Lovely spot for drinks, food, and live music. When I was there, there was a guitarist performing some wonderful ballads. Good vibes overall. Food was excellent. I had the Scottish Steak Pie with mash. The dish actually came with sautéed broccolini! Actual vegetables!! I was delighted. Personally, I recommend the haggis bon bons. Basically, deep-fried balls of haggis in a light brown gravy (not the same gravy as the steak pie, mind you), with bits of mustard seed on top. The flavor was more sophisticated than you would expect from a pub. I can't speak much for the alcohol, alas, as I didn't have any. They did seem to have a wide selection and a full bar. Bathrooms: Didn't try them out. Ah, well. read more

See all

I had a great experience at Element. Like several other Yelpers, I found this place on Open Table when searching for someplace nearby with availability (in the UK, making reservations for dinner his highly advisable unless you don't mind lousy food and tourist traps). Like many pubs/restaurants in the UK, Element is divided into 2 sections: a pub in the front with first-come, first-served seating, and a restaurant in the back for which reservations are essential. I was warmly greeted and steered to the back. There is was quickly seated, and the culinary philosophy of Element was explained to me: excellent food, often classic dishes, with a distinctly Scottish twist. Yanks and other foreigners may see the preponderance of haggis on the menu and blanch: that is a mistake. Haggis, in spite of its reputation among ignorami, is lovely. I struggle to remember anywhere in Scotland that I've been served haggis that was less than delicious. Element certainly wasn't it. I placed my food and drink order, and in good time my food was presented. A particular shout out for the Balmoral pie: an absolutely fantastic concoction that will keep me coming back. Prices were reasonable, and the ambience was cozy and comfortable. Together with the friendly and timely service, I have no hesitation to give Element 5 stars. read more

Finished a long day of walking and we're looking for a spot to have some dinner. Found this little gem of a place and had a wonderful meal. Initially were sitting outside but when the rains started we moved inside. The bar area was very nice and had ample seating. Sadly the only drawback was having to order at the bar our entire meal at one time. The food was absolutely amazing. Had their baked brie in a Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips and their balmoral chicken dish. They were flavorful and filling. The staff who help us was very nice and wanted to help. It's a fun location to try if you're able. read more

See all

Kami (host/server) Harry (bartender/server) and Clara (bartender) are great hosts and so fun to talk with. Amazing food, Amazing ambiance, and Amazing service. Highly recommend. Staff is so helpful, knowledgeable, and delightful. The food is 5-Stars! read more

What a nice surprise! We were looking for dinner close to our hotel in new town and looking at the menus of restaurants on Rose Street. This looked like a pub and we didn't have any reservations, but when we walked in, they had a beautiful restaurant seating area in the back with a homey ambiance. Service and food was great. Not sure why the reviews are only 3.5 stars read more

Stumbled upon this place for lunch while walking around. What a lovely find. Such cozy interior and sweet staff. They make toasties tableside too! I ordered the steak and ale pie which was so yummy and we had a few pints. Great place to grab lunch in town. read more

Element - Steak and Ale Pie - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Excellent service, beautiful Sunday Roast - but go right at noon! We ordered at 1pm and got the last three, so they do sell out quickly. But with good reason, nice portions and delicious meal. The appetizers were great too. read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Review for bar only here. There are many restaurants, cafes, and bars along Rose Street to choose from. We stumbled across here on a Friday evening looking for a drink and somewhere to sit. The space is larger inside than it appears from the outside, which was good. We found ourselves a few stools at a communal table. For drinks, a double shot of Jameson with Ginger Beer and an Expresso was £10, which is pretty good for a spot in New Town. The space was nice and cozy, which was a nice stop along the way. read more

They don't understand basic alcohol licensing laws in Scotland. My 26 year old daughter was refused a drink with her meal, she was accompanied by me and the bartender actually admitted she knew that she was legally allowed to drink but since she didn't have an ID she wouldn't serve her anyways. We politely made her aware of the exception of under 18s being allowed a drink with a meal at pubs in Scotland (despite my daughter whose clearly over 18) and I actually have a license to sell alcohol in Scotland myself, but the girl wouldn't admit that she was wrong and turned quite hostile towards us. She had glasses and brown hair. It's not a friendly place and there's better pubs with bartenders who know what they're doing in the area. read more

Happened upon Element while walking along Rose Street on a Saturday evening. We popped in for dinner around 6:45pm and the staff were pleasant and accommodating. The entire service experience during dinner was really great in fact which set it apart from some of our other experiences. The menu was more interesting than most pub restaurants we've been to and all of us enjoyed our meals! The space makes a seamless change into a proper pub with the music turned up and filling in the empty spaces right around 8:15pm. Fun! read more

Element - Flat iron steaks, squash and the fish & chips...yum! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Wonderful Sunday roast in a dining room that feels like you're in someone's home, nice service, and live music in the bar.

