This place was absolutely phenomenal, and not just my meal. Me and 6 lads came to Edinburgh for the…read moreweekend mostly just to get drunk and this was an amazing beginning to our trip. Everybody at the table seemed to enjoy their meal, but none was better than my friend who ordered the mussels. The mussels were not just plentiful, but full of so much flavor that everyone at the table was trying them. Nonetheless, our waiter was a pleasure and talked to us for awhile even with the busy crowd. Will 100% return and recommended this place to anyone visiting the great country of Scotland.

Reservation for 3, seated immediately at the table against the front window. We ordered appetizers,…read morea bottle of wine, and three plates of pasta. Service was very good, they kept our glasses of water topped up and there was plenty of extra parm for those who wanted it on their pasta. And surprise, they brought a beautiful complimentary dessert for the table because they overheard it was my birthday. A lovely and memorable meal.

This is a lovely experience as part of the Fringe. Claire who runs this is very knowledgeable about…read morewine and brings in experts when she needs to (like for Rum and Chocolate tasting). The boat makes a lovely setting for wine tasting - the quay at Fountainbridge is good, lots of bars and restaurants surrounding it. It's fun to climb on board the boat and find a seat in the main bit of the barge. You share tables and everyone was very friendly on the tastings we went to. Claire comes up with interesting combinations, we have attended a sparking wine, rum and chocolate, aging riojas and a spanish wine event. There is always lots to get you interested. Claire also runs events and courses in Edinburgh all year - we have attended one of her wine dinners at Hendersons - that was good. http://www.casestudieswineschool.co.uk/

During the festival every year, a wine school is run from a small canal barge boat on the union…read morecanal based at Fountainbridge. Behind the bar Cargo, the small canal harbour plays host to the most fantastic experience in the festival. The school has run for the last 2 years and I have attended both years. Listed in the festival timetable, you can book online or just turn up on the day (assuming it's not sold out). Every day a different tasting and learning experience is to be had on board a canal boat, dependent on your choice there is white wine tasting, red wine tasting, sparkling wines, rum and chocolate and whisky tasting. Of course you don't have to spit it out. It's only when you leave the boat that you realise it wasn't just the movement of the water that was making you sway!

Yes.....at last, a real wine bar in Edinburgh. Living in London I have become rather spoiled by…read moreoptions when it comes to enjoying wine with some nice cheese and charcuterie. I mean put that way.....should it have ever been so hard, well before Fred opened this little gem it really was. Whether you are looking for a pre-meal drink before heading upstairs to the restaurant or you are looking to spend some time enjoying a bottle of something delicious this place is a great option. With its own mean and specials you can turn a glass of wine into a full meal if you wish. The saucisson is insane...oysters from Loch Fyne, baked vacherin...truffle brie. I could go on. Loic once the sommelier at the well known Mark Greenaway leads the team with his usual friendly and welcoming manner. If you were a regular there or as the now closed Bistro Moderne a few more of the staff may be familiar too. Its a great experience with great products.

From the owner: Authentic French wine bar on Queensferry Street offering s a quirky spot for lunch, an after work…read moreglass of wine with nibbles or a leisurely get together with friends. A thoughtful list of hand-picked wines and carefully selected, seasonal cheeses and charcuterie from artisan French and Scottish producers are at the heart of bar à vin.

Lovely little neighborhood, wine bar, quiet atmosphere a great place to have a yummy glass of wine…read moreand conversation

From the owner: We're a Wine focussed Bar and Kitchen in the heart of Edinburgh West End…read more Come and enjoy our botanical surroundings while enjoying exclusive wines and sharing food We have a cold counter at the bar where we serve Charcuterie until closing Morning/Afternoon meetings can be held with our free fast internet and USB charging ports at the tables Free Sunday Jazz Wednesday Quiz nights Many exclusive wine tastings throughout the year

Walking in to The Devil's Advocate in Advocate Close, just above Market St, the large bar greets…read moreyou. We chose the Scottish Road trip whiskey flight. As someone who truly loved little about Scotch, it was a wonderful way to taste and compare smoky vs peaty whiskeys. Fun. Our table was upstairs and we sat next to an open door which allows for fresh cool air. It was a warm day in Edinburgh. Our server was wonderful, patient and really helpful. Our choices were truly delicious. We started with the fish board, olives, and mushroom skewer. We loved them all. I enjoyed the cod main dish, while my wife finished the starters. The side of asparagus was also excellent. The mouse dessert was delicious but very rich, it's enough for 4 people. The cost of dinner was also totally reasonable. I recommend this place highly.

