The Palmerston in Edinburgh, City of

Rebecca she was so kind to share her name at the end of the service.(She shared her name when I decided to make a review.) We were well aware of time to leave and thanks for her keep reminding me that they have to prepare from fresh the desert. I was planning to order only sorbet (I believe minimum prep time) but she just stand on top of our table and felt pressure to decide. I’ve been multiple times in this place mostly with satisfaction. But this time 9th May we couldn’t enjoy our family lunch only due to the attitude. Hope that will change

Came for dinner - enjoyed my cod starter but the main (salt beef) was very salty (served with a broth containing pearl barley) and didn't taste of much else besides salt. The caramelised brown sugar tart for dessert was amazing and the highlight of the meal. Service was friendly but a bit slow.

Great dinner in fab compant made this a fun night

Great place. Professional but unfussy service - could not be more helpful. Brilliant drinks menu - loved the choice of aperitifs! Food was delicious - set lunch was great value for modern but satisfying seasonal food. Went again for dinner during our stay in Edinburgh and had the pie to share - best pie ever - pastry sublime and shin beef in red wine filling delicious

Very beautiful setting in which we had lunch. The lunch formula is accessible (starter/main course/dessert for less than £30) but the portions are clearly reduced compared to the other guests at the table who ordered à la carte. This may justify the price but the portion could have been slightly larger.

Very enjoyable meal and atmosphere.

Great breakfast croissants and with muffins with wild garlic the Oberhammer 😍

Top quality ingredients, smiling and attentive staff, refined but informal environment: a place not to be missed if you want to taste the best of Scottish cuisine in a contemporary version, added to the fresh bread baked continuously in house. Truly superb, the best dining experience in Edinburgh as far as we're concerned. It's not cheap but neither is the city of Edinburgh in general and it deserves it for the quality and cuisine (at lunch they also offer a £23 menu)

It’s hardly surprising this is such a popular venue with the menu including a wide selection of locally brewed craft beers from Newbarns. Allow at least 90 minutes for the 3 course set lunch.

Absolutely loved my experience at the restaurants! Service was impeccable, the food was divine as well as the drinks! I even came back the next morning for a coffee and was happy with my experience as well! Can’t wait to come back!

Every bite was a tiny celebration!!!!!!!!!!!

Super food. Great staff. If you're reading this, go.

I had high hopes for this place as the daily menus and high quality ingredients really drew me in. However I have to say I was disappointed. The food was fine, a little on the salty side for me. The service was ok but not what I expected to be coupled with such a high end menu. Twice a server reached over the top of my head whilst I was eating to either place or pick something up from our table without warning which was very disconcerting. I just feel like it was overpriced for the experience.

Everything was delicious in a relaxed atmosphere. Fantastic quality.

The location was great, the food was good/okay We had food at the bar, and the bar waitress was... for lack of a different word... "efficient" She wanted us out of the place again as fast as possible. It really doesn't take a lot to be a BIT more hospitable, genuinely hospitable, and that would have made all the difference, but unfortunately that made the experience less than mediocre...

10/10 pastries in the morning, 10/10 food & wine after that. Long live the P! 🎉

A superb experience. All staff have an in-depth knowledge of the dishes and wine, something which is increasingly rare, even in fine dining restaurants in the UK. We had a duck sharer special, which was phenomenal. We also really appreciate that the venue is dog -friendly. We will be back!

Great restaurant, only minus was acoustics, area of improvement for all Edinburgh restaurants

We had a fantastic experience here. The service was first class - attentive and professional without being fussy or hovering. The food was absolutely superb from starter to dessert - fresh, full of flavour with good portions. It was great to see choices that we wouldn't cook at home, such as Jerusalem artichokes and lamb offal - all cooked to perfection. Drinks, particularly cocktails were imaginative and delicious. I wasn't a fan of the long wine list and particularly the only measures offered as 125ml and bottle. A polite request for a more user friendly list, maybe with some 175ml or sharing carafes would be perfect...? Eating at The Palmerston was easily a highlight of our Edinburgh visit and we loved it here. I'd be back anytime, this place is special.

Brilliant food and fantastic service. The lamb was terrific and the bread delicious. Most of the meals could be offered as GFO.

Consistently good selection of pastries. Best croissants and pains au chocolat in Edinburgh. Pleasant interior. Service always subpar, but pastries are worth it.

