With a boastful slogan of 'Great beers- Great burgers' The Holyrood 9A asks for some scrutiny from its customers. True enough its customers will spend all day scrutinising its impressively large selection of beers on tap and its utterly scrumptious burgers resulting in a top class evaluation. Rather than offering a vast menu of varied but average dishes, The Holyrood 9A aims to nail the simple combination of beer and burgers, and damn does that equate to a tasty ideology. OK, the pints are a little on the pricey side £3-4. But don't allow that to deter you from what's on offer. Beers such as Birra Moretti (a clean, crisp and easy drinking Italian malt beer, an alternative to Peroni) or even Brewdog's Zeitgeist (a dark, sharp tasting beer...almost better than Guiness?) will keep your wallet out and your mouth salivating. There's even a Belgian raspberry beer (namely Bacchus Framboise) a class above any of the cheap fruity beers you'd find elsewhere. Next the Burgers: these pack a solid punch. Aside from the usual beef and chicken varieties, all of which are assured to satisfy, I tried the spiced lamb burger. The chilli and cumin flavours were super tasty and the presentation alone will have you wondering why the usual slap dash formulae ever prevailed in other establishments. Free Wifi and pleasant interior add the package too. You'd be hard-pressed to criticise its slogan that's for sure. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I love this cute wee bar! It's sitting so innocently at the top of Holyrood Road, it looks so normal, but it is definitely above average. The bar is quite big, and they have the coolest bar taps I've ever seen in my life. They have countless beer taps too, I lost count when I tried to see all the names. They pride themselves on their beer and burger offer, which my brothers loved. Their burgers are delicious too - I highly recommend the avocado burger. It's not your typical pub-burger, oh no, it's just like something I would expect from a fancy restaurant in Paris. It has a nice atmosphere too, I can sit here quite comfortably and do some work for my course without feeing watched or unwelcome. read more

What a suprising little place! The outside of The Holyrood doesn't look like much but inside is fantastic (kind of like the more famous Holyrood). I sat down at got myself the Texas BBQ burger last week. A huge portion with bacon, chilli's and cheese platers all over it filled in up in one course. They had desert, but I was in no shape to attempt it. At just under £7 it was a bargin too! read more

The Holyrood 9A - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

All in all an interesting place to begin the night. More classy atmosphere than you standard pub, and a beer and whiskey collection to match. Any place that serves Brewdogs usually ranks rather high in my books, the only draw back, too pricey! With there prices what they are, it may discourage students, but it only attracts hipsters and yahs. Which is a shame as its a wonderful place. read more

Bit of a mixed bag here these days pints coming in at the best part of £4 yet reasonably priced bar snacks (cheeseboard £2.75 although tomato sauce an odd accompaniment & a knife wouldn't have gone amiss). They could do with sorting out the chalk board with the guest beers on too either have the % or the £ (or both) for each but not one for some and the other for the rest. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I had dinner here with two friends and it was a great experience. The burger I had (the original beef one) was pretty standard but enjoyable, and their fries are really well-seasoned. There's a nice selection of wines and beers. I have had cheaper pub food but it seems you pay for the overall experience here. Our server was helpful; when we asked what rocket was, she brought out a little dish of it for us to try. The bartender we talked with was really friendly as well. The interior is roomy and nicely decorated. I hear the ice cream is good so I will be back! read more

The Holyrood 9A - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Saw this place on a Guardian top 10 cheap eats list, and as we were in Edinburgh with no dinner reservations on a Friday night, we turned to the list to try and find a place where we could manage to grab a table and a quick bite. Holyrood 9A is a great pub - dark, warm, and cozy with a massive draft beer list that made my husband very happy. For my part, the haggis bonbons made me very happy! Absolutely delicious, hot crispy fried balls of haggis (obviously) to be dipped in tangy beer mustard mayo. The haggis was spiced and savory, and even if you think haggis doesn't sound appetizing, you'll like these. They're an absolutely top-notch bar snack. I didn't find the rest of the food to live up to expectations, unfortunately! My husband got the Ecosse burger (with sausage, red onion, brie, rocket, and truffle mayo) and I got the Chc - grilled chicken breast with serrano ham, emmantal cheese, sunblush tomatoes, and basil mayo. How meals that sound so flavorful can taste rather bland is utterly beyond me! My chicken was dry, and I just simply couldn't taste enough of the ham, cheese, tomatoes, and mayo. I could see them there, but any flavor they contributed was rather overpowered by dry (unseasoned, I think) chicken. My husband's burger was a bit better, but I still found it less flavorful than advertised, although it was more well-cooked than my chicken. The fries, on the other hand, were great - lush sweet potato fries, and spicy-salty seasoned regular fries. I'd come back for drinks and bar snacks, but I've had far better burgers elsewhere. Sadly I can't really recommend them, though they're supposed to be the specialty! But if you sat me down with a beer and a plate of haggis bonbons, we'd be in business! read more

