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    The Tower Restaurant

    3.7 (61 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndBritish, Scottish, Soup
    Open 10:00 am - 11:00 pm

    The Tower Restaurant Photos

    THE TOWER RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Tower Restaurant

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    yummy cakes!
    Leona C.

    I came here in June for afternoon tea with 5 of my ladies wot lunch companions and there was much excitement on the lead up to this day out! Bellies empty and ready to go, one hungover, one eating for 2, the Tower had better come up trumps! As there was 6 of us we were seated at a long table and we were given 3 cake stands piled high. Hopefully the photos I've posted do it justice. I can tell you, from my own taste point of view, it was amazing and I couldn't stop eating and very little was left. We did have to stop a few times for a breather, but we carried on, simply because it was just so delish. I thought everything was homemade and fresh. I've had afternoon teas before that frankly are a bit stale and look to me like they have been frozen or come out of a stale biscuit tin. I particularly liked the fact the cakes were very light so you did actually stand a chance to get through the savouries, scones and sweets!! We had sandwiches, savoury tarts, mini bruschetta, scones, plain and sultana, clotted cream and jam. Fruit cake, shortbread, creme brulee, chocolate cherry mousse cake, strawberry mille-feuille.....gosh, I'm sure there was more! To accompany your afternoon tea you get unlimited coffee and tea, bags and loose. After dining, the weather was so lovely we sat outside to enjoy a glass of champagne! If you have a smaller appetite or are just not terribly hungry, I would recommend perhaps sharing an afternoon tea - but don't even think about sharing mine!! The afternoon tea menu changes with the seasons as a friend dined on it during November and hers was different, but I'm glad the menu changes because I can't wait to go back again!! Afternoon Tea is £15.95pp and with Champagne its £25pp. If there was one tiny negative, some of the group did comment that whilst the staff were pleasant, after we were served, nobody came back to ask if everything was okay. A minor point and whilst everything was okay, its still nice to have a wee bit attentiveness. When we wanted re-fills on drinks and condiments, we had to ask, rather than being asked but equally, we were left to get on with chatting and eating and not bothered by over attentive staff, so its getting a happy medium with service, so only for that do I not give the Tower 5 stars. But overall, fabulous and its my No. 1 place for afternoon tea, until I find something that exceeds this gourmet feast.

    Kimberly C.

    Their afternoon tea is divine. The view of the castle isn't half bad either! I always take visiting friends here. It's also great for those rainy days wandering around the museum. I love the seasonal selection of foods with afternoon tea at the Tower. The special RAF blend tea is amazing - and can be purchased for a good cause (donations to support the RAF). The tea is very filling, selection is always delicious, and the service is impeccable. Love.

    Lesley S.

    Went here for a surprise birthday dinner can say we got a decent meal. It's been a while but I think the hubby got scallop salad and rare steak which was nicely done, and I got some fish with black pudding and horseradish salad. The peanuty ice cream dessert was particularly good. You can get a nice view as well. from the the tower! It made for a romantic evening and it wasn't busy at all. My only negative comment was that our waiter could have used more attention to personal hygiene.. We kept getting wafts of b.o. that was enough to dampen the whole experience!

    Ali C.

    This is the 2nd time I have been to the Tower Restaurant. Again, the service and everything else in this place is near perfection and spells elegance. I am here to try some of their other things they have to offer for their starter and main course. This time, I tried the crab as a starter. The starter was pricey but was packed full of crab meat. It was also full with natural flavour of the crab. Simple but yet delicious. It was served in a cocktail glass which was a bit hard and tall to eat from but negligible. I had the lamb as the main course. There were 3 large pieces of lamb rump. It's perfectly cooked but not as pink as how I would like it to be. It was served on a bed of peas, bacon and broccoli stems. They were seasons just enough. Although, the lamb was not as tender as how I would like it to be, but they were still good.

    Hannah M.

    We booked here for our last night together in edinburgh, I'm personally always more fussed about the food than being up high for a view, but my friend (she's even more petite than me, so maybe that's the reason, haha) seems to really like being high up, every place she goes she's up gazing out of the window of a shard equivalent, but I wasn't disappointed by here. I felt a little over dressed, it was a dress I wear all of the time and had been wearing all day but I think it's a but more of a smart casual place because you're too cool to make an effort but you're well presented anyway. Our waiter was lovely, and we picked gorgeous cocktails, one so particularly lovely that my friend took down the ingredients to make at home. Seeing the portions travel past, we decided to keep starter to antipasti so we could fit in a pudding. The had a good amount of game and fish on the menu, which made me very happy, and clare went for lobster and chips. My meat was perfectly cooked, and presented well. For puddings, clare had, if i remember rightly a salted caramel torte, on such a beautifully put together plate. I however, was drawn in by nostalgia, and just had to go for the banana split, which came in the sort of heavy cut glass that you'd expect in the harbour bar. The contrast between the dishes was excellent, and really made us chuckle. The view of course, is wonderful, and best from the terrace, which is much more comfortable in the warm!

