Tolbooth Tavern in Edinburgh, City of

Amazing ! Best meal in Edinburgh! Service , food experience. All lovely and price great

If you have the chance to visit this tavern, head there just for their cranachan, a delicious Scottish specialty that you can't find everywhere. We made the trip especially for it, and what luck we had: the dessert was simply exquisite! A true discovery full of sweetness and flavors.

Booked a table in advance, was busy for a Sunday evening. Food was ok but fairly pricey. Lacked a bit of atmosphere - more dining room that cosy food pub

Solid food experience with a good whiskey list and efficient service. They were very busy when we visited with a reservation at 6:30 in the evening, so there wasn't time for chatting. The salad was fresh, which always bodes well for overall quality. There weren't any ghost-y experiences while we were there, but the ambiance was spot on. Recommend reservations.

This charming tavern popped up on a walking tour recommendation and it was worth the visit! We arrived a bit early before the lunch crowd. Service was excellent and the traditional pub food was reasonable and delicious. Highly recommend!

Brilliant. Friendly staff, nice food and a good selection of whisky.

Had a great experience at a historic tavern / pub. Wonderful service and good food. Really enjoyed the flight of Scotch and Steak and Haggis Pie.

Good pub, friendly staff, decent food and drink, nice feel

Historic and the last "local" pub left on the Canongate that hasn't been subjected to a horrid makeover. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the banter, friendly staff and good grub as well.

Humburger unpresentable. Worse than mcdonals

Nice place, welcoming service, delicious food, very traditional. Great selection of spirits.

Great food and atmosphere. Must have a reservation to get a table to eat.

Good food in a historic pub. Doesn't get better than this

Very welcoming. Great food. Make sure you have a reservation before you go.

Excellent food; we enjoyed our first haggis there, as well as superb fish and chips. The pub atmosphere, with its wood, stone, and well-stocked bar, is a success.

What a nice pub on the royal mile. We had a lovely meal there and the service was really great! We didn't have to wait long.

First stop once we reached Edinburgh. Cozy pub with friendly people. Great place to unwind after long travel. Highly recommend.

I was genuinely excited to visit this historic pub with over 200 years of tradition, but unfortunately, the experience did not live up to expectations. The atmosphere was surprisingly lacking, with little of the charm I had hoped for. Service was maybe disorganized. There were different waiters serving our table. After taking our order, none of the waiter checked on us again. Even when we requested a dessert menu, no one returned, and we eventually gave up and left 😅. The waiters and everyone was super friendly though and we ended up not complaining about anything. The food itself was overpriced for what we received. I ordered a sirloin medium-well, but it arrived dry and well-done, accompanied by a very plain salad.

Excellent and authentic. A must.

I highly recommend this place, especially to try the sticky toffee pudding. I tried my first one here and it has definitely become my new favorite dessert, wow! And thank you to the lovely waitress who served us.

This pub will be forever in my heart (and stomach). I tried my first sticky toffee pudding, and it was amazing!

An amazing eatery with delightful details. Food was served quickly and in such large portions. Only my black hole of a son was able to clean his plate. Rather large selection of whisky too.

Old pub, simple style good beer mediocre food

It was delicious! The place is very charming and very welcoming, and taste-wise everything is there! I advise you to share the starters to taste everything! We really enjoyed ourselves and then finished off with a delicious selection of whisky!

A typical tavern in Edinburgh!!! Nice place and excellent drinks and food

Great food and great beer. Warm and typical Scottish atmosphere, friendly staff but service a little slow.

We stopped in for a pint and ended up ordering food as well. A whole busload of tourists left just as we walked in, so fortunately, there were heaps of free tables to sit at. The bar staff were friendly and efficient, with a nice selection of beers and whiskies. The bar atmosphere was cosy and warm. We ordered Cullen Skink and Beef & Haggis pie, both of which were delicious and filling. The restaurant staff were also very efficient and friendly, and our food arrived promptly. I'd definitely recommend this place for drinks, or a meal while wandering the Royal Mile.

Heard lots about this place but food was a bit underwhelming. Fish was nice but the chips came out room temp. There was only a tiny amount of tartare sauce with it. The side of seasonal veg was a few pieces of broccoli and some chopped carrots both of which were undercooked and had nothing on them, no dressing or salt or anything, we left most of it and it cost $5. Atmosphere was lovely otherwise and staff were friendly.

The Tolbooth is an old world icon in Edinburgh. Our pints tasted great after hiking to the top of Arthur's Seat and back. It is one of my top 3 places to recharge in Edinburgh. The food from previous visits has been excellent as well.

