The Ivy On The Square Edinburgh in Edinburgh, City of

Very nice foods Excellent staff

What an experience, we didn't plan to go here, we got ignored at Gorden Ramsey restaurant, so we arrived at the Ivy. We were greated straight away, service was very attentive and prompt. The food was as good as we thought and we do hope to go again soon.. It wasn't cheap, but a great experience which I hope to do again soon..

An amazing experience. We booked for an anniversary meal and it really set the evening off well. Food and service was amazing and such a relaxed and beautiful ambience throughout.

We loved the breakfast here! Also the service was great!

I can't say enough about the food at The Ivy it was absolutely delicious. Probably one of the best Al La Carte restaurants i have been too. If you want perfection in service and food go try it.

Very slow service, had to remind waiter of our drinks order 20 mins after ordering and still had to wait another 10 mins. Dirty table cloth, food ok, not worthy of its price tag. Very disappointed with my visit, I expected it to be of a similar standard to The Ivy in Glasgow, however it certainly wasn't.

Another city another Ivy! As we were on holiday in Edinburgh it seemed like a good idea and we weren't disappointed, great service,great food, nice decor and atmosphere. I really like their duck salad so had to have it and I fancied their fish and chips this day, all tasty and good. My wife had duck curry followed by a Chocolate Bomb and really enjoyed that also. Great views across St Andrews Square from the first floor diner particularly at sunset. Recommended!

Oh, the food at the restaurant is absolutely delicious, the space is beautiful. Highly recommend to everyone

What can I say?! The Ivy was a fantastic experience! We inadvertently ended up in the Ivy for both breakfast and dinner in the same day (don’t ask - miscommunication with people we were meeting) but honestly I wasn’t mad about it! The service was second to none - they were very attentive and super pleasant. Food was beautiful. I even got extra toast with my omelette! For dinner we were a big table of 12 and nothing came out incorrectly- it was all perfect. Couldn’t recommend this place enough!

Visited recently as a large group for a birthday dinner and had one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The hardest bit was deciding what to order as everything sounded delicious. Every course and every drink was perfect and the service was outstanding. We were looked after all night by a young lady named Abigail and she was exceptional, really added to the experience. Highly recommend a visit.

I dined here with my family and non of us were overly impressed. Our drinks took 20 minutes to arrive and the food was mediocre.

Worth booking in advance which explains why it’s such a lovely place to enjoy a cocktail, coffee, brunch or a dinner. Fab staff and a great location

Amazing food, 2 course lunch £20 Value cannot be beaten for such top quality meal. Unfortunately too full for dessert!

All in all, very nice. Food was good but not exquisite. Dessert was a bit too sweet and heavy for my taste. Excellent wine selection with a good price range. Service was excellent. Very friendly and kind staff who helped us to our desired table. Only real remark would be that some of the seats and tables seemed to be really worn out and had seen better days. These where a bit uncomfortable which is why we requested a different table, which was no problem at all.

A very uneven experience. To begin with the positives, the place and the atmosphere are stunning. Truly one of the most beautiful restaurants I have been from an aesthetics point of view. The service was very good too. The staff were all extremely polite and formal, and they apologised for a small delay with one of our starter dishes, even going to the extent of removing it from our bill as a token of good will and apology for keeping us waiting slightly longer. That said, the food needs significant improvements, as it was underwhelming. The portions are very small, which for the price charged is not acceptable. The arancini were very tasty, but only a handful and very small in size. The mozzarella was good but forgettable and needs a lot of salt to be edible. My sirloin steak was adequately good in terms of seasoning (although it arguably needed a bit more salt), but the cooking was off. I ordered it medium, but it was almost well done. I did show the staff, who agreed that it was overcooked and offered to give me a new steak, while the chef offered his apologies, but I didn't want to put them in further stress, while I am also easy with food in general, so I ate it. The carrot and suede mash was tasty but too small for a 7-quid side dish. The flat iron chicken felt reheated, blunt, at times stale and hard to chew, while generally it was also underwhelming despite the interesting mushroom sauce which gave it a nice zing. We were hoping for a dessert, but the chocolate options were limited and in fact one choco dessert was substituted by a white chocolate version of the same dish. Most desserts had salted caramel, which is a good option, but overall more choco options were needed, as arguably most people opt for chocolate. Overall, an uneven experience. If the food and pricing improve, this could be a tremendous eating experience, but there is work to be done here. Still, I would like to give it another shot.

Lovely food and atmosphere. Our server Abigail was fantastic and couldn’t have done more for us. We will definitely be back.

