The Lookout by The Gardener's Cottage in Edinburgh, City of

The view alone is worth the price, but the food is amazing too! Portions are small but expertly crafted.

We tried to have lunch there but the music was so loud and not the quiet restaurant background genre. (Yes, we are not in our twenties anymore, but still, we come to eat….) We asked first if it could be turned down, which was done some. However the type of music still was very distracting. When we asked the manager if it could be changed, he answered that the music was for all guests and he wouldn’t change it. Meaning that we weren’t part of the “all guests”? So we went and had a wonderful dinner elsewhere.

Charged us for a meal we didn’t get to eat because they didn’t confirm a reservation. Then refused to reverse the charges. Customer service is quite bad, and also quite rude. Avoid.

Everything was good, but nothing was great. The views were gorgeous and the experience was nice, but I can't recommend the food at this price point. I have done enough fine dining to understand the experience is going to be a bit different, but even so these portion sizes were insultingly small. I had been particularly looking forward to the venison loin, but I have honestly been served larger portions of quail. A deer gives a chef a lot to work with, but if you'd never seen a deer before, you would come away from this dinner assuming they must be roughly the size of a Dachshund. And I understand this may be an outcome of the restaurant's focus on local foods and sustainability, but I still left feeling like it was not worth the cost.

What a space! The pre-theatre menu is incredible value at £35. The wine pairings were unusual and a great way to try different grape varieties. Food was top notch. Service was flawless. The view is sublime and worth the trek. We will be back.

The setting and views over Edinburgh make this an amazing venue to enjoy a Sunday morning breakfast.The menu is limited, but the quality is very good.

I ate here on my final evening in Edinburgh. I wish that wasn't the case because I would have come back for a second meal. When you combine the quality of the meal and the environment of the restaurant, it was one of the most memorable meals I've ever had.

Sad to say our experience was terrible. Coming from Canada for a whirlwind weekend and made a reservation before we left home to have dinner here with family we were visiting in Edinburgh. One of our party from Edinburgh became very ill and was hospitalized while we were flying over to Scotland two nights before our dinner reservation. We found this out upon landing the day before and tried 4 times to contact the restaurant by their listed phone number to explain our situation. Our hotel concierge tried on our behalf also. No one answered the phone on any of the occasions and we couldn’t leave a message. We were able to cancel over their website eventually but again no human interaction. While I understand that the restaurant has a no show automatic charge, they should certainly amend it for extenuating circumstances. In this instance charging our credit card full price for 6 people seems wrong. I was so looking forward to our night on the hill overlooking Edinburgh. It seems very unlikely that I will try again in the future now. The lack of customer service and the unwillingness to communicate with their guests have left a very bad taste.

We had a lovely lunch here today. Views and atmosphere was fantastic. We were sat on a table in the middle and got moved pretty quickly to a table near the window, which was lovely of them. Food was fantastic and really great value. We had the cheese and cocktail paroling which were great additions! Service was great, such a lovely team. We’ll definitely recommend it to others. :-)

We had a lovely evening here. Perfectly prepared food with great wine pairings in a casual, modern environment with friendly staff. Not sure how it could warrant a Michellin Star, but none the less we had a wonderful time.

The pre theatre menu (served 5pm-5.30pm) here was outstanding value. 4 stunning courses, each cooked to perfection, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. The staff were very friendly and explained each dish in just enough detail, without being overbearing. It's not the easiest to get to (I'm glad I wasn't wearing heels) but the views are to die for and well worth the stairs. We paid £35 per head for food, plus extra for petit fours. With drinks it came to about £120 for 2 of us. Would thoroughly recommend especially for a nice occasion.

We went to The lookout to celebrate out daughter graduation, selecting this restaurant for its view and good reviews. The view didn't disappoint us, it is marvelous. The food was good but the quantity was ridiculous small, that is ashamed, because just a little bit more in pour plate, even just for the main diss, would have made the difference, it looked like what we called Nouvelle cuisine, in the past. the ingredients were shown as small dots in the plate. Beautiful as a piece of art, but not enough for the body. And the waiter did agree! For the price we paid, it was disappointing.