Can't fault the drink selection but I can fault the prices. I bought a pint of Peroni which fair enough isn't exactly Tennents but £4.80 a pint? When I asked if I could have a packet of peanuts to go with my pint they gave me a small tub (with the same amount as a normal bag) for £1.80. Perhaps this isn't too expensive for most people but for me, it is. read more

If you get into a discussion about the best burgers in Edinburgh the "Holyrood 9a" will come up, if you get into a discussion about the best "craft" beers in Edinburgh the "Holyrood 9a" will again come up, and deservedly so, they do really good burgers and a really good range of beers. As they celebrated their fourth birthday yesterday I thought it was about time I returned and wrote a review. I have visited here numerous times and never been disappointed, be warned it can get very busy, although it is quite spacious, it can get very crowded and some of their beers can be expensive (this usually reflects their high strength or rarity). It's location isn't very convenient for the centre of town but worth the short stroll and IS well situated if you are visiting the Cannongate, Holyrood or Arthur's seat (not to forget Dynamic Earth or the Pleasance courtyard during the Fringe). Unlike most of the pubs around the Royal Mile it is not aimed at the tourist trade and is popular with local office workers and students in the area. This is reflected in the decor which is traditional but not "touristy". The front half of the bar is fairly open and has mostly small tables and a number of bar stools, the back half being a bit darker and secluded/cosier. I visited just after lunchtime on a Wednesday afternoon and although not packed there was a good number of customers, including your traditional beer drinkers, groups of young ladies drinking wine/mixers and the odd tele-worker (there was a young lady drinking a pot of flavoured tea while she worked on her laptop sitting at the table beside me). I enjoyed a couple beers I had not tried before and a bacon cheese burger. The burger was excellent and came with "stringy" fries and coleslaw as standard, the bacon could have been cooked a bit longer (but I do like my bacon crispy!). Owned by "Fuller Thomson" it is in the same style as "The Red Squirrel" & "The Southern" (The 9A was the first, the others followed a similar formula, although each has it's own character), a large range of draft "craft" beers and a large menu of quality burgers (they also do a smaller selection of other food including a breakfast selection before midday). I won't reiterate what the previous reviews have already said. I will say, after being open for four years this bar is still serving top quality burgers and beer and has no doubt become an "institution" for many students and locals. I'll leave it to you to decide if it is THE best burger and beer in Edinburgh. read more

Before the 9A was tagged on to the end of this place, The Hollyrood was a dingy little bar that was a favorite of Edinburgh's goth contingent. Thankfully, it closed and then opened again as The Holyrood 9A and is now one of the best pubs in Edinburgh! I am guessing they set out with "burgers and beer... done properly!" in mind, and thats exactly what it is. Apart from a few starter options, the bulk of the menu is simply a stunning range of burgers. Beef, chicken, mushroom and halloumi - all with a massive range of high quality toppings. Being a massive fan of a good burger, I cant say they are the best I have ever had, but they are definitely up there. The actual bar is great, a good mix or modern and traditional and doesn't feel like they are trying to hard. The bar is well stocked, with a brilliant range of beers, ales and lagers on tap that changes quite often too. They have a a great range of malts too, as well as rums, bourbons and pretty much anything else you could want! The staff are friendly, efficient and very knowledgeable too. if you are looking for a beer, a burger, or both I would highly recommend a trip to the 9A and would be very surprised if you craving wasn't satisfied! read more

This is a really nice place to stay and have a chat with your friends. I enjoyed the food and the service was great too. Don't what to say. No complains. Just a cool place for having your lunch and spending some quite time with the loved ones. Thank you! read more

You'd be forgiven for thinking this is a tiny, 'old man' style pub as you pass by, but inside the Holyrood 9a is surprisingly spacious with little alcoves and rooms that dart off from the central room where the bar is located. A good variety of ales from around the world on offer, and these regularly rotate so there's usually a new choice for the changing season and palate. Have eaten there a few times now and the food is far superior to the usual pub grub. Hats off to the chefs, they do a good job I had a gorgeous halloumi burger which came with a large side of chips and extras. Friendly staff and tasty food and drink mean I'll keep returning. However, be aware that this is a popular post-work place for many and it does get very crowded after 5pm. Book a table for food too, especially if you plan visiting on a Friday/Weekend read more

