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    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

    4.8 (530 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar Photos

    MAKARS GOURMET MASH BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

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    lamb and classic mash
    Alexis K.

    Makars Mash is one of those places that is always at the top of folks recommendation lists for Edinburgh. I found this to be for good reason. At the door, parties of 2+ had around an hour wait. I was lucky enough to be dining solo, so was immediately seated to a small high-top area by the door. Service was very kind. I ordered the Lamb and Classic Mash. The side pickles were tasty and refreshing. The mash was truly good. I ended up wishing I picked a different protein because the lamb came on the bone, wish was hard to eat around for me. Since it was my first day in Scotland, the conversion between pounds and dollars hadn't yet processed for me. As a heads up, ordering the 23.00 pound classic entree came out to be $32.50.

    Chicken in Peppercorn sauce
    Debbie J.

    Loved everything about this place, absolutely fantastic food. Hubby had the Pork shank with onion and bacon mashed potatoes and I had the chicken in peppercorn sauce. We had to try the egg on the appetizer list, we were not sure why to expect but it was delicious. The Toffee cake was a winner as well. Thank you ACI & Scott for pointing us in the right direction for our food choices. We will be back

    Chicken and Bacon Mash
    Chris B.

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar is a popular restaurant in the area and so reservations is a must. However, the restaurant does have a separate section for walk-ins. Bottom line, some enjoyable Scottish food will be experienced if you do choose to come here. I tried the Scotch Egg and its a solid dish and was as expected. Crunchy outside, not too salty on tue inside and had a perfectly cooked egg. The Chicken on top of Bacon Mash was also really good. The chicken wasn't dry, the gravy added a bit of savoriness and heartiness to every bite. The Bacon Mash tho was my favorite. So delicious...as you would expect being in the name of the place. I had felt the need to eat some greens so I ordered the broccoli and nothing to write home about but it was as good as you would expect. Got the job done. The staff were very attentive and friendly and provided some good recommendations. There is a good selection of beer, wine and spirits as well so that's always a bonus.

    Vegan haggis with the chili bean mash.
    Steff D.

    I hadn't been to Makars Mash in a while; in that time they've become viral and things have changed a bit here. Mostly what you need to know is: MAKE A RESERVATION. Yes, they have some room for walk-ins, but expect a very, very long wait if you're not there super early. There's two doors at Makars (both next to each other): Door #2 is for walk-in guests: there's some two and four tops near their kitchen as well as some outdoor dining when it's nice out. Door #1 is for guests who made a reservation online: there's upstairs seating, downstairs seating (both of which can be the good-kind-of-loud when they're full up), and - if you're a solo diner - you'll be lovingly squished into the intimate, cozy, quiet room on the rounded corner of Bank St with the big windows. I came as a solo diner around 6pm-ish, and my wait was twenty minutes. They checked in with me frequently to let me know "soon!" I was seated at the bar in the small front room with four other solo diners. It was lovely, I was able to just tuck into my book and my pint and my meal in peace! Lots of vegan options here, but my recommendation is the roasted chestnut and carrot haggis with neeps (mashed turnips), tatties (mashed potatoes), and onion gravy (which I think is the default when you ask for it vegan). There's several mash options to choose from too: wholegrain mustard, olive oil, but my personal favorite is the chili smoked bean medley. Expect a hearty portion of very filling comfort food! Every member of the staff I interacted with was so friendly and accommodating to me. I felt like they went out of their way to check-in with me on my solo date night; it was cute. I was glad to have been able to return after so many years. While the seating and menu has changed, the overall vibe is still as good as it ever has been!

    Menu
    Bobs C.

    Came here with the family and honestly this place lives up to the hype. If you're in Edinburgh and want something hearty, this is a must. We ordered a mix -- the roasted chicken, steak pie, and haggis stack -- all sitting on top of their different mashed potato options. The mash is the star here... super smooth, flavorful, and you can tell it's done right. The gravy ties everything together perfectly. The chicken was juicy with crispy skin, and the steak pie was rich and comforting. The haggis dish was surprisingly good too, especially paired with the mash and sauce. Sides like the slaw added a nice balance. Portions are solid (you will leave full), prices are fair for the quality, and the vibe is casual but busy in a good way. Only thing -- it can get packed, so expect a bit of a wait. Overall: 9/10. Would absolutely come back.

    Scotch Eggs
    Anthony W.