A bit overpriced for the quality of the food. I think so you pay the name of the place, that's it

True Scottish hospitality! Tolbooth made our last night in Scotland feel magical. We opted for the Scottish smoked salmon to start, then a haggis burger for me and the steak and haggis pie for my partner. We also couldn't go past cranachan for pudding. All dishes were served promptly by a really friendly team of staff, and tasted delicious. We polished off the lot. The bar boasts a huge whisky selection and the bar staff were very knowledgeable and good with recommendations. My partner really enjoyed talking whisky with the barman! Booking is absolutely essential as they were turning people away. We managed to get a table a couple of hours ahead of time though!

We enjoyed smoked salmon, fish and chips and Cullen skink soup!! Established in 1820 and delicious, iconic food!!

True Scottish hospitality! Tolbooth made our last night in Scotland feel magical. We opted for the Scottish smoked salmon to start, then a haggis burger for me and the steak and haggis pie for my partner. We also couldn't go past cranachan for pudding. All dishes were served promptly by a really friendly team of staff, and tasted delicious. We polished off the lot. The bar boasts a huge whisky selection and the bar staff were very knowledgeable and good with recommendations. My partner really enjoyed talking whisky with the barman! Booking is absolutely essential as they were turning people away. We managed to get a table a couple of hours ahead of time though!

Nice old Scottish pub with a great burger 🍔. They also have decently priced scotch whiskey tasting trays

We made a small stop for a beer and coffee in our tour. The bartenders were super friendly, easy going and always up for a good joke. The atmosphere was super authentic.

Great pub. The staff are brilliant and make you feel welcome. Had a well deserved pint after climbing Arthur's seat.

Great tavern, good location, steeped in history, friendly staff and delicious food!

Very good! Nice atmosphere and the food was lovely! Excellent choice!

Great steak pie and a fine whisky selection

Amazing people and service. Always come here whenever in Edinburgh.

Nice and cosy place to get a drink or something to eat. Can get very full. Two drinks averaged about £13 which felt expensive considering one was a soft drink but maybe that's just how expensive drinks are. There are TVs and comfortable seating. There is an upstairs. I will say staff were generally quite nice but the one we were served by wasn't particularly friendly or nice. He was a lot nicer with others, so we're a bit confused. However, the guy after him was very nice.

I came for dinner without reservation and it was a good surprise because they found me a place at the bar. I ordered a steak and haggis pie and it was absolutely delicious.

L'endroit est vraiment joli est typique. Le personnel est juste adorable et souriant! Les plats sont délicieux ! Le haggis est une tuerie! Pour dîner, vaut mieux réserver car sinon il faut attendre au bar!

Had the most delicious meal here. Loved it!! Everyone was so nice.

I was very well served, the staff was gentle and the food really good. If you are in a group, reserve in advance. I was lucky there was a table available. And the great part they allow pets inside. I was sitting next to the cutest dogs.

We visited this place as soon as they opened and they filled up within 30 minutes! Food and drinks were excellent, steak pie was fantastic! Despite being very busy and I believe they only had 2 staff members on (who were delightful and never stopped running around!) service was attentive. A great start to our trip and can’t wait to visit again!!

Very nice experience. Typically Scottish cuisine, generous plates and a very pleasant tavern atmosphere.

Really cool spot. Good food and great atmosphere. We had a few pints and lunch here. It got busy quickly but it was exactly what we where hoping for from a Scottish pub!

Tolbooth Tavern es una joya absoluta en Edimburgo! Ubicado en un edificio histórico en la Royal Mile, este acogedor pub ofrece un ambiente acogedor que lo hace sentir como en casa. El personal es increíblemente amable y atento, asegurando que cada huésped disfrute de su visita. Lo más destacado de mi experiencia fue su fish and chips, ¡una de las mejores que he tenido! El pescado era perfectamente crujiente por fuera y tierno por dentro, combinado con papas fritas doradas y esponjosas que eran la cantidad justa de crujientes. Era comida clásica de confort hecha a la perfección. Más allá de la comida, el encanto del lugar es innegable. Ya sea que vaya a parar para comer o simplemente tomar una pinta, el ambiente cálido y acogedor, combinado con la rica historia del edificio, hace que sea una experiencia inolvidable. Si estás en Edimburgo, Tolbooth Tavern es una visita obligada!

There is a smell of soaked oil inside and it is very stuffy, the tables are sticky. We entered in two days and the air did not change, we could not sit down for five minutes and left. We entered because it was famous and recommended among places to visit, but the air smelled unbearably and we left without trying the food.

Very atmospheric pub. We sat at the bar because we had a reservation, unfortunately the bar was all dirty with beer remains and after mugs despite 4 bartenders. It was not pleasant to sit there.

The best sauce I've had in a long time and a beautiful aesthetic, inside and out.

Great place! Fish and chips is very good.

