The Spence in Edinburgh, City of

For that special occasion it is the best place to visit. Dress code is essential unless you are staying in the hotel.

We were extremely disappointed with our afternoon tea experience. The service was awful. My youngest daughter asked for cream with her tea, but it never came until we flagged the waiter down. Even then, no spoons were provided, and she had to stir her tea with a knife. After we received our scones and pastries, the three adults ordered tea—but it never arrived. We waited an hour and 20 minutes before receiving our first cup of tea, by which time we had already eaten most of the food without it. Throughout the meal, the staff failed to clear away used plates or our empty champagne glasses, leaving the table cluttered. To make matters worse, when they boxed up our leftovers, the crab bites were packed with the pastries. By the next morning, everything stank of crab and was inedible. For over £400, this was shockingly poor. We’ve been to many afternoon teas, and this was by far the worst.

Went in to see if I could get a table the receptionist went to find me one,went in for drinks ended having a pudding to.

It is an excellent restaurant, and their service is excellent. We enjoyed it and liked the food. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful, the people are helpful, and its prices are the same as other restaurants. It is best to reserve a table on a busy day. The day we went, it was empty.

We had a splendid lunch at the Spence. Atmosphere here was relaxing and comfortable. The place was beautiful! Special mention to Paul who assisted with our orders and his service was impeccable. He made sure our needs were attended to, especially those of my children. I personally love the Stone Bass dish and the Choux bun dessert.

The best restaurant we visited in Edinburgh!

Fantastic! One of the best meals we've ever had in Edinburgh and would highly recommend to anyone. Service was so nice and the atmosphere was lovely.

Very nice interior and design. The food was good. The pastries were really delicious.

Very friendly and attentive staffs. The service was excellent.

A magnificent setting, a refined cuisine, a warm and efficient service, all this makes you spend an unforgettable evening. Note that we had asked the day before to have a table near the fireplace at the back of the restaurant, and satisfaction was given to us despite a permanent crowd. A very fine menu, where after sharing 4 Bread & Snacks as a starter, we continued our meal with the Roast Monkfish, the Stone Bass and the Spelt & Black Truffle Risotto, perfectly cooked fish with a festival of delicate flavors and spices . As dessert, our choice fell on a Valrhona Single Origin Chocolate Tart, as well as the Chestnut & Vanilla Mousse. As indicated, it was a magnificent evening!

Atmosphere is amazing, friendly staff and quality food

Lovely place but it is expensive, also a club/hotel.

The place is very charming, and the food is delicious. ✨✨

The coffee from the end I asked for a cappuccino. The employee said that their coffee is from Brazil and they are proud of it and they roast it in their own way and the breakfast is delicious. Scrambled eggs are a masterpiece 🙌🏻

One of the most incredible dining experiences I've had. The concierge at The Balmoral hotel booked a Sunday roast dinner at The Spence for us. It was a hit! The architecture and vibe were phenomenal. We were dressed nice-casual and that was OK. The waiter was very helpful and he shared a little bit about the building. His knowledge of the menu and beverages was helpful to guide us. He was attentive and very pleasant. I had a Sunday roast and it was prepared perfectly. My wife had an assortment of vegetarian sides and she was quite pleased as well.

Incredible afternoon tea for my birthday. Absolutely delicious and the staff is really kind 🫶🏽

Food was great. Disappointed with the service. Servers never checked on us and we kept having them flag them for tea or drinks. Would have expected better service for the price you pay for afternoon tea.

Very satisfied. A really nice shop. I definitely want to come again.

Euan was phenomenal! The food was incredible! Highlights were sourdough, venison, and surprisingly the cabbage!

Nice place and wonderful staff we had a good time

The food was good. The service was great, but very slow. We loved the ambience! What a great afternoon tea experience!

I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at this elegant restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, and the retro decor added to the charm. It's recommended to make a reservation.

The experience was amazing overall. The staff members were polite and entertaining. The food was delicious, and the dining hall was beautiful.