Great food (fried pig head, beef short rib pie and pistachio and rhubarb tart and fresh bread), struggled to finish due to the good size portion. The pie would serve 3 comfortably. good wine selection, not a big beer selection (Guinness was available and good enough). Great decor inside and staff very friendly and helpful.

Surly wait staff? Check. Tattooed disinterested baristas? Check. Team-members immersed in their personal emails and focussed solely on one other? Check. The Palmerston embodies the too-cool-for-school ethos of the modern British coffee house. The team makes you feel like they’re doing you a favour by making you a latte. Yes, they serve great coffee and pastries - but there is a pervasive joylessness about the whole enterprise.

The bread and the wine list were excellent. The food, however, was disappointing - the beautiful John Dory was overcooked and the crepes were thick and chewy. Service was friendly but quite slow.

The food was truly delightful; the ragu made for a lovely starter, and the lamb was very enjoyable. However, we found some aspects of the service....

Dismissive staff, some food so late it couldn't be eaten. Felt like we were eating in Starbucks but with terribly intrusive music. Clearly would not recommend.

Fab bread and pastries. I just wish they would stop handling the bread with their hands. Second time I’ve been there and second time it’s happened! It’s just cringey.

Such a good spot and usually really busy. A good dynamic choice of menu items from smaller plates and larger dishes that change often keeping you coming back for more!

Delicious food, make sure to make a reservation, even if there is a place, they will throw out those who don't make a reservation

I recently dined at your restaurant and wanted to share some feedback about our experience. The food was truly delightful; the ragu made for a lovely starter, and the lamb was very enjoyable. However, we found some aspects of the service lacking, particularly when our waitress was unable to explain the dish thoroughly. Additionally, the atmosphere seemed off from the moment we arrived. We were unsure whom to speak to upon entering, and once seated, the lighting felt too bright, lacking warmth. Moreover, the open windows made the dining area uncomfortably cold until we requested they be closed. While these elements detracted from our experience, I believe small adjustments could significantly enhance the overall ambiance and service. Despite these points, I appreciate the quality of your food and hope my feedback is helpful.

Fantástica comida en The Palmerston. Ubicado en un precioso edificio, anteriormente un banco, pero muy relajado y un agradable ambiente mojado. La comida era muy buena. Brandade entrante era excelente - buena cantidad de pescado en escamas en una mezcla de patata cremosa suave de terciopelo. El pastel de venado y vino tinto para 2 estaba delicioso (aunque solo una tapa de pastelería, por lo que algunos podrían consultar pastel) , y el chocolate y Guinness Sponge Pudding terminó la comida perfectamente. Muy bonita botella de tinto chileno para acompañar. Una de las mejores comidas que he tenido en Edimburgo.

El almuerzo fijado en £ 24 por persona era desafortunadamente abrumador. El camarero era bastante poco comunicativo, ciertamente no efusivo o acogedor. Nadie vino a comprobar cómo estábamos. El entrante era mínimo, pero bien, huevo cocido y apio. Principal, la pasta en ragu era bastante pequeña, cena escolar y muy salada. Se lo dijimos al camarero, dijo que se lo diría al chef pero no alteró la factura. Postre, un poco de merengue, satsuma y salsa de chocolate y muy básico. En general, no hay gran valor. Al hacer la reserva me preguntaron si había una ocasión especial y cumpleaños marcados. Ninguna referencia a esto durante el almuerzo, ni una vela, ni una bebida gratis, ni una mención. Al final pedí que se eliminara el cargo por servicio. Me las arreglé para pedir disculpas a medias. Huelga decir que no volveremos ya que todo fue un poco de mala calidad.

Great food and great service and love the relaxed atmosphere.

Mis hijas fueron a este restaurante el sábado pasado para almorzar. Les cobraron 57 libras por un pollo medio asado compartido, patatas fritas con salsa de mostaza. Mi hija todavía tiene un malestar estomacal por la comida. También se les cobró por su servicio @ 10 por ciento y una donación de £ 1 a MND. En total, la factura fue de 71 libras. 40 por favor no utilice este restaurante la brujería es mucho más acorde con los precios y no cobran de más. Evitar a toda costa.