Lovely pub in Edinburgh. First time we visited here was to drink a coffee and I can say that they make really good coffee, which I did not expect in a pub. Second time, we came here for lunch. They have good variety of food and beers and it is such a cozy place. When we arrived the place was getting full and they had a big group, which means that the bartenders were very busy, but still we got an excellent customer service and we were very happy. The burger could have been a bit bigger, but it was accompanied by a lot of fries to that makes it up! Definitely would visit again

Ich hatte einen kleinen Hunger und sah auf der Speisenkarte draußen, es gibt Blackpudding auf Salat. Also bin ich spontan eingekehrt! Sofort wurde ich freundlich begrüßt und zuvorkommend bedient. Der Blackpudding war köstlich, sehr gute Qualität - der Rotkrautsalat excellent, fein gedünstet, sehr gut abgeschmeckt. Der Speck knusprig - sehr sehr fein! Die Atmosphäre, wie in einem urigen gemütlichem Pub. Ich habe mich richtig wohl gefühlt. Und ja, abends bin ich doch nochmal in die Tolbooth Tavern gegangen und habe mir einen Haggis Burger gegönnt. Auch der Burger war köstlich. Ich kann die Tolbooth Taverne wirklich empfehlen.

Wonderful experience had in one of the most famous places in Edinburgh... beautiful environment and excellent sandwich

Typical Scottish pub on the most touristy street in Edinburgh and yet retains its authenticity. Typical dishes of Anglo-Saxon and Scottish cuisine, we had fish & chips, haggis tatties and neeps, meat pie, all good, if you like that kind, and absolutely enough to fill you up. Excellent beers and extensive whiskey list.

Not recommended. Unfriendly and arrogant. Half the place was empty, but you weren’t allowed to sit anywhere, even if tables were free and only reserved an hour later. Idiots! Go to any other bar—there are so many friendly ones!

Tried the haggies, neeps and tatties - amazing. Great service, great atmosphere, great food. A certain recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh.

One of the best in Scotland❤️looks exactly like would expect. Very good food. Nice people❤️ you should try stake pie

Solo deciden cuando quieren que no te den más bebidas alcohólicas, aunque te estés portando bien y no molestes a nadie. Inaceptable

We finish eating around 10pm and they decide not to give us any more random drinks. Let's order 4 coffees then, not even those 😅 started well and ended badly. Never again

Excellent dinner - tasting of local specialties.

Buzzing boozer. Friendly and speedy service. Prices reasonable from what I can remember

I ordered the Cullen Skink at this 19th century pub. The fish came out quite quickly, and I received a decent portion, with plenty of haddock and potatoes. It extremely fishy, but I'm not sure if that's how it is supposed to taste. My waiter was efficient and polite. The night I went was a quiet one, but the atmosphere of the pub was still warm and cheery for those that were present.

Classic pub warm ambiance very comfortable. Good food. Mushroom toast delicious so was smoked salmon. Service recommendation to check back with customer to get more drink orders and dessert. We expected entree to come out automatically after appetizer but they wait until you ask for it so took 30 minutes longer for dinner so no tone for more drinks and dessert which was a disappoint. Now we know.

Went with a Virgin Experience Day voucher, for the steak and wine deal. Really worth the money, however the steak was slightly tough. Everything else was great though!

Ci siamo fermati mentre discendevamo il Royal Mile, tipico pub scozzese con ampia gamma di whisky e cibo tradizionale. Prezzo nella norma, personale molto gentile! Consigliato!

Came for the Beer, stayed because of steve 🍻

This business was a really unpleasant experience for us and a big disappointment. My husband ordered a rib eye steak, which contained a large amount of fat and one-third of its weight and size could not be cut with a knife at all. I note that my husband ordered a steak medium. When we showed it to the waiter, he called the manager of the company, who told us in an aggressive tone that it was not possible for us to order food. We asked him if he saw what was left on the plate. He answered yes and that there was no problem with the meat. We told the manager that if he considers this a rib eye steak medium, then we really don't understand, that the meat was inedible and that we won't pay for it. The manager left angrily and in the end we had to pay for the food, because the entire staff ignored us. From clerks to managers. If you like good food and expect that the staff will treat you decently, this establishment is not the place for you. And lest I forget, the bill was more than 70 pounds for food and whiskey. Never again.

Speedy service, friendly staff and great food. Would definitely revisit

Absolutely fantastic pub to visit.. A bit pricey but worth every penny

Great food, atmosphere, friendly people, great service

The place is pleasant and the aesthetics are in keeping with the city. The service was good and the food was good. Prices within the range.