Limited vegetarian options and not clearly labelled on the menu. I expected better at these prices. Vegetarian shouldn't have to be "on request", it should just be there without having to ask specially for it.

Service second to none,the food was so good its how i imagine angels tears taste,

High quality food and service. On the expensive side though so prepare yourself for that!

Extremely overpriced, tiny portions and not worth the visit. The lobster linguine was 37.5 pounds and was supposed to be a main but it was the size of a starter. Extremely disappointing. I also ordered a side of broccoli which didn’t come until I was finished eating my main. Nice place, but not worth the price.

Had a quick lunch in here. Outstanding service as expected. Food is spot on. Never disappoints.

Excellent venue, great staff, excellent food.

We found the staff on the door to be slightly rude, we had a booking at 6:30pm and a couple of people who were walk-ins were sat before us, especially as we were being lead to a table by one of the waitresses but then the lady at the door told us to wait longer which we were confused about. However, the experience was made instantly better by our waitress, Alessia. She was very kind, attentive and very helpful and made our night so much better!

great food, kindly staff and wonderful ambiance

Excellent service, minor hickup in the orders but the staff more than made up for it

There was an relatively sizable piece of egg shell in the egg on the Chicken Milanese. While the rest of the food was lovely it is slightly alarming that this wasn't identified in the kitchen and that the front of house staff didn't seem more alarmed.

The eggs benedict almost brought me to tears. Stunning and glorious food, the service is very quick and the staff is friendly. Will definitely come here for a chill light brunch or a celebration!

Always warm professional service. Excellent alcohol free cocktails too.

Good food and service. Very busy.

Great service, delicious food in a wonderful place. We loved the pumpkin soup. Everything was great!!

Mixed experience here last week. The shepherd’s pie that I had was very nice but my wife’s steak, which incurred a supplement, was terrible. Cooked ok to medium rare but the meat was tough and difficult to cut even with a steak knife. Mostly inedible. We both had profiteroles for dessert and the choux pastry was also poor quality and difficult to cut or chew. The ice cream and chocolate sauce were nice.

Finally, a restaurant with staff who know to serve the lady first.

Very nice restaurant, service very good and food good.

I am writing to share a serious concern regarding my recent visit to your restaurant, ( THE IVY ON THE SQUARE EDINBURGH as I believe it is important for you to learn from this experience and prevent similar situations in the future. On Saturday, I visited your restaurant for breakfast with my daughter. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the host at the entrance, which gave us a positive first impression. We inquired whether your restaurant could cater to allergies, and we were reassured that your staff was highly knowledgeable about such matters. Based on this assurance, we ordered sourdough bread and avocado. The waiter informed us that he would ensure the dish did not contain dairy, as my daughter has a severe dairy allergy. However, just a few minutes after my daughter had taken several bites, the waiter returned and abruptly took the plate from her, saying he needed to double-check something. He reappeared shortly after with a smile, saying that everything was fine, but admitted that he had made a mistake when inputting the order—indicating “gluten” instead of “dairy” as the allergy to avoid. To make matters worse, he returned the same dish to my daughter instead of preparing a fresh one. This not only felt unhygienic but also demonstrated a lack of care and understanding of how allergies should be handled. Given the circumstances, it seemed unprofessional and dismissive of the seriousness of the situation. He then casually added, “If you want to talk to someone about this, my name is Rachel,” which we found shocking. A mistake like this could have had severe consequences for my daughter or anyone else with a life-threatening allergy. It was deeply concerning that the situation was treated so lightly. This experience has left me questioning the seriousness with which your team handles allergy-related requests. Given the potential for life-threatening consequences, it is crucial that your staff undergo thorough training to handle allergies responsibly and with the utmost care. I hope this feedback prompts immediate action to review your processes and training regarding allergy management. I look forward to hearing how you plan to address this issue.

Went in for cocktails only was very nice & good staff, lovely place. Great cocktails

The food really good and all the people who work here super friendly, i ordered fish pie and ribeye steak with extra chips it’s really delicious.

A beautiful setting with rly nice food, great decor and wonderful staff

A great restaurant. The breakfast was great, the service was above average friendly and very helpful. Reception with free cloakroom. Very nice room. Absolutely recommended.

Food was good but Ivy special ginger beer drink was Not Ginger Beer (fermented) just a small glass of lemon and soda with a bit of crushed ginger. A rip off at £7.