    Sunset at the tower
    Carol W.

    Cocktail in the sunshine! Through the Tower restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows is a view of Edinburgh in all its stony beauty. The restaurant is located on the fifth-floor terrace above the Museum of Scotland. Drag your eyes away from the view outside and there's a whole landscape of well-sourced Scottish produce on the menu: hand-dived scallops, Pork loins, lobster, beef, heritage potatoes, and so on. Haggis bon bons with your crispy squid and a home made pork pie while moules mariners are very well cooked and reminiscent of summer holidays in the Vendee. The poached pear and crème brulees are a lovely end to the meal as the sun sets... The only problem is that the food isn't quite as good as it should be. It has so much promise and sounds so tasty but it just misses hitting the nail on the head in the way so many other Edinburgh havens do. Having eaten at all the sister restaurants of the group I do feel the food is sub standard to their offerings and would always favour the Witchery or Prestonfield. Lovely view though and a great spot for a cocktail if not a little pricey.

    View of the castle from our table!
    Mimi O.

    Loved the view of the castle and the food! Best oysters ever. My husband and I each had an entree and split a side and dessert. Great service. Isn't the end of the world if you're not dressed to the nines either. Make sure you step out on to the porch after eating too!

    Fiona H.

    This was the first place I ever went for a swanky meal in Edinburgh, and although it was a lovely meal I have to say I certainly wouldn't be hurrying back again if I were paying the bill! That's why I'm only giving it 3 stars - although you expect to pay a certain amount in a nice restaurant, I did feel that the prices here were a little excessive. Although now they've brought in a pre-theatre early bird menu for £16.95, if you're eating from the a la carte menu in the evening you can expect to pay £35-40 per head without drinks. That said, the food was still very good. I went for the Smoked eel, Toasted Rye, Mustard Mayo and Cornichon Salsa for starters followed by the Guinea Fowl with Walnut Stuffing, Squash Purée and Wilted Kale. Although everything was cooked perfectly and presentation was impeccable, you don't have to be a genius to be able to see that the menu does sound a little bit unnecessarily pretentious. There were however some things that made this restaurant stand out, and why I thought about awarding it 4 stars. For one, it's perched on top of the National Museum and so the views over the city are second to none, especially if you're there at sunset like I was. If you're there for lunch then a wander through the museum at the end is always a good way to walk off your meal. Also, although I found it odd that service wasn't included in the prices, little things like not needing to ask for your coat at the end as it's already being held out for you to put on - or even to remind the staff which one is yours - definitely score brownie points. If you're the kind of foodie who's main concern is being seen in the 'right' restaurants, then this is your kind of place. If you're the kind of foodie who genuinely loves great food and wine, I'd definitely pay this place a visit at some point but I wouldn't put it at the top of your list.

    Tiffany C.

    The food while delightful to look at it in terms of presentation was mediocre overall in quality. But most of all having dined in 5 star restaurants across the world I have never been made to feel so out of place with snooty wait staff that I felt treated me differently than their British patrons. I was dressed appropriately and wanted to enjoy a late dinner after touring the city and I was so disappointed. I spent a lot of pounds and didn't really enjoy the capstone to my evening due to the peculiarly unwelcoming staff. The view from the restaurant of the castle is beautiful and it is a shame that the service is so lacking. I did the prefixe menu and it was 3 courses and then I added a tea course at the end as well, so I feel like I got to sample a bit of everything.

    Smoked salmon

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    Not crowded and very tasty brunch! Coffee was amazing and the mushroom omelet was the best I've had. Not well advertised, but it should be!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Review Highlights - The Tower Restaurant

    fantastic food, brilliant service, great menu, and a fantastic view of the castle.

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

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    The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

    The Devil's Advocate

    4.3(632 reviews)
    0.2 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.