I don’t normally post reviews to Trip Advisor but I really need to warn potential customers to avoid this place. I booked the Lookout for a meal whilst on holiday with my wife after reading positive reviews about the experience and the views on Social Media - BIG MISTAKE. Firstly the menu is extremely limited with one starter, one main course and one dessert choice. My wife is gluten intolerant and I am shellfish intolerant and other than a £65 basic, Vegetarian menu, there are no other choices. My wife politely relayed our allergies to the waitress and we offered to pay a reasonable cancellation charge, but the manger, an aggressive so-and-so, informed us the whole cost of the meal for two- £130 was still liable, even though we hadn’t been served, let alone eaten a thing?! When I complained, he threw me out of the restaurant, my wife in tears! I suspect the Lookout is going to react to this negative review, with a fictitious response worthy of Ian Rankin, but please take everything they say with a pinch of salt. Edinburgh is spoiled with so many better, customer-friendly restaurants than this, accommodating to customer allergies, with Management keen to please. Please don’t eat out at the Lookout. They are nasty, self-serving, limited in the extreme and simply don’t deserve your trade, in this cost of living crisis or ever.

Very nice food, but incredibly noisy with far too loud background music, almost had to sit and shout at each other at a small table for four.

Ben and staff were great! Service was excellent. Atmosphere was lovely. The views are quite incredible; birds fly by at eye level. It was great to sit, dine and birdwatch. The food was good, some of the courses were great! What would have made it a 5-star experience — I rarely give full marks — is having left feeling more satiated. I found most of the courses to be rather light. Overall great experience. Initially it was tricky to find due to its location but the views and surrounding was very unique. I would return. Thanks The Lookout chefs, Ben and staff!

Located on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. It has a beautiful garden and the observatory stands out in the landscape.

Over priced, but with that view, I suppose who can blame them. Enough with the aubergines!

Lovely meal with great food. Definitely on the pricey side but worth the visit if you’re keen to see the city and eat well.

Superb evening, the food was as stunning as the incredible views. The very best scallop I have ever had. Every bite of everything was wonderful. Excellent service too. Deserves way higher score than 4.1 on Google. One of THE best restaurants in Edinburgh.

Staff was arrogant and tedious. Don’t understand how they got the ‘pride’ of imagine themselves as ‘Michelin’ star restaurant but the waiters are way too rude and make me fell unwelcoming.

A hustling, bustling place well worth the walk up the hill with great food, exquisite presentation, well versed staff, and an excellent view of the ton.

Simply the best in Edinburgh. Stunning views. Despite what the website says we were allowed to park at the top of the hill - you simply have to take it that you ARE an authorised vehicle. The taster menu was a perfect balance of flavours and textures and it was a pleasure to be able to thank the chef in person.

This is a really difficult review, as I almost feel the quality of ingredients and presentation is worth 5 stars, but for some reason we just didn’t get a WOW factor. There was enough to eat (just), but the main course was a bit light on content; really just one piece of protein(2 ounces?) & 1 small potato, with some nominal garnish & sauce to try and fill some of the empty area on the plate. The quality of the protein & potato was excellent. Service & location are very good. We think the price, including service charge, was justified, and would have been happy to pay 10-15 pounds more, for the same courses, but with a little more volume on the appetizer course(one small scallop) and main course. PS: They did an excellent job of accommodating my wife’s food allergies.

The venison was lovely but unfortunately that is the only positive thing i can say. This was the first time I have ever stayed for almost 2.5 hours in a restaurant and it was not by choice - it took about 45min to be served the next dish. I did have to knock one star down for the delay in between each dish Another star lost for our table in particular not getting some dishes explained (i only saw older people getting all relevant info) Last star lost very subjectively to us getting a *bad* table without a view - again only old people were allowed in good seats If you're a fan of sample menus - there are better places for that If you're a fan of a good view overlooking the city - there are better places for that too Won't be back and definitely not worth the 120£ per person but good luck

Stunning ! A very good restaurant to try if you want to eat well and enjoy a panoramic view of Edinburgh. Despite the gray weather, the view from the Lookout was sublime!

Amazing view, great food, lovely and friendly service. Lunch here really was the perfect ending to our city trip in edinburgh. We booked at gardeners cottage at first, which due to circumstances didnt go trough. The hopsitalty we received when the booking changed was so sweet. Defitly would recommend the look out or gardeners cottage

Meal, staff and view all fabulous!!

