The food was absolutely incredible. By far the best meal we had while in Edinburgh, and while there was a wait, it was worth it. The only minus is that people are packed in, so if you're lucky enough to be seated next to someone who has the typing noises on their phone set to 500 dB and is typing all throughout the meal, it's going to take some shine off the experience. read more

Thanks to something that went viral, the whole world knows about, and is seeking out, Makars Mash in Edinburgh now. What does this mean for you? MAKE A RESERVATION. And make it sooooooooo, so, so much further in advance than you think you need to. Bookings open 90 days in advance; there's no bookings taken in August; and while they always "welcome walk-ins and do their best to accommodate folks on a first-come, first-serve basis", you should still expect an hour (or, let's be honest, more) wait no matter what time of day it is. Is it worth it though? Yes! I've sat inside and outside over the past decade, and have loved both experiences/atmospheres (the inside is very intimate, cozy, and bustling; the outside feels a little more relaxed, like you're sitting on a friend's patio). The staff (minus the host who - no matter who it is - is always super surly) is friendly and engaging. And the food? SO GOOD. You want that haggis, neeps, and tatties experience? Come here. There is literally something for everyone regardless of your dietary restrictions. The plant-based options are delish, and I can't recommend the Roasted Chestnut & Carrot Haggis with Whisky, Peppercorn, and Cream Sauce (make sure to ask for it vegan, I think it has something to do with the sauce). Also, just because it's a cute note from their menu: "For the haggis purists, the mixing of spices, tree nuts, seeds, lentils and pulses is something that has happened for centuries, meat was extremely rare in Scottish cooking." So there, stop saying veggie haggis isn't real haggis. LOADS of mash options: if you're vegan I'd go with the Wholegrain Mustard first, Olive Oil (if they have it) as a second option, or the Chilli Smoked Bean Medley as a third option (just because there's already a lot of other flavors going on). Now I just wish they had more vegan dessert options (sorbet is boring, give me a vegan sticky toffee pudding option please)! read more

Staff were very friendly and wait time isn't too bad. Food is amazing and definitely enjoyed their version of the Haggis. I particularly loved that they allowed guest to go see how they grow their lion mane in their own restaurant which added to their allure to the restaurant. read more

Great Scottish food, awesome location. Need to get there and put your name in, can take awhile due to popularity. Gluten free options galore. read more

Wow wow wow Gourmet level comfort food! We had the lamb shank, the beef, broccoli side, mushroom soup...all pretty perfect and nourishing after a long day of train travel and walking/touring! Very friendly staff. Loved it. read more

Service was great! Our hostess was very nice. I ordered the gluten free scotch egg which was good. I also ordered the gluten free stout which was the best GF stout I've ever had. I ordered the beef with applewood mash. The beef was a little stringy and dry. I did arrive towards the end of the evening. The potatoes had a nice flavor although they were over whipped and gummy. I order the lamb shank with horseradish mash. Lamb was very good moist and had a nice flavor. I would recommend it. The portion size was huge! You will not leave hungry. The Horseradish mash had a nice flavor although over whipped on the mash and slightly dry. I did think both sauces over masked the mash especially on the beef. It was a little too much sauce for my liking. The lamb shank sauce was much better. Both coleslaws were very good. read more

So delish! Warm and comforting, exactly what you would want after a day of walking in the brisk Scottish air.

Really great food. I had the chicken, my husband had the lamb shank. Both were excellent! Good drinks and fast service. Will definitely visit again. Highly recommend! read more

Salad was good. Lamb was good. Mushrooms very good. Vegetarian sausage was different, not bad. Bathroom was not clean. Trash piled in the hallway was a bit disconcerting. read more

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Went yesterday 7/31/25 This place is so overhyped. Everything we had - save for the sticky toffee pudding - tasted as if it were made a day or two prior and was re- heated. They seem to get so much traffic and have expanded that they make everything ahead and reheat - and not even all the way just to warm. It was just terrible. read more

Hey look. Haggis is delicious. Was this my first time eating it? Yes. Does ALL haggis taste this good? No idea. So maybe just try it here. I had the mini haggis, beef shoulder with gravy, and the butter mashed potatoes. Beth was super cool (our server) and this was one of my favorite meals in Scotland. Comfort food that hits the soul. (to help you get an idea, haggis has a peppery nutmeg flavor - complex and fascinating) Make a reservation though. Lines are out the door no matter which location you go to. read more

We were lucky to get a table right away, service was great and Loved their mashed potatoes, specially the cheese ones. read more

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Delicious food! Very tasty but rich. Would definitely recommend it. Fast service, but a little bit too tight space in a basement.