    This would be an amazing place for date night if I lived here. It's cool because when you walk in you get this classy casual decor. Which makes the vibes feel really fun and loose but the food itself is top notch. It's hard to describe but really any one of all ages would enjoy this place, provided you made a reservation. This particular night I ordered the Beef Shoulder w/ Horseradish Gravy over Creamed Horseradish Mashed Potatoes and I truly think I had to best meal at the table. The beef was tender and had a lot of flavor with the gravy. But then you could take a bite with the potatoes and then a bite with the potatoes that also have a little of gravy. And before anyone is like, "Ew. That sounds like way too much horseradish." No homie. The spice is pretty mild. As someone who eats a lot when it's available, I think the potatoes were supposed to be more about infusing the flavor versus the heat. After all, they are supposed to be creamy too. I also gotta give a shoutout to the Scotch Eggs too. They definitely hit the spot as well. Overall I would recommend Makars to anyone staying in Edinburgh or nearby. The service was also amazing. We had questions about what to drink according to our dishes and our server helped each one of us. I also think it's cool how they have some decent veggie options too.

    Bijana K.

    My spouse and I found ourselves with an open afternoon for lunch, so he swung by and was able to snag a same-day reservation. My only regret is that we didn't discover this spot sooner - I loved my meal and wish I'd had time to explore more of the menu. We ordered the chicken over cheddar mash, and everything was outstanding. It wasn't just the comfort-food factor or the potatoes (arguably the most perfect of foods); the care in preparation was obvious, and the flavors were truly fantastic. I'm wishing Makar's every success so they'll be around long enough for me to come back.

    Chicken & Madh
    Francine G.

    Food was incredible, you get your choice of protein & specialty mash. Prices are comparable to the area. There is a long line no matter what time of day so be prepared to wait.

    Lions mane bites starter
    Mindy T.

    Absolutely, 100% come here on your trip to Edinburgh. There are two restaurants. One for walk ins and the other for those with reservations so there is no excuse for not coming. We almost didn't come and that would've been such a mistake. The food here was my favorite of the entire trip. We got the lamb shank and mini haggis taster. I would get both again but definitely the lamb shank. It was perfection. I just wished it had the gravy from the mini haggis. You get to choose among a wide variety of mashed potatoes. We chose the bacon and spring onion. The mini haggis was super filling, tastes a bit like super savory pate. We saw the entree size and the size looked similar. I say get the mini so you can try other dishes. The lion manes bites were surprisingly good! I wasn't sure what to expect but this got me interested in doing their mushroom farm tour... We ended the meal with the sticky toffee pudding. This is our favorite dessert so we had to try it. It's much more lighter than we're used to, but delicious nonetheless. highly recommend!!

    Scotch egg
    Alison K.

    Made a reservation a month and a half in advance due to the popularity. We arrived early and were able to get seated right away. The staff was friendly and the food came out promptly. I got rhubarb soda, scotch egg, and lamb shank with black pudding mash. I love anything rhubarb, and the soda hit the spot. I found the scotch egg to be warm, not hot, but the creamy sauce and egg were still delicious. The tender lamb shank fell off the bone and was huge. I couldn't finish, especially after eating the whole scotch egg. The mashed potatoes were creamy and had chunks of black pudding throughout. The gravy was savory and flavorful. The pickled veg that came with were disappointing and dry, however. My vegetarian friend got a smaller portion of the fried mushrooms. I tried one and thought they were a bit dry but worked with the cheesy mashed potatoes and sauce. She doesn't normally like mashed potatoes but really liked these.

    Scotch egg
    Erly G.

    Food is good! Service is ok. They're very popular so expect a really long wait. For a party of 6, we waited for less than an hour. Was notified through text or you can monitor status through the link they sent via text message. We ordered the following: * slow cooked lamb shank with an infused with port of leith tawny wine, rosemary & tomato sauce accompanied by mature Scottish cheddar cheese mash potato. * free range gourmet scotch egg starter * home grown lion's mane bites starter * a coke and ginger kombucha * sticky toffee pudding - super yummy We were seated outside, people waiting to be seated may be smoking so it's kind of annoying. There is a sign no smoking or vaping in the dining area though. Located close to the National Galleries Museum and the Royal Mile. A must try when in Edinburgh.

    Valeria N.

    Came here especially for the gluten free scotch eggs and it delivered! Great space to hang out and grab a drink

    We visited Makars just last week. The staff were extremely friendly and the food was amazing. Everything we hoped for when we booked. If you are looking for a nice relaxed meal this may not be the place for you as the service was absurdly fast. Within 15 mins of sitting at our table we had drinks app and meal delivered. We had reservations and the time slot was for 90 mins. We felt very rushed as they seemed anxious to turn the table over. Would defiantly revisit.

    Chicken with smoked cheddar mash

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    The food was amazing and the toffee sticky pudding was so delicious! Everyone was super friendly! The whole experience was great!!