I was a visitor to the place and asked them to let my daughter enter the toilet! But they refused because it is not allowed after five in the evening!!!! I felt like they were monsters, not humans! I don't want to eat from someone who considers me nothing but a bargain!! I want to eat from a human's hand because I am a human and I will pay.. I do not recommend visiting them at all

Had an lovely lunch at the Lookout on Calton Hill. The views are amazing if you want to see Edinburgh from a whole new perspective. On the food side - the pork belly was delicious along with the wine pairing. Service was precise but relaxed. Looking forward to trying out the dinner menu sometime 👍🏻

Came for lunch on 4th April and had an absolutely superb time, the views are unbelievable, food amazing but the service was a real highlight. Friendly and relaxed while being extremely professional, the young blonde lady (sorry, I didn't catch her name)who looked after us was a star and made the meal extra special. They dealt with a dietary requirement extremely well and made that guest feel feel particularly comfortable. Would highly recommend.

Came for lunch on a rainy afternoon and in addition to 5 star food and service, received a 5 star view of dramatic Scottish skies.

A lunch of highs and lows. The location and view are big highs, even on a bleak and rainy midweek, and almost justified the eye-watering wine mark-ups - starting at £10 start for a glass of bog standard cava. The fixed price lunch also started high with a lovely light whipped ewes milk cheese "snack" followed by a to-die-for veloute. However, the apparent main course of a large ramekin of undercooked potato with a few mushrooms and a single spear of heavily headlined Wye valley asparagus was an abomination, even if had been provided as a side dish to the other main option of OK pork belly. Desert maintained the barrel scraping with more undercooking of rhubarb and lacklustre extras. Staff were nice but views and location this good really deserve cooking to match.

First class everything supper delicious staff consumate professionals and will certainly go again . Thankyou for a wonderful culinary experience .

Thank you so much to Chef Dale, Isabel, and Ben for making the night so magical. I have not stopped talking about what an amazing experience going to The Lookout is. The service was absolutely amazing and they were all so lovely. Isabel was so friendly and sweet which really made our night extra special. The team works above and beyond to deliver the most delicious food that I am dying to try again. If Chef Dale ever wants to release a cookbook, I would buy several copies! As an extra treat, Ben does a beautiful job of pairing the wines and cocktails with the meals and I strongly recommend to give them a try. Thank you again to the team at The Lookout for creating a night I won’t forget !

An amazing venue where the view is almost as good as the food. I took my lovely lady there for Valentine’s Day and it was everything we could have hoped for. We worked our way through several courses paired with wine by the in house sommelier Ben, all great seasonal food and super interesting wine. Ben as well as the other staff was professional attentive and knowledgable. We left very happy.

The place is very, very beautiful. The view is amazing, and the service is wonderful. They taught us that there is food that is halal and haram, but unfortunately the food is not sweet. The only thing that is sweet is the soup, and it is expensive until it comes. Run away.

The Lookout is an exceptional restaurant that truly showcases the most spectacular views in the city. From the panoramic vistas of Edinburgh's iconic landmarks to the natural beauty surrounding the restaurant, I was in awe throughout my visit. The minimalistic design of the restaurant only served to highlight the stunning views even further. As for the food, the lunch set menu was absolutely marvellous. Every dish was crafted with care and attention to detail. The staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, adding to the overall excellent service. While it's worth noting that there are no options outside of the set menu, this wasn't an issue in any way. The set menu offered such a varied and delicious selection that we didn't feel like we were missing out on anything. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that they don't offer coffee other than French press, but this is minor detail compared to the overall experience.

Located exceptionally well, perched at the top of Castle Hill, offering a panoramic view of the entire Edinburgh skyline, especially stunning during sunset. Sitting by the window and witnessing the evening glow is truly spectacular! They provide a set menu, and the food quality is quite good, especially the venison. Perfect for a romantic date.

Richard & Brenda Wilson Great views, friendly welcome and a great balanced meal (including the cheese course!). Well cooked, tasty and fairly priced (especially with the introduction of the new menu). The dishes were imaginative and bit different. You felt the staff wanted to please you and were very attentive. Well done - we'll be back.

Can't give 0 stars .Horrible staff an absolute embarrassing to be a part of Edinburgh.

Wish I had looked at the reviews before I went. Who ever owns this place needs to rethink it quickly before it goes bust. The whole concept does not work at all. Expensive boring food with a nice view which you get outside the restaurant for free. !

Amazing food, incredible view! Highly recommend

We've lived nearby for a long time, have always enjoyed the sister restaurant and finally decided to go for my wife's birthday lunch. Food was sparse and disappointing and extremely expensive for what it was. The service was slow and there was little to no options for children. They felt very unwelcome. First and last visit. The view is of course amazing but it's letting them get away with a very poor dining experience. Walk up the hill, take on the view, grab a nice coffee and walk back down. Don't waste your money here.