In a word: underwhelming. Too expensive for what it offers. Nice atmosphere and wonderful staff, however in my opinion the food was not at the expected level. Not bad by any means but... underwhelming.

Food was good, coffee was amazing. Service was fair. Atmosphere was unbelievable

A beautiful space with a variety of very well prepared dishes. Our server was very good though there were a few times I had to wait to get his attention when I needed him.

Came here for afternoon tea. Absolutely stunning place, great service, tea and vanilla cheescake were delicious! Can only recommend to visit this place, it's a gem.

The place is very beautiful and the service is excellent As for the breakfast options, they were limited and confusing It contains different types and names of pork, so ask beforehand I expect dinner or lunch would be better

Food and drinks were subpar. Service was extremely slow. Took more than 30 minutes to order then over an hour to get our mains.

Food was of good quality but not remarkable compared to what is available in Edinburgh. Mains were not hot, no check in from the copious waiting staff. Not a bad meal at all and beautiful surroundings but poor value for money overall.

We really enjoyed place. Staff atmosphere food a everything you desire. Special thanx to Bart!

We had a fantastic time! Thank you.

A great delight in wonderful surroundings and many thanks to all the staff from reservation reception to table servers.

Where Taste Meets Artistry Elegant dining hall, gorgeous staff and great food in presentation and taste

Beautiful and the atmosphere is upscale

Absolutely stunning ambiance and aesthetics! I loved dining at the Spence for the vibes alone. The Sailor cocktail was delicious but the food was a bit underwhelming. I had to get fries (which were quite good) to feel full despite ordering 5 dishes as portions were tiny and not satiating. The lamb was tough and the cabbage portion size was odd compared to the garnishes. The spinach tart was yummy and the scallop ceviche was the best bite I had here. I would come back for just drinks or for tea.

Very pretty interior and good food, service was not quite there, and we had long waited for food and wine, that said it was busy when we had our table. The food and presentation does the talking, would recommend.

I went to the spencer today. The ambiance was good. The service was good. Staff were courteous. But the food was average at very best to taste. The quantity was too little for the price. It's just a hall area with seating all around. I didn't mind paying for the food, but it looked to me a ripoff for the food quantity they are serving. The taste as well of the items I ordered were rather bland not worthy of a fine dine.

Fabulous afternoon tea including the rose champagne, perfect for my sister's 60th birthday. We all enjoyed it, the service was excellent and once replete we had doggy bag for the remainders...

Took the raw spicy beef as was one item others seemed to enjoy. Thought it was OK. The chips are a filler, which you need. Seen better decor in other old banking halls. Wouldn’t rush back

We had a lovely meal here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The vegetarian options were good, and the team were attentive without being intrusive. Special thanks to Euan for looking after us so nicely.

Visited the restaurant for our anniversary . The waiter Calvin was 5 stars ++he was attentive , friendly , was extremely knowledgeable about the history of building , surroundings ,the restaurant and rhe food on the menu , his recommendations from the menu were amazing, he made our dining experience very relaxed and enjoyable, the food was amazing . with certainly be back .

My sister and I had lunch at The Spence on June 2023. The setting is impressive although when we were shown to our table we were shocked that the next table was approx 6 inches from our table. We both love food and are not fussy eaters but felt the lunch menu was limited. I chose scallops and a prawn/pasta dish from the 'specials' menu. My sister chose a crab dish on a crumpet. My scallops were coated in a thick glutinous sauce-not very nice. My sister's crumpet seemed stale. When our main courses arrived My sister's halibut was perfect. My prawn dish didn't have a single prawn. By the time my dish was replaced, my sister had finished her dish- not a lovely shared dining experience experiencewhik

Absolutely beautiful service. Food was timely and cooked to perfection

The most beautiful restaurant in Edinburgh. Our server was super kind and helpful. Honestly service in general was amazing. They knew we were celebrating a graduation and gave us champagne on the house. I don’t know who our server was but it was a young lady in her 20s, please give her a promotion or something because she was the sweetest. Table for dinner on June 11th around 8pm I think under Yip. You come here for the ambience, food was okay

