Under the Stairs in Edinburgh, City of

Excellent food. Surprised by the quality and thought put into every dish we tried. Not mainstream but rather unique. Service was excellent, welcoming and friendly.

I visited here at the weekend with friends. The staff were really welcoming and the service was good. It’s a nice, quirky setting. The restaurant had not long opened for the day and we were the first party in. The place was really cold and we were all forced to keep our coats on. It did heat up after the fire was put on however other parties who arrived were still cold. The drink was nice but unfortunately I did not enjoy the food. I had the bouillabaisse terrine which I thought was awful. The main course was cod which was fine but really drowned in fennel and the smashed potatoes I ordered as a side came drenched in tarragon oil which overpowered everything. Unfortunately the dessert, baked chocolate custard, could’ve been used as concrete as it was brick hard and inedible. Some of the party did not enjoy some of their courses either. It was £420 for 8 people, this included some wine and beer but we left thinking we certainly won’t be back.

The place is very nice Cocktails are so good and the staff really kind Thanks a lot Food is perfect and so is the service Can’t wait to be back

Been many times never disappointed!

One of Edinburghs secret gems. The eclectic location and furniture are surpassed by the high quality food and friendly staff, supported by a great wine and beer selection.

The restaurant is a bit difficult to find. We came for a late lunch on Saturday without a booking but the place was empty anyway. The place was recommended to us but we didn’t have such a good experience. The place has an interesting atmosphere, it must be nice in the evening but it was a bit too dark and cold when we visited. Also, their toilets need some refurbishment. The menu is simple yet interesting with lots of vegetarian options. However, when I asked the waitress for any recommendations, she couldn't give me any, which was a bit weird. The service could have been friendlier and faster given the fact that the place was almost empty. The fish was a bit burned, but the brocolli burger was okay, although food presentation wise, the burger could have been better. The staff was very unattractive,  chatting at the bar, and we needed to go there to ask for the bill. It's a bit expensive for what you're getting.

Fantastic food! It was out of the ordinary, super creative and so delicious. The menu catered to meat-lovers, fish-lovers, vegetarians and vegans as well as glutenfree, etc. The drinks menu is fab too!! Great selection of wines and amazing cocktails. The staff was perfect at being attentive and informative but not intrusive - they hit that perfect balance 👌 It is a really charming restaurant, very cosy and romantic, perfect for a night out. It was our first visit and we can't wait to be back.

Pleasant as much for its cuisine as for its setting; there is a fireplace ☺️

DO NOT GO!!! WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN. ABSOLUTE SCAM! I believe this is the first time I've ever left a review on TripAdvisor or complained so strongly about a place, but I want to ensure that others avoid the mistake I made by going to this place. To put you in context- You and your university pals, with culinary skills that make microwave dinners look like gourmet cuisine, decide to start a business for a laugh and some pocket change. Well, let me tell you, this place makes our kitchen disasters look like Michelin-starred masterpieces! Where do I begin? it was an utter disappointment from start to finish. First off, let's talk about the service. It was okay, just average—nothing too bad, but also not good. Considering how bad the food was, I guess I won't spend much time on the most average/mediocre service I have ever experienced. Speaking of the menu, the food was bad, but honestly really bad. Overpriced and underwhelming, with portion sizes that left much to be desired. It's baffling how they can justify charging such exorbitant prices for such subpar quality. The flavors were bland, and the presentation was uninspired. I honestly could have cooked better meals at my house in 15 min. The mussels as well as the olives came straight from the cheapest supermarket can and were served with some sort of meal deal chips. The spaghetti did have no flavor, the duck was colder than the north polo, the gnocchi were far too cooked and terrible flavour never have I ever tried such gnocchis. The cheese tasted like a cheaper version of tesco's soft cheese... As for the ambiance, don't even get me started. Too packed, not much space between tables, we were eating in a sofa... Overall, my experience was a complete letdown. I wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy. Save yourself the time and money and look elsewhere for a dining experience worth your while.

The food was out of this world - inventive, clever combinations. The Primitivo wine was delicious. However, the lighting is poor and it made it difficult for me to see what we were eating. Great friendly service

Went for cocktails in this cosy speakeasy. The cocktails were tasty

Great food, great atmosphere, brilliant service. Things went a little wrong with our order and with no prompting from us, it was picked up and dealt with brilliantly. Highly recommended

We came here for dinner during our recent trip to Edinburgh at the recommendation of our tour guide. We had cocktails and shared several small plates which were all delicious. Nice atmosphere and service was excellent too. Thanks!

