The World's End in Edinburgh, City of

-1 Star – Deeply Disappointed as Visitors from Canada We arrived at The World’s End humble, hungry, and eager to experience Edinburgh hospitality—but were met with the rudest treatment we've encountered on our travels. After politely stating we’d order a beer first and look at the menu, the bartender immediately interrogated us about my daughter’s age. I explained she was 14 and wouldn’t be drinking. He curtly told us she must order food or we had to leave—despite us just having sat down. Within a minute, we were asked to get up and leave, publicly and uncomfortably, in front of a packed room. It was humiliating and entirely unnecessary. We left feeling embarrassed and unwelcome. -1 stars if I could.

Goddamn best sandwich I've had in my whole damn life.

We arrived around 10:30 p.m. The waiter didn't make any effort to understand us, not to mention being rude. Instead of letting us know he was closing soon, he brought us the pint we ordered. Shortly after, the lights came on to indicate they were closing, and our tables were cleared away immediately. The pub is nice, but the one who served us isn't so nice.

Great food and fun vibe. Had the Hake and devoured it! Servers were helpful and very kind.

Great pub with historical significance! So fun! Haleigh and her manager were the best customer service & bartender team! Our group of ladies were being a bit bothered by a patron who had perhaps had one too many and Haleigh handled him so professionally so we could continue to enjoy our evening. Go Haleigh!

Let me put you on to a real foodie gem in Edinburgh: The World’s End. Right in the heart of the Old Town on the Royal Mile, this cozy pub-restaurant totally stole my heart. The vibe is warm, local, and full of character – but the real star? The food. I tried their take on haggis (yes, I went for it) – and it was incredible. Rich, flavorful, served with creamy mash and a whisky sauce that tied it all together. The fish & chips? Golden, crispy, not greasy at all – honestly one of the best I’ve had. Even their simple dishes, like burgers or soup of the day, are fresh, homemade, and packed with flavor. Nothing pretentious, just solid, honest food made with care. If you’re in Edinburgh and want to eat somewhere that feels truly local (and actually delicious), do yourself a favor and check out The World’s End. You’ll thank me later.

Great food. Maybe I expected a wider selection of beers. Sandwiches not really big but hamburgers excellent and of considerable weight. The pub is located right on the royale mile but I wouldn't say it is among those pubs to be considered touristy. The reason why it is called that is also fascinating. Typical Scottish pub location. Not very big but welcoming. Very kind and patient staff. Prices not excessively expensive considering the location and offer. I found a quantity of pubs truly like in no other city so I will be able to make limited terms of comparison but in any case I liked it.

I was told I’ll accept your US ID this time but your passport is required and you’ll need it with you if you’re here again. That is simply not true from my experience.

We got lucky and got last 2 seats at the bar. We were so well looked after. Food was fabulous. Wild boar sausage for mains and deep-fried haggis and potted crab for starters. Recommend getting here before lunch rush. Great selection of drinks also. Staff very friendly and couldn't be nicer.

The food was good, it was very pub like not as fancy as I thought it would be when I first walked in. I think overall it was a great time, the only down side was when the server came and just stood looking at us without asking what we would like to order, just expecting us to talk. But there was a girl server who was absolutely super kind! Overall this is a good place, and it’s really clean inside. Make sure to allot time for food because it will be a long wait.

We went to try the haggis and we loved them. Be attentive, kind and fast. Everything great.

Cool restaurant but the food is not good and the staff are keen to ignore you as you sit at a table (that you managed to get seated at) with no menus, no food, no drinks.

It was a lovely spot for lunch. The cider on tap was sweet and delicious. We also thoroughly enjoyed the haggis fritters.

Good food, service was excellent. Definitely worth a stop in but make sure you have reservations during peak times

Extremely charming place, the staff is incredible and very helpful to tourists. The food and drinks are absolutely amazing! I absolutely recommend booking because it is difficult to get a table but there is always more availability at the bar!

An awesome little pub right on the Royal Mile. Had my first proper fish and chips in the UK here and was very satisfied. The fish was fried perfectly. Great location and quick service.