The Spence was a beautiful venue for our wedding dinner. We booked one of the private rooms (behind a secret bookcase door!) and had a reduced a la carte menu for guests on the night, which the chef was able to amend to fit our preferences. We had a dedicated waiter for the evening, who was very professional and knowledgeable, and were able to enjoy the evening at a relaxed pace. All the food was stunning and there was an extensive wine list, as well as great alcohol free options. Booking the dinner and organising details was really well handled by Hannah in the events team, and overall we couldn’t have been happier about our evening with the Townhouse.

Another mediocre and expensive experience in Edinburgh. Took a group of Americans here for high tea. All are major hospitality executives in Las Vegas, keen for a typical British experience. It was incredibly embarrassing to showcase our terrible local service. Wrong tea, food took a hour to arrive, ten different waiters all doing nothing, then, finally, a girl comes up to apologise but says, cheekily “I think we got there in the end.” Did you? At these prices, I don’t think so. After a decade in the States it’s a real eye opener to see how bad our local scene is.

Service was amazing! Very nice atmosphere and vibe. I was expecting the food to be better for a Michelin star restaurant. The dishes we got lacked flavor.

Amazing food service and venue.

I had an amazing visit with my partner, the food was great and all the staff were super lovely and attentive. Special shout out to Henry, who took amazing care of us! We hope to come back soon to this absolutely visually stunning venue! Thanks again.

3 of us attended the restaurant today for late lunch. For main course one of us had chicken with sweet corn and mushrooms costing £29. When it arrived it was a plainly cooked chicken breast with a garnish of sweetcorn and mushroom. Another of us had feta and spinach tart with broccoli spears costing £18. The tart was very small and the size of what would normally be served as a starter. When we queried the insubstantial portions with the waiter he advised that we had to add side dishes to make up a main meal! This would have added £12 onto each dish, and the food, although well enough cooked, was not in any way exceptional to justify exorbitant pricing. The third person in our group was happy with their tagliatelle. The interior of the restaurant is lovely and ornate and on a previous visit I was impressed by the quality of the food. But today we felt badly let down and ripped off. We will not return.

Had a fantastic meal with our family. All six of us had something different and all were nice and hot.

The meal was fabulous and service great. We came for my birthday celebration and was recognized and given a delicious chocolate treat. The one small flaw was the small selection of dessert wines but that didn’t spoil the meal.

Me and my girl bestie reserved for lunch to celebrate our birthdays and we are so happy that our request for corner seat was granted! The place is elegant yet cozy. The interior reminds me of gallerie la fayette in Paris. Stunning architecture! There’s a bar in between and beautiful comfy seats around. The staff are lovely and attentive. The food is delicious and presentation is top notch. I was only let down by the drinks because there’s only limited selection of mocktails for the ladies who don’t drink alcohol and the drink presentation could be improved by little nice garnish, just to match the elegance of the place. Unfortunately, me and my bff had to rush to leave to catch our train so we didn’t had the chance to stay for desserts. But also to our lovely surprise, the staff prepared complimentary chocolate mini cake with candles for the both of us and had it packed for take away! Such a beautiful gesture and I certainly fell in love with the place! Overall, I want to come back and hopefully next time we’ll bring our husbands for a lovely mini honeymoon check-in. We were told there is a spa and roof deck view for guests. So hopefully soon we’ll comeback! 💖

Beautiful food served by attentive staff in an exquisite setting.

This place is fabulous and one of my favourite places to eat ever. The food was perfect but the real star is the amazing staff team. Thankyou ,Jess, for making us feel so welcome. There are lots of great restaurants in Edinburgh but none , I suspect, that are as attentive and welcoming as this one.

The British cheese selection was to die for! Couldn’t have had a better experience in an absolutely stunning setting

We made a reservation 1 month in advance for our wedding anniversary. The food was good, we did not like the dessert, and the cocktails were not successful either. We found it sloppy and indifferent, it was not a place worth the price for us.