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    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar Reviews in Other Languages

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    The Mussel and Steak Bar - Scallops

    The Mussel and Steak Bar

    4.4(202 reviews)
    0.1 miGrassmarket, Old Town
    ££

    It's has such an unassuming look to it when you first walk in. There's just one big round booth in…read morethe back with only a few tables to the side and back of the bar. There is an outdoor space that sits on the West Bow bend of Grassmarket, but nothing was set up for that when we were there for a late lunch. Perhaps it's a seasonal thing. All first impressions aside, it turned out to be a very good lunch. We were greeted immediately upon entering. We were fortunate to get a table without a reservation. You will definitely need one here during peak times. The service was warm & friendly. Artur was very helpful in answering all of our questions. The lunch menu is limited, but you can also order from the higher priced dinner menu as well. I was mostly amazed by the fact that you get complimentary oysters delivered to your table. My husband is not a seafood fan, so I was fortunate enough to enjoy both of them. These are large & tasty Pacific oysters grown at a farm in Loch Fyne. Delicious! It was such a great starter. I couldn't pass up the half kilo pot (lunch portion) of steamed mussels. These are Scottish rope-grown mussels. I should have ordered a kilo. They were so addicting. The white wine sauce with shallots was perfect. However, I did have a difficult time deciding which sauce to choose. The whisky with smoked bacon also sounded amazing. If I had to say anything negative, it would be to maybe add more bread to soak up the sauce. I probably could have asked for more, but I didn't. That's on me. I really wanted to return to try the Surf & Turf. We just didn't have enough time to do it all. I would go back in a heartbeat. It ended up being a great find. A great experience!

    Great place! Started strong with complimentary oysters as we sat down. We ordered platter of…read moregrilled scallops they were so delicious we ordered a second platter. Perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. Ordered bucket of mussels they were good not great. More on the smaller size but generous in serving Also shared a filet mignon steak which was excellent. Also enjoyed their fish and chips which was haddock very good nice serving size. Service was great. Definitely would return and get their seafood platter. Looked amazing and would definitely serve the four of us.

    Photos
    The Mussel and Steak Bar - Inside Mussel & Steak Bar

    Inside Mussel & Steak Bar

    The Mussel and Steak Bar - Oysters

    Oysters

    The Mussel and Steak Bar - World Famous Shellfish Platter - with lobster, Scottish Brown Crab, North Atlantic King Prawns, scallops, oysters, king scallops and mussels

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    World Famous Shellfish Platter - with lobster, Scottish Brown Crab, North Atlantic King Prawns, scallops, oysters, king scallops and mussels

    Wildfire

    Wildfire

    4.5(82 reviews)
    0.4 miNew Town
    ££

    Wildfire is located toward the end of the pedestrian mall along Rose Street. Just keep walking,…read moreyou'll get there eventually. Walking into Wildfire, the brick and wood of the restaurant exude a wonderful energy and ambiance. We were greeted and shown to a table near the window and in the corner. We were close to the people at the next table, bit it offered an opportunity to strike up a conversation. The wine list was extensive, we chose a cider and the porter. They were both more than satisfactory. My wife and I shared the smoked salmon starter that was very good. It was lightly smoked, that brought out both the flavor of the fish, and enhanced it. The fish was moist and tender. Our main dishes included both the seabass and the combo mussels with prawns. The latter was the better choice with very sweet and tender mussels and an excellent sauce. The seabass was lightly pan fried and my wife really liked her selection. For dessert, we had the cheese platter and toffee cake with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream. The coffee and tea completed our meal wonderfully. I recommend this restaurant highly.

    We had some incredible meals while in Edinburgh but our absolute favorite spot was Wildfire…read moreScottish Steak & Seafood Bistro! Easily in the top 5 best steaks we have ever eaten! Serving premium cuts of Aberdeen Angus by Scotland's Master John Gilmore, Scottish West Coast Mussels & Seafood, and fresh local produce. Every bite was melt in your mouth perfection! I will be trying to recreate the incredible Roasted Red Pepper & Harissa soup at home! The house-made salad dressing was so good and fresh! Service was excellent and not rushed at all. Make sure to make a reservation as this place is small and intimate, seating around 28 people. We were lucky to be able to walk in and grab a table. This will definitely be my first stop on my next trip to Scotland! Montepulciano Conviviale Roasted Red Pepper, Tomato, Chickpea & Harissa Soup Rocket Salad Grass Fed & Aged Filet Hand Cut Chunky Chips

    Photos
    Wildfire - Such a cozy inside.

    Such a cozy inside.

    Wildfire - Scallops were perfect

    Scallops were perfect

    Wildfire

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    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - Complimentary dessert that comes with the bill ...

