This pub benefits from a very nice location by the canal in Leith. Looks quite nice from the outside, but let a bit like a restaurant or old fashioned coffee shop inside. Seems like my review is a bit contrary to the general perception of this place but a lot of them seem to be about how good the food is, whereas I am very much a pub drinker rather than gourmand and of four ale pumps, three had their backs turned to me, leaving just the over enthusiastic Deuchars trying to catch my eye. There can be quite a bit of noise from the busy main road going past. read more

The King's Wark - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

If you can grab a seat outside (drinks only out there though) it's a lovely seat overlooking the shore. My fiancé was sent in to get our drinks while I held the table. There was a rose on the menu that I only wanted if it wasn't sweet. Apparently the bartender assured him it was dry, "We don't have any sweet wines on our menu." Our kinda place! He got a pint of a beer brewed in Edinburgh. read more

Now this is a cracking little pub. Nestled right on the corner of The Shore in Leith this little hot spot is a great choice especially in the winter months (which is 11 and a half out of 12 here in Edinburgh!) as you can cosy up with a pint next to the roaring fire. The food here is delicious and great value for money (main meals usually between £8 - 13). I highly recommend the cullen skink which is tasty and full of fish (no stinginess) - a nice traditional Scottish alternative dish for a change to haggis. Also the fish and chips is always a winner though I wouldn't have a starter before hand as going by the size of the fish it is more like whale and chips:) The only thing I'd say is get here early as it is a popular spot at dinner time with the locals every night of the week. Definitely worth the wait though so why not grab a pint, prop up the bar and work on your appetite to wrestle that fish later:) read more

Came for drinks. Awesome mussels!! Good vibe and friendly service. Beers are local and different. Loved it, would want to come back and try more food. Great location too. read more

The King's Wark - Sorry so dark! But super good cod with a roasted potato and crayfish salad and lamb shanks. Delicious! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

One day during our visit to Edinburgh, my wife and I took a bus to an area called Leith. Leith is the location of the Royal Yacht Britannia that can be toured (for a fee); in MY opinion, testimony to the enormous tax payer money wasted on "Royals." BTW, the "yacht" is more like a CRUISER. After wandering through the mall in Leith, we asked for a restaurant suggestion from the locals. Someone mentioned a place that had already been suggested by the hotel concierge. We wandered from the mall into "town" and found it. The menu did not suit either of us, so we looked at the other restaurants next door. We found The Kings Wark with a menu that was great for both of us. We happily dined there. I enjoyed magnificent, FRESH, "sea bass" (that I think is also known as "branzino" these days) and my wife had the spectacular "soup of the day." Those two dishes plus a large sparkling water came to only £14. Probably one of the least expensive meals we had had in the UK. Service was wonderful and we got to meet the chef! Other than the yacht, Leith is probably not a tourist destination. BUT, if you find yourself there, do stop into The Kings Wark and have some great food! read more

Great little pub on the shore at Leith. They do great food - 2 different menus, bar menu is simple and tasty - real pub food basics but cooked really well. There is then a smaller restaurant area that has a bit more expensive menu and a bit fancier - all very good. It is also a great place just to pop in for a drink ad hide from a cold Edinburgh afternoon. read more

Possibly the greatest pub for food in Scotland. The seafood is beautiful and the Wark has gained a fearsome reputation as the best place to get chowder and mussels from anywhere on the Shore- including the Martin Wishart restaurant nearby! Serves loads of guest ales and is always heaving with people. I recommend you book to avoid disappointment. Very friendly staff and an exceptional menu choice and reasonable prices. Included in the Michelin guide for pub food and has won many awards over the years for its gastronomic offerings. read more

This is a very nice pub, inside it is quite old fashioned and it is a strange shape, its not the biggest of pubs, but it is a very popular place, especially for food. The food in there is brilliant and you get huge portions, to get a seat for Sunday breakfast is unbelievable, you really need to book, as it is that popular with the food. Its such a nice place though, with a lovely atmosphere and the bar staff are very nice and friendly. It is like an old traditional pub. read more

The King's Wark is deservedly awardwinning. But make sure to book - even for breakfast - as the place gets packed with those in the know! We came here for lunch with a local friend who recommended it. There is a restaurant section and a pub section, the pub welcoming with its dark oak and cosy nooks, the restaurant stylish with a whitewashed, modern look. We picked the pub section. The menu may not be huge but it is imaginative. I was impressed not only that they had two vegetarian options but also as to the originality of the one I chose - Gruth Dhu (Scottish cheese), spinach and butternut squash strudel with cherry tomatoes, broccoli and mixed salad. The strudel was excellent, as were my friends' fish risotto, seafood chowder and smoked herring, all of which were beautifully presented in perfect sized portions. If I lived in Edinburgh, I would visit this place again and again - as my local friends do - and I can't wait to be back up there again! read more