Absolutely love the palmerston. The vibe is spot on and the menu is always perfectly curated. Wherever we have been he have sat at the bar which I really love. When we went last time we had a 50minute wait between starters and mains and I was away to give them a gentle nudge but they beat me to it and said our order got lost. These things happen and you can really tell how good a restaurant is when they respond to these situations and they were so kind. The food was worth waiting for and they insisted that desserts and cheese for afters would be on the house. Top class. Can’t wait to go back.

If I were to describe my experience at The Palmerston in two words it would be: incredibly underwhelming Where to start, I heard fantastic reviews about this place from the internet and from food critics around Edinburgh. The word on the street was this was Edinburgh’s chefs favorite restaurant. I was incredibly excited to try the food here during my 2 week trip to the UK. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. Now I don’t want to be too hard on them, the cocktails and appetizers were very good but it’s the entrees that fall completely short. I ordered the Kid Crépinettes with mash and cabbage and my partner ordered the Roasted Pork Shoulder with celeriac and bitter lettuce. The Kid Crépinette was probably the most disappointing due to it being very bland and gristly. Traditionally they are coated with melted butter and then tossed in breadcrumbs before sautéing or grilling. This felt like it was maybe formed and just put into the oven for 10 minutes. No hint of truffle or any significant flavor. As for the roasted pork shoulder, you would have thought it was a grilled pork loin with how tough and flavorless it was. Usually roasted pork shoulder means fall apart tenderness and flavor but this was tough. The only redeeming factor about the meal was the appetizers, cocktails and the wonderful service who did not charge us for the poorly made dishes. This all being said I would consider giving the Palmerston a second chance if I was in Edinburgh again in the future but I couldn’t help leave my thoughts on a dining experience I was very much looking forward to.

This is our 3rd time here and 3rd time of having an excellent meal. Really creative dishes, love that the menu changes all the time and the staff despite some of the reviews have always been really welcoming!

Comida muy sosa y cara. El tónico en la ginebra era plano y le faltaba algo para levantarlo, por ejemplo limón. Muy decepcionante. Los amigos habían intentado disuadirme de ir pero pensé en intentarlo y mantener la mente abierta. Debería haberlos escuchado.

Tried breakfast and lunch here. Both great.

Lovely food. Would be helpful if you put signs up to tell customers what each item was as the staff seemed annoyed that we asked what things were.

The food was very tasty but honestly it's quite pricey for was it is. £100 for a lunch and I left feeling hungry.

Loved **The Palmerston**! Cozy vibes, amazing service, and the food was top-notch. The beef tartare was a standout, and the wine selection was spot on. Can’t wait to return!

Overrated food and service was poor. Would recommend going elsewhere

Rude and careless personnel. Not so good bakeries

Sorry; didn't take any photos, too busy enjoying those amazing flavours, need to know the magic ingredient in the parsnip soup and the fish stew, eat your heart out Yotam. Bonus tip; Guinness in Wetherspoons next to the station £5.23, The Palmerston £4.90, hurry now these prices cannot last.

Wonderful food - simply presented and beautifully cooked. Staff made you feel like your were coming into their home.

Staff were nice and service was good. Menu really needs refining and balancing for the price they are asking for.

The soup was comforting and delicious!

Very inviting atmosphere, excellent service. Elevated food in a laid back, unpretentious environment. Highlights included the tender stem broccoli appetizer, rabbit leg main and the desserts.

Abysmal service. No signs to say Wait To Be Seated or Order At The Bar. No one comes to serve you, so you're left wondering what you should do. If you find a table, again, there's no one serving you or menus on the table. I went to the bar to ask for a menu. The guy didn't look interested and rudely said, "that's all we have left!" pointing to a few bits of bread. Felt like an F' off to me, so we left.

Had the best meal in recent memory here on Friday, the pasta dish was so good that I had to order a second! Everything we ate was 10/10, clean plates all around. Also excellent wine list and the most divine desserts - incredible chocolate cake and rhubarb trifle. Best part is they are dog-friendly! Will absolutely be back next time I'm in Edinburgh.

Called out-with service times and opening and still could not get anyone on the phone ! Friends from Australia couldn't get a table of 7 ?? Must be refreshing to be that busy you don't bother !

Can skip it. The food was a mixed bag but one of the dishes I received was a genuine disappointment. Service - one person was pretty nice and generally fine, one actively detracted from the experience of eating out, and it resulted in putting a damper on the whole evening.