Wild boar and mash was top notch. World's End burger was also awesome. Highly recommend if you're in Edinburgh

If you want to sit at a table and eat, you definitely have to book in advance. While it was a bit confusing for us where to address for our reservation, the staff knew exactly where we were sitting just by our name. They were enthusiastic and very nice! The food was simply amazing. It was our first time trying haggis and would definitely recommend their haggis fritters! The decor, ambience, food, drinks are 5/5. Would definitely go back!

We got turned away kindly but surely. From the moment our Frenchie accent was detected…. No more space with several empty tables in direct view... Sad…

Came in with a booking only to realize that I had set it up for the wrong day! Thankfully, the two wonderful gentlemen not only found us a table right away even though they were fully booked, but were also great with our menu Qs. We had potted crab appetizer & both myself & Jeff had the fish & chips with two beers each!! All was delicious!!!

Great Scottish pub on the Royal Mile. We were quickly seated and served. James M. was our waiter. He gave us superior customer service and made us feel welcome. Amazing food, drinks & ambiance! We will recommend to all our family & friends.

We made reservations based on reviews and YouTube recommendations and we were a little disappointed with the food. Upon sitting down the waiter advised that at least 5 items on the menu, one which were looking forward to having . The ambiance is very nice & the service was good , just not a good vibe when you’re told up front of what is not available on a limited menu .

A fantastic pub in Edinburgh for a quick lunch or dinner. Terrific atmosphere and wonderful staff. Try the Wild Boar sausages if they’re on the menu. Can’t go wrong. Pro tip… book ahead as it can get busy!

Food is good and gets served fast and hot. They have a daily special with changing menu and a whisky menu you have to ask for. The whisky’s they offer are mostly standard but affordable.

2nd time eating here and we are not disappointed! Very friendly and helpful team! 😊

Great bar and a student discount too!

Great place to stop for a pint or two.

Nice local pub, lots of local accents to be heard & good, quick bar service. Toilets could do with a bit of a clean, particularly the smell but overall, a nice pit stop.

Historic place, very particular. It is the exact point where the old city of Edinburgh ended and where the world ended. We stopped to taste whiskey and let the bartender advise us. Absolutely recommended!

Very good atmosphere, variety of beers and being a very touristy place the prices are very good. Advisable

Great experience thank you I highly recommend

Myself and my partner came in around 6pm and before we'd sat down or ordered anything we were immediately asked for ID by a rather rude member of staff. Usually I wouldn't bat an eye but this was at 6pm and prior to us ordering. We then asked if we could sit at the two chairs beside the bar and the waitress rather coldly told us "only for drinks not for food". I then asked if there were any tables available for food and she said no, so we took this on board and sat down. A few minutes after this a gentleman walked in and asked if they had any availability for food and the same waitress immediately sat him down for food and gave him menus! I asked another barman if we could order food at the seats we were originally told we couldn't and he said yes of course, there was no rule about not ordering food at the bar. I am unsure why this member of staff seemed to take such a disliking to us but it really soured our experience of the place as we'd been many times before and really enjoyed it. After the initial experience we had a lovely time, drinks were good and the food was excellent. Just a shame we had this one bad experience.

I went to this pub because I was searching the internet for the best Hole in Wall pub and The World’s End was at the top. And I have to say, it was quite an experience. The whiskey was fantastic! I don't normally drink alcohol, but when you're here! The food was okay, but definitely too much for one person. And there was a nice waitress who spoke a little German. All in all I had a great evening at the pub.

Excellent service, very delicious food and reasonably pleasant atmosphere.

Very nice pub with a good drink selection and menu

I can't comment on the food as I never had any food there. The service, for Edinburgh, was friendly enough. The place is warm and cosy. It was a bit busy and cramped for my liking, some folk equate busy with a cosy pub feeling and I get that, I'm just getting old and like more space these days I suppose. It's a decent bar, nothing that special but nothing apparently wrong either , just another bar as far as I can gather.

