What a fun bar. Super friendly, noisy and fun people watching too. Definitely will go back if I get the chance.

Decent pub located in a perfect location along the royal mile, right by Edinburgh castle. Bartenders were nice and even allowed us to sample some beers that we hadn't seen before. Spot is definitely touristy, but that's every pub in the area. Prices were comparable with other bars along the high street. read more

Loved the food here. The bar and dining areas were extremely crowded and the wait took awhile. read more

Deacon Brodies Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I have stopped by this pub for a bite to eat and ale a few times. It is conveniently located on the Royal Mile so it receives a lot of business. The pub is on the main floor but if you want to sit down and eat some dinner, they do have a dining area upstairs. While in Scotland, I wanted to try Haggis and Deacon Brodies was the place that happened. I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into with the Haggis, but I was pleasently surprised, it is similar to Shepards Pie. I was satisfied with Deacon Brodies each time I've been there and would recommend it while in Edinburgh. read more

Very packed place. We ordered chicken burger, fish and chips and beef pie. Fish and chips were amazing and beef pie is a must try for everyone. However, very disappointed on their chicken burger, had no flavors or spices very plain and simple. read more

Just ok, nothing special but great location and atmosphere plus beer! Good for a quick bite.

Unfortunately we had our last meal in Scotland here, and it was the biggest let down. Don't get me wrong, the staff were nice, but the food was so...BLEH. They were out of fish n' chips so my husband ordered their fried seafood basket. Very meh. Nothing to rave about. I ordered a steak cooked medium. I got the toughest, most well-done piece of meat bark ever. It was hard to chew and harder to swallow, but we were so hungry and we needed to get back to the hotel to pack for our flight so we just choked the nutrients down and peaced. So sad! I wanted our last meal to be memorable and thought this place would have good stuff seeing as how the bar downstairs was packed! Maybe that was it though, just go for the beers and drinks? The restaurant upstairs was definitely a poor choice. Sigh. Seems more like a tourist trap. read more

The food was really good and the service was great. We were well taken care of even though the place was packed. We didn't have to wait long for anything read more

First place I've ever felt like the waitress hated me. Paid, waited 10 minutes for a pop. Ordered again. Then asked what I was waiting for--all by the same person, in a place that was NOT busy (we were one of three couples eating there). Food is shite, too. Burnt pie, mashed potatoes that were stiff, ew on the carrots (also burnt, how do you burn carrots?) Almost legitimately broke a tooth on the shepards pie. read more

Great starter, burgers are over done even when ordered medium. Beer selection is good. Grill deluxe was tasty but the gammon was tough and didn't come with any vegetables. Atmosphere is what we were looking for- casual Scottish pubish grub read more

Worst. Pub. Ever. I first went to this place years ago, before it was bought by Nicholson's. It was GREAT back then. Best haggis in town, and served with whisky sauce - YUM. Finally went back after a long hiatus. Huge mistake. It's way overpriced (likely owing to its prime tourist location), and the food is DREADFUL. The fish and chips is the absolute worst I've ever had anywhere - in the world - ever. All of their seafood is gelatinous, undercooked, and between the batter and fish lies a slimy coating of icky white goo. I was afraid to eat the 'whole tail' (read: garbage mince) scampi because it was grey inside - that's what scampi looks like when it's raw. To crown the whole, I was brought the wrong drink - a soft drink that cost more than my companion's beer. So at least the place is good for cheap beer, I guess! Do yourself a favour and go to McDonald's or Nando's or any other Nicholson's pub instead. read more

This may be a tourist bar, but the food is great, the beer is cold and the servers were attentive. Skip the downstairs pub and head toward the back. Climb the old staircase up to the second story and settle in for some good, scottish grub. Shepherd's Pie, Stew, Lamb, tasty potatoes. Just a little shy of some greens (veggies) , but that's true everywhere in Scotland. read more

If you see Deacons, keep walking... there are better places in town. Was recommended this place by the concierge and he was wrong: - Food was mixed - we had some good dishes (the Chicken pie and the Chocolate Brownie were good), but the steak was HORRIBLE. Tough and chewy like rubber. It was like £18... WTH - Service was poor and understaffed - Just not enough staff, so service was slow. If that wasn't bad enough, they said they had NO Ketch-up! How can you have a pub, service fries, and not have ketch-up? But that's not all - what really made it worst, was that they were lying and they had 2 bottles which the servers were keeping away from the customers. WTH?! So I promptly went to the servers area and just took it. Obviously no tips for them... They did have some nice beers on tap and the ambience was what you expect of a Scottish pub... but man I would avoid it ... read more

Cute and friendly pub right on the royal mile, we dined upstairs but there is a bar and more dining downstairs. Very welcoming staff, excellent seafood, and an interesting place to eat and learn about Deacon Brodie who was the inspiration for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. read more

Packed. So darn crowded that my initial impulse was flight. Before I could bolt, someone had the idea to grab a bite to eat, which would allow us into the less crowded dining area. This then turned out to be my first experience of Haggis. I expected it to look disgusting, but it just looked like dark mince. Tasted quite nice too. The waitresses were so lovely that my friend wrote a marriage proposal on a napkin before we left. Not sure which one it was intended for! Named after a real Scottish character of yore! read more