J’avais entendu parler de ce restaurant dans un guide de voyage et j’ai eu envie de tester. Il n’est pas évident à trouver vu que, comme l’indique son nom, il est accessible en descendant un escalier donc ouvrez bien les yeux. Nous avons beaucoup aimé l’ambiance du lieu. Cocoon avec fauteuils, bougies… On est tout de suite à l’aise. Toutefois, il y a petit point qui a failli nous perdre dès le début bien que nous débrouillons bien en anglais : la carte était difficilement compréhensible concernant les plats principaux, du coup, nous avons hésité à seulement prendre un verre et manger ailleurs. Mais vu ce que j’ai lu sur ce restaurant, nous avons persisté et nous n’avons pas regretté ! Notre choix s’est porté sur plusieurs plats (taster plates) que nous avons partagé avec quelques verres: Black tempura calamari aioli, Buffalo chicken and cheese + celery et des Shoestring Fries. Et c’était délicieux ! Au point que nous avons repris les calamars et les « rillettes » de poulet au fromage une deuxième fois. La barmaid et la serveuse étaient super sympas et souriantes. Je recommande pour une soirée entre amis ou en famille (adultes plutôt). Nous avons passé une super soirée.

Shared some small plates, they were tasty. We loved them all. Lovely atmosphere. Served a little dram at the end, amazing touch. Thank you.

Such a cozy cute place, loved the dishes & drinks.

Hidden off the main path, Under the Stairs is a casually chic eatery for omnis and vegans alike. As a vegan I appreciated the vegan menu options being clearly marked. For small plates the winner for me was the Pea and Mint dip, which was refreshing and bursting with flavour. For larger plates, the vegan ravioli was comforting and impressive, but the real stand-out was the Fennel/Kholrabi/Orange salad. I am still thinking about this salad... it was this perfect balance of fresh, crispy, sweet, and crunchy. All the ingredients from the fennel to the pomegrante seeds worked in perfect harmony. It was also a large portion, so I could continue enjoying myself bite after bite after bite. Probably one of the best salads I've ever had. The Lemon Cherry Posset had a perfect balance of tart to sweet and the sugar snap biscuits complemented the texture of the pudding beautifully. Service was attentive and the atmosphere was relaxing. Highly recommend.

Best meal we had in one week in Scotland. Innovative, delicious, food served by friendly and competent staff. Chef is outstanding as he created dishes seldom ever found elsewhere. The environment is cool and casual but ticks the right box for an excellent night out. We returned for New Year's eve dinner and were astonished a second time over!

Super endroit, le personnel charmant

Great food, cozy venue, top cocktails, perfect date spot

We had dinner at "under the stairs" on saturday night, food (especially mains) were delicious but service was lowest of low. We booked a table and were told to wait 10 minutes. We were promised drinks & snacks for our wait. We got our drinks when we got assigned to our table - after a 45 minutes wait! We got our snacks after a 1h15min wait! No sorry, no special attention, customer service 0, we asked to get at least drinks offered which we did in the end. Atmosphere, well what to say, stacks of used plates & glasses everywhere. What a let down this team was to the chef who delivered top notch food. Service 1, Food 5

Last night was the third time that we have eaten in this restaurant and it didn’t disappoint. The menu is excellent for meat eaters and veggies with a good selection of interesting dishes. The same can be said for the drinks menu. The food took a little while to arrive as it was busy but we weren’t bothered about that, it’s such a lovely place with a great atmosphere and we were just happy to chat and people watch. When it did arrive, everything was absolutely amazing. As usual we ordered too much but the staff were happy to box up what they could so we could take it away. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in Edinburgh 👍

Atmosphere is romantic. A little bit cold in the winter. Menu is simple and the food is average, not worth the price for sure. Wines on the menu are average as well, cocktails looks beautiful and elegant. Would return if I need to but definitely wouldn’t be my first choice.

Wonderful Christmas dinner at Under the Stairs - thoroughly recommend - 11/10. Atmosphere, service & of course food all equally superb. Will def be back.

Amazing place to eat. Superb food and great service.

Ideal pour boire un verre. La carte est de qualité, beaucoup de choix en terme de vins. L'ambiance est bonne, petite musique d'ambiance avec un son faible, c'est donc idéal pour avoir une conversation. Parfait pour des premières rencontres. Le service est parfait. Je recommande sans hésiter.

Food was not great. In busy times service is slow.