I would like to point out that you cannot book even if you go in person, therefore only online. We went for lunch. We had fried haggies, a dish with mushrooms, rice and beans and then the classic Scottish pie dish. All very good (the haggies have a flavor perhaps....even if fried it doesn't change)....the meat stew is very good (half a plate however was only dedicated to cabbage) and in general the food is of good quality and taste. Price a little high, but in keeping with what you eat (don't think that the dishes are gigantic, eh). The place is nice but it's really small.

Cute little restaurant with delicious haggis

It's about 800 years old. Cask ales were outstanding... the staff were very attentive. A must stop if you ever are I. Edinburgh.

Cozy pub with good selection of drinks

We just had to come experience this place and we were glad we did on our first night! The history of this spot combined with the perfect atmosphere and food made it a great stop!

Tipico pub scozzese sulla Royal Mile. Molto caratteristici e curati gli arredi interni, con atmosfera molto Scottish. Ottimo assortimento di birre, tutte di qualità. È una sosta consigliata nella passeggiata di ritorno dal palazzo reale

It’s a lovely pub, however, we saw a rat coming out of the kitchen. The staff told us they were aware of the problem.

Food was quite good but had a long wait, bartender was very considerate and even gave a pint on the house for the wait. Very happy with the service and atmosphere and would absolutely come here again. So cosy.

A very pleasant and delicious experience! The restaurant has a traditional feel which me and my friends liked a lot. Fish&chips was an excellent dish here! Also the drinks were tasty. Good, friendly service! I would definitely visit again.

We enjoyed our visit! Food was good, Robin our waiter was great, and the pub is lovely! Steak and ale pie, and sticky toffee pudding were particularly fantastic!

We didn't eat since dinner was over at 9. Our friend's kid was kicked out cuz couldn't pass for over 18. Great time with the friends that remained.

Lovely wee pub and friendly staff.

Like this place, a pleasant surprise,

No recomendaría. El propietario (o gerente) no parece preocuparse por contestar su teléfono durante el día para tomar reservas porque está “demasiado ocupado”. No muy amable y definitivamente no voy a probar este lugar durante mi visita (o futuro).

Nuestro camarero era James. No solo nos recibió en la puerta, sino que también nos ayudó a seleccionar nuestro Guinness y otras cervezas y él era nuestro camarero! Él lo hace todo. Nos dejó probar diferentes cervezas y luego pudimos pedir. Di un gran consejo sobre qué comer y, por supuesto, su humor y bromear con nosotros fue muy apreciado! Necesitas un gran lugar para comer, beber y ser feliz, este es el lugar para detenerse.

I loved The World's End, a pub with a great atmosphere and lots of charm that makes you want to come back. The beer was very good and the place inside is beautiful, with decoration that maintains the traditional style. In addition, the service was excellent, they treated me very well. As for the food, it was not the best I tried during my trip. The burger was okay, but overall, nothing special. Even so, it is worth visiting for the experience and history that surrounds it, since its name comes from when this area marked the limit of the city walls. Of course, I recommend booking in advance on their website, since the place is quite small and is usually very busy.

Very typical, that's what I was looking for. The staff is very nice and very patient with tourists who don't speak the language well. I liked it.

I booked a table in advance because I wanted to make sure that I got to experience this gem and they do get busy. I even bought a t-shirt to commemorate the experience. This place is exactly what you expect when you hear old world pub in the UK. It is truly one of the best pubs, if not the best pub I have ever been into. The stone walls, wooden beams and leaded glass are just the beginning. Grab a pint and some of the Haggis fritters and enjoy the day or night. I would recommend to anyone in Edinburgh and will be the first place I go when I am back in Scotland. Staff were super friendly and service was prompt. You don't need a booking, but it is available.

Small but mighty. The restaurant is half bar space and have restaurant seating. There are about 20 to 30 seats/spaces. The staff was wonderful. I walked in without a reservation and was seated immediately. They do let you know that they will need my table back at a certain time up front. The food was excellent. They has a nice menu that wasn't overbearing and kept with traditional Scottish food. There is history to go along with the meal. I highly recommend the World's End.