The decor of The Spence is phenomenal. The food and service, however, fell so far below expectation. We started off with some coffee and water. It took really long to get to us. The americano was too strong, so I asked for some hot water, and I think they were harvesting rain water. Although I asked for still water for the table, he didn't bring it before or with our coffee, but needed to be asked again. Perhaps they were harvesting the rain water. The food was okayyy. The buckwheat pancakes were just kinda still and tasteless. The egg Benedict was ONE egg on a WHOLE English muffin. The English muffin was dense, and there was not enough hollandaise to make that taste like anything. The single egg that came with the dish was overcooked. The portions were small as described by the single egg bennidict. I ordered a fruit salad and another filter coffee afterwards. The fruit salad came swiftly, but the coffee took ages. And when it came, it looked very dilute and tasted like nothing. I asked for another one and regretted it since it took forever. The service was tardy. The server was never rude with us, but he needed to be flagged down for everything, didn't really check in on us, didn't clear any dishes, had to be asked to clear dishes, we had to ask twice for our bill, and he didn't come to collect the bill so we just put cash on the table and left. I think they owed me 31 pence, but it would've taken another hour. Oh, the restaurant was not even half full. I observed other tables receive faster service. We were there on a Friday at 9 am, and COULD'NT leave until 11:30am. The service charge is absolute garbage.

Overall incredible experience! The menu, drinks and service all come together in a beautiful building. Strongly recommend the mushroom tagliatelle and the Sancerre.

Had another wonderful lunch with great food and attentive service. My goto place now in Edinburgh.

Wonderful restaurant! We had a great evening with great food and the most amazing service. Everyone was so kind. Thank you!

We really enjoyed this morning when we had breakfast at one of the finest places in Edinburgh. The place is very beautiful, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere exudes luxury. The coffee was excellent, and the experience was delightful. I made a reservation two days in advance to avoid the crowds, as the place started to fill up just half an hour after we arrived.

Love it here; delicious food and a gentle relaxed ambiance. Staff are friendly and informative regarding dietary restrictions and gave us a nice surprise for our anniversary. Just a lovely restaurant to visit!

Lamb was awful. Far too expensive and not worth the money

The Spence in Edinburgh is located in the heart of the city. This restaurant is stunning inside, which has earned it a reputation as one of Scotland’s most beautiful dining spots. Upon entering The Spence, you're greeted by a laid-back atmosphere with piano music. I sat at the bar for lunch. The ambiance is elegant but comfortable. Perfect for tourists who are exploring in comfortable clothes. The menu at The Spence features an array of items. During my visit, I sampled the monk cheeks, which were tender and perfectly cooked. The spinach and feta tart was delicious. It had yummy creamy feta and fresh spinach encased in a crisp and flaky pastry. The fries were a simple but a typical accompaniment of mine. High-quality food and excellent service.

Generally the staff were excellent, in particular the young women that was our main server. She was so attentive and helpful to my Dutch colleagues, explaining the menu very well. Overall we had a fabulous evening and would highly recommend the Spence!

You just have to find it, but then you enter a beautiful, atmospheric room with a spectacular ceiling. Fully booked but there was still a spot at the bar. Good kitchen and friendly staff. Wine list somewhat limited, but could be better. What was striking was the deliciously prepared vegetables, these were the best carrots I have ever eaten. In short, you can go here quietly!

Amazing experience at The Spence. Food was delicious, service was great. Unbeatable atmosphere. Will definitely come back when I visit Edinburgh again.

Lovely bar in Old Bank of Scotland branch.

Very beautiful and very expensive, too expensive for what it is. Quite pompous service.

The Spence makes any occasion feel very special thanks to the quite breathtaking art deco style architecture. You wouldn’t think that this is a fairly new restaurant thanks to the careful restoration and clever additions that make this former bank feel like it’s always been a 1900’s style fine dining restaurant. The food and cocktails were of high quality. The servers were attentive and very knowledge; we had Calum who was amazing. He even arranged an extra surprise for our celebration. Although on the more expensive end of restaurants in Edinburgh, The Spence is a must visit especially if for a special occasion. We can’t wait to go back - five stars.