Came here on 8/8. The ladies who work there are really nice and it's got a very quaint and local feel to it. I had the broiled haddock with black pudding and mash. I loved the haddock and the black pudding. The mash was good but I didn't eat it as it was a lo car day (bummer). All in all a nice lunch at the shore. I'll def be back before I leave Edinburgh since it's right around the corner from where I am staying. read more

The Kings Wark is always popular and with good reason - a 'proper' pub serving decent food at a good price. If you're set on going there for food it's worth booking at the weekends, but still possible to squeeze in if there's space. Drinks are often a standing affair, but it's still enjoyable. One of my Leith favourites. read more

I simply cannot fault the kings wark, superb staff who are just laid back enough. If you choose either the pub or the resturant the food is simply astonishing and very keenly priced The only thing wrong is that i find it difficult to go elsewhere for a meal, on the off chance it will not measure up. Keep it up read more

Very nice food, reasonably priced, I really enjoyed the pulled pork with mustard mash, you would think that would be a heavy meal but it it was delightful, not too much. My partner and son declared the beer-battered fish to be the best batter ever, and the steak burger had my older son kept full for the rest of the day, no mean feat! A cosy waterside Leith staple, affordable and friendly, keep it up! :) read more

hate to be a scrooge, but this place aint all that great. been on various occasions, though just twice to eat and will say NO EFFING WAY the best fish and chips. deep sea, top of leith walk has the best, and ive had about 17 better. the first time we went for a sunday brunch we asked for the steak and onion baguette thingy. we asked if they could add cheese on and they said no. we said we would pay and they said no. then proceeded to tell us that the only cheese they had wouldnt taste right melted. WTF. all cheese works on steak in my book. the second time i went was with about 5 others and i will give them a bit of credit as we were came a bit late for breakfast. they were out of nearly everything!!!! no shit. everything that was asked for they were out of. they did have the bagel and salmon. it was a sad pititful little bagel that i wanted to throw a life jacket around and give mouth to mouth to after before offering a new life with a family whow would love and cherish it. hope dianna wasnt our server cause whoever we had (this was the second week of september, 2008) was HORRIBLE. we had to practically reenact the sesame street "agua" "agua" 80's skit with the guy crawling through the desert just to get a glass of water. ages to get the bill and by that time we were the only ones there. SUCKO SUCK SUCK MCGEE. you are surrounded by wayyyy better places to eat and drink. shit, id even eat at the waterline 100 feet away before this place read more

Ok, so I'm not exactly an impartial reviewer as I worked here for 6 months, but as an American, I feel that I can give a pretty good run down of this place. If you want authentic, cheap, and fantastic Scottish fare, this is the place - period. On one side, there's a bar, and on the other, a restaurant. The former is 'typical' bar food - fish and chips (I've heard it called the best in Edinburgh, and I wouldn't disagree), haggis neeps and tatties (NOT as scary as it sounds, eat this if its cold outside and you're starving - not for the merely peckish), mussels and fries, steak, seafood chowder (a must), and fresh daily fish specials. Be aware, however, that this area is bar service only, so if you sit and wait at your table, you're not going to be served. The other section is the a la carte menu, which means full service. This is a fantastic menu, and it changes almost weekly. Trust me, your taste buds will never be the same. Nothing in this place is frozen, except for the ice cream and occasional sorbet, so expect extremely high quality food. If you don't get it, say something - the staff is very proud of the place, and they want you to leave thinking that the King's Wark is the best place ever. A few tips, though. Sunday from 11 to 3 they only serve breakfast, so don't come in expecting lunch. If you fancy it though, try it - but make sure that you make a reservation. If you don't, there's a very real possibility that you won't get to eat - it's packed every week. Kids are welcome during the lunch shift (12-3, and a reduced menu 3-5), and before 8 in the resaurant (dinner starts at 6), but the King's Wark is first and foremost a pub, and although it has a low key atmosphere that's ok for kids, there are laws that must abided. Also, it is wheelchair accessible, but because of the historical status of the building, the bathrooms can't be remodeled for they are not. The bar has 3 Scottish cask ales on draught. Try at least one. Also try a whisky. And then some more food. I can't really recommend this place enough, really. Plus, it has accolades! Best Scottish Pub 2008 AND it's featured in Diana Henry's Gastropub Cookbook (2008) as only 1 of 2 Scottish pubs. Cheers! read more

Phenomenally delicious meal, wonderful drinks, and great service. The ambiance is fantastic, and such a cool little historical spot.