Nothing hits the spot better than a burger and a pint? Then you're sure to love Holyrood 9A. With about 20 different varieties of burger on their menu you're sure to find something for everyone. Whether it be a good old traditional cheese burger; falafel, haloumi or mushroom burgers for all you veggies out there or something different such as haggis, venison, lamb, pork and turkey for you adventurous folk. Trust me, these are tasty burgers!!! Top tip - the piri piri chips are not to be missed!!! Now to the more important business - beer! 9A offers a wide variety of beers from all corners of the globe. One little treasure which was recently found is Little Creatures beer from Fremantle, Perth to bring back memories of your travelling days around Oz - or for those yet to make it to the land down under then experience one of its many pleasures right here in Bonnie Scotland!!! On a Friday night this place gets rammed with people from the nearby offices so probably best to avoid it until they stumble home usually by 9pm. read more

Delicious!!! Get the original burger so you can truly taste the quality of the Scottish beef. Pair it with their cider on drought and their scrumptious fries, and you have a fantastic meal. read more

Great ambiance, excellent burgers! The meat was so fresh and it was local. The whisky cocktails were also very nice, especially the "Penicillin". I wouldn't recommend the Bordeaux red wine however, pretty awful. But we were very pleased overall! read more

The Holyrood is a Bavarian style burger with beer mustard, Hereford Hop, rocket, red onion, and caramelized onion mayo. The star of the burger was the Hereford Hop cheese, which was melted to perfection, and paired very well with mustard and red onion. The caramelized onion mayo added an additional depth of creamy flavor to the burger making the condiments really work together. Unfortunately, because of these bold flavors the beef did not get a chance to stand out on the burger and the bun was only average. Overall, the Holyrood is a solid burger but it could have benefited from a juicier piece of beer or a pillowy bun to make each bite a bit more savory. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Holyrood Burger - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is a much hyped place in Edinburg city center but a visit last night proved otherwise. We ordered Falafel and chicken burgers with side salad and French fries. It took the waitress a good 45 minutes to bring the order. The burgers sere not hot and she did not bring the fries until a few minutes later. There was no dressing or lemon on the side for the salad. We also did not have any ketchup for the fries. When we asked her about the missing items she returned after a good 5 minutes with two small containers which both held something like mustard mayo and no ketchup. Later when She asked me how the service was , I complained about the deficiencies . Her response was: " I am sorry you feel that way!" By the way my diet coke was flat. Bottom line is that I will never ever return to this place. read more

The burgers are not close to what i would describe as good. The meat was overcooked and it was a round ball of meat, which made it fall apart. The fries where okay and the beer selection was good. read more

This place was a delightful surprise. Perfectly cooked burger that was cooked all the way through, yet juicy and delicious. A must try if you are in Edinburgh! read more

The Holyrood 9A - The original burger! - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We went here based on a recommendation online and we were not disappointed. The nachos were good and so were the burgers. Plus it was awesome to get away from all the crowds for a bit. read more

The Holyrood 9A - Haggis bonbons! - Burgers Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Enjoy coming here often for a bite to eat. It has been recently been taken over by new management who have much improved the site. Good atmosphere- busy, but not so much so that its uncomfortable or too loud. Staff are very friendly and attentive. The menu offers a range of inventive gourmet burgers (i usually have the chilli burger), as well as salads and sides. The burgers are generous in size and presented nicely, on wooden boards with a pot of coleslaw and string fries. Deserts are lovely too- try the toffee sundae! Good range of drinks, including many beer choices and cocktails for under a fiver. Wine is listed under "cheap", "good" and "great" - meaning there is various price ranges. Would definitely recommend a visit :)h read more

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It's pretty much my kinda place for a school-night venture to the pub. It's low level lighting is the perfect ambiance of grown-up gloom and sophistication. The décor also helps add to this unique blend. The dripping candle wax collections tricked me for a while (I thought they were woolly strands) and the chairs are comfy. Now I don't drink too much on a school (work) night and I can't be trusted to stop myself. Therefore I just had the water. But my friends who have self-control tell me that the beers are quite good. But the real show-stoppers for 9A are their burgers. The meaty, succulent, fresh, sauce-dripping mega-mouth burgers of deliciousness are not only the perfect solution to a long day of work, they are reasonably priced too! Also, no matter where you are, ALWAYS opt for sweet potato fries over regular fries. That's not just the fitness fanatic in me, it's my taste buds. They are amazing. Especially at 9A. So if you've got £20 to blow, head on over to 9A for a beer and a burger. read more

