An incredible selection of whiskys from around the world but mostly from the UK which is what wanted and suggested to us by a retailer elsewhere on the royal mile. The football game between Scotland and England was going on but we got there a wee bit before it started to get a good spot to sit. We came for the scotch but beer both bottled and draught and wine are available as well as mixed drinks. Others complained about the small selection of beers but who wants bud light when ye kin git ay bony scots bier to support their efforts, ya kin!! The food we did not get as we were in the bar only to drink but the restaurant seemed nice enough on another visit. The whisky selection was second to none and we appreciated the tasting notes on the menu. See pic. Highly recommended if ya don't mind a wee bit a noise from da locals! read more

The Albanach - Whisky tasting menus - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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I had just arrived at my hotel nearby, the Old Town Chambers, and was looking for someplace to get lunch while I waited for my room to be ready. I walked into the pub area in front. The friendly bartender asked if I wanted to have some food. I said yes, so she directed me to the restaurant area in the back. So far, so good. I found a table in back and sat down. The waiter was checking in on the other tables in the room, so I waited for a menu. About 5 minutes later, another customer sits down at an empty table next to me. Right away, the waiter comes right up to him and brings him a menu. The customer orders a drink, says he's expecting to meet a friend for lunch, and asks for another menu, which the waiter gives him. Then I ask the waiter for a menu as well, and the waiter gives me a rather unfriendly look and a brusque "yeah, sure" reply. When the waiter leaves, the customer next to me, who now has 2 menus to my none, offers me one of his menus. I gratefully accept. For the next 10 minutes, the waiter treats me like I am invisible. He doesn't ask if I would like a drink, he never even brings the menu that he said he would bring. Meanwhile he's spending plenty of time in the room taking orders from other customers, and brings my neighbor Jos drink order. The waiter makes eye contact with me at least twice, but doesn't say a word or even acknowledge my presence in the pub. Eventually, my neighbor's friend arrives, and the waiter comes over immediately to welcome him and get his drink order. 5 more minutes pass. I've now been in the place for 20 minutes. No drink order, no menu, nada. So I put on my jacket and leave. Eff this waiter and eff this place. There's a gazillion places to get some food and a drink around the Royal Mile. Don't waste your time here (like I literally did) running the risk of a POS waiter who will aggressively ignore you. read more

We stumbled into this place during lunch. Their whisky selection is incredible! The food was delicious and the staff were super friendly. It was nice to be seated away from the louder bar area. read more

We just ended up here because we could find seat in bar area but nothing special as far as drinks go. Stuff in tap is average, shackleton toddy was disappointing. No flavor and tasted water down. The bar area had a bunch of bugs or knats flying around the whisky. Cant really blame them, it is good whisky. Staff was ok. read more

The food was really, really delicious. My mom and I got the vegetarian cheese platter which came with a selection of three cheeses, a bunch of green and kalamata olives, a delicious chutney of se kind, bread, butter, and salad. There was lots of cheese, and lots of olives, they didn't skimp. I also got a whiskey on the rocks just to try, and a coke- both were reasonably priced. The one area that wasn't great was the service- I don't like to say this because everyone seemed quite nice but no one was very helpful! We couldn't figure out how the seating worked, and I asked the guy behind the bar if we could sit anywhere. So we did.....and no one came to help us. So we got up and moved to a different area and got service. We didn't understand how it worked, it was obvious, and some direction would've been nice. Also the service was a little clumsy and no one seemed very knowledgable. I'm sure behind the bar they are but the waitresses were just kind of off. Really nice, but a little awkward. Overall, however, I'd go back. read more

The Albanach - This was the vegetarian cheese plate...... YUM!!!!!!!! and reasonably priced for the amount of food you get at about ten pounds. - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Outstanding! Stumbled across this place after bad service at another pub down the street. What a great night we had. Knowing nothing about whiskey, I ordered one of the whiskey flights and was delighted by the sheer local knowledge and professionalism from the staff. Will definitely come back! read more