The design of the building is elegant and it is very unique We ordered a Burrata for the starter, and that was delicious. One Tweed valley sirloin steak and that was good. One rosted chicken which was better than the steak. Overall rating is 4 out of 5

Dining at the Spence is one of Edinburgh’s greatest delights (in my very biased opinion). The food has always been exceptional, and so is their service - even over the phone! Check it out if you’re in the mood for a treat!!!

He has a lot of praise from TikTok The place is 10/10. It is luxurious. We entered for breakfast without a reservation. And the food is 5/10 We ordered pancakes and they became vegetarian, which I did not like at all And a plate of eggs with truffles, the bread was bitter and dry And an egg dish with avocado, also the bread was dry and bitter Drinks 7/10

The restaurant is beautiful. The food is entirely underwhelming. The roast chicken was small and dry, the jersey royals were flavourless, simple slightly under-boiled potatoes. The steak was still over-salted after removing the finishing salt and the peppercorn sauce was smooth, but weaker than expected. The berry cocktail was nice, the wine was good. Also ordered two different teas, but could not get service to get any milk. Had some pasta and duck as well, that was fine. Service was not great. Drinks were dropped off, and he did not return to the table until food was dropped off. We had to ask someone else to bring milk. We ordered more tea, asked for milk up front, and never received it. It felt as though we were an afterthought.

Beautiful place and great service from start to finish. The food on the other hand, was painfully mediocre and by consequence overpriced. Ordered a roasted chicken which was 29 GBP, not including sides. And I don’t want to be mean but Nandos offers a better grilled chicken for much less. The wine list is great and extensive. For sides I had potatoes and again, they were tasteless. My partners food wasn’t impressive either, for a place of this category we expected much more with the food, especially when a dish is so simple, with good ingredients and taste it could’ve easily been impressive. I’d only go back for drinks, we didn’t even try the desserts since the food was so disappointing.

Absolutely Stunning. Could not fault The Spence. We came to celebrate our engagement and it couldn’t of been more special. The staff were incredible, attentive and a prime example of hospitality excellence. Extensive wine list paired with a seasonal menu and the atmosphere speaks for itself. Would highly recommend again and again!

To celebrate my wife's birthday, we paid an unexpected visit to Edinburgh. I came across this restaurant in the Michelin book. It goes without saying that the cuisine was top-notch; otherwise, they would not have made the cut. What really made the supper special, though, was the welcoming staff and the top-notch service. Everything about the evening was perfect: the ambiance, the attention to detail, the food presentation, and my wife's expression of contentment afterward. It means the world to me.

We actually wanted to come for tea time but were only told in the restaurant that tea time is only available Monday to Friday. So we had to order from the normal menu. Unfortunately, we found all the dishes completely overpriced. The eclair was dry and tasted like it had been defrosted. The £30 chicken came without a side dish and was very small. The cheese platter was unfortunately the worst I've ever had in my life. The cocktails were just too sweet and created without any love. Only the chai tea was really delicious. The atmosphere is of course beautiful but unfortunately the food doesn't match it. What a shame.

it’s a massive shame I can’t give this place 6 stars - I would if i could!!! Amazing building- beautiful. Helpful and courteous staff. Large range on the menu with attention to every detail. Amazing service. Highly recommend, especially after a rainy cold day in Edinburgh!! Easy to reach as well- opposite St Andrew’s Square Tram Stop.

Spence has an elegant and exquisite ambiance, which would be perfect for a special occasion or when you want to treat yourself to something more than just a night out. I really liked the cocktails. The food was good but not excellent; the sauce didn’t quite work with the fish. I also expected just a tiny bit more from service in such a restaurant.

Nice restaurant for business dinner as well as afternoon tea.