In Germany we say: vallah hat nicht gut gescheckt

A very comfortable place for a chat environment with friends. Perfect for winding down and enjoy. Good price for drinks. Friendly staff.

One of the worst cocktails I ever had. Seriously. Not exaggerating. The Margarita is just a joke. @Staff: Please don't serve it if you have no idea of what it could be. Pure lime, no saltiness, no sweetness, no traces of alcohol. And I really love sours but this was just the work of a fool. We came here cause of the current lonely planet recommendation. It seems for them it was the reason to not care about any kind of quality. Additionally the glass sizes are one of the smallest I have ever seen. I am afraid it's just a tourist trap.

I travelled to Edinburgh for the first time on a solo holiday and wanted to treat myself to a good dinner whilst I was here, and Under The Stairs did not disappoint. Firstly the decor, atmosphere and vibe of the place was an absolute dream. Dim lighting, mismatched furniture, good music, it was super relaxing and somewhere you wanted to be and stay in. I honestly could have fallen asleep there it was so chilled 😄. The service from the staff there was impeccable. I literally could not fault it, they were so friendly and welcoming. Ambika (I hope I've spelt your name correctly😬😅) was the loveliest and most accomodating host & server. Now onto the food... I can honestly say it was some of the nicest food I've tasted. I ordered some of the small plates to get a variety and every single plate tasted amazing. Everything had I enjoyed. The plates were left clean I tell you. The cocktails were so good too, they made my favourite, Negroni Sbaglliato and it was incredible. If you want a memorable evening in a chilled, cosy, warm location with exceptional food and drink, go to Under The Stairs. You won't be disappointed!

I want to preface all of this review with the fact that my friend and I are both servers and bartenders in the food service industry. So our standards are high but super reasonable as we understand things happen. However the service was poor and wait times were INSANE. My friend and I went here on a Thursday seemed a little busy so when it took the waitress took a long time to get to us we chalked it up to that. Our drinks came in 10 min which we again explained away by the fact that it was busy. They were good. We ordered starters and main at the same time. And waited. And waited. And waited. After a full hour of waiting, for starters, we thought maybe the server forgot to put our order in so we called her over. She then explained they had gotten busy but would be out soon. Then we waited another 15 min and finally got the starters. The mains took another 30 minutes to get to us but by that time it was 11pm and we were so tired we barely ate. We got brought a bill that was far too expensive for all we got and for waiting that long, then we left at 12pm. We got there at 8:30. I wish the server would have said something when we sat down about the wait because an hour and 15 for starters is ridiculous. Then to have us sitting there for that long and not explain to us why or acknowledge us is also so weird. This place truly is not worth it.

Joli cadre trompeur de l’extérieur, n’hésitez pas à descendre les escaliers… Excellente cuisine, fine. Cadre très cosy

Really great atmosphere and delicious food in this quirky restaurant. Will be back

Yummy! This little gem has an imaginative menu that delivers an innovative approach to traditional Scottish food. Located literally under a stairwell in the old city, it's a casual, comfortable spot to relax after a day of sightseeing. If you want to try a haggis empanada, this is the place. Or dig in to the sweet corn, jalapeno, and cream cheese dip with tortilla chips. Both were simply delicious! Friendly wait staff, too. Don't miss it.

Arrivé ici par hasard mais c'était très bien. Très bon plat, accueil agréable

We were supposed to be 6 people but only had 4. Probably just as well as we covered table in small and taster plates. If you don't like sharing you will need to come back. All the dishes were a really great combination of flavours. Only low drinks are not cheap especially wine by glass ( get a bottle).

Very good and creative food and cocktails

Must go- fave place to chill out and eat during the festival.

Wow. One of the best meals I've ever had as a Vegetarian - truly great menu all round, but the veggie options are stunning.. awesome wine selection and a really good, different whiskey list. Staff very friendly, attentive and professional.. I could not recommend this place more highly, and I'm going back next week...!

Sehr interessant eingerichtetes Restaurant. Das Essen hat sehr gut geschmeckt und die Mitarbeiter sehr nett.Wirklich empfehlenswert.

Absolutely amazing restaurant. I have been many times and love to take there friends and family when they visit. Today I went with colleagues after a long meeting and it was perfect to relax. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The food is always delicious and very creative. My dessert made my evening - watermelon and strawberry tartare, Mango coulis, coconut ice cream - beautiful presented! :)

We loved every small dish we took and were surprised by interesting combinations and flavors. The service was very good and welcoming. We had a very good and cost evening in rainy Edinburgh.