One of my favorite pubs on the royal mile. Always had great service when I have gone in and the food and beer is quite tasty I think. Not as expensive as some of the pubs on the mile but not cheap. I really enjoy their Haggis there I recommend it. read more

I liked the ceilings in here. They are a light wood with beautiful thistle and rose motifs carved into them, very pretty. I didn't really enjoy the sticky carpet so much, or the few pennies shy of £6 I shelled out for a glass of red. I'm sure my jaw hit the ground. Not great. You certainly couldn't spend a lengthy amount of time in here, and if tourists are being fed this as a 'traditional Scottish pub experience' then they are being thoroughly mis-sold. read more

Warm and friendly pub on the royal mile. Friendly staff, good food, and cold pints. Seems to be a busy spot due to location and tourist heavy. Hearty menu and has a kid's menu. read more

Good pub, right below Edinburgh Castle. Broad selection of beers. Didn't try the kitchen, but the dishes I saw pass looked pretty fine too me. read more

C'mon y'all! This place is right smack on the royal mile from the castle to attract tourists like me who have been walking way too long and the last meal was a very distant memory. Solid pub food, fish and chips, done just right and not greasy, haggis appetizer (perfect for an introduction to the national cuisine to a somewhat reluctant taster), and yummy beer. Very friendly, great view upstairs of the royal mile, and a welcome relief to being plied by tartan makers to buy a kilt that loosely resembles what your 3 generations removed ancestors might have worn. Argh! Good times. read more

Deacon Brodies is a famous Edinburgh pub located on the Royal Mile not far from the castle. It is part of the Nicholson's chain and sells real ales. Deacon William Brodie, by the way, was a cabinet-maker of ill repute who stole in order to fuel his life of drinking and gambling. He was eventually hanged for his crimes. Deacon Brodies is on two levels, upstairs being a restaurant. I believe haggis is a speciality, but I cannot vouch for the food. The downstairs interior is traditional and quite ornate, with a fancy ceiling and a wooden floor. Along the wall opposite the bar there are period pictures depicting the times of Deacon William Brodie. This could be one of the best pubs in Edinburgh but for one major issue. Due to it's prime location on the Royal Mile, it is very much a tourist trap! Deacon Brodies does tend to get overcrowded and often it is standing room only. This is a real shame because it does detract from the pub's appeal for non-tourists. read more

I was not impressed. It seemed like the restaurant was short staffed they warned us that it would be 40 minutes from the time we ordered until we got our meal. (It was more like 25 minutes). They were out of a few menu items which was disappointing. The fish and chips that both my wife and I had was a little over done. The other couple that was with us was not impressed with their meal either. read more

I heard Deacon Brodie was a part-time locksmith as well as a cabinetmaker. which is how he was able to make the copies of the keys. He also got found out in Amsterdam by writing his mistress from there leaving his return address in the letter, and the police found it when they searched all his mistress' houses. He was ironically hung on his own scaffold he designed and built on Grassmarket street! Rich. read more

Situated in the heart of the Royal Mile, Deacon Brodies Tavern is a warm and inviting pub offering fine ales and a wide selection of home cooked meals. The carpeted floors and array of paintings that dress the walls are akin to tradition and comfort. The restaurant, located on the second floor, offers everything from haggis to seafood dishes, although I would highly recommend the steak pie! The staff are generally very helpful and the prices are about average. It is very popular with tourists because of its historical roots with the criminal antics of William Brodie in the 18th century. Visiting this tavern is definitely part of the Edinburgh experience. read more

very old pub close to the castle, steeped in history. Good value with good staff and usually busy. This pub does a good choice of scottish food at very resonable prices. A great pub for a pint and a blether. read more

We went here because we were on the Royal Mile, we were hungry and we'd eaten at Nicholson's Greyfriar's Bobby a few days ago. So we thought GREAT! We were so wrong! It was crowded, the head waitress (hostess?) was grousing about lost keys to the office, it was hot (or chilly - people kept opening the windows which created a chilly breeze - we watch 4-5 parties move tables), the meal (same as we'd had at Greyfriar's) was cold (chicken & mushroom pie), overdone (beef rib pie) and both had, in our opinion, very thick pastry crusts (trying to make up for not as much inside?). The cod fish & chips was good. Waitstaff all appeared busy, but the dining room is upstairs, so food was coming up in a dumbwaiter. The main bar was on the ground level, but there was a mini-bar area in the dining area. I don't see how anybody in a wheelchair could get to the dining room, but then again, when these buildings were built, that wasn't an issue. read more

We shared the appetizer shareable and the dessert trio. Our food was tasty, the ambiance we lovely and our service was good. It was a great meal in the royal mile! read more

Whilst in Edinburgh we visited this pub several times it's just on the royal mile where we were staying good atmosphere oldie worldy pub nice features good selection of gins read more