Afternoon tea was great which sadly was the only thing that was. We were late being sat down by over 10 minutes. A further 10 minutes before anyone spoke to us. Tea didn't arrive until after the food despite being offered and accepted. The waiter gave us a flittering amount of attention between giving other tables ample attention. For somewhere that boasts the level of service (& the price) that the Ivy does, it was really poor service and we were disappointed.

Wonderful food, outstanding service and a great atmosphere...

This was probably one of the best lunches I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. I have been to an Ivy restaurant once before in Windsor on my last trip to the UK but I don't remember it being quite this good. The food was extraordinary, service impeccable, and because I was by myself, I was able to observe the staff and how they operate. It was so fascinating watching such a well-oiled machine. I used to work in hospitality and it was a delight to watch. Mimi was incredible and so wonderful to chat with, she even picked up that I was Canadian, not American. She was attentive but not overbearing and still let me have my time to myself. The dessert was to die for as well. The whole experience really made my day. Not to mention the decor of The Ivy is just incredible. Even the bathroom was amazing. Highly recommend this chain if you are ever in UK, they have many locations to choose from. Thank you so much for such a wonderful afternoon! Cheers!

Always check out their £19.15 2 Course offers! This was a s good as any Ivy with 'feel at home' eclectic decor. The chicken skewers, mushroom linguine (no Pic) and creme Brullee was fabulous

super recommended, it's a chain, good dishes, excellent service, especially for Roberto, highly recommended!!!!!

Lovely festive visit just before Christmas.

Great meal yesterday at the ivy got a voucher for Xmas and was well worth the visit… lovely relaxed atmosphere and food amazing

Sadly The Ivy has gone downhill in service and value for money. The staff were terrible, to put it mildly. They simply did not want to be there! I will not rush back as there are so many nicer places in Edinburgh. (I do not generally write bad reviews!)

Great Ivy service when my daughter's pasta was over peppered. Food was tasty and fresh. We didn't book and were squeezed in too!

Fabulous dining and NYE experience

First class from start to finish, couldn't fault anything, excellent staff,excellent table,excellent food 👌

Nice place that enjoys a bit of a show with your food. We were giving Christmas crackers as we visited just after Christmas and they also gave my mum a free dessert as it was her birthday.

Having visited the Cambridge venue we chose here to book for our daughter's 18th due to them catering well for coeliac. This visit didn't disappoint. As you would hope from an establishment of this calibre excellent service, range of food and atmosphere. I have marked down food to 4 star only because my fishcake was lukewarm, but I can always oversee these things when service is excellent, which it was. Catered well for coeliac emphasising they would share with kitchen colleagues which is always reassuring. Overall a super afternoon with two teens who thoroughly appreciated the whole experience also. Will def go back.

Restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with a refined menu that caters to various tastes. The food is thoughtfully prepared, showcasing fresh ingredients and creative presentation. The service is attentive and professional, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is charming, with elegant decor and a lively yet relaxed ambiance that makes it perfect for any occasion. Whether for brunch, lunch, or dinner, this is a place worth visiting.

We booked in person, to have breakfast on out first moring in the city but upon arrival no one could find our booking. The staff were lovely and did find us a table. Unfortunately though following our Scottish breakfasts my partner was ill and has been so for the remainder of out stay in beautiful Edinburgh.

Small portions food wasn’t particularly warm. Good atmosphere and service was impeccable.

Really enjoyed our boxing day brunch here. the staff were very helpful & and attentive, + the food was delicious. Would definitely come back again to taste their non-festive menu as well.

What a great experience, the restaurant is beautiful, the service is great and the food terrific. The shepherd’s pie was the highlight of our dinner. Highly recommend and will be coming back on my next trip to Edinburgh!!

Visited the Ivy Edinburgh on the 19th Dec '24 with friends for a pre Christmas get together. Was a little disappointed as both my friend and I, Fish dish was on the cool side, we did mention to the waiter and he said he would mention to his manager 🤷. Cocktail were amazing and the attentiveness of staff excellent....

This is a solid British restaurant with no minefields. The food tastes good, fresh and creative. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very good, and the service is warm and thoughtful. Sitting on the second floor with the Christmas lights in the background at night is a really nice experience. I would recommend this restaurant, Ivy, a convenient location with a great atmosphere. However, it should be noted that the reservations here are usually very full. If you choose to walk-in, there may be no vacancies, so it is recommended to book in advance!