This was the final restaurant we tried while staying in Edinburgh and we thought it was the best one! Came in around 6:30 and did not have to wait to be seated. Wait staff was very friendly, speedy, and attentive. Food came out quickly, was piping hot, and tasted great! I got a Brew Dog Punk IPA, which was good and would recommend. For food we tried the Cullen Skink soup, which was very good and creamy! I had the creamy cajun pasta, spicy but delicious and my mum had the chicken, bacon, and leek pie. She also liked her meal, it came with mashed potatoes and an array of vegetables. Would definitely come back here again! read more

Wasn't a fan of the Fish & Chips. Can't mess up a bottle of Innis & Gunn, so 3 stars for having a nice outside patio and enough room inside to house a crowd. Too many other pubs around to give this a second try. read more

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The secluded restaurant hidden at the back of this little pub is a real gem. It's a warm, cozy, quiet little place overlooking Cockburn street that's seldom busy and has the most magnificent Scottish pub-food imaginable. Don't let the hustle and bustle of the main bar put you off, the restaurant is really quaint and the prices are very reasonable. read more

An excellent place to stop and try whisky when in Edinburgh. The barstaff were knowledgeable about what to try and friendly. They've got beers and food as well, and it's a traditional pub in that sense. I didn't try the food so I can't vouch for it, but the whisky and beers were great. It's not a big place and it can get a little crowded with tourists, but it's a good spot to step out of the rain and enjoy a dram of Scotland's finest. read more

The Albanach - Delicious Highland Park single malt scotch - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I was on a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland in early August on a Trafalgar Costsaver Tour with my friend, Carol. As we were enjoying the beauty of Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, we stopped into The Albanach for lunch. I loved the atmosphere immediately as it was a very warm feeling like being at home. I had the fish and chips, were incredibly delicious and felt just right. I hope that I can get back to Edinburgh, so that I can go to your establishment again and have the haggis with neeps and tatties. Thank you for a wonderful meal in Edinburgh. read more

Me and my best mate came here when it was super rainy out as a safe haven. The atmosphere is SO charming and homey, we felt very relaxed. I got the chips which were PENG and my friend got the soup of the day - winter vegetable. I have never been a butternut squash fan until I tried her soup and HOLEY MOLEY I am blown away. The staff was also very friendly. Come here. Wonderful pub. read more

The food was great; the service really spotty. If you are a tourist visiting Scotland and you have no idea what to eat, coming here would be a great idea. Over 100 whiskeys and all kinds of traditional scottish food, it's a great sample of scotland. We started out with a starter portion of haggis with neep and tatties. Having never had haggis before, i was impressed with how tasty it was. So when we were finally seated, i ordered the balamore chicken stuffed with haggis. Unfortunately, the chicken was a bit dry, but the gravy made up for it. The pesto penne was a bit greasy, but tasty. Sure the place is a bit expensive, and touristy, but if you don't know where you're going and what you're eating, and you have a very short amount of time in Edinburgh, this is definitely a great place to start. read more

Not one of the best on our trip. We stopped in for a wile lunch. I had the favorites platter. While the chicken wings were excellent, the rest of the meal (haddock, sliders) were sub par. I didn't finish them at all. My husband had the steak pie and was pretty pleased. The customer service was excellent and the staff extremely nice. Best thing on my plate were the fries! read more

I've very mixed emotions about Albanach. On the one hand they do have a magnificent collection of mouthwatering whiskies. Then again, it's your eyes that'll be watering at the amount of cash you will have to dredge from the darkest recesses of your wallet for the pleasure. Another, and frankly much worse, infringement on my whisky sensibilities is the fact that while Albanach is happy to serve you a dram of whisky for £30+ they slosh it into a straight sided tumbler for you. Imagine, gents, the promise of Ursula Andres, only for her to come out of the sea wearing a submarine. Ladies, for the purposes of empathy, feel free to substitute David Niven or some similarly suave sex symbol. The staff are quite good though, I mean, they put up with me telling them how crap their glasses are every time I go in. In short +1 for whisky, -1 for cost, -1 for glasses, +1 or staff - it's a sum zero proposition, but fine for that (semi) posh 'one or the road'. read more

This was a great stop for a late lunch. The staff was extremely helpful in walking us through a long menu of available Scotches. The food menu is a cut above standard pub cuisine. Plenty of seating in a small place. read more