Came here for the first time with my partner. We had the tasting menu which was lovely from start to finish! We were greeted at the door by Lachlan who was very accommodating and made us feel extremely welcome. Special mention to Lucas who served us throughout the evening, he was absolutely brilliant all night! Fantastic staff, great service and a truly amazing experience.

We had an excellent dinner this past weekend. Food was interesting and delicious. The wine pairings were nicely matched and worth the addition. We enjoyed very attentive service. It’s certainly suitable for visitors looking to dine with an amazing view of Edinburgh.

We had a fantastic mid afternoon lunch here! We had booked ahead and they were very accommodating to allergy requirements. The staff were all very friendly and the views incredible. Don't go here expecting a heavy meal, but do go here if you're interested in a unique seasonal dining experience with a great view.

Absolutely loved The Lookout. What an amazing experience. Food, fantastic, staff, outstanding, views.... spectacular.

My wife and I had the fixed lunch menu yesterday: The good part of the experience was the view over to Fife. The rest was disappointing. The parsnip veloute was very tasty, but there was not enough of it in the bottom of the plate to cover the spoon. The duck leg was served with a few small squares of kale, and two sauces, both fairly bland and there was very little meat on the duck leg after the skin, gristle, and bone had been set aside. The poached pear dessert was underwhelming, a good enough poached pear, served with a small amount of hazelnut cake on the side and an even smaller amount of chocolate cream, - very disappointing. The food smacked of being plated on site, but not prepared on site. £50 per head, for £25's worth of food. The drinks were extortionately priced, £10 for each 125ml glass of cava, with my wife's third glass being only 2/3rds full when it was presented to us, (had they run out and were just hoping we wouldn't notice?). Very poor beer selection, one pale ale and one lager, I paid £8.50 for a can of unknown lager. Overall, a very disappointing and grossly over-priced experience, the pricing not helped by the over £17 discretionary service charge that was on the final bill, (we declined to pay that part). When asked at payment if everything had been okay, I stated that it had been very disappointing. They did not ask us why, - because they knew!!! My advice, - eat elsewhere, there are plenty of places with better food and offering much better value for money!

Excellent for a romantic dinner.

Delicious food, brilliant and professional staff

2023 update - enjoyed a lovely sunset dinner with my wife. A wonderful menu and stellar wine pairing. Hopefully it won’t be another 5 years until my next visit. 2018 - Popped in for a late breakfast. Great service and premium quality food and drink. A lovely surprise at the top of Calton Hill. Highly recommended 👍

The staff was not accommodating and was rude, she didn't even wanted to listen to a anything. V poor Staffing for such a place

So disappointed. Went for lunch with 2 visitors from overseas. First of all, we had issues with road access so we’re going to be 10 mins late. I called to let them know our booking was for 2pm. The person on the phone said that the kitchen closes at 14.30. Why take a booking for 2pm if the kitchen closes at 2.30? When we arrived, we asked for sparkling water. They came back snd said they didn’t have any and they only had tap water!! We ordered pescatarian food in advance, as it is a set menu with no choices and none of us eat duck. The waitress brought us the normal menu. I told her that we organised pescatarian food. She said she would need to go and check if they could do it! They could. The menu was not the same as advertised They said it changed seasonally but hadn’t updated the website. As if tnat was fine! Tbe starter came and it so tiny. It was literally a dribble of lukewarm tomato water with a quarter of a tomato and one basil leaf. I have eaten in Michelin star restaurants across the world snd never had anything that small for a starter. The cod main course was no better. It was on a dribble of watery lobster bisque and came with a tiny wedge of aubergine, a tiny wedge of courgette and a few slices of radish. Dessert was not as advertised on their website. It contained a whisky cream and my friends are Muslim and do not take alcohol. They offered to do the dessert without the whisky cram, so they had a pastry case that contained only cream, a scoop of sorbet and one raspberry with sprinkling of granola. At £50 a head it is really not worth it. You are paying for the view and it seems that they are relying on that. Feel totally ripped off.