Great ambience, fresh food and extensive of wine list.

Vibes were bad and service slow (15mins for two coffees but the place was only a quarter full), definitely much better bakeries around - twelve triangles just down the road is a far better rec.

Incredibly rude and arrogant staff. This is such a shame as I am a regular and the food has always been lovely but the arrogant and entitled staff really let this place down. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone that wants to enjoy a nice lunch out as this place lacks any atmosphere and you are made to feel like you shouldn’t be there.

Food was lovely - we had the pork and the lamb. Restaurant is let down by the unenthusiastic and uninterested service and the hour long wait for the main course.

Can't recommend this place enough! Me and my mum celebrated our last day in Edinburgh here; everything was amazing! The food, the service, the drinks, the atmosphere. You have to try the monkfish, it melts in your mouth. 10/10!

Terrific place. Such a lovely informal atmosphere, amazing wine list and exciting menu, and yes, every dish is delicious. Love how the superb bread and butter sets the tone. Such a good team welcoming and serving. The best.

Booked the Palmerston after seeing good things on social media but with the daily changing menu it was hard to know what to expect, we were roughly aware of the style of the food however it seemed way too expensive for what it was, the food was nice but it cost a total of £90 for what we had in the photo and was not worth it overall. Staff were nice but not overly attentive and it seemed very laidback for a higher end restaurant. Tables were very close together and was a bit disappointed with the feel of the place. So overall the food was nice but not worth the money as there are better restaurants in Edinburgh that are similar style to the Palmerston.

We had a great meal here! The staff were very helpful and always approachable. We also found the selection of white wine excellent - and the fact that our dog was allowed inside would even be worth a 6th star :)

I got a recommendation for The Palmerston around six months ago and when I booked my trip to Edinburgh, I knew I had to visit. The food was phenomenal. The Cod bouillabaisse was spectacular and the Sourdough was truly exceptional. The team were incredible, attentive and helpful. I really enjoyed my meal, thank you so much.

Friendly and helpful staff, but mainly the beef. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Champagne, desert and Irish Coffee, we're still talking about our meal weeks later. I couldn't recommend highly enough!

Food was good if not a little bit salty and on the pricier side Experience was let down by off-putting service and staff who had attitudes

The cooking reminds me off St. John - which is a good thing. Thankfully no haggis bon bons, Stornoway black pudding (nothing wrong with Stornoway black pudding by the way) or whisky sauces. Just top ingredients, though not always immediately familiar to many, cooked simply and thoughtfully. Nice room too. PS. Been several times since and just got back from another. Best restaurant in Edinburgh. Update Dec 24. Started getting my bread from the house bakery. Best toast ever.

Great food and atmosphere but the best part was Chris our waiter. Chris ensured our complicated order arrived without any hiccoughs and was very friendly and attentive throughout our meal. Thank you to the Palmerston and Chris for a lovely meal

Great food. No fuzz unpretentious good food. The team is tentative and the service is fast and reliable.

This is one of the best restaurant I’ve ever visited in my life , Atmosphere,Service and food are excellent, I personally highly recommend to everyone

This place is exceptional in every way. The staff are professional and friendly, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The environment is spotless, and every detail is thoughtfully taken care of. The quality of the services and products is unmatched, showing true dedication to customer satisfaction. Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a regular, you’ll always feel appreciated. A perfect example of excellence across the board.

Fantastic food, staff were so friendly and understanding, brilliant atmosphere. A1 service

This place truly deserves 5 stars in every way! The service is exceptional, with a team that is both professional and genuinely friendly. The atmosphere is warm, clean, and inviting, making every visit an enjoyable experience. The quality of the products and services offered here is outstanding—everything is delivered with care and attention to detail. It’s clear that customer satisfaction is a top priority. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or are a regular, you’ll always feel valued and well taken care of. Highly recommended for anyone looking for excellence in every aspect

Amazingly spot for a lazy Sunday afternoon, or at any time!!