    The Devil's Advocate is undoubtedly a treasure to find in Old Town Edinburgh, especially if you…read moreaccidentally take the News Steps to get there, only to realize you should have simply taken the steps up Advocate's Close from Cockburn Street. But they call these lessons, "character building," apparently. No matter, the Devil's Advocate is worth the search. Located in an old Victorian pump house halfway up (or down) Advocate's Close, the Devil's Advocate is known for a killer whisky shelf of more than 300 different bottles from various distilleries across the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbelltown, the Islands, and Islay. I finally sipped on a 15-year Tamdu that has convinced me to keep a bottle at home. Then there's the Clydeside 2024 Limited Edition Cask Strength that was wicked impressive. The bartenders are class at making and serving seasonal and regular cocktails that have their spin and character. My wife enjoyed gin-based cocktails such as the Clean Slate (with St-Germain, citrus, and sugar), Rose Garden (with Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Rosa, apple, lemon, and mint), and Bee's Knees (honey and lemon). I went full speed ahead with the scotch cocktails, which are essentially classics with a scotch-substituted twist. The Double Shot is an Espresso Martini with Dalmore 12 in addition to Kahlua, espresso, and demerara -- quite smooth without being too sweet. The Scotzia is a Negroni with Fettercairn 12, while the Boxcar is a Sidecar only with Aberfeldy 12. We enjoyed the bar for a few hours, watching the bartenders make magic while sipping on cocktails, while listening to 80s pop tunes. A great evening indeed.

    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 - Crown Of Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder With A Rich Horseradish Infused Gravy

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

    4.8(522 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    I was a solo traveler so I did not make a reservation and just stood outside for opening for…read moredinner! I was able to put in my name and about 45 min later I got in. It is like the bar sitting area in a small room but it is perfect. Nicely decorated and cozy. The server and receptionist are both very friendly! I ordered lamb shank with bacon green onion mashed potatoes and an elder flower cider! It did not take too long for the food to show up and I did not have lunch so this was perfect and just right to the spot! Lamb shank was soft and tender and full of flavors! It was so so good. Mash potatoes is also very yummy and flavorful! The elder flower cider is very floral and I really like that!

    We were a group of 6 and waiting time was less than an hour on a busy Monday at 2pm. Notification…read morewas via text or through a link which you can monitor your table's availability. We had a lovely meal here at Makars Mash Bar (technically called The Makar's Rest) We ordered the following: - Coke & Ginger Kombucha - Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg (deliciousness to share and a great way to begin a meal) - Home Grown Lion's Mane pan-fried bites, served with vegan aioli wasn't a hit with the group but I really liked it. - Slow Cooked Lamb (rich and full of flavor) - Crown Of Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder (incredibly tender and literally fell apart) - Makars Wild Boar Sausage With Beef Dripping Gravy (got a bite in and it didn't taste gamey) - Sides of Black pudding mash and Scottish cheddar cheese & onion mash which we really enjoyed. - Sticky Toffee Pudding was a perfect end to the meal. Great comfort food, generous portions, and a really enjoyable experience overall. Would definitely recommend. Atmosphere outside in the chilly air was a challenge at first. Outdoor heaters would have been a plus. At least we were seated.

    Photos
    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Downstairs inside the restaurant

    Downstairs inside the restaurant

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

    Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Makars Wild Boar Sausage With Beef Dripping Gravy

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    Makars Wild Boar Sausage With Beef Dripping Gravy

    Angels with Bagpipes - Haggis with whisky gravy - SO good!

    Angels with Bagpipes

    4.4(133 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    £££

    Fabulous food in a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere…read more Was sceptical given its location that it would be 'touristy', but will definitely return when we are next in the city.

    Given that this place is in an extremely touristy part of town, surrounded by souvenir shops and…read morefamous landmarks, you kind of have to appreciate the effort they put into their food presentation and service. Most places survive on knowing they can serve terrible food and still bring in the tourist crowd. These guys are serving up some healthy and hearty cuisine with a nod to their Scottish roots, but with a more sophisticated take. Everything packs amazing flavour. I came in just a few minutes after they opened for lunch, so snagging a seat was easy; however it filled up in record time, so reservations are highly recommended. The menu offers everything from light seafood salads to hearty steak dishes, to a few veggies options that leave nothing to be desired. Yes, they serve haggis, too, and I have to say, it wasn't bad, even for my first-timer's palate. They fry it up and serve it in ball form, so the taste is mild and appealing. My BBQ Lentils and Vegetables dish was beautifully presented and so tasty, I didn't miss the meat. Cocktails, wine, and beer are also available, so pick your poison.

    Photos
    Angels with Bagpipes - Their sign is adorable.

    Their sign is adorable.

    Angels with Bagpipes - Battered cod was fresh and not oily at all. Scottish crab, lemon and crumpet was super fresh and delish.

    Battered cod was fresh and not oily at all. Scottish crab, lemon and crumpet was super fresh and delish.