Delightful lunch enjoyed by us in a somewhat utilitarian setting (inside) but with a view to DIE for! Really amazing spot to enjoy the glory of Edinburgh in the distance, enhanced by a wonderful tasting menu of a meal. There's nothing quite like savouring taste suggestions, as it were, and not feeling like you've overdone it, especially in the middle of the day. Thank you to everyone who looked after us; we had such a nice time there, and we'll definitely be back. Word to the wise: it IS possible to trek up the hill to reach this spot, but a cab will bring you to the top of the hill and you only have to walk a minute or two to reach the restaurant. Enjoy!

Had a delicious lunch here. The tomato and basil with the tomato consume and basil pearls was fresh, flavour packed and gorgeous. The duck leg main was tender, tasty and the peach marinated in white wine a lovely contrast. I'm unsure what the chicory leaf and raw fennel were doing on the dish. The dessert had one of the nicest raspberry sorbets I've ever had with a little tart of white chocolate ganache. The edible flower made the dish a picture, though the tart case could have been a touch more delicate. Great food, beautifully presented whilst taking in one of the very best views over Edinburgh.

Absolutely amazing dining experience! Staff were super nice and helped make it special for an anniversary dinner! Views are lovely and truly worth the money. We didn’t pick matching drinks menu, just a bottle of wine with our food and it was perfect.

Tremendous food in a truly spectacular place. We just loved everything about our meal and the staff made our anniversary very special.

Tonight’s dining experience was everything you would hope for with a special night out in mind. The views were breathtaking, the staff were top quality and the food was beautiful - all of it without being pompous. Would highly recommend to everyone! We were a table of 2 but if you are a group of 6, request the round table in the corner window section of the restaurant and you’ll definitely have the best seats in the house.

Great place to see Edinburgh from rooftop

Dreadful experience .. terrible food and crazily over priced for sub standard food

This is one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh. The view is absolutely stunnung. Enjoy a fantastic dining experience overlooking the whole city. Book well in advance, the food of the young and very creative chef (who you can watch while he's preparing your dishes) is definitley worth it. Staff is also very friendly.

Well this had to be one of the best comedy shows of the Festival this year! A bill of over £400 for abysmally unadventurous food, poorly executed and an fraudulent attempt to dress up as fine dining - was was overly seasoned, cold, bland and simplistic. The venison course was passable but the other 3 courses for that money .. no amuse bouche, no palate cleanser, not even a complimentary truffle…was truely shocking!! We left feeling The Lookout definitely had the last laugh and we felt humiliated for having fell for it. Got a long way to go to ensure the quality of the offerings live up to the wonderful location

So disapointing - the fabulous location and views could not make up for really poor food or average service . Such a shame as we were here to celebrate a birthday . Ridiculously over priced too . This place is clearly riding on the coat tails of a now departed chef and needs to find a new chef and staff pronto

An undeniably superb location with panoramic views over Edinburgh which perhaps explains why they don't have to take too much trouble with the items on the over-priced tasting menu. Five "courses" and paired wines, £150 per head plus service. Half a slice of tough sourdough with some semiliquid butter and a 5 cm crab mousse in a brittle shell, and you are already through two of the five courses. Blink and you missed it. The cod, which came next, was from the thin end of the fillet, was overcooked, and disintegrated as soon it was touched into many tiny pieces. The venison in a sauce was good. Desert included a pastry case for which a pneumatic drill was necessary, the rest so indifferent I can't remember what it was now. The total volume of wine produced amounted to no more than half a bottle, cost £65. The wines themselves were indifferent and were presented with an inaudible introduction; there was no printed list. Tap water served at the table was tepid. Ice was provided on request. The combination of meagre portions and a speed of service that was breathtaking, meant that we had parted with well over £300 in 65 minutes. Conversation impossible in a glass and steel goldfish bowl, with a large over-excited party in the centre of the restaurant On the trek down, we felt that we had been duped.

Great view but underwhelming food. It was not bad, but was not great. Did not justify the price tag. £35 for the wine flight was ridiculous; a couple of very small and unremarkable glasses. It’s a shame because Gardners Cottage is excellent. This place is style over substance. Much better quality to be found elsewhere at this price point.