Very disappointed in my visit today and underwhelmed by their christmas decor choice. My complaint will be forwarded in writing. I have never had any cause for complaint at Gleneagles, Signet Library, Caledonian or the Dome in Edinburgh. Today I had a list of concerns: 1. No one offered to take our coat or jacket. 2. I had to ask to move tables as the couple seated next to us had someone with a 'potty' mouth who used the F word as often as she could. 3. No christmas crackers were offered (we were there for the festive menu). 4. Turkey was saved by the sauce. 5. Snowman dessert was lovely. Would I return? Well, having had excellent service at the Ivy in both London and Glasgow, the Edinburgh Ivy was a bitter disappointment. I would return to the Ivy in London and Glasgow but it is highly unlikely (ultimately a "no") that I would return to the Ivy on the Square in Edinburgh.

Fabulous place with great food for a very special occasion

Recommended to book a table , the staff were really pleasant and attentive. Food was wonderful and so was the atmosphere. A wonderful evening meal after visiting the Christmas market . Will definitely visit again when I’m back in Edinburgh.

We were so very disappointed by our afternoon tea experience today (17th Dec). Although I'd booked for afternoon tea the staff were unaware and presented us with A La Carte menus. When the food arrived it was quite theatrically presented with dry ice, but that's were the drama stopped. The bread in the sandwiches was ordinary sliced supermarket bread, some crusts still on and not very appealing. Everything, fillings and bread, was soft with no variation of texture. At this level of restaurant we expected home baked or artisan bread. The scones were good but came with no butter and miniscule amounts of jam and cream for 2 scones each. This left the scones quite dry to eat. The cakes weren't brilliant. The pistachio battenburg's marzipan was so soft and sticky we could hardly pick them up, the pastry in the éclair was hard and stale but the mini mince pies were lovely and the chocolate mousse snowball was a highlight. Service was perfunctory, we had to ask for our tea, and when it came I had to ask for lemon for my Earl Grey. The service didn't warrant the 12% service charge, although we grudgingly paid it. For £107 this was poor value for money and we were so disappointed as we expected far more from The Ivy.

-When greeted from reception member of staff felt the response when mentioning not being able to get through the phone line was abrupt. Firstly, it was suggested I called the London number instead of Edinburgh which was not the case. Secondly, she said she could not possibly answer the call as she was at reception -Starter plates were not cleared for a lengthy period of time -Chips on two meals appeared frozen and no home made - disappointing when almost 8 pounds for truffle chips as a side -We have dined in numerous Ivy restaurants this was the only time we have had any issue with service or food -The restaurant thanked us for our feedback and encouraged us to write a review

Very nice breakfast. The coffee was spectacular. Very hot, lovely flavor. I think must be their own blend. And service was flawless

Amazing food and service. A little noisy, but otherwise perfect for a pre-christmas treat. Prices pretty reasonable given the quality.

Beautiful meal to celebrate a birthday. Staff were so attentive and the food was gorgeous!

Absolutely beautiful place to eat, second time now and this time we had an evening meal, service was impeccable and food was to die for- would recommend this to anyone visiting Edinburgh. I’ve also had breakfast once which was also a delight!

If it's a steak your going for phone them and make sure they have them, as we were told after been given the menu there wasn't any steak left, gutted was an understatement, as we don't know Edinburgh it was to late to try and find somewhere else.

Booked this with the reviews of it being amazing and doing steak. They also advertise “Sunday Steak Supper 4pm till close” we had a booking for 7.30 sat down to be told there’s no steak left they have ran out. Personally find that really poor and disappointing. Opted for chicken Milanese but it was pretty average. Husband also asked for the drinks menu and asked to order a cider (can’t remember what one) and surprise surprise - “oh we have ran out of that aswell”. Not the best tbh. Staff were lovely but won’t be returning in a hurry.

The service here is excellent. The food in particular the lobster linguine was also amazing. It's in a prime location in the heart of Edinburgh so was full when I went. Booking in advance is a must therefore!

Lovely afternoon tea with family. Attentive waiter. Met my dietary requirements perfectly. Lovely cocktails.

Delicious Festive menu! The food and mocktails were excellent! The restaurant atmosphere was warm and lively. Our server, Smey, was exceptional. She was lovely to chat to and very attentive. We visited the restaurant as a celebration and she very kindly provided an additional small desert to help us celebrate. This was our second visit to the restaurant and definitely won’t be our last! Would absolutely recommend to those looking for a premium and exquisite dining experience

Lovely dinner and drinks at the Ivy. Big shout-out to Mattia our bartender, who took the time to have some lovely conversations with us. Great experience all round

Excellent food&service,reasonable prices,friendly stuff💚🧡🙏

Our first visit to The Ivy - late lunch with friends - we were shown to a table on the upper floor - beautifully presented restaurant - great art work. Friendly welcome, a steady unrushed service, simple menu, well presented and tasty food, reasonable prices given the venue - in all a lovely afternoon. We would recommend and return.