Loved this place! First night for my family of 8 in Scotland and we had a great time enjoying the mash and toppings. Service was excellent and welcoming. Drinks quick and plentiful. Could not ask for a better experience. 10 stars read more

Great lunch spot for elevated sausages and mashers -- with a side of single malt if you like. read more

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Just incredibly delicious comfort food. The roast beef was the best such I've ever had. The spring onion and bacon mash is to die for, a side of it alone could make a light meal! I was disappointed that the lions head mushrooms were sold out by 2pm the day we dined - best to make a reservation for noon when it opens. read more

It seems like this location doesn't exist. The 2 Maker's locations off The Royal Mile do exist. They're wonderful!

The food was hearty and delicious, while the people who work there sealed the 5 star review for me. There are a variety of different flavored mashed potatoes and the cheddar, chili and horseradish versions we tried were all amazing. The braised beef, chicken and mushroom were done very well. One of our favorite meals we had while visiting Edinburgh. read more

True to their words, their food is fantastic. Just try their Chicken called Bonnie Prince Char Grilled Chicken in whisky, peppercorn & mustard sauce. This chicken dish recipe has been handed for centuries. It's so moist and tasty. One of the best chicken I ever had and with mashed potatoes so nice and smooth. And if you like lamb. Try there Braised Lamb shank slow cooked in rosemary, red wine & cranberries. They are very good specially in a cold weather like here in Scotland. If you have sweet tooth like me. Try there Sticky Toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce, served with vanilla ice cream. Try to order one of each not a share one because you might end up fighting. A comfort food that you will enjoy after walking around the touristy area in Edinburgh. read more

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Sticky Toffee Pudding - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The best meal I had during my stay in Edinburgh. Started off with ordering a pint of the Belhaven Black (a nice Scottish alternative to Guinness). I was very impressed with the stout's smoothness. The menu has a nice selection of entrees but the highlight is the meats and non-meats that you can pair with a nice array of mashes. I went with the Braised Ox Cheek and paired it with the Spring Onion & Crispy Smoked Bacon Mash. The meat was incredibly tender and the mash was a perfect compliment to it. For dessert I had their Toffee Pudding. It was the right amount of sweet and was a great finish to the already stellar meal. On top of the quality food, the service was tremendous. The staff on hand for dinner (Tina, Jamie, and Christina) were very kind and helpful. A must for dinner in Edinburgh. read more

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Needed a place for a quick and quiet dinner while in Edinburgh for work. This place is great! Quiet and quirky. Food was fantastic, had the haggis and mash but they were lacking the draught beers. The only one they had available was a decent enough lager. read more

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We had a table of 8. We made a reservation online. It was slightly difficult to navigate the reservation portal. It was confusing because the portal seemed to allow bar seating only. 2 of our party are coeliacs and required gluten free meals. They were very knowledgeable and accommodating. Lucy, our server was charming and she answered all our questions and asked the kitchen when she was unsure about the answers. The meals were delicious. I recommend the bacon and chive mash! My kids couldn't steal mine fast enough. My beef skirt was tender and moist, the haggis was very tasty, the chicken was nicely roasted and we had few leftovers. They do not provide takeaway boxes so come prepared or finish your meal completely. Would definitely recommend Makar! read more

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There was an excellent atmosphere in the place. They serve large portions so it is good value for money. I had the lamb shank with a mixed bean mash which was delicious and my friend had the boar sausage with the classic mash which was scrumptious too! read more

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Boar sausage - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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My husband and I really enjoyed our lunch here. Delicious, Scottish comfort food. I especially loved the cheddar/chive mash. Friendly, prompt service. read more

Excellent! Great location near Edinburgh Castle. Outside seating. Friendly staff and great service. Nice selection of beer and ciders. The vegetarian sausage ("swirlies") served over the cheese and chive mashers was delicious! Will definitely be back the next time we are in the area! read more

Hungry and ducking out from the pouring rain, I wasn't expecting much, but I was so pleasantly surprised! We ordered the Smoked Sausage & Mash, the Aubergine Rosti Fritters, and the Haggis sampler. My boyfriend loved the Smoked Sausage, and the Aubergine Fritters were delicious! I was nervous to try haggis as an American who had never had it, but it was surprisingly really good. All in all, this restaurant has a friendly atmosphere, kind and attentive wait staff, and comfort food worth remembering. Thanks for the great dining experience! read more

We heard from others that we had to go to this restaurant. It did not disappoint at all. It was very busy though, we had to put our name on a waitlist and then had to go outside and find something to do for 10 minutes because you can't wait inside. However this did not bother us because the smell inside was so good and the food on the tables looked amazing so we couldn't wait to eat there. The food was amazing, they mostly served sausage and also they have haggis. Also the mashed potatoes were too delicious, they have such a wide range of different kinds and they are all so good. Overall we had an amazing experience! read more

Loved this place. Went with the kids at the end of a long day exploring Edinburgh hoping for some great Scottish food. Service was great, the food was delicious and the kids loved it too. We loved all the options for different kinds of mashed potatoes that went along with the main courses. None of us had ever tried haggis before but it was really good here. The sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce with ice cream was the perfect way to end the day. Great portion size and good value for the money (the kids portion was huge). Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for great food in Edinburgh! read more