6* location, very good food. If you are a tourist or want to dine high above Edinburgh (it feels more like you're sitting in a gigantic hot air balloon cabin floating above the city than in an earthbound structure), go here by all means - it's rare to have that good food in such a location. If you are a foodie and couldn't care less what's outside of the window, you still will get well executed modern British food (a bit on the salty side but not bad) but you won't remember the food a few months later; it's very unlikely that you haven't eaten anything like the food you get here before (although I really did appreciate that the wine pairing featured an excellent Georgian wine). Service was attentive and strived to create a fine dining feel. The restaurant, by contrast, is an otherworldly experience - a modern cube all glass on two sides perched in the corner of a historic compound high above town - it's unreal. Given this purpose-built structure and the quite small and cosy size of the restaurant, the price is more than adequate, although definitely steep on an absolute level. The only real let-down was that they only do French press coffee but chose to not even possess a tiny Nespresso machine for the most ardent espresso lovers... ;)

Absolutely fabulous meal this evening witg friends. Early meal pre show, with an amazing view as an amuse bouche! Cameron, our main waiter, was lovely and relaxed, knowledgeable and personable. The food from start to finish was excellent, and ambience was relaxed and informal. We will most certainly be back - its better than some Michelin starred establishments but lacks the hefty price tag!!

We are Edinburgh locals and have been dining at the Lookout for a few years now. This is a fine dining restaurant, not a cafe on the top of Carlton Hill - the 1* reviews given be people who couldn't get a coffee are completely unfair as this is not what The Lookout do! We celebrated our wedding anniversary recently here. Jessie and the team were absolutely fantastic. My husband and I both have dietary requirements, we both got great alternative options. Our favourite course was the venison with lavender - WOW! Jessie was really knowledgable on wines to pair with the food, her recommendation of a Georgian red was perfect and not something we would have naturally chosen. The views over Edinburgh are stunning, it was a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.

The view is great. The staff is friendly and attentive. The food on the other hand not so much. Of our two week vacation, this was the most expensive, yet most disappointing dinner. The cod was undercooked and we left hungry.

We are Edinburgh locals and have been dining at the Lookout for a few years now. This is a fine dining restaurant, not a cafe on the top of Carlton Hill - the 1* reviews given be people who couldn't get a coffee are completely unfair as this is not what The Lookout do! We celebrated our wedding anniversary recently here. Jessie and the team were absolutely fantastic. My husband and I both have dietary requirements, we both got great alternative options. Our favourite course was the venison with lavender - WOW! Jessie was really knowledgable on wines to pair with the food, her recommendation of a Georgian red was perfect and not something we would have naturally chosen. The views over Edinburgh are stunning, it was a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.

Stunning location and views. Food very good but tiny frugal portions. A starter of 3 baby tomatoes. Main issue was poor service and ridiculous price of matched wine. We were approached by 3 separate staff telling them we had a reservation before we were seated. First given a mid room table whilst empty window tables were free, asked for a widow one but greeted with a sigh as would have to move a seat! We chose the matched wine at £35. A complete rip off. A tiny splash of fizz(barely 75mls), tiny (100mls) white and a drop of desert wine. Don’t waste your money. Desert wine didn’t even arrive till the lovely pudding was nearly eaten either. Paper napkins rather than cloth ones and food spilled on table by server and table not even cleaned. After our meal we waited 20 minutes with an empty table and then had to ask twice for bill and it took 10 minutes. Dreadful experience and poor service, maitre’d paid no attention to poor restaurant service and spent whole time on laptop. I am not kidding that after leaving we had to go go for chips. Fine dining prices with greasy spoon service and 12.5% added as standard. So disappointing.

Would have given 3.5 stars if possible, sorry. Tables were sticky, cheap napkins, tepid still water…and served by 3 different people only one of whom talked us through the dishes as they arrived as was promised by our very friendly arrival greeter. It’s a no choice menu of small plates for £85 which felt steep. Not for vegans or veggies as far as we could tell. Few wines, horrible stemless tumblers…not tempted by proposal of pairing wines as no viz of them and £65pp far too steep. Bread was ok and the tiny portion of strawberry and basil butter was fabulous, so a Promising start. Portion felt ungenerous for 3. Tiny little tartlet of Dunbar crab in brique pastry not great. Pastry soggy, crab under-seasoned. In better news Next was the excellent and beautifully steamed cod fillet in a minuscule splash of lobster bisque. Loved that. Star was the venison, water bathed then seared. 3 tiny pieces. Gorgeous addition of wafer thin plum. Absolutely delicious! Both these courses saved the rating from 3. Dessert a beautifully presented mini tartlet, but pastry so hard it was tough to eat and cream horrible. Extra charge for cheese. Location and views stunning so we will think well of our visit as a one off but not likely to repeat sorry to say. Hoping comments fair and addressable as this could and should be an amazing restaurant.