Good restaurant , highly recommend

I really enjoy the food at Palmerston, and that is exactly why I’m writing this not so pleasant review. I’ve been to the place 5 times now, and the food is always top tier. However, the service is just so bad every time. It’s incredibly slow and it takes around 20 to 30 minutes for a waiter to realise you finished a meal and bring to a desert menu/a bill. And that happens even after asking them to do so multiple times. It’s very unfortunate because whenever I feel like having dinner there I have to be prepared to deal with the service. It’s such a shame and I really wish that this wasn’t the case…

Disappointing, have waited a long time to go to the Palmerston. Wasn't welcomed warmly and sent away as we were a little early, No flexibility to accommodate our early arrival and I was on crutches so had to walk further again. Food was overcooked and when we shared that with the waiting staff subtly nothing was done to fix it. Cold serving staff with no interaction very transactional. So many better experiences to be had in Edinburgh. Shame

I like the food quality, its very nice and i also like the enviroment! A good place to be in I recommend it

It has a very friendly atmosphere the food was very good and the service was fast and the staff was very nice.

It was a great pleasure at palmerston restaurant, their services is 100%. I cnt wait to visit again

Nice atmosphere and good service 👍🏻

I recently visited The palmerston and had an overall delightful experience. Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the cozy yet modern atmosphere. The interior features a mix of warm wood tones and green plants, creating a relaxing, nature-inspired vibe that made for a great dining experience.

A Fantastic Dining Experience! I had an amazing meal The ambiance was inviting, the service was attentive, and the food was absolutely delicious. All the dishes was packed with flavor and Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and exceeded expectations. Highly recommend this spot for a memorable dining experience! 10/10 experience will definitely be back

Authentic food, excellent service & nice atmosphere

Really rude and very impatient with the disabled people

Great place to visit, nice ambience and definitely taste of choice

Onw of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh. Grest food, good atmosphere and fantastic customer service. A must try..

Its the best place ever best food best environment

Absolutely fantastic! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making me feel right at home. The food? Simply outstanding—every bite was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. I highly recommend the [insert standout dish]—it was a game-changer. This is easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Can’t wait to come back!

The food is amazing here. I can honestly say it is the best food I've had. You have got to try it, you won't disappointed.

Great restaurant. Very clean. Friendly staff and the food was delicious. Would definitely recommend.

A more than wonderful restaurant

Eaten here a couple of times now, once for dinner at the bar, and once for the set lunch. Really like it. The food is great, innovative and uses fantastic ingredients. Brilliant wine list although it is pretty pricy! We got a great bottle but it was 4x retail price! Understand the challenges of running a restaurant these days but this seems excessive. Food is fantastic, although I did feel the lunch portions were a bit miserly especially on the main course compared with how generous dinner had felt.

We ate on the 21 November and it was just unbelievable!! We sat at the bar and the gentleman behind the bar served us all night and was absolutely fab, gave excellent recommendations and was chatty. The food was also amazing - I can’t even put into words. Just simply delicious. Thank you so much!

Food is excellent. The tables are on the small side . Service is good. We'll be back.

Well cooked lamb and great soup. The dinner menu is somewhat difficult to read and a bit specific, but the food was very good. Service was decent. I would recommend this restaurant for a night out. Portions were decent and priced reasonably. A bit of a nice dinner in pretty casual environs.

We planned a foodie tour across Edinburgh and The Palmerston far exceeded our expectations, the food was incredible and our server Grace elevated what was already an incredible experience into our favourite meal of the entire trip. Would absolutely recommend this place in a heartbeat, thanks to Grace and the incredible kitchen staff!

We had a great time at the Palmerston. The atmosphere and service make it a wonderful experience. We got the pumpkin soup, pork shoulder, halibut, and the apple bun dessert, all of which we would highly recommend.

We love this place and go frequently. Some of the best pastries in Edinburgh, and friendly service.

Este es uno de nuestros lugares favoritos para comer fuera en Edimburgo. El servicio siempre es genial, y la comida es increíble. Vemos al mismo personal una y otra vez, lo que significa que se les retiene. Nunca nos han decepcionado y la calidad de la comida es excepcional. Las porciones están bien. Leer algunas de las críticas negativas en este restaurante me impulsó a enviar esto, ya que se siente como si hubiera poca apreciación de los productos de alta calidad cocinados increíblemente bien.

We’re confused… we heard great things about this place but it was remarkably average in every way. Did we order the wrong thing? Was it an off night? Food was pub quality at best, service was quite poor, and ambience was practically non existent.

Great meal here - produce is fantastic. Liked the relaxed service, and a very good wine list as well.