A fabulous find near the end of the Royal Mile. Cosy and welcoming and a history too. We booked an online offer, the Scottish Tasting Platter. It was fabulous. The food came out hot and freshly cooked ( lovely fresh batter on the cod). Service was super, really kind and friendly people, we felt welcomed and comfortable. On the platter, we had an abundance of smoked salmon, hot fresh fish and chips, haggis bon bons (formally croutons) with a whisky cream sauce - absolutely wee beauts and I'd happily eat more! There was wild mushrooms in garlic on sourdough toast - a growing favourite among us gen x and millennial types! Oh and the desert beat us! But was lush. I was surprised to have such tasty raspberries out of season, and yet they were good. We definitely recommend you pre book this, or if you forget, pop in and see their regular menu.

What a lovely, cozy restaurant!! The atmosphere is really cozy and the staff are super friendly and helpful. The portions are more than sufficient and everything we ate tasted wonderful, which in our opinion justifies the slightly higher price. We had Cullen Skink (fantastic!) and haggis as a starter and shared fish and chips as a main course - which was more than enough. We will definitely come back on our next visit :)

I had the steak pie which was the perfect choice for a cold winters night. Steak was so tender and tasty and the crust was perfect. chips were thick and deliciou. Highly recommend

A great place. We went there just for the drinks. It had a decent list of whiskey at reasonable prices. I strongly recommend it.

During my recent visit to Edinburgh, I had the pleasure of dining at the Tolbooth Tavern, a cozy traditional Scottish pub located along the historic Royal Mile. With over 200 years of Scottish hospitality behind it, this venue offers an atmosphere full of character and charm. The menu offers a variety of typical Scottish dishes. Among the house specialties stand out the "Cullen skink" (a smoked fish soup), the haggis with neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes), the fish and chips with fresh Scottish fish and the "Tolbooth steak pie" (Delicious!!!!). The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, helping to create a pleasant and relaxing experience. The atmosphere of the pub is warm and welcoming, ideal for immersing yourself in the local culture. Plus, the Tolbooth Tavern is dog-friendly, so you can bring your four-legged friends along.

Brilliant, dog friendly place! Staff were wonderful with our puppy and never made us feel like a bother. The food was great and an awesome place to catch up with friends!

Great Scottish traditional pub. About 5 minutes walk to the 'Holyroodhouse'. Courteous attentive staff. From 'Haggies' to 'macarony and cheese' to classic burgers, everything was very tasty and brought to the table super quickly. Highly recommended.

Reasonably prices drinks for the area, staff behind the bar were friendly, service was fairly quick. The pint of Guinness was okay, have had better elsewhere. The pub itself was quite small and didn’t really have much of a vibe. Was freezing cold inside, having the heating on would have made a big difference.

We had an amazing time tasting local products and Scottish traditional cuizine. The amount of food was huge and we weren't able to eat it all. The stuff was wery nice and friendly.

Mention ++++ pour les gins 🍸 Déco typique, chaleureuse avec la musique qui va bien avec! La nourriture donne très envie et semble très appétissante :)

Very good place to have a beer.

Need new carpets and a good refurb

Just called in for a drink after a walk. What a great bar. Good atmosphere. Didn't eat there unfortunately.

We went to this mythical and good place, we ordered a very typical and delicious cullen skunk soup, a neppe haggis that was neither fu nor fa, very basic, and a fish and chips far from being what you think of a crunchy batter. Soft and very bland. The Sticky toffee pudding, the best without a doubt. A pint and a coke. £68 ≈ €84 almost to my friends. We ate much better, cheaper elsewhere.

We were there for Burns Supper and were thrilled by this professional performance. The food was delicious, the service was very, very friendly and the atmosphere was appropriate. Full recommendation

Only stopped for dinner. It was fine - did the job but was quite expensive for a relatively small, luke warm dinner. Lads who were our waiters were great though, very friendly.

Scottish tasting platter was amazing!

Absolutely lovely establishment with a great location and atmosphere.

Great place. Can't rate food as didn't have any. Just drinks. Busy place so only room to sit at bar but great service etc. Sadly no longer having live music

One of the must do pubs when in Edinburgh! Rated highly by others and doesn’t disappoint!

The real Scottish pub... beautiful... excellent food

Really nice place ! I would suggest to all my friends and Bros.’. Complete Whisky Menu .

A very nice, quaint pub in a great, historic building. We didn't have a reservation, but the service team sorted this out easily. We had the Balmoral chicken and haggis with tatties and nappies, as well as sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Everything was very tasty and the portions were large. Price performance was right for us. The staff was attentive and friendly at all times. The toilet areas were clean and tidy.

Needed a toilet. It was excellent clean fresh

Superb typical tavern and very well decorated. Good quality local food. A good address.

Clocky, small restaurant. The food was tasty but not cheap. Landlord had haggis, fish & chips and two burgers. Since it's a bit out of the way, you can get a table even without a reservation.