Nette Bar mit ausgezeichnetem Essen. Leider nichts, wenn man ordentlich Hunger mitgebracht hat. Bei meinem veganen Ravioligericht konnte ich ganze 4 Ravioli ausfindig machen und das für über £15. Für die wirklich sehr gute Qualität ganz knappe 4 Sterne, Menge eher 2 Sterne. Das Ambiente ist dunkel aber schick. Die Toiletten sind etwas altbacken, deshalb einen Stern Abzug beim Ambiente. Vegane Optionen möglich.

Cozy and nice. Good choice for a first date :)

Cozy and quirky, and very relaxed. The food menu is fantastic and the cocktail menu is regularly updated - lots to whet your boozy appetite. They also do v good off menu cocktails if you ask. A total Edinburgh gem.

Food and service were great. Many interesting and tasty choices also if you don't eat meat.

Food was excellent, service was a bit slow. Would come back again.

A fantastic venue, really friendly staff and high quality food at a reasonable price. I can't recommend UtS enough. The cocktails were well made, the menu had something for everyone and all at a reasonable price. The staff give it a fun fresh vibe with just the right amount of attention. Enjoy!

Went around several places only to find dinner service had ended. We just happened upon this little gem as they were serving till 10 pm. Small cozy welcoming place. The food is the star here. Had a whole bunch of small plates and some drinks. Very tasteful presentation, but everything actually tasted awesome too. Wish I had taken pictures to share. Thank me later.

Very nice atmosphere, seems like you are in someone’s living room. The food was very good (not amazing). Good service and interesting menu.

It was a really nice atmosphere, I would come back for a nightcap too

에어비앤비 주인에게 맛집으로 추천받은 곳입니다. 현지인 맛집이라 믿고 갔었는데 분위기도 정말 좋았고 음식도 맛있었습니다. 데이터가 잘 안터져서 메뉴 주문하는데 고생했었지만 직원분이 친절하게 알려주셔서 만족스런 저녁이었습니다👍🏻추천~

Great dinner with a wonderful atmosphere.

5* We had an amazing time at Under the Stairs. The vibe was warm and cosy, the staff were extremely helpful and the food was delicious, we will definitely be back! I particularly liked the celeriac risotto and the banana terrine. Shout out to Andy in the kitchen!

Extra stars for atmosphere, this place is just lovely. Will be back for sure.

A real hidden gem just off Grassmarket. I could have eaten every item on the menu - the brandade, shellfish Mac & cheese and pork rillettes a particular highlight. The atmosphere is cool and cosy and the wait staff are brilliant. Will definitely return when I'm back in Edinburgh.

Un belle soirée autour d’un bon repas très goûteux. Une merveilleuse découverte dans un cadre sympathique. Je conseille 👍

Un super petit resto bien calme, chaleureux. Le service est nickel, les plats sont excellents !

A hidden gem in the old town. Very good and well presented food, good wine selection, attentive and friendly staff, cosy and nicely decorated. Will definitely go back again next time in Edinburgh!!!

A bit tricky and difficult location to find but definitely worth it. We didn’t have any reservations but we were lucky enough to find ourselves a seat. The place has a very good atmosphere and vibe in it. A great food selection and the dishes were superb. I really liked everything that we ordered. Theres a lot of option for drinks as well. Don’t forget to try their desserts. A bit pricey but it was reasonable in my opinion. Staff service was great. Definitely will come and visit again.

A simple but interesting menu of fantastic quality food and great selection of wines. Service was above and beyond expectations. Could not fault the visit, will go again and recommend to all.

Everything was exquisite. We had the opportunity to eat there as we arrived early, the restaurant became full shortly after. The cocktails are super original and delicious.

Fantastic place with great whisky, great food, great service at a reasonable price.

Service very good, food was 10/10, and had a really good variety of whiskey

Lieu très sympa Serveuses accueillantes Plats de de qualité Bonne ambiance Que demander de plus

Great selection of cocktails and wines in a very cosy setting. Extremely friendly and accommodating bar staff. We felt very welcomed and will definitely return.

The most cozy place in Edinburgh. A hidden gem :)

Food is amazing and the cocktails are beautiful

Lovely atmosphere but I feel the cocktails need a bit of work sorry.

Loved the food here, the seafood mac and cheese did not skimp on the seafood, was really lovely. I had the rice and rabbit porridge because it sounded a bit different and it was delicious. The other picture is rye bread with seaweed butter which tasted very healthy and nutrious.