I loved this spot on Rose Street. They agreed to make us the lemon cheesecake cocktail, even though it's no longer on the menu, which was delicious. The haggis, neeps, & tatties were really good, and very satisfying on a cold, rainy day. In between bites, we were staring at the overflowing trays with heaps of fish & chips--for next time. read more

Element - haggis, neeps, and tatties - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Element is definitely one of the nicer pubs on Rose Street. The decor is modern and stylish, and it manages to be a cool place to eat and drink without being at all pretentious. The bar staff are smart and friendly and will do table service if you're eating (and when you're drinking if the place is quiet). The front part of the pub has a number of high tables with stools, whilst the back room is more like a restaurant with tables and chairs, there are some sofas for lounging too. The food menu is influenced by Scotland and most of the items have a Scottish twist. For a light bite, the haggis croquettes with drambuie sauce are divine. The mains are equally good and the Aberdeen Angus burgers and the Mull of Kintyre macaroni cheese will have you feeling full all day. There is an excellent selection of whisky on offer and they also sell bottles of spirits for pretty reasonable prices, if you're with some friends and planning to make a night of it this is a good option. If you're looking for a pub with a little more style than some of the other pubs in this street, Element is a good choice. read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I came here for the first time at New Year 2008/2009, and was so impressed with it that I've lost count of the amount of times I've been back. It is your typical Rose Street pub but a bit classier. They have really cool furniature and really nice decor, it's one of the trendier places to be. When I came at new year I asked the lady behind the bar to give me something festive and she gave me a drink that literally tasted like christmas. It was warm and tasted like apples and cinnamon. YUM!! The price isn't too bad either!! The only criticism I do have is that their wine isn't that cold, I'm a sucker for a nice cool glass of wine. But it's nice to sit outside and watch the world go by too!! I wish they had more outdoor seats though, but hey, it's lovely inside! read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Lovely bar/restaurant in the city center! We visited Element in breakfast time. We heard that they have vegan menu too, so we decided to give it a try. And it was worth it. Full Vegan breakfast was really filling and tasty. They also have one vegan dessert and plant based milk options with coffee or tea. Service was quick and nice. The place is cozy. Only minus is price which is very high. read more

Element - Full vegan breakfast - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Great service. Menu has a nice variety. Busy and lively spot. Give it a try. We happened upon it and not disappointed.

My family was Asian and discrimination was involved in this restaurant. My kids and I were starving as we were looking for a restaurant to eat. We came to this cafe because it look like a decent cafe. But as soon as we walked in, the server told us that we were not allow to sit in the front of the seat, the male waiter led us into the back corner of the room. We were confused because there were people in the front, then the waiter told us that because we have kids under 18, we were required to buy a full meal(starter+main+side+desserts), this concept were completely unheard of. Then we ordered our meal and as food came on, we realized that one of the meal included lamb, which were unacceptable to my children. I asked for an exchange because I didn't know the ingredients beforehand, I only ordered it because of the waitress's recommendation. The male waiter came again and refused to give an exchange or refund. This was also strange to us because if we were unsatisfied with our meal back in USA, we were allowed an refund. Overall the food is terrible, the service is even worse. The bread was stale and the meat was over cooked. My kids left unhappy and disgusted, we end up losing all of our appetite and leaving the food in touched. The male waiter was especially rude and discriminatory, I warn you all to stay away from this restaurant. Please note the mean and rude waiter is the one with Blue shirt read more

See all

Wow. Best description I can give, incredible. Food was absolutely delicious (shakshuka is incredible) and the service (Victoria, in particular) was second to none. Efficient, friendly and just a lovely environment. Decor is comfy & cosy and prices are really great for the quality of food! read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Loved this restaurant! Super cute decor and phenomenal service. The waiter gave all kinds of scotch recommendations and was really friendly. We had the soup of the day, which was phenomenal. A cream based dill soup and the bread had little olive bits in it. Yum! We also had the haggis bon bons. So lovely served with a mustard sauce that was out of this world. For our first experience with haggis, this style made it approachable for us. I highly recommend Element. It's a beautiful space with great food and service. read more

Yay Im definately a fan. Me and Sharona decied to stop of here for some lunch after Spa In The City shenanagins. We bothe opted for Chilli nachos and for £5 - they were awesome! Lots of chilli and cheese! Just what I like, we also had a bottle of Prosecco, which we agreed wasnt the best, but it was only £15 so we didnt grumble. The waitress that served us was busy buy still very polite and attentive.Decor Is modern and its a well presented pub. Would definatley go back! Nom X read more