    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill

    3.9(74 reviews)
    0.5 miWest End, Old Town
    £££

    This was a very average experience at a place that should be better…read more The food was good, but nothing stood out. The Corn Brulee sounded interesting and fun but is ultimately a miss. The tableside presentation is the thing that sounded fun, but really should just be done in the kitchen, unless a more deft hand can prepare it at the table. Ours was just clumps of sugar and uneven. Service was nice, but it was just not great. Everything took so long! Also, we were asked when we were seated about food allergies and preferences, and we mentioned tomatoes, yet they ended up on our plates. Additionally, upon booking, I mentioned a birthday but zero acknowledgment. That's not a huge deal, but it was noticed. The getting to choose a steak knife was fun, and the ambiance is nice, but I wouldn't go back.

    Very nice staff. Location was great. Ambience was fine. Food was dull and uninspired. This…read morewas my first dinner in Scotland - is all the food so bland? According to the server, Scottish law requires hamburgers to be "cooked through". Believe him. This means well, well done, which basically means your $36 hamburger isn't worth finishing. French fries were hot, thick and crispy, but lacking anything special. Bread was not great. Beef Wellington was nicely presented, but lacking in flavor. Blooming onion and ribeye were good, as were the potato soups.

    Photos
    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - The room

    The room

    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - S'mores

    S'mores

    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - View from our table

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    View from our table

    Chop House Market Street

    Chop House Market Street

    4.0(24 reviews)
    0.4 miRoyal Mile, Old Town
    £££

    Five star service, delicious food, great ambiance! We loved our meal here and had the best…read moreexperience with Xanyu as our server. She went above and beyond to keep our kiddos fed and happy while providing us exceptional service. Attentive without hovering we wanted for nothing. We recommend the fillet and ribeye, the apple toffee pudding, and the Candy floss milkshake for kiddos, Many thanks for a memorable night!

    Came specifically for a Sunday Roast. Was a bit put off about how empty it was around 3pm, so I…read moreguess most people come here for steak dinners instead. Even so, the roast was quite tasty. Sunday Roast: All the standards, but fancy. The really differentiator was the beef, which seem aged and very high quality. Great tender texture and nice gravy to go with it. Though a wee bit small portion of meat. The veggies were cooked very nicely with a lot of freshness and textures, not mushy like some pubs serve. The only weird thing is that the yorkshire pudding seemed to be deep fried. Added an overly crispy texture which as kinda weird; I prefer traditionally baked. Toffee Apple Pudding: More like a bread pudding than a sticky pudding. Filled with great flavor and a few nice baked apples bit on top. Great toffee sauce and ice cream to round it out. Blackberry & Lime Soda: So much better than those highly sugared sodas you get at the store. Definitely tasted the fresh fruit and artisanal methods.

    Photos
    Chop House Market Street
    Chop House Market Street - Steak with Chimichurri sauce and chips

    Steak with Chimichurri sauce and chips

    Chop House Market Street

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    The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

    The Devil's Advocate

    4.3(634 reviews)
    0.1 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    Just an awesome, rockin' final meal in Edinburgh - fantastic food, good service and energized local…read morevibe! Absolute must to get reservations! We tried on our first week in Edinburgh and failed, but were able to make reservations 3 weeks out for our last night in Scotland, and we are glad we did. Pork cracklins were a bit hard and crunchy, but everything else was perfect. We had fresh bread and langostinis for starters, along with a smokey whiskey cocktail, the Smoked Indiscretion! For mains we enjoyed the poached Cod, and the Pork with Barley. Service was very good, and wine selection was extensive. Atmosphere was loud with music and locals' chatter in the bar below, but dark tables and heavy wood panels made it a perfect place for a couple celebrating 3 weeks of travel. Highly recommend a visit to the Devil's Advocate, if you can book a table in advance.

    Great drinks and a killer location. We got a cheeseboard that was actually quite nice and large,…read morewhich we were very pleased with. The one weird thing -- we were unsure when we arrived how hungry we would be, and the menu is a bit limited. We decided to order just the cheese board and see where we were after that. We were told that once we placed an order, we would not be permitted to put in any more food due to a "small kitchen." I have never heard this rule worded in quite this way. I have been to places that prefer you place everything at once, but not that you would absolutely not be allowed to order more food if you found yourself hungry. We witnessed another table leave because of this rule. The server communicated this rule quite gruffly. The restaurant was also not very busy at all, so couldn't have been crowding concerns. I would definetly recommend for drinks and apps, but, for dinner, perhaps elsewhere.

    Photos
    The Devil's Advocate - Whiskey flight tastings

    Whiskey flight tastings

    The Devil's Advocate - Fish Filet

    Fish Filet

    The Devil's Advocate - Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

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    Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - scottish - Updated June 2026

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