What a great place this is! Bites and drinks.

Been coming here for years and will never stop doing so

Truly amazing food with a warm and homey atmosphere. The flavors and textures of top notch ingredients are carefully planned and combined to produce unique food experiences. A real foodies' paradise. The service is easy going and warm. And.....did I mention the excellent wine list and the artisanal cocktails? Very reasonably priced for the quality of the food served.

My friend told me about this place and I went for drinks for the first time but I loved the atmosphere there so I have decided to come back for foods!! The best decision I made to go for dinner for me and bf’s special day🌼 All foods we had were very good❤️ As I am a big seafood lover I had 2 small dishes of fish (fish pate and Bon Bon? Don’t know what exactly called…😂) and those were so good❤️‍🔥 I was expecting because of this such a lovely place and atmosphere price could be quiet fancy however it wasn’t at all and potion was good too😍 I would love to go again to try all dish their😙 Plus they have my favourite beer Pale Ale from @newbarnsbrewery ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Une cuisine simple et pleine de saveurs avec un personnel très agréable. Une très belle découverte en bas des escaliers !

Le prix, l’ambiance cosy et chaleureuse vous feront aimer cette adresse. Prix moyen et service non inclu. Qualité au rendez-vous, n’hésitez pas sinon à prendre un verre de vin au salon.

The most fantastic eatery I've ever been to! Best food I had in Scotland. The dishes are creative and incredibly well balanced. Tricky to find, but that makes the reward all the sweeter!

Lovely food and a great atmosphere. Staff were welcoming and friendly. Would highly recommend.

A hidden gem in a beautiful City, a must go!

A hidden gem. This cosy restaurant, although tucked away is popular. Was lucky to get a last minute reservation and experience a taste sensation. From amazing cocktail combos which may sound odd but actually work (beetroot with wasabi?!), to outstanding food. Portion sizes are generous - small plates were more filling than most starters. First try at veggie haggis and I was sold! Treacle sourdough was melt in your mouth. Would highly recommend this place.

Really enjoyed the food here, recommended by a friend and the place was really nice for a dinner date. We enjoyed all the food, the burger was huge, then we had gnudi, vegan haggis and cheese and herb dumplings which were all yummy.

Very tasty meal and lovely decor! A bit overpriced but good quality. If you’re looking for a chill evening and atmosphere, it’s the perfect place! Delicious desserts and friendly staff. Had to make a booking though, because it was really busy. Also delicious vegetarian options.

Very small portions very dark dingy place

The food and atmosphere was really great. The dishes we had were extremely tasty and perfectly cooked.

Amazing place with lovely people and wonderfull cooking. Thank you so much for your kindness, this was our best experience in Scotland <3

Bel locale intimo nel cuore della città vecchia, mix tra tradizione e innovazione. Staff molto gentile e professionale, cibo ottimo e vini interessanti. Buona selezione di distillati e i cocktail interessanti.

We had a lovely dinner at Under the Stairs. Amazing dishes you need to try for sure. The kipper pâté and the beetrot salmon are definitely a must and also the burgers were delicious.

This gem of a cozy spot is not to be missed. Every menu item is more stellar than the last, and the warm and welcoming staff invite you in to savor the dining experience. A great spot to stop in for an evening pint with friends, or dive into their well-curated menu. This is a favorite.

Very friendly staff! Delicious food and a nice setting to dine in. Also worth noting: very clean toilets.

Interessante Küche, angenehmes Publikum.

Eclectic menu. Nice relaxed dinner, but the food wasn't anything I would rush back for.

This is a wonderful little gem with a great vibe.

Amazing place and the food is an experience that you have to taste. Could be my favourite place in Edinburgh. Absolute must.

Fantastic cocktails and setting, just off the grassmarket and cowgate. They do small plates and full meals.

Delicious food !! The staff was great and the restaurant very cosy. We’ll come back for sure !

We went here for a casual setting with good food and drinks, and were not disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious and not unreasonably priced, we were there for a few hours without feeling like we were being rushed to leave. Would recommend!

Really friendly staff. Food a little complicated - some of it delicious though! Great vibe and would recommend mainly due to friendly staff and cool set up.

Really tasty varied food and the service was great - would definitely recommend a visit when you are in Edinburgh. We had lots of small plates and even though we thought we had ordered cautiously we couldn't finish it all...... (and we are not light eaters!)

A hidden treasure with delicious and unique dishes. We thoroughly enjoyed it