Element is a very anonymous-looking bar about halfway down Rose Street that's very easy to walk past. Whether I'd recommend it or not depends entirely what time of day you're visiting and what you're after: The first time I went was for a quick lunch during the week with some of my colleagues. The dining area at the back of the place is quite nicely appointed, with brand-new looking furniture and comfortable seats. The dining space is small and cosy, but I've never had trouble getting a seat. The lunch menu was small but reasonably varied, with the prices being around £10 per person (without drinks), which is pretty much standard for Edinburgh lunch-menus. The lunch food was tasty and seemed like a good deal. If it were just on the basis of lunch, I would give Element a solid 4 stars. Definitely a good shout for a quiet business-type lunch. The next time I went was on a Friday evening for a drink after work with my colleagues again. We walked in and then walked straight back out again. The bar area lacks any sort of character, charm or any general appeal that would encourage you to stay for a drink. There's a shortage of places to sit and it was absolutely packed to the rafters. If this review was purely on the basis of Element as an evening bar, it would get a big fat 1-star from me. For a weekend evening drink, go elsewhere. The last time I went to Element was for a quick dinner during the week. After my experience with lunch, I thought the restaurant part of Element was worth another visit. I was wrong. The dinner menu is really rather boring and ridiculously over-priced. I couldn't believe how much we were being charged for simple things like a bowl of soup or a (measly) serving of gnocchi. The service was curt, slow and frustrating. The food was fine but really nothing to write home about. Probably two stars for that effort. So I'm giving Element a 3-star aggregate rating: - 4 stars for lunch - 2 stars for dinner - 1 star for drinks I don't think I'll bother with Element again. It's not like you're hard up for choice in the centre of the New Town. read more

On Rose Street you'll find a variety of bars, some are cheap ass (few) some are upmarket like expensive. Element falls just into the latter category. In essence it is a Cocktail & Champagne Bar. Providing classic and newish cocktails for their punters. They have a restaurant in the back but the main bar is geared for cocktails of many sorts. We had a Friday evening visit and we were pleased that the private 'booth' was available. This is a leather corner seating with plenty of pillows and a iPod/iPhone dock to play your own music. Also the table is large enough to play a decent board game or poker game (if you so wish). The drinks are not the cheapest, but this is usual for the location. Service is quick, friendly and cocktail wise pretty confident. I haven't eaten here for a couple of years, but I remember it from back then to be pleasant, but quite forgettable. I like it when I am in town and it would be on my list to visit , but wouldn't seek it out as one of my favourites. read more

Element is a bar, the only one on Rose Street, as opposite to the array of terrible pubs that street holds. It would probably be more in its place on trendy and overpriced George Street, but it is a good meeting point in the centre. You can book the sofas area at the back for birthdays and so on, which is quite nice. Not being a pub, the selection of beers on tap is pretty poor and the drinks are slightly overpriced. A place where I would not spend the whole night (although I have on occasion for birthday parties) but OK to go for a drink or as a meeting point. I have no idea what the food is like, but I wouldn't dream for a second to have my lunch there! read more

When you consider all of the older, more 'traditional' bars along Rose Street, Element kind of sticks out. Its much more modern, but maintains its Scottish heratage, not more so than in its food menu, which most certainly has a Scottish theme. Haggis balls anybody, they are pretty damn good. Trouble is that Element is a tad on the expensive side, and I wouldnt come here for a big meal, I guet the impression that this place is trying to do the Scottish version of tapas - lots of small nibbly plates to go with your drinks. I mean, dont get me wrong, there are propper sized meals in the restaurant area of the pub, but its just a little lacking in certain areas. On saying that though, I had quite a nice time, and the food is good - drinks are well priced too, so over all, you may end up having a good time. read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Just had dinner at Elements! It felt like a private sobbing experience! A true 5 star meal! Blythe, Kirk and Christopher made us feel like family! The food was great we had the pork chop, the Haggis main plate, the mushroom toast as a starter, and the most amazing raspberry cream for dessert!!!! The staff gave us recommendations, joked with us like we were old friends! If you're seeking a home away from home then check out Element's restaurant! read more

This pub is probably the most modern one on Rose Street, but that does not mean it's not traditionally Scottish at heart. The menu is predominantly Scots influenced with macaroni cheese, haggis and lighter bar bites if you fancy a wee nibble with your wine. It is expensive but not ludicrously so; I probably expected it to be much more pricey because it's that little bit different. The clientele was definitely young and fashionable, and they all pretty much looked the same, which isn't as fun as people watching in other pubs on the street. It's ok, just as long as the other 'rougher round the edges' pubs don't all follow suit. read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Identifying the new fad for 'nibbles and drinks' the Element lays out its crisp, elegant bar complete with low tables and candles as an appealing platform to serve platters of bite size favourites including mini beef burgers, haggis balls, spring rolls and chicken liver pate on oatcakes. As it so often is with these bars a you end up feeling like your paying for style and not substance. The prices are steep, the food isn't anything special and somehow you get the feeling that plush environment is just a guise for an upmarket Wetherspoons. A 'one off' then. read more