A real gem in the centre of Edinburgh. Attended for joint birthday celebrations and it did not disappoint. Wonderful food that tasted delicious. Excellent service and the special touch of a complimentary dessert for my birthday. Definitely worth a visit, you won't be disappointed!

Such a great place for breakfast. The Shakshouka was delicious. Also, I have tried the brioche with truffle, it was really tasty. Definitely I will come again.

Lovely visit, great food, great staff and special thanks to Helen, who made a wee treat for our son. Very thoughtful👍

Fab cocktails and amazing building. Will come back for a meal some time!

Went for my mother's birthday and it was good but not spectacular! With the gleneagles name above the door we were hoping for a bit more for the price food is good but a tad too much! Can eat in other places in rhe city for a bit less and a bit of a better crafted meal! £150 on food shouldn't be anywhere near a disspointment! Won't be returning once is a enough 👌

One of the most beautiful experiences i have ever had , the shakshuka more than greet, and we want to thanks “sunny “she was so kind and helpful

Excellent food and service in a beautiful room. Ideal for that special occasion.

I went to The Spence with two friends for drinks. The interior is truly beautiful and deserves five stars, the cocktails were a solid four stars. Unfortunately the experience was stained by an oddly rude service. On arrival we were only offered seats at the bar despite multiple vacant tables, unlike other guests we did not receive any tap water and one of my friends did not receive a menu either. The most astonishing interaction however was the payment proceedings. I asked to pay the whole check and a little tip (in addition to an already included 12.5% service charge). The waiter seemed rather annoyed by this and asked me whether I meant that I would like to pay this amount for my drink alone, suggesting a tip of more than 33£ (more than double the price of the cocktail I had). When I declined this and repeated that I would like to cover the whole check please, he too repeated his question. We then asked to split the bill, since apparently I could not pay for all of us with the „small“ tip I suggested. He then autonomously added a 2£-tip to all of our bills. I was so astonished by this behavior that I pointed it out to one of his colleagues at the reception when we left. She did not try to solve the situation but only told me that her colleague usually was very polite. I will not visit The Spence again and wouldn’t recommend it either. Edinburgh has so many other places with incredibly lovely service that one could rather go to.

Beautiful bar and restaurant. We're not currently members, but would seriously consider it. We got in there early but it filled up very quickly. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Amazing service and the best staff ever, super friendly and attentive

On a recent trip to Edinburgh, this was my favorite restaurant. Food was great, wine list amazing and staff very friendly. The room itself is gorgeous.

Pricey, the cocktails are sensational. Well worth a trip. Takes American Express.

Good location. Great, kind & professional staff. The food was perfect, the cod fish was perfect and special.

Magico... cena della vigilia di Natale in un posto davvero incantevole... tutto perfetto...cibo delizioso e personale estremamente gentile.

We booked here yesterday for lunch (Boxing Day). It’s a nice place , but no nicer than the Dome , it’s just another former Bank converted to a Restaurant and Hotel. There is no atmosphere, perhaps a real person playing a piano would improve this. The food was ok’ish but unmemorable , no twists or personality stamped on it by the Chef. We were waited on by two people , the first one was male very jolly, helpful and with a bit of personality. The other was female , who diplomatically you could describe as “sullen”. Two of us ordered Beef Wellington , we discovered it was pre made and kept hot under one of those lights on a counter. We really should have got a freshly out of oven portion and asked if we wanted it rare, medium etc. What we got was pretty bland and overpriced! At Bill time we were not asked if everything was ok by “Ms Sullen”. We paid and pointed this out to theMaitre D , who just said well she should have asked ! We got the impression this is an establishment, primarily conceived to harvest money from well healed tourist who won’t be returning. We actually live in Edinburgh and return to Restaurants we enjoy. Given our experience we have no intention of returning or recommending to our friends.

Ogni portata è stata apprezzata, ambiente interessante e accogliente, servizio all'altezza della situazione, conto appropriato.

Delicious smoked salmon crepes for breakfast in a very impressive dining room