Cozy friendly nice little bar. Big log burning fire is great at this time of year and tables near the low windows to watch the world go by. Would definitely come back and I want to try the good here. read more

The place has good food and drinks. As a tourist stopped here for dinner. The staff was courteous and the food was cooked well. They have some good drink choice as well. I would definitely recommend the place. read more

The building has had many uses since been built by the King as an armoury .the latest and best use is as a pub .Big thick walls original woodwork and open fires what is there not to like . The food appears to be good and a decent price. There are a range of national real ales which are of OK quality . Place is definitely popular . Well located near oceans quay . read more

I guess we wanted to really give the Kings Wark 3.5 stars, 4 for the food which was fantastic, but 3 for the service as we were pretty much forgotten about once we'd finished our mains. It was cold and wet outside so we were in no rush to move on but after not being offered the dessert menu or tea/coffee for maybe 10-15mins, we decided to shout for the bill and make our own pot of tea back home. read more

There is a reason why this place was voted best pub food numerous times. It is because it has the best pub food in Edinburgh and trust me, I have tried a lot of pub food. I would say the only other one which I would regard highly is the Scran & Scallie but the price is slightly on the higher side. The good thing about the food here is that they have seasonal specials and highlights the best produce in season. The seats here are in a way limited especially if you want food. There is another section for drinks / high seats but best avoid if you want to properly sit down to enjoy your food. Best time to come is definitely during early lunch. That said, of all the times I have been here, I have never needed to book or wait for a table as we were early. The service here is second to none and if you are in doubt on which beer to drink, ask them for a sample and advice before you buy. Please do give this place a try if you haven't already. read more

The King's Wark - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Nice traditional pub turning out interesting food (didn't eat there so can't tell you how it was). Mixed crowd of young and old. Fair amount of seating. read more

Good for a pint. Limited menu, and pricey, but good food nonetheless. Had the mussels and chips which was great. Pan-fried chicken was also good. read more

Heard a lot of great things about this little pub, so we decided to check it out. We were told to eat in the main bar area, rather than the restaurant area. Apparently there are different menus, but not fully sure. Went for dinner one evening, but it was full and there was a long line of people waiting for a table, so decided to come back a couple days later. Even on a Monday evening, we had to wait a bit for a table. But, I will have to say, the food more than makes up for the wait! They serve what I would consider "posh" pub food at very unposh prices (starters around 3-4 and mains 8-10). If you are looking for some good food and great prices, this is the place to go. read more

Went here Saturday night was very busy but happy enough to sit in the bar and have a drink while waiting for the table. Staff where really good and friendly and food was amazing as always strongly recommend the smoked haddock risotto, Rib eye steak was probably more medium than rare so will make sure just ask for rare next time but was still very tasty. Although very busy did not feel rushed and had a good atmosphere, will be going back again defiantly. read more

Great find (for a not local American). Wonderful food, great service and super atmosphere. Had the sea bass over grilled veggies and an apple tart with chocolate sauce for dessert. Will have to come back. P read more

Although you can get a great meal in the Kings Wark, I do feel that it is slightly overrated. On the other hand I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting the Shore and looking for a bite to eat, as it is miles apart from nearby competitors. One disappointment is that they do not serve Sunday roast, only 'brunch'. read more

Sunday Brunch in Leith fantastic! Steak and Eggs absolutely wonderful and a perfect hang over remedy!

The Kings Wark is the place to head to if you're looking for a pub with good food, a cosy and friendly atmosphere, and an excellent location in the heart of Leith, with the 22 bus stopping on its doorstep. Its decor is simple but appealing, with wooden tables and dripping candles adding to the pirate tavern feel. The food is pricier than at the other local pubs, and the menu is short and sweet, but if you're looking for more gourmet pub grub then this is the place for you. The staff are friendly and casually dressed and the pub is inviting and warm, making it an ideal place for a winter retreat where you can get good but unpretentious food and service. read more