This gastro pub was recommended to me by my American friend Jonathan, who likes a Burger.. Went in last night, quite a good vibe and busy.The place was nicely decorated, like an old style Europen pub. We asked for a tale and the waitress gave us a table for two on becnch style comfortable seating. Oly mins was the temperature , it was a bit hot, maybe because there where a lot of Welch Rugby supporters! I had a Stella priced at £ 3.55, and a Cheeseburger at £ 6.95, Jonathan had a bacon Cheese Burger. We only had to wait 20 min and the burgers arrived on a wooden tablet with the fries served on the side....one of the best Burgers i have eaten since arriving in Edinburgh, fantastic!!!! We had a great night, bar got busy later and the restaurant bit were we where seated turned into a relaxed seating area...highly recommend this place, read more

A really great pub, fast picking up a reputation for their gourmet burgers, so as a burger fan it was odds on I was going to visit! They are part of the Fuller Thompson pubs group so the Southern and the Red Squirrel also have the same menu. There is a great selection of beers from around the world behind the bar - I think 11 are always on draft and lots of bottles too, and the burger menu had plenty of choice for every taste. The service is always quick, and the portions generous. I love the Pioneer Burger although the pork and chorizo is also tasty. Next on the list is the chilli death burger! Chips are great and you can get sweet potato fries too. The staff are generally really friendly and the decor is a little more upmarket than your average boozer. If you fancy some lunch, or a bite to eat in a relaxing environment not too far off the royal mile/high street then this is your place. For us locals its a fab place to catch up with firends over a drink and some great grub! read more

last night was my first visit to the original gourmet burger to-go place in Edinburgh. i'd been to the other Holyrood 9a branches so i was looking forward to visiting the original and seeing if the burgers here were still the best in town. the answer is no, they're not really. edinburgh has recently seen a wealth of new burger places pop up and only really one stands out for me for having really awesome burgers. however, my visit to Holyrood 9a was very firmly A-OK. when i arrived at half past five the place was just moderately busy so we all hoped it'd be a quick dinner and we could be out the door to our event without any hassle. however, that was not the case. we asked for some water while we quickly looked over the menu but then the waitress disappeared for almost ten minutes but thankfully re-appeared with our water and quickly took our order. however, it was over a ten minute wait to get three beers... we didn't feel overly confident that our burgers would arrive in a reasonable amount of time but thankfully they did. i got the cheese burger, which is their original burger with cheese added. the burger was ok.... the patty was on the juicer side and the pickle added a nice tang. the cheese was a bit too bland to stand up to the mustard sauce that was on the burger. the biggest problem was the bun, it was hard and chewy and after a few bites i decided to just leave it and eat the burger. the best part of the meal was the sweet potato fries that are reliably good. since we'd asked for our bill when the food arrived we were able to just leave cash and depart quickly to get onto our event. but i have to say overall i was not that impressed with Holyrood 9a. the service is slow and the burgers are only ok. i probably won't be rushing back with all the other options now available in edinburgh. read more

The beer, service and burgers are all exceptional! Providing the most beers on top in Edinburgh, this spot is a must if it's time to refuel after walking the Royal Mile or just time to relax with a pint. Cheers! read more

Good beer list, lots of local brews or brews from Scotland. There is a huge list of burgers, I thought the patties were a little bland, but everything else was good about it. The brioche bun is always a nice touch for me! I had the sweet potato fries which I really enjoyed!! Service is fast! read more

After some confusion about whether one could grab an open table or had to wait on a list (we tried to grab & were told No, a couple came in minutes later & grabbed same table & were allowed to keep it), we did get a nice little 2-top in the front by the window with a grand view of their impressive bar. Quality craft beer spot, service was on the surly/distant side but the beer list more than made up for it. read more

The previous reviews have been mostly spot on. If you are on the hunt for burgers and beer this place should work for you. The burger selection is good and the arrive well presented. The staff are friendly and capable. The prices represent the market, no deal, but fair. I don't understand why there is an up-charge for seasoned chips. I wish they used bold cheddar rather than a weak swiss for the cheese. read more

