegir este lugar. Los amigos que trabajan son muy educados y amables. Gracias.

Beautiful restaurant, delicious food, great cocktails, friendly and helpful staff!

Katie was our server- she was so helpful and so warm and friendly. She was patient and listened to our dietary needs and checked on us several times. She also was just really lovely and attentive and made us feel extra special! Thanks katie we hope you are appreciated and acknowledged for your great customer service skills.

Lots of parking -wheelchair friendly access was perfect. Service was friendly and efficient and food was very good

We had a great evening at the Salisbury Arms. Drinks and food was delicious, excellent service. We recommend coming on Tuesdays for the pub quiz, we had lots of fun!

This is probably the only place which I visited more than twice and did so because I liked the service and atmosphere (and probably because it's well within my reach). Cannot comment about the food because I haven't tasted it there yet.

Always a great experience to have lunch or dinner here. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the food combines quality and creativity, and the atmosphere is enticing to enjoy the moment. A must-go in Edinburgh!

A great dinning experience with some Scottish food but also some unique menu options! We loved the environment & the service was amazing. Thank you, Katie!!!

Delicious food in a charming atmosphere. Our server Katie was amazing and had the best recommendations on customizing the sticky toffee!

We ate here our first two nights in town. Katie from Georgia was our server and she took great care of us- especially after a long flight from the US. Dinner was excellent. The second night, Katie was not our server but she remembered us and came over to say hello- even asked about our day and remembered our plans. Overall a delightful and delicious experience.

Was advised by another business in the area to try the restaurant. Friendly atmosphere, good food, reasonable price. Katie from(GA) was awsome, very friendly and knowledgeable.

Food was okay. Just not sure the chef is all that talented, but honestly would go over and over again just to see our server, Katie. She was fantastic and so sweet! Made us laugh so much too!

Very good restaurant, especially Anna did a great job! 🙏🏻 Really recommend the food and the vibe.

David was so friendly and so hospitable. The food was delicious and filling, the atmosphere was cozy and the decor was timeless. 10/10, I will be back!

David behind the bar was very very helpful and polite to my group. Thank you very much 😄

Excellent food and 'David' the bar man was fab!

Katie was amazing! Great service + ambience, friendly and the food was amazing! Thank you!

Typical Scottish restaurant located very close to the university campus, although it is not designed for university audiences. The place is spacious and pleasant and the service is good. The menu is not excessively extensive but on Sundays they have the typical roast beef, which is worth trying. The desserts were especially tasty.

A brilliant evening. We were greeted and shown to our reserved table. We had asked for a 'quiet table'. Merek and Katie served us. All needs were anticipated.They both went out of their way to ensure that we had everything. Cod and chips and the Cheese burger were superb! All cooked to a very high standard. The Panzanella salad was delicious, with plenty of goats cheese. All staff were helpful, even getting an extra refill of wine, when we asked a different waitress. Fantastic atmosphere for our laat meal on holiday in Edinburgh. Many thanks!

I went there twice for dinner with my wife during our holiday in Edinburgh. The ambience, friendliness of the staff and of course the dishes couldn't be beat. Any time!

Food was great. Anna provided a great service. Sucha cute place to visit anytime !

This place gets better each time we visit. Food well cooked, tasty and presented. Good drink selection. Servers very friendly, polite and efficient. Love locally so the Salisbury is always are "go to" with visitors or family.

Good...service was good, very attentive; food was nice, decent menu. Bad...ordered pate with bread, a nice sizeable piece of pate but only 1 piece of bread, ordered more and had to pay £1.50 for 2 small pieces of bread!!

Very nice atmosphere near the University of Edinburgh. Great food. Waiting staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. We were new to the University of Edinburgh. They went above and beyond helping us with information about stores and busses.

We had a wonderful experience here! We were greeted very warmly and seated promptly and treated very well by our server. The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was very inviting. We would definitely come here again.

nice, clean, friendly, and ... good food

Very nice! Pizza was thinking, crispy, and delicious (chorizo, bacon, and tomato).

The Salisbury Arms is a good location for food and drink. It offers comfortable surroundings and is dog friendly so you can eat in the bar area when taking your dog. Good quality food and friendly service staff. The steak and Malbec pie is excellent.

A big thank you to the Salisbury Arms for accommodating our ever growing party on Friday evening.After moving us into the private dining area we enjoyed an evening as a family on my daughters pre wedding party.The food was amazing and the dessert/cocktail combo was genius! The staff are a great asset to the company.

Good food, good service and a nice atmosphere.