    Angels with Bagpipes - BBQ Root Vegetables and Lentils

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    BBQ Root Vegetables and Lentils

    Queens Arms

    Queens Arms

    4.4(114 reviews)
    0.6 miNew Town
    ££

    Out of all the places I've been to in Scotland, I think Queens Arms was one of my favorites…read more We had reservations for this place recently and when I took one step inside, I was already in love. I mean who doesn't love a good pub? You get great drinks and great food at an affordable price. As I write it makes me think of think of when Zidane reunites with Freya in FF9. Sometimes we don't wanna eat at fancy Michelin restaurant that has small plates but charges a premium. Sometimes we just wanna cut all the BS and just get a nice hearty meal. And thats what we got. When we sat down we found out that they were doing a Trivia night. Normally I would have told my girl to pick another spot to eat but for some reason I was cool with it. There was even a table nearby with kids(yuck). And you know what? It was fine. That's because we had been sipping on some amazing cocktails. If you also partake, Gin and Mezcal enjoyers will love the Bramble and Hibiscus Crush. What color are Luigi's overalls from Super Mario? That's such an easy question. Wait...what do you mean Luigi's overalls are blue? They are green. Look at this picture onli...Oh... One of the stars of our meal was the Haggis. This was the first time I had ever tried it and after trying it at multiple places Scotland, Queens Arms I feel has done it the best. I love the complexity of the flavors of the meat with the creamy and pepper flavors of the peppercorn sauce. If you've never had Haggis, you definitely have to try it here. The best part is that it comes with mashed potatoes too! Shoutouts to the Fish and Chips if you are also into that. One of my friends ordered that and I definitely had to go back in for multiple bites. Finally the roast. The Sunday Roast should just be an automatic order if you happen to come here on a Sunday. You get so much food and it's all so damn tasty. They'll cook a roast to whatever doneness your heart desires. We went with Medium Rare and it came out perfectly. If you didn't have enough flavors with all the extra sides it comes with, they also give you gravy to pour on anything you want. Thanksgiving basically came early this night. But as I looked around and admired all the bookshelf's and all the families have a nice dinner with their loved ones, I just thought about how happy I was. I was finally here! This was the start of my trip. Queens Arms has set a high ceiling on great experiences in Scotland. We even went back there a couple of days ago just because we knew we would be able to end the night on a good drink. But in the end I think if you are Edinburgh, you have to come to this place. It is one of my favorite experiences I've had in Scotland so far and I dream about when I can come back again.

    We got 3 reservations to split up our group of 8 adults and 2 kids, so we were all able to make…read moresure to get a table and have the Sunday roast. We shared the ultimate sharing roast and everything was delicious and so filling. It was also nice to be able to sit and watch a match while enjoying the food. The coffee was pretty good too. This is definitely a good option if you're looking for a Sunday roast in the area

    Photos
    Queens Arms
    Queens Arms
    Queens Arms - Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

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    Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

    Pibroch Scottish Restaurant

    Pibroch Scottish Restaurant

    4.2(16 reviews)
    0.4 miOld Town

    The partner-in-dine and I were staying close to Pibroch and decided to book a table for dinner on a…read moreSunday evening. We made our booking the night before and were pleased that we could be accommodated. We were seated promptly next to a window where we could pass the time waiting for our food by looking at the passers-by and cars. But we didn't have to wait long. The appetizers came out quickly. I got the Cullen Skink, a Scottish soup of smoked haddock, potatoes and leeks in a creamy broth. My partner-in-dine chose the Pibroch Haggis Parcels with Red Wine Plum Sauce. We were both happy with our appetizers. For our mains, I had the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties while my partner-in-dine went for the Roast Duck. We were again elated with our choices. Every dish was wonderfully presented and tantalizingly delish. Definitely recommendation-worthy!

    I told myself I wasn't going to try the haggis, but what did I do? I tried the haggis. I'm glad I…read moredid. The wait staff there are extremely attentive, friendly, and willing to answer any questions. Our party started off with the haggis parcels in a red wine plum sauce as an appetizer. The haggis was encased in filo dough. It was delicious. I went with the salmon, because Scotland has the best salmon in the world, so I've been told. This salmon was exceptional. I enjoyed the crispiness on the top of the salmon and the potatoes and broccoli accompanied the dish perfectly. I didn't care for the tomato sauce, and just ate around that. If you want authentic Scottish food, and friendly service, try this place out. They are also wheelchair accessible, as they have a ramp to guide you in the door.

    Photos
    Pibroch Scottish Restaurant
    Pibroch Scottish Restaurant
    Pibroch Scottish Restaurant

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    The Tower Restaurant - british - Updated May 2026

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