We found this pub placed in middle of town and decided to try it, we liked the food options and prices. We had seen The devil's Advocate first but decides it was too pricey. The menu is good enough for every taste. I ordered.the beer battered fish with tartar sauce, great fries & peas, it was very good and could not finish it. My friend had beef pie with baby carritos & chips (there are other options as smashed potatoes) We drank a small cider (Thistly Cross) and a glass of Zhirah (red Southafrican wine) both great suggestions by the Spanish waitress. I should mention that the three young waiters and waitress were very kind and helpful. I will.surely come back. It wasnt pricey. read more

The Albanach - The cider - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The Albanach is situated very conveniently on the walk down Cockburn Street from the Old Town to Princes Street, and it's also on the Royal Mile, so people, very often tourists, pile in from every different direction for some easy access alcohol. It feels pretty warm and welcoming in here, and definitely to the point where it feels inviting enough to stay for more than a couple of beverages. There are whisky options aplenty, plus a menu of Scottish favourites, which I'd probably say are more for the benefit of curious tourists, rather than food offerings I'd be likely to take up on a regular basis. The drinks aren't exactly the cheapest either, but a night out along the Royal Mile is hardly ever going to be a thrifty experience, so it's to be expected. Not somewhere I'd go every weekend for a drink, as I don't feel I can chill in here quite as easily as I can in other bars, but very handy and perfectly pleasant nonetheless. read more

This was a really cool place. The girl behind the bar was extremely nice, which helped since I was on my own and it was early for lunch so the place wasn't overly full. It was the first time I'd ever tried haggis, and it was very good. I loved the whisky cream sauce they gave with it. There is a good selection of scotch whisky (I think it's hard to find a bad selection around Scotland), and the beers are alright, but nothing special on tap. It isn't the cheapest place to eat though, but I think the food has the quality to warrant the increase in price. read more

This establishment has two parts, the nice modern bar at the front and a restaurant at the back. Of the three Belhaven beers available I had an ok pint of Belhaven slashand learned thanks to the nice lady behind the bar that the slash stood for 'shilling' read more

A perfectly serviceable and cozy option on the Royal Mile. It's inoffensive and the tourists will probably love it, as it's stacked with Scottish feeling. One niggle is the seating, which I always feel there isn't enough of. The pub itself has a nice atmosphere, but the long galley style means that seating is stacked up against one side of the room and there's not really all that many spots to pull up a pew. However, it's a friendly little place, and location-wise is well oriented. Nice spot for a catch up with a friend. read more

Great stop for a pint and some fish and chips. It's a big piece of fish and very tasty! read more

The Albanach - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Yet another pub which I frequented on the Royal Mile! The amount of daytime drinking I do in the name of Yelp is really shameful! This place had a seat with my name on it outside and I was sweltering, so I grabbed it and ordered a pint of Tennants. It was one of those days when only a manly pint would do, and it was lovely, freezing cold like it should be. This is mainly a Whisky bar though, but I didn't try any of that so I can't really say if it does the job. I believe this is a Belhaven pub so I wasn't too hopeful about the food, but from what I saw, it looked palatable. Will definitely be back for another pint on a sunny day, read more

The Albanach - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is one of the better bars on the Royal Mile, but still suffers from the same problems as all the others. It is pricey, atmosphereless and designed for tourists. Split into two, both parts are always absolutely packed, owing to its location right in the centre of the Mile. It is a bit of a pain to drink in there, as you have no space and people are always barging into you. The drinks are massively overpriced, and you can expect to wait a while before being served. The staff, if a little overworked, are pretty friendly and try their best. One of the best parts of the pub is the little outside seating are where you can have a drink and people watch on the Royal Mile. Apart from this though, there are few reasons to come to this pub read more

As a pub, this is a great place. The whiskey flights are interesting and thoughtful. The staff seem knowledgable but feel like they are selling things rather than being super helpful. Unfortunately, this place is super busy so it can get quite crowded especially being on High street. Pro-tip: mind the step when exiting. Seriously, I laughed so hard at the four people who went flying from it. read more

Small, quaint pub. Delicious fish & chips & fresh peas. Sticky toffee pudding was good but not the best I'd had. My husband had roasted chicken & it was juicy & quite tasty. Servers were friendly. We would recommend this restaurant. read more