I don't really understand why the ratings are so high at this restaurant. We tried going here one…read moreevening and I messed up the reservation. I'm not used to seeing it in blocks and our end time was bolded but not the start time. We showed up at the end time. We were charged obviously because you have to give a card for a guarantee. I get that. I was fine with it since it was my fault. What I wasn't fine with was the rude (dare I say bitchy?) hostess who I spoke with upon arriving. She was awful to me and looked at me like I was garbage. Even after that, I decided to rebook and pay attention to the time. The restaurant had been recommended to us by a relative as the "best place they had eaten" while in Edinburgh and I wanted to try it. I booked for lunch and when we arrived the male host was lovely. We were sat early (because I always show up to a reservation early) and then we waited almost a half an hour for the one waitress there to come and help. It was fine. I can understand they are understaffed and busy. But then the food, it was also just fine. It was decent but not great. Like a lot of things in the UK, it's understated and seasoned. My husband had the pappardelle and my two children and I had the flat iron steak. His pasta had zero flavor. It was a cream based sauce. It needed more salt. As for the steak, it was fine. It was cooked well. Mine was medium rare and the kids both had medium. It was also not seasoned well. However the steak was served with a dipping sauce (a garlic sauce, a peppercorn or lemon mint). We tried all three since we had three steaks and those were all good and kept the steak from being bland. On the plate were chips (fries), which were not salted well but we had the dipping sauces. Also on the plate was plain arugula and a couple on the vine cherry tomatoes. Nothing spectacular. The waitress didn't come back once the entire time we were eating. Overall, it just wasn't worth it for the money we paid.

Whighams Wine Cellars was a solid first-night dining experience in Edinburgh. Service was friendly…read moreand welcoming from the moment we walked in -- they made us feel right at home. The vibe is relaxed and a little hidden, tucked a few steps below street level, giving it a cozy, slightly dim atmosphere that works well. The fish and chips were very good, though portion size could be a touch bigger. The Cullen skink was also good -- rich and flavorful. Prices were fair, and the location was convenient for us. Overall, a comfortable spot with good food, great service, and a laid-back local feel. Saluti

Food was out of this world. Service from Marianna was incredible with some very personable service…read more Downstairs below street level the bar is great. Group of six tired travelers were well served, well fed, and a satisfied thirst from a great selection of spirits and brews.

This wine bar is quite alright. the fold is not that…read moreexpensive, but the wines are. Everything is really good, but you have to be prepared for a nice fat addition at the end.

The Bon Vivant is dead, long live Good Brothers!…read more Popping up without much fanfare, Good Brothers has opened up in Stockbridge, where BV used to be. Decor wise, at the moment it's still very similar to its predecessor (which is by no means a bad thing), but with a few of their own twists (wine crates, casks etc.) and I imagine it'll become a bit more personal and unique as they find their feet. We stopped by last night for a bite to eat. At the moment the menu is very limited, just three starters (all on sourdough toast), three mains and a cheeseboard. Kip S went for fried chorizo to start (he can't see chorizo on a menu and not order it) and I opted for garlic mushrooms and spinach on toast. Neither was wildly exciting, but they were well executed and tasty. For main course there's the option of plaice, steak or a vegetarian option that I don't remember. We both went for steak, which was served with yet more mushrooms and spinach, and some new potatoes. Again, not exciting, but done well and more than satisfying. There are some really interesting wines on offer too, with 5 by the glass so far, including an Austrian red and an Australian orange. The owner was happy to make recommendations (including 'fessing up that he thought one of the reds was underpriced, which is surely something he could rectify if he wanted to), and we were both pleased with our selections. A word on that actually, the owner and his staff were lovely, very keen to offer advice and check we were having a good time. Good Brothers is very, very new, but it's showing promise and it deserves to be on your radar.