I recently visited this restaurant for an anniversary dinner, having secured a voucher. We were pleasantly greeted with two glasses of champagne and a kind anniversary card. However, my initial request for a window table seemed to have been overlooked, a small detail that was nonetheless disappointing. The food, while generally pleasing to the palate, was underwhelming in terms of portion sizes. The crab, for instance, was flavoursome but disappointingly small. Additionally, the bread - described as a separate dish - consisted merely of two slices. The cod was good, but my partner's one didn't have salt at all. The venison, however, was the most disappointing dish, with the meat tasting bitter and the accompanying items lacking in flavour. The dessert was an anticlimax, being both small and lacking in taste. It was so bad that we couldn't believe it was the dessert! We also received a glass of white wine that was served warm and in a glass that appeared to be smudged with fingerprints. The service we received was inexpert, which was disappointing. The seating arrangement was too cramped, with our table so close to the neighbouring one that we felt as if we were dining together. Furthermore, the sun streaming through the glass made the setting uncomfortably warm. The dinner cost us £215 for two tasting menus and two glasses of wine, with a service charge of around £25. Given our experience, we did not see the justification for this charge. In summary, our experience at this restaurant was disappointing. The notion that offering small portions equates to gourmet dining is misguided. There are far superior dining options in Edinburgh that offer better value for money.

The whole experience was amazing and the restaurant was very accommodating-we added a person just the day before a Saturday reservation which could not be easy. Then we did not have a table with a view due to the addition but once asked they switched us after 30mins and we got an amazing window table-the views are stunning! Food was incredible so is the staff, lovely folks. Of course it is very expensive but it is expected as it is in Edinburgh and Calton Hill on top so it is a whole worthy experience. Loved it, can’t wait to make it back on another occasion.

The view is of course 5 stars, and the food was excellent, although the dessert, which was a delicious tart, seemed strange being served as a half portion per guest. A poor presentation for one of the more expensive restaurants in town. Service was friendly but never more than adequate, and we waited nearly 30 minutes for that half portion of dessert. My only real complaint was the wine program, which is sorely lacking for a kitchen this good. Usually when I see a tasting menu with optional wine pairings, especially when priced as these are, I get excited that the food and wines are going to be well coordinated and of similar quality. Sadly that was not the case and I was not at all tempted to pay the extra £65 for the wine flight. The Cava was excellent, one of the best I’ve had. But the list, a total of about 10 wines, consists of unknown producers and no information like region or vintage, just the varietal, country and producer. The Syrah was plonk, but all I know is that it came from somewhere in France. I don’t need a huge wine list, and i’m sure they dont have cellar space for that, but if you are limited in your selections that’s all the more reason to choose better wines, and provide more details to help diners make a selection. Don’t even get me started on the stemless wine glasses. IMO a restaurant like this, which has every opportunity to be incredible, is ignoring those who actually consider wine an important and integral part of a fine dining experience.

Tasting menu and view were both excellent as was the service. Crab tart, cod, and venison all were well prepared with an interesting combination of flavors. The dessert was the weakest part of the meal.

Best quality meal ever!! All dishes, the crab tartlet, Cod, Venison, dessert were expertly and tastefully prepared and presented with care. One of us was dairy- and gluten-free, so plates for that person were customized. The wait staff were perfectly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the dishes and libation options! And the view is incomparable!

I rather not recommend. Not very nice service

Unbelievable views and attentive staff, food very well prepared and tasty. This didn't get 5 stars through for a few of reasons. Although a tasting menu can be a bit overwhelming with so many courses, this was slightly mean on portion size. The paired wines...

Fabulous dinner spot. Excellent views, staff were incredible. The food is expensive so would reserve for extra special occasion but the overall experience was very fun. We had the delicious tasting menu with fish and crab and yummy dessert

3.5-4 stars. It has great views and the food is decent, but the vibe was just a little weird and our server didn't know what liquor was in the signature seasonal cocktail.

Incredible tasting menu, with amazing views of the entire city. Staff were excellent, very attentive and highly knowledgeable. Wine choice was varied. Great for sunsets!