Honestly, the four stars are due to the outstanding service we received when deciding to pop into the Holyrood 9a on our weekend trip from down South. The food was good, I particularly liked the variety of burgers on the menu, and our waitress was able to explain all of them thoroughly. I went for the BBQ chicken, which was great! Our main delight during the experience however, was our lovely server Gaby. She was attentive and managed to check in on us without hovering. I was also impressed with the extensive beer menu, and was able to get a great recommendation from the helpful bar staff. My only suggestion for the management would be to ditch the iPads for ordering. It seems unnecessary, and clearly doesn't speed up the process at all. The staff were all friendly and we will definitely be back! read more

I came here early on my last day of vacation based on a friends recommendation. Although I was about 15 minutes too early for lunch I was still seated and was told it was fine. I heard about the excellent beer flights they offer but unfortunately their taps weren't working when I first got there. I ordered a burger and the sticky toffee pudding, both were excellent! Midway through my meal the taps were working and I ordered a flight of beers which were great! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant for its delicious food, great beer selection and fun atmosphere! read more

I have been here a few times for drinks after work and have to say while good, it isn't my top choice for an after drink wind down. To be fair to Holyrood, they seem to be extremely popular, as it is always full and super nosy. It seems to be a common place to come after work, popular for groups, with lots of beer and burgers. Really, what isn't to like I guess. The burgers run around 10-12 quid and the beer is generally 3-4 on tap. Lots of beers, but I haven't found one I loved yet. I think it is a great stop for one drink and a quick bite, I've had the sweet potato fries there and they are good, so imagine the food must be as people are constantly filling up the seats to get them. One day I will try the burgers, but maybe before the post-work rush, as it is very hard to find a seat unless you book in advance. read more

Good burgers (we had venison, haggis and beef), nice beer selection and a comfortable couch in the back. Really good vibe in this pub.

Wow, this place is pretty awesome. Firstly, its like the tardis inside - much bigger than it looks from outside, but thats so it can accomodate its awesome bar, which has some amazing ales and other drinks on tap, all of which are amazing. To go with your carefully selected pint I would recommend taking advantage of the beer + burger deal, because the burgers are just amazing, and at less than a tenner, you cant really go wrong if you ask me, read more

One of the "original" Edinburgh "craft" beer bars (part of the FullerThomson empire - see OX184 and Red Squirrel). Seems such a long time ago when you had the Bow Bar, Cloisters and one or two others for decent beer but now we have quite a selection. At that time this place was the student-tastic Holyrood Tavern. Now it's got a really good selection of regular beers and guest ales (20 taps). Restaurant section through the back, with decent burgers and breakfasts/brunch. read more

Delicious gourmet burgers! I came here in 2012 for my 19th birthday and it was fantastic! You can customise your own burger and sides and the results are delicious! Really worth the price, I would highly recommend as a place for a family meal out or a catch up with friends. read more

Food was good, drinks were good. Staff was very helpful. Large selection of both local and foreign beers on tap. Small selection of games in the back room to amuse yourselves. read more

The burgers are tasty and decently sized. The meat was juicy and cooked perfectly. Everyone in our party of 6 loved the burgers & cocktails.

My husband and I walked in without reservations at dinner time on a Friday night and we only had to wait 15 minutes at the bar to get a seat and we were so glad we waited. The bar tender was incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable. The food was so good and the service was very friendly. They had a really good selection of beers on tap. read more

So after a good 3 years in Edinburgh I finally decided it was time to step into the Holyrood 9A. I went with a climbing buddy post climbing at the CSE. As you may have noticed it is famous for its great variety of burgers. The exterior is bright and appealing, the inside a little less so. It is just like any other darkly lit pub. I am however enthusiastic about the choice of veggie burgers, there are three of them! I go for the mighty shroom, though see a lack of real burgers on the veggie menu: shroom, falafel or hallume. Love all three of them, but they aren't burgers. Where's the tofu/seitan/bean patty? The burger turns up on a wooden tray with chips in a deep pot and a pot of what I think was homemade coleslaw. The burger required a knife and fork. It was a bit watery and tasteless but the portion size was good considering how hungry I was. The bread was a bit on the dry side and everything was smothered in a very The chips were good. We were served water on the side. Service was flawless. For £7.95, not bad, but not particularly brilliant either given how "meh" we both felt about the veggie "burgers". Maybe I am marking this place down for the vegetarian thing, but I can't be sure... read more