So I leave Melbourne. Fly away, halfway across the world, snug in my little village that is…read moreStockbridge. Then, Smith and Gertrude arrives. I've had my suspicions about the name for a while and tonight, my suspicions were confirmed- this idea was formulated in Melbourne, the bright light-bulb flashing into the owners mind whilst sipping a glass of wine on the iconic corner of Smith Street and Gertrude Streets in Melbourne. The hipster trend is spreading globally people! And you know what? I'm on board! The service, ambiance and style so reminds me of my hometown (whats that I feel...pride?) This might just become the place for meat, wine and cheese. For the past year Henri's of Stockbridge has been my go-to for my Sunday wine and charcuterie but Smith and Gertrude will closely rival this. So lets talk wine. The list is extensive and impressive. I'm actually not too much for Australian wine myself, but the list of Australian wines available almost made me want to yell out 'woo! represent!' but I didn't do that because I'm a grown up of course. I instead ordered a lovely Argentinian wine at the recommendation of our very helpful server which paired the meal nicely. Meats and cheese. Well. I feel like there could have been more on the board (or maybe have smaller boards so it looks fuller?) Nonetheless, whilst it looked simple to begin with, the mixed board was more than enough for two people, though I did add the gorgonzola cheese along with bread with oil with dukkah. All delicious but not foreign to me. The cheese is sourced locally and I buy it all weekly so I essentially paid to have it plated and to eat it somewhere with better lighting. If you don't know cheese, then you might enjoy the ever-changing cheeses to try until you find a favourite. Then you can go buy it in bulk from the local cheesemongers if you so wish. The interior is very trendy and Melbourne-like. The atmosphere, quality of food and service was nothing short of great. . If you're really just wanting the meat and cheese without the ooze of hipster-mess, I would suggest the buying the cheese and meats from local stockists. Thy also stock wines which I will certainly return to purchase. I give five stars as a fellow Melburnian seething with pride for this new local business. They've taken a simple concept and done it well, using local product and supporting other small businesses which I highly commend. Highly recommended for a place to just sit, eat, chill and plain enjoy, whether alone or with company. The only thing that was missing was the excellent barista-made coffee I have come to adore from Melbourne (read: its the minimum standard I expect.) Steampunk in a french press guys, really? I'll keep an eye out on this development and will probably move in when this changes.

I'm surprised that no one has snapped up this FTR, seeing as this place seems to be more or less…read morehopping around the clock (or at the very least, most days after 5pm). Tucked in the space of the old cat cafe, I didn't even realize this place was there until Julie G suggested we meet there for a glass. If you had visited the cat cafe previously, this new venture has more or less gutted the place and it's unrecognizable. They've done a great job with the room, with lots of wood detailing, vintage inspired knick knacks and communal seating... it's basically a hipster coffee shop, but with wine. Eye roll all you want, that's a damn good combination of trendy. I only had two glasses on my first trip here, so I can't speak to the food or the flights, but the wine (though pricey... ack!) was interesting and the wine flights that went past us, with four little glasses and the option to pair with cheese almost had us falling off our seats to get a better look. Well worth heading back for more investigation. So far, I deem this place a cute little addition the the neighbourhood. Welcome Smith & Gertrude!

Great, cozy vibe, and relatively easy to walk in without a reservation if you have a small group…read more Charcuterie boards here are absolute class -- lots of variety and great quality.The wine, however... is just okay. Lots of no-name stuff of middling quality. Overall, an enjoyable experience, but the name would make it seem like a better wine destination than it actually is.

This is a PERFECT little hideaway spot for a relaxing dinner. The restaurant is intimate but allows…read morefor a casual evening at the same time. Our server, Alex did an AMAZING job in introducing himself and the menu. He went over every item thoroughly and was able to recommend some favorites. We ended up getting the grande meat and cheese plate and EVERYTHING was on point. He was also accompanied by Luke and he did an excellent job as well. We ordered a bottle of the fruity stuff as well as a couple glasses of prosecco. Food wise we got the lasagna alla bolognese, one of the mozzarella pizzas, the spaghetti alla carbonara and the tagliatelle al ragu. For desert we had the cannoli and the tiramisu as well. 10/5 stars would 100% come back.

We have been traveling Ireland and Scotland for almost 2 weeks now. Divino Enoteca has won our…read morehearts and tastebuds. My husband ordered the steak with mushrooms and potato and I indulged in the Pesto Gnocchi. Both were fantastic. We ordered a bottle of red Italian wine suggested by our amazing server, Troy. We ended our meal with dual espresso martinis and a tiramisu dessert. We left fully satisfied. Our service was outstanding. The ambiance was amazing. The restaurant has three levels of dining, ours was on the lower level. BRAVO Divino's!!

Excellent wine list to pair with the best Italian in Edinburgh. The service staff is very…read moreknowledgeable and accommodating to our allergy restrictions. I would give more stars if possible.