The World’s End stands as it always has, a sentinel at Edinburgh’s old boundary, where the city's heart still beats in stone and history. Its doors, darkened by time’s hand, open into a world of wood and light, where the fire murmurs in its lanterns and ale flows in heavy mugs. Here, the weary and the thirsty gather—travelers and locals alike—drawn together by the same longing for warmth, stories, and a hearty meal. The food is robust, rich with flavor and tradition, as if the cook’s hand is guided by the same ancient force that shapes the hills beyond the city’s walls. It is a place of charm, of homely magic, where shadows of old times linger in the corners, and the eye may wander along the walls and glimpse echoes of a thousand evenings past. And yet, nothing is perfect—the crowd can swell, the voices rise to a storm, and the wait may test one’s patience. But what of it? In a world of change, The World’s End remains steadfast—a beacon in the night’s dim glow. Four out of five stars, and a toast to what was, what is, and what is yet to come.

Excellent food in a traditional pub atmosphere.

Popped in for a pint and because of its appearance in Outlander. Nice homey pub with typical characteristics. Bit dark inside but definitely the atmosphere is amazing.

Very nice pub..could do with a few more seats..but a good atmosphere..😎

Cosy, small and traditional Booking is essential Best fish and chips!

Loved it! We stopped off for a quick half - from the outside we weren't too impressed... But, we read the history and stepped inside. Had several drinks and lovely meals. A gem of a pub. Great staff, lovely atmosphere 👌

Went to this pub every day I was in Edinburgh. Great food, great staff, don’t believe everything you read on the reviews.

Really enjoyed the food and service was great.

It was fine, but very touristy and not really our vibe. The food wasn’t anything special. My partners drink wasn’t good, but mine was. It appears that they only had one server so the server was a bit slow, but it was clearly just that she had other tasks to complete. Included photo is the chicken Kyiv

Disappointed with this place. First of all, the customer service that we got from one girl in the bar was awful. We first asked if they were still serving food as what she simply said "no" and turned her face back to talk with her friend that was sitting in the other side of the bar. Then when we were wondering what beers to order and asked for recommendations, she just pointed at the drafts and listed the names of the beers, which again didn't help us much to know what type of beer they had. We had to ask 3 times if she could explain what type of beers they had and we had the feeling all the time that she just wanted to talk with her friend. Then when we went to a table we found out that the kitchen was still open because we heard another bartender and the cook talking about a new order that they just got from a different table. Honestly, quite bad experience, we didn't feel welcomed at all and althought this pub seems famous we will not recommend it to anyone visiting Edinburgh

Food was good but the atmosphere and staff were really the highlight. The bar itself is really cool and there’s a great story to the location. The staff was friendly and attentive. Really enojoyed this place.

Would give them 0 if I could. Asked to be seated for a party of 6 and the waitress told my family that they do not take 6 people. I asked if we could wait until a table was available and she said NO that they never take 6 people at the same time. Meanwhile they had a table of at least 10 people eating in front of the entrance. Didn’t even give us the option of making a reservation. Waitress looked at me and smirked as if making fun of me.

Just a quiet drink as we explored the royal mile . Bar staff very welcoming and friendly. Lovely quaint bar for a nice relaxing drink

Cool old pub with really tasty burgers.

Went to buy an cornetto, bought a pint of lager from mary instead

Absolutely loving it! 😍 we visited Edinburg for 4 days, and went there to eat twice 😂 Food is great, atmosphere is amazing. It’s a bar but the music is not disturbing high, we really enjoyed this place!

The atmosphere is top-notch. I’ve been to many pubs across the country but this one takes the cake. So cozy, so home-like. Lovely staffs. Didn’t make you feel alone even on a table for one surrounded by lovers and families. Love the Haggis Fritters: rich, creamy haggis with punchy whiskey sauce. My main was the pub staple Haddock Fish and Chips. The fish and the chips are fine, the beans however are not my cup of tea. The fermented tartar can get too tangy, too biting real quick, but this is just me nitpicking. I recommend booking in advance. Walk-in may not get you a seat as they are quite busy.