The view from here is superb. Enjoy it, because my god they’re going to make you pay for it. I’ve had some incredible meals here in the past; food that made you say “oh my god I’m in heaven!” and service that made you want to make another booking as soon as you’d left. Sadly, they’ve lost the magic. Don’t get me wrong, the food was nice. The service was nice. But when you’re paying a bill of £250 for dinner for two, “nice” doesn’t quite cut it. Especially when you walk down the hill, smell the curry from the restaurants on leith walk and wonder if you can justify going for another dinner because you’re still hungry. There was nothing terrible about the Lookout, but sadly it doesn’t live up to its past glories. Best left to the tourists who’ll adore the view and who haven’t quite worked out the exchange rate yet.

I had been hearing so much about this place I don’t know if it could have lived up to its hype. I found the food average, service lacking and the view is grand but hard to overcome the fact the Lookouts entire decor basically looks like a hospital cafeteria. It didn’t win me over and if you want a meal with a view a romantic picnic on top Carlton Hill or Arthur’s Seat would be a better choice.

The tasting menu was perfectly portioned and well balanced for our lunch, with spectacular views of the city. This small, intimate restaurant is a MUST, but you have to make a reservation!

It was surprising that instead of A La Carte menu there was set menu. The dishes were not good and it was really expensive. The customer service was horrible and the process was really slow.

Recommended this place by a friend and was not disappointed. They did a full vegan set menu as well as the normal one, and every course was absolutely delicious - especially the aubergine tart and beetroot gnocchi. It was a little on the expensive side...

Extremely mediocre experience all round. Waitress didn’t know the dishes to start with. Crab for starters was extremely salty and fishy (not fresh) The cod was the most edible of the lot accompanied with a tasty purée Venison was over cooked and very poor/lacking flavour. The cheese board came with 3 crackers which was interesting to say the least.. The desert was okay but not enough to save the meal unfortunately. All round it was a very disappointing and extremely overpriced experience. Around £600 for 5 people. Ended up at McDonald’s afterwards which is where we should have started

Also zunächst das Positive: Ja, der Blick über die Stadt ist traumhaft. Das wird aber durch viele negative Aspekte mehr...

This is our third visit to the Lookout. This is a place you will either get or not, love or hate. The view is outstanding and you are primarily paying for the location. The aesthetic is minimalist - stemless wine glasses, wooden tables etc which...

La réservation s’est faite facilement sur internet. L’environnement et la vue sont sympa. Maintenant la table était collante, les serviettes...

So fortunate to have sat at the corner table. The most spectacular view of Endinburgh. The food was excellent and the wine pairing perfect.

First of all I have to tell you how much we prepaid £120 ,so we were looking for the wow! The view was amazing! We were shown to our slightly grubby table with a paper serviette a glass and cutlery the table wobbled so the...

A wonderful setting and view over Edinburgh. A very disappointing table setting, no choice on the menu and a totally unnecessary lecture on the constituent ingredients of each dish, served in tiny decorative portions and totally overpriced e.g. £9.50 for a mint tea bag and...

Warm welcome, great location, breathtaking views of Edinburgh. Fresh crab tarts were delicious as were our mains. Very convenient to Edinburgh Bus Tours start/stop location in Waterloo Place.

Veel te duur voor wat het is. Vlees te ver gebakken. Geen enkel gerecht kon de prijs rechtvaardigen. Je betaalt voor het uitzicht. Toilet vies, geen wc papier en vuil glazen werden niet afgehaald.

Egentlig valgt fordi alt andet i samme klasse var udsolgt for et selskab på fire. Flot beliggenhed, se billede af menukort for at se alle retter. Torsken var specielt lækker. Personalet var meget venligt og “over” tjeneren anstrengte sig for at servere en lækker juice menu for en af deltagerne, hvor vi andre fik vinmenu. Alle vinene var virkelig lækre.

This is an exceptional place to go for lunch, it was a special treat. The veloute was exceptional and some interesting flavours with the duck ....all very tasty and beautifully presented.. Wonderful views of the city and further afield... Very friendly attentive service.

Stopped in here around 2pm after strolling around the park. Told the hostess I didn’t have a reservation but was hoping to take in the view with a glass of wine—I figured this would be more than fine since the entire place was empty bar one table. She informed me that that was not possible as they only do lunch service. I was a bit confused as I’ve never heard of such a policy before—seems crazy to not take free quick $$$ on an overpriced glass of wine when your restaurant is empty. What’s more, I was not necessarily opposed to ordering food, but was never given the opportunity or told that I could sit if I ordered food. Truly bizarre.

Used to be amazing. Now really not worth the money. Food is good but not great. Go to Aizle or Fhior instead.