Element - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I like Element, but it's very much a bar rather than a pub and it feels like it belongs more on George Street than Rose Street. Sadly, not only is this reflected in the decor but also the prices. That being said, if you prefer bars to pubs then perhaps this is the rose-street option for you. It's the sort of place you'd go to start off you're night out on the town (coaktails? Hmm) rather than a mid-week stop for a pint. read more

A friend who works on Rose Street met me here for after works drinks recently. A little more upmarket and trendy than the usual Rose Street bars, Element is perhaps more at home on the next street over (George Street). We had one drink here before deciding it was too expensive and heading somewhere else. The bar and surroundings were comfortable, but just a little but pricey for my liking. If I wanted overpriced drinks, I would go Yah it up on George Street. read more

Quite a bit different from the pint and pork scratching hostelries that make up much of Rose Street's boozing venues, Element looks and feels more like a style bar which has been thrown up on the cheap, which is more or less exactly what it is. Having only had a very brief visit, I can't say I was particularly impressed. It felt quite dark and claustrophobic, and the fellow punters all seemed to be a bit too drunk for my liking considering it was about 6pm on a weeknight. The Scottish tapas style menu does look moderately interesting, but I can't see me rushing back here in too much of a hurry. read more

Perfectly nice and adequate bar along Rose Street. It's quite modern in decor and appearance so stands out a little from all the traditional pubs along the stretch. It's also very often rammed to capacity as the after work crowd seem so enjoy coming here. There's plenty space through the back of the pub and ample seating, so if you hang about a bit you can usually manage to grab a seat within a short space of time. The bar is well stocked with a good range of beers, both on draught and bottled. Typical city centre prices though - you won't get a pint for much less than £4 in here. Ouch! I haven't eaten here so can't comment, but as watering holes go it's a safe and central bet. read more

Service the usual bad...at least for me. Very busy and quite noisy. Staff friendly and helpful-mostly. read more

Someone's swanky living room? Champagne by the bottle? Yes, drinks are all rather dear in Element, but for all the sophistication and effortless suavity of this place I would by the damn bottle and sit here all day. Of course you get your regular tipples here too, and served in a square glass they seem to taste just a little bit better. Sofas are low slung and cream and the décor all wood and glass, achieving that impossible beauty of the modern traditional. read more

In a long row of pubs, this place has a modern interior and more evolved menu. Lots of cheerful and attentive service and free wifi. My server recommended the chicken pie and it did not disappoint. read more

Popped in for a drink on Sunday after a long walk and we were pleasantly surprised - the outside doesn't bely the lovely interior. Didn't eat, but the menu looked fine and everything we saw on other tables smelled good! It is a bit expensive drinks wise, and the beer selection isn't brilliant, but if you're in need of a nice place to have a seat and a drink on Rose Street then Element is as good a place as any! read more

Service is a little slow, but the food is great. I had the chicken and my husband the trout, which he says is one of the best pieces of fish he's ever had - and that's saying something. Pleasant atmosphere as well. read more

Found this place by accident and it was amazing. Fantastic cheese platter, excellent drinks, and friendly bar staff. I even tried the haggis bon bons, which were pretty good. read more

Not too bad for an unplanned lunch. Cullen Skink soup with a cheesy crust sounds wrong but works surprisingly well. Usual beers on draft and attentive service. No worries about returning here. read more

Late arrival on a Monday night, nearly empty dining room at 9:30 PM but they were still willing to serve. Appetizer was an amazing lightly marinated salmon. Delightful combination of flavors; distinct yet compatible and mysterious. Entree of lamb rump was perfectly fine, not terribly remarkable but very well prepared and presented. Biggest mistake was my wine selection before selecting the entree. Should have waited! read more

A newish bar thats just opened up on Rose Street- my immediate impression was that it belongs on George Street. With it's sleek funky decor and impressive cocktail list, this bar may prove to be a bit upmarket for the Rose Street crowd. But its nice. There are several booths and alcoves and cowhide covered chairs to relax and enjoy a cocktail or two, and on warmer afternoons/eveings, cushioned wicker couches are put outside so that punters can soak up the Rose Street sunshine. Food is also served, a friend had the goats cheese salad which was definately the pick of the evening. All the class of George Street stumbling distance from the rest of the pubs on Rose Street-for this reasson, well worth a visit! read more