Amazing pub and restaurant (which might be slightly hidden for some who do not dare to look for more than the first sight). This places is dedicated to the infamous Deacon Broadie (it would be good to say, Junior). Deacon Broadie inherited the respectable fame from his father, who was a real gentleman. While the son, used to gamble and gather with much too many women. In fact, one of the night when Deacon Broadie was gambling, his father died. Deacon then became the honorable and respectable man his father wasbut he kept on having a second life at night. Having many mistresses and 5 illegitimate children didn't help in his financial situation and so, he was pushed to commit the crime of stealing. He became a burglar. Easy task for him because he also was a cabinet maker during the day and his colleague a well-known goldsmith made copies of the keys whose imprints Deacon took from inserting the keys in his pockets where he had wax to get the shape Amazing as it sounds, this allowed Deacon to continue burning the candle from both ends until one man from his team revealed the famous burglar's identity and finally Deacon was arrested. But that it's not the end because he managed to scape to Amsterdam, where they found him again and was brought back to Edinburgh where he was hung in the esplanade of the Castle. The pub offers a wide variety of Scottish dishes, among which we find the very well-known delicatessen : Haggis. Of course, accompanied with tatties (Scottish word for mashed potatoes) This is actually something that you will find in the restaurant that it's climbing up the stairs at the back of the pub. Great example of how the houses in the old town used to be since they were created, low ceilings, narrow staircase. Very good value for the food and good service too! Not many tables though, so you might be made to wait in order to get a free table if you go on the rush hour... If you get tired of eating you can always get a couple of drinks in the pub downstairs! read more

Great pub on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh not far from the Castle. I went in here last year and my first impression was the smoking ban - how pleasant are pubs now without the cloud of smoke lingering over you? It was a breath of fresh air! The upstairs restaurant is a great place to eat - great pub food for good price too - especially as this pub could be a real tourist trap..they have kept it real! read more

Delicious food and good variety of drinks. First time eating haggis and wasn't disappointed. Waitstaff was very friendly.

Visited the upstairs restaurant a few weeks ago when we had friends over with a 2yr old toddler. Staff were friendly and very attentive to the special needs of the little one. I ordered a rose and vegetarian burger. The Spanish rose was beautiful but the burger was a bit dry and not that spectacular. Alas something to be expected from pub grub in my opinion so I wasn't disappointed. I do think the prices were a little steep compared to other pubs that serve food on the Royal Mile. read more

Although it is a great tourist attraction, the pub itself is a bit of disappointment. The name of Brodie is reletlessly linked to the dark historical side of Edinburgh and gave material to Stevenson to write a brilliant novela out of it, funnily enough Scott and Stevenson were acquainted with loads of criminal stories due to their professional work and incorporated them successfully in their fictional creations. The pub is a typical traditional Scottish pub and does not offer a good range of beer. It is a bit overpriced too because of its location and name. read more

Normally I avoid establishments that pay to advertise themselves on tourist maps that are handed out by hotels. However, after about 5 hours with no food and completely worn out after climbing up to the castle and exploring every inch of it, I was about ready to pass out. Back on the Royal Mile, I chose a small shop, not even noticing the name of it. It looked clean enough and I hoped to get a coffee and a roll. I ended up ordering a grilled cheese sandwich that, wait for it, was one of the tastiest I have ever had. It was accompanied by a small salad that, wait for it, was fresh. Not wilted! And had a nice vinaigrette dressing on it. I think that the secret to the sandwich was the cheese; in the States we can't get Scottish cheeses, and they are quite flavorful. This experience was much better than I expected. Is it fine dining? No. Just fast food that was pretty good. read more

Stopped in Deacon Brodies after glancing at the menu. We were the first for lunch. The staff were quite friendly and took great care of us. The gammon and eggs here was the best I've had in the UK. Same could be said for the salad that came with it. Their desserts were impressive as well. My only regret was that we didn't have time to come back and eat there again. read more

Been here before when visiting Edinburgh, and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. However, it's since become part of a chain, and it shows ! The staff were so rude that we didn't even get as far as sitting down, so I can't comment on the food. We weren't the only ones to leave before the restaurant had even opened. The staff didn't encourage us to hang around ! read more

Decon Brodie's was my stopping place for fish and chips (one of their specialities). While my wife's fish and chips was adequate, they got my order wrong ( I asked for a large portion). When my meal came, I asked for the. Large, the staff simply kept the old dish! and put another piece of fish on the plate, leaving a cold meal. When this was returned, it was simply microwaved ( turned to rubber) and reserved. I left without eating. The beer (Scheallion lager) was fine but over priced. I cannot recommend this place to eat" read more

This place was just what I needed, a dark yet pretty little place to have a drink. I really liked the walls and the ceiling. It's got history, but being on the royal mile, is now a tourist spot. That said, as a tourist, you should definitely hit it. read more

Lunch menu was affordable and our chicken bacon club was delicious. They used an actual beautifully bbq charred chicken breast for it. Brilliant. read more

Probably fine for the average tourist but the Scottish cuisine was less than desirable. The Balmoral Chicken was dry, if your lucky you'll get a tablespoon of dried up haggis over a pile of mash that tastes like it's come from a box. As if that isn't enough you can add your vitamins in by eating carrots that still taste of the tin can they came from. Waitress was nice. Not worth the money :/ read more