Ordered two cocktails and sat at the (sticky) bar while waiting for the train. The whole time had to watch the bartender touch all of the ice with their bare hands and their hair touching down into the bar area. The bar tenders were also fighting and the atmosphere was tense. The cocktails were alright but nothing special. Only then to get a bill for £34! For two drinks way over priced and an extra 12.5% service charge, when buying at the bar.. Would never go back again.

Attentive waiter, delicious food and drinks. After 3 courses we are more than full 👌🏻😀

Had a fabulous breakfast. Service outstanding.

Very nice restaurant with good food! Smey was extremely friendly and made us feel very welcome. We would definitely come back! :-)

Excellent meal. Really attentive staff and lovely atmosphere. Great night.

Such friendly staff. Had a great time. Thanks. Food good, cocktails good. Worth booking as so busy.

Booked here to have a birthday breakfast with my partner. Mentioned this in the information box when booking a table. We were greeted by a lovely lady who took our coats which was a great glimpse of service to come. The Ivy was beautifully decorated for Christmas. We have had a set breakfast menu and some hot drinks. They’ve then surprised my partner with a birthday treat - with no tacky singing across the restaurant! I could not fault the staff, food or the atmosphere there. Thank you. We will definitely be back when we’re in Edinburgh.

Another wonderful experience at an The Ivy restaurant 😍 Very friendly staff that made us feel comfortable and the food was delicious and quickly brought out. My fiance enjoyed the duck curry and I enjoyed the Chicken milanese 👌

Excellent service as soon as you get in the door! Coffee is very good. Bruch is what they do best, eggs are always cooked perfectly! Nothing is a problem for the staff, they will always go Out their way to make your expensive a memorable one. Make sure to book a table at the weekend.

It is a great British restaurant. I really like the atmosphere and the attentive service. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with hand-pulled ham, and it was very delicious, with plenty of ham and rich hollandaise sauce. The cappuccino was smooth and well-made.

Always reliable for good food and an enjoyable time

Good food and service, everything was just as it should be

First time at the Ivy so we booked in advance & it was truly lovely. Staff were attentive, food was lovely & did not need to wait long for it to come out. We had the chicken Milanese with a mushroom sauce fully recommended & The chocolate truffles & mini mince pies with brandy cream are amazing a must to try for dessert.

Visited on a busy week night after booking earlier that day. Staff were attentive, wasn't kept waiting at any point. Food was OK but not exceptional. Had the sea bass and side of veg. Fairly expensive for what it was.

Breakfast at its best, the service, the food, you have to come here for a full scotish breakfast experience

A wonderful welcome from all the staff. Very tentative and friendly. Highly recommended. The food was delicious and not overly expensive.

Many thanks to Alessia for providing outstanding service on our anniversary.

Loved my food. Great service. Overall good vibe.

Incredible! Went for a nice lunch for our anniversary, and the food was divine, service impeccable. Thank you for the great experience!

Got a voucher for my birthday and was looking forward to dine out at The Ivy. Iam a Coeliac and was very disappointed with my choices!! I had the shepherd's pie which was ok!! Small portion!! And the only dessert I could have was a lemon sorbet!!! I had to scan a QR code firstly to see what a could eat!!! Don't think I will be visiting The Ivy again!!!😒.

Great evening. We were made to feel very special

I couldn’t resist the urge to taste “local” with real fish and chips! It was super good! The alcohol is quite expensive and the dishes are decent although a little expensive. We pay for the decor and the service. Our bill £64 1 main course, 1 menu (starter and main course) and 2 glasses of wine.

Cane here for drinks and sat at the bar. Lovely choice, service was excellent.

Service was slow and lacked attention to detail resulting in an alcoholic g&t being served rather than a non alcoholic g&t as requested and also bits floating in the white wine. One of our servers dropped the tartre sauce on the floor next to me which smashed and splashed up me. The olives and drinks we ordered to start took ages to arrive and turned up just before the main course. We agreed to see the dessert menu but it failed to arrive, so we asked for the bill instead. I would say that the drinks were changed when we pointed our the issues and we weren't charged for the g&t. Staff apologised. We've had the same issues with the g&t in the Birmingham Ivy, so be careful if you're driving!