Waited 10 minutes to be noticed at the "please wait to be seated sign". Waited 20 minutes more at table before leaving. Waitress passed by my table 5 times. Menu was folded up and made eye contact with her twice. Never spoke to me. Interesting way to piss off a customer. read more

Every time someone visits me from a foreign country, I bring them here. Although it's on the Royal Mile, this is anything but a tourist trap - the food is traditional, but delicious, and has a cozy atmosphere without too much tartan. I have never eaten anything bad here, but the venison sausages and the cranachan come highly recommended. I'm not a whisky drinker - I hear their selection is extensive, though - but I am an ale fan, and was a bit disappointed in the lack of Scottish ales on tap. read more

My family of four had a great meal! The staff was very friendly and helpful. They apologized for being understaffed that evening and we understood. We all tried the haggis appetizer and it was a big thumbs up for the whole family . Our meals were perfect temperature and so delicious! The beer was excellent ! I would definitely recommend this restaurant . read more

We went for a meal on a Monday night and there was a very small sign saying the kitchen was closed. We then returned Tuesday night and the food that was on the website was not the same as the menu when we arrived. Then to a waitress that was rude the whole time and took over 15 minutes to bring us the bill after we explained we didn't have time for dessert and were quite short on time as we had a tour booked. Wouldn't bother, plenty of places down the street with excellent food and pleasant waitresses. read more

Rude, unfriendly bar service girl who knows more about italian coffee than any Italian. Sorry for asking questions about scottish beer. Please change your job. Dont work with or for any people. The bar was Looking quite need, sad for them, Check your staff. read more

Try the Haggis fritters, seriously the best way to try a Scottish tradition for the first time. The staff is great, the dining room is cozy and this is our favorite place for dinner in Edinburgh! read more

A good spot to meet up with friends for drinks. Lots on offer, plenty of seating, and quick service. Yay!

The Albanach is a decent place, but expensive and clearly aimed at tourists on High Street. The food and whisky selection are decent, and the interior is comfortable. The service was not great. It was slow to order, slow to get food, and we literally had to wait almost an hour to pay for our bill and leave. We'd wanted to order dessert and whisky, but since we'd apparently been forgotten about by the staff we finally gave up on that idea. read more

My wife and I enjoyed a very tasty meal here just before the Tattoo. Back room dinning room was quiet and comfortable. Our waitress was lovely and attentive. Food arrived in a timely manner. I ordered a whisky tour and, when one item was no longer on the tour, they changed it to a far more expensive 25 yr old scotch from the 15 originally on the paperwork; their suggestion. If you have the chance and don't want the bar seen up front I highly recommend their eat-in dining. read more

Really enjoyed the atmosphere here. Loved the Scottish salmon and the whisky cream sauce. Oh and the sticky toffee pudding. One server was incompetent. The others were wonderful. read more

The food and drink were just fine, but a woman tending bar was rude and insulting. The only such person we met in three weeks of touring Scotland. read more

As far as Royal Mile bars go, this one is quite reasonable. It's decor is a little more interesting and out there than the usual pubs in the area, with a modern twist. It stocks a huge range of whiskies, which was our reason for going as my English visitor was determined to try something a little different. The young guy behind the bar spent ages talking over different whiskeys with him (which got very boring for me) and he eventually picked one, and then another and another. The drinks weren't cheap, but being prime tourist area everything is overpriced. read more

Very attentive staff and great Cullen skink! Stopped in after walking down the Royal Mile during the EDI festival. Great Cullen skink and chicken and bacon sandwich. Chips were great too! Loved people watching too. I'll return! read more

After 2 6 hour flights into Edinburgh from California my family decided to eat here for lunch before we could check into our hotel. Me and my sister are under the drinking age and we both had the same meal of a well done beef hamburger. When it came the burger tasted a bit odd, but the rest tasted fine. We went along with our day going through shops then for dinner we just got some sandwiches to eat from Mark's and Spencer's. Over night though my sister got food poisoning and was vomiting in the bathroom, so that day she stayed home while the rest of us visited Edinburgh castle. Afterwards I also wasn't feeling well and we were stuck at the hotel with food poisoning for the rest of our trip. read more