After a hike up Arthur's Seat my mates and I decided to go for some much needed scran. We found the world's end and decided to give it a go after looking at the reviews. We were slightly early for food being served so ordered some drinks and sat down. Impressively the staff can't back over straight away when it was time to order. I must say the service was brilliant, they couldn't have done anymore. One of my mates ordered chips rather than mash so when he advised he'd been given the wrong accompaniment they rectified straight away, allowing him to keep the mash but providing the chips. He was really pleased with that. I had the Korean chicken burger and it was amazing. We all enjoyed our food and I'd definitely recommend this place.

Great restaurant and pub. History makes this place feel different and cozy. Food was amazing and the sticky pudding incredible.

Very friendly waiters. The right environment. The food was very good, especially the “pie”. It is best to book especially on the weekend as it fills up quickly (many people came in asking if there was space but there were no free tables). Totally recommended to try typical food and local beer.

We sat here for a couple of drinks. Good vibes and very cosy atmosphere.

Lovely atmosphere! We were told about this pub by the HOHO bus staff. Had a few glasses of wine and met a few other Australians which was nice. Had dinner and enjoyed it. Definitely recommend this pub.

Fantastic pub/restaurant. Great range of drinks. Amazing food and phenomenal service. Very friendly and welcoming.

I can’t express how much we loved this location! The food was amazing, James and the Team were fantastic. Would highly recommend!

Not a great experience. The older skinny waitress with the tattoos need some further training on customer service. Barging through whilst huffing and puffing because the pub is busy, and literally pushing you out the way. Expensive tourist trap of a pub.

A very nice bar with a great atmosphere and an interesting history

Very nice little pub. Cosy and you really get a feel of the history. We really enjoyed a couple of drinks in here and would recommend

Lovely wee place to lose your ability to walk after many pints - so the place does kinda live up to its name

Good food and very good beer, everything you need to know

Brilliant pub, with great food. Service and atmosphere were excellent, give it a try....

Typical pub food, in a pub atmosphere. The interior is very nice, the service is great. We didn't have to wait long to be served.

Fantastic pub, great real ale definitely recommend

Best pub in Edinburgh. Food and service are really good. Came back twice in the same trip!

We went twice in one week. Excellent, the best place I've tried in Edinburgh. Very friendly and approachable staff. Right quality/price.

I ordered the Haggis Fritters with Whisky Sauce, which was on special. It was delicious, with a crunchy batter, and the haggis inside was quite rich and flavoursome. The presentation was also well done, and I appreciated the greens on the side as well. It was a quiet night when I went, but still quite warm and cosy. I ordered at the bar, and the gentleman behind the bar who took my order seemed a bit cold and aloof; like he didn't want to be there. Not that he was rude or hostile, just a little unwelcoming. I did appreciate him checking any allergies, however.

Few pubs offer such good cuisine. Attentive and very friendly service.

Overall great and would go again. I did have to wait an unnecessary long time to be seated

Best burger I've never had in my life!

Here the beer simply tastes better.

Nice Scottish place. Tried haggis for the first time, and it was surprisingly good. The waiter gave a great whisky recommendation and was very attentive.

Another great old Scottish pub. Just popped in for an afternoon pint, friendly service and classic atmosphere.

Booking is a must for dinner at this nice and genuin Scottish pub down «the mile». Very noisy and filled up on a rugby night, but was helped with a separate dining area. Service was smiling but maybe not as attentive as wanted. Food was ok - go for the specials.

Great wee pub....good stout and food was excellent....Steak & Ale pie and Mac & Cheese......Heard about it from Eric on the Vault walking tour.

We had a lovely meal at The World’s End! The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and the food was very good. My husband and I had the steak and ale Pie dish, which was absolutely delicious, while our kids enjoyed the fish and chips—they loved it! Overall, we highly recommend this restaurant for a great meal and a nice dining experience.

We had a lovely meal at World’s End. Everyone was friendly and accommodating. We hadn’t booked a table but were allowed a reserved one as long as we vacated in just over an hour. No problem! The food arrived quickly and was delicious. We purchased a t-shirt before we left too.