I experienced this lovely pub the week between Christmas and New Years. My party of 8 walked in (4 adults, 4 kids all under 10) around 7-7:30 and were happily seated right near the front window with twinkle lights aglow. Low ceilings, big beams, dark bar in the other room - this was a pub I'd happily spend all evening in (with out my kids). While they did not have a kids menu (not surprising) all our li'l boys found something delicious. They were happy to make smaller portions of regular dishes. My 7-year-old said his burger was the best he'd had the whole trip (we'd been traveling for about a week and a half at this point). My husband had the hagis, which I tried for the first time, and raved about it! I started with the cream of mushroom soup and wish the bowl had been bigger (it was actually quite a good size) - so delish! For my entree I had the fish 'n chips to which I will quote my son, "This is freakin' awesome." Best I'd had in Britain. There was some disappointment that they were out of mussels, but what we had was absolutely wonderful. The staff was friendly and quite accommodating for the large group. We left Scotland after just 4 days and The King's Wark was our stand out meal. read more

My family did like the place, but we weren't that impressed as the first time we came. Maybe the reason was the slow service. But after all it was a busy night. Everything was full, so this is not a good argument. The meals were delicious and tasty as usual, nothing to complain about. read more

Stopped in The King's Wark for late dinner a few weeks ago. The inside of the restaurant is warm and cozy and the staff is very friendly. It was the perfect spot to grab a bite after a long day of sightseeing! Plus, I absolutely love Leith. The King's Wark is good, but definitely not the best I have had in terms of this type of restaurant. I felt the entrée portions varied depending on what you order. I really enjoyed the food combinations but I was not full after my meal. Boyfriend ordered an oversized burger so I ate off his. I love visiting restaurants similar to this but have rarely had the issue of the chef not watching dish proportions. Still enjoyed my visit, I just recommend a starter if selecting lighter options. read more

My visit to Leith was the 'mission' of my long awaited trip to GB. Many generations of my family hail from Leith (my grand father was a Lindsay and his mother was a Leith), so spending a few days here was truly special. I was told to find this pub, as the property had some connection to my family (the details are a bit fuzzy... I should have paid more attention when my grandparents explained the association). We found it easily - almost by accident. It was just what I had pictured. The building itself is very old - goes back hundreds of years. The pub has two very, very small rooms, one for eating and drinking and another for drinking and darts. Intimate (shoulder-to-shoulder) seating. Brick walls. Low ceiling. Even a small fireplace at one end of the room we were in. We ordered fish, which was quite good. Seemed the safest thing on the menu [well, chalk board behind the bar] for a not so adventurous American. (Folks sitting next to us had haggis... I had to avert my eyes while they ate!) I don't know if this pub is normally frequented by tourists, but we were the only non-locals in the room the night we were there, which certainly added to the charm. The atmosphere was relaxed and encouraged lingering... which we did. We whiled away the entire evening in fact, my hubby hefting pints of ale while I became acquainted with Balvenie - a single malt scotch whisky which is now my favorite. And our tab for the entire evening was under 30 pounds! Amazing. Our visit to Kings Wark is one of my favorite memories of our two weeks in GB. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Edinburgh/Leith. read more

Had a lovely evening at The Kings Wark. Food was beyond all expectations and the staff were amazing. Had some great christmas themed cocktails too. read more

very cute and typical restaurant ! the food is great and very tasty, the meals are served pretty quickly and the waitresses are really pleasant and polite ! i 100% recommend. read more

Loved the food. It's a cozy pub I could stay at all night. Wish they had more desert choices like pies or crumbles but the seafood chowder was the best I ever had! read more

Lovely little pub with great food and good beer, it has just been done up but has lost none of its charm. Its definately one of my favourite pubs for going out for something to eat, the food is excellent and reasonably priced. Due to its popularity it can sometimes be hard to get a seat. Without doubt one of Edinburghs best pubs. read more

I almost don't want to write this review as I like this place so much and it can be hard to get a table. Sunday lunch up till 3pm! There is no better place in Leith. Traditional Scottish Breakfast to fancy crepes, take your pick. During the week it's a nice place for a drink, but comes to the fore every Sunday. read more

Veggie friendly, cosy pub with wonderful bread as standard and fine staff. It doesn't look muh from the outside but inside is like a step back in time and wonderful atmosphere especially on a winter's night when all the candles are lit. The only drawbacks are that at peak times you can be waiting in excess of 40 mins for your food and their specials never include veggie options but with an amazing veggie risottothat hits the spot every time, who would want to branch out?!! read more

Really impressed with the Kings Wark. Had one of the best meals of the past ten years and the bill was a very pleasant surprise too. We went after a rugby match and were very hungry. There were no seats in the bar so we were offered a table in the restaurant. We were expecting it to pricier but it was very good value for money. The owner herself was serving the tables and nothing was too much trouble, a lovely welcoming hostess with great support staff. Super atmosphere and incredible food - doesn't get much better than the Kings Wark. Will definitely be back whenever over in Edinburgh and will tell all our mates in Ireland to go. read more