Great Sunday lunch - lots of options for food and a nice space

The food was excellent. The service went above and beyond. Carmen and Thomas took very good care of us tonight!

Food was pretty good. Service was awful.

The best place I’ve been to on my trip so far! They didn’t have much room left but squeezed us in. Service was fast and attentive. The Sunday roast was AMAZING. Clean and warm atmosphere.

Very good restaurant, the service was excellent from Mía and Quinn, the mid-day meal was very delicious and the place is very nice with a very cozy atmosphere! We recommend it!

I found this place on a website as a place with vegan options, but geared toward meat eaters. There weren't a ton of vegan options. I think I tried every vegan dish on the menu. They were all delicious. My dinner guest had fish and loved it. The wait staff was very kind, attentive and wonderful. The space was nice and tucked away from the crowds during the Fringe.

Had an enjoyable lunch. Pre-book tables as it can get busy if attending with a larger group

Lunch booked. Lovely ambience. Live music in bar. Great service. Good food. Lovely menu choice.

Charming restaurant with great service and food! Loved the traditional decor and we were seated next to a large fireplace which was cozy. The duck salad and roast chicken were tasty, but the mini dessert and cocktail stole the show. Highly recommend the amaretto sour and lemon tart!

I had booked table 112 for 1.30pm. I arrived about 1.10pm to discover that I could not have that table. The gentleman in charge did not seem aware that a booking had been made. There were various other tables in the garden which were empty so I queried why table 112 was in use.and was told that tables could not be guaranteed. I would accept that if all other tables were occupied. I was then told that there was no table service and I would have to go to the bar for a drink. (This causes me problems as I have a broken right arm and issues with walking.) The gentleman also told me that table service to the garden had stopped about a month previously. I had received garden table service on 10th and 19th July. I felt that the gentleman in charge was not telling me the truth. I also had to stand at the bar waiting to get the bill as he had problems operating the till. I left and my husband went, in my place, the machine would not allow him to tap and I then had to go back to the bar and stand and wait. Compared to my previous 3 visits where I would have highly recommended the experience, I doubt that we will be returning in the near future.

Chicken was overcooked otherwise all good

Great food, full menu with vegetarian & vegan option, great service. Make a reservation.

Great ambiente and very good food. Our waitress Katie was professional and fun.

Katie was amazing and looked after us very well.

Fabulous food - especially the roasts - and relaxed atmosphere! Nicki and Katie were such super waiting staff. Definitely would recommend.

Fantastic service from Katie, interacted with all of us very well! Good was amazing and portion sizes generous. Highly recommend.

Katie was the best server made our meal. Thank you! Will be back

Food was awesome especially the fig roast. Decor was stylish and welcoming. Staff were friendly, accommodating and excellence service.

Another great lunch at the Salisbury Arms Cannot fault the place. Friendly staff great atmosphere.

100% my kind of place. Best food I had during two weeks in Edinburgh. Will return. 10/10 would recommend.

Stopped in for drinks on a Saturday afternoon, place was busy and had a great atmosphere

Live jazz in a serene atrium with lovely food. I could not have found a better place to dine.

Lovely service with excellent food and ambiance!

Super service from Emily and the bar staff. Chilli puffs are fabulous!

Amazing. Emily was so helpful. She helped when the food didn’t match my tastebuds.

Entered to see sign saying "wait to be seated" said we were just in for drinks and told to sit anywhere only to be told 20 minutes later we had to move to side table with high chairs as they now need tables for lunch orders. Had to leave as my wife suffers from back pain and the high tables are not comfortable. Wont be back.

Our group of eight was incredibly disappointed with our recent experience at Salisbury Arms. As the first customers of the afternoon, we anticipated a smooth start to our meal. Unfortunately, this was far from the case. The wait for our food was excessive, stretching over an hour and a half. When the food finally arrived, it was unremarkable, at best. To add insult to injury, our waitress displayed a consistently rude and sarcastic attitude throughout our visit, making for an unpleasant atmosphere for everyone. We were all left feeling extremely dissatisfied with our experience and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

A bit formal, but also great food

nice food and beer, good service

Was planning to eat in garden but smoke from smoker zone was drifting everywhere so ate indoors which looked smart and well maintained. Main of buttermilk chicken burger and fries was OK if a bit oily. Fared better with warm brownie with ice cream. Final bill of £28 (I also had a lime and soda) seemed a bit expensive as I left still feeling hungry as portion sizes were modest.

Great find. Opposite Royal Commonwealth Swimming Pool. Free off street parking. Sunday lunch was impressive and delicious.

Lovely beer garden and good selection of local beers. Friendly and accommodating service