We walked to the World's End for lunch because it was recommended to us by our tour manager. There were 6 of us initially and 2 more joined us. The hostess had us wait a few minutes as another table was leaving. We ended up in a snug corner by the bar. They were able to seat us all together which was great. We got in at the right time too because we saw others get turned away as the place started to get full. I ordered the steak & ale pie along with a water. Others in my group had fish & chips, burgers, soup, and steak & ale pie as well. Our drinks came out first. They gave us an extra hot chocolate. We notified the waitress and she let us keep it without charging us extra for it. The food came out gradually. I was the last to get my steak & ale pie. It was deconstructed which was nice and the serving was generous. There was a puff pastry round on top of a mass of steak & ale stew along with a lovely helping of peas & carrots and chips. I was so excited to see peas since I hadn't had any up until this point in the trip. The food was really good. I didn't even mind having my chips with malt vinegar but I did see ketchup which made my day. We were able to pay separately which was nice. They take credit cards so I paid at the bar, while others split it up with cash. The service was not speedy but the pub is a great place to hang out. It may be touristy since it's on a street off of the Royal Mile but it's worth a visit if you're thirsty or hungry. read more

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Small and very very Scottish, but not nearly as tourist-trappy as one could expect from the Royal Mile. Quality shifts a lot, though. I wanted to give them a four-star rating, I really did. When we first moved to Edinburgh in 2007, The World's End quickly became the place we would always take our friends and family when they visited. They play up the Scottish Angle, serving "Scottish Coffe" which is just Irish Coffee with whisky rather than whiskey, and serve typical Scottish faire like Haggis, Neeps and Tatties and burgers topped with haggis. They used to not allow reservations as it's a small place and quite busy. Instead, you'd take your chances and potentially wait for about 20 minutes until one of the tables became available. Apparently, they've changed that policy now, so better call ahead, as it's still pretty busy. Not sure I like that change, but whatever. The reason I'm not giving them a four-star rating is that World's End seems to experience a lot of shifting lately, and the quality of the food varies a LOT. This last time I went, they had completely switched up the menu, giving their old dishes new names and new styles. I've had many different permutations of their burgers, so I gave that a go this time as well. Unexpectedly, the burger was flatter than the typical "fat, juicy and delicious" style that most high-quality pubs serve. I was afraid this would mean a less tasty burger, but it was one of the best I've had from them in a while. Also, being flatter, it was actually possible to cram the whole height of it into my gob, which is definitely a bonus! Their affiliate brewery is Belhaven, which I'm not at all a fan of, so up until recently that's been a huge mark against them for me as they had no ales to offer that I wanted. They had some non-Belhaven lagers, but I'm not a lager fan. The last time I went, though, they had bottles of Brewdog, so that's me more or less happy. Thought they're very friendly, they can be incredibly disorganised, which has been a throughline since we started going. I've often had to ask for my drinks a few times before I get it, and we were once sat waiting for the food for well over an hour before it finally arrived. To their credit, they then gave us free desserts and didn't allow us to pay for any of the food we had. They're happy to acknowledge and correct problems and that's great... I just wish it didn't happen so often that things are late or mixed up. I will most likely keep updating this review as I go again and again, and might update to a 4-star if their future quality stays consistent for long enough. However, at the moment, I don't know what to expect when I go there and their disorganisation is jarring, so it stays as three stars. read more

The World's End - My friend's steak. Tasty and tender. - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Maybe it is the New Yorker in me, but service here is amazingly patient even on a busy Sunday night. The server definitely made sure we are comfy and in good spirit as he cracked jokes on our demands. The big fish and chips were crispy and flaky that we ordered one more thsn we intended. The steak and ale pie could use some more time but was very rich with a velvety crust. The absolute must is the pimms cup! read more

Sadly, this wasn't as good as reviews had suggested. The pub grub was fine for what it was. Most is just microwaved or fried as needed. Ok, it's a pub after all. The beef and ale pie wasn't what you would expect. In modern terms, it would be "deconstructed". In real terms, it was stew with chips and green beans with a pastry on the side. read more

Pretty standard pub fare and atmosphere. The staff was really friendly and this is a good place to grab a pint and a bite.

The "wee haggis" appetizer (complete with neeps, tatties, and oatcake) and the curry parsnip soup were a great late-afternoon snack during my perambulations of central Edinburgh. Of course, it all starts with the beer, and they pulled me a Belhaven 80 cask ale which really hit the spot. There are several pubs along the lower end of the Royal Mile, closer to Holyrood and the Parliament building. The pace is slower and the crowds lighter down there, so these pubs are in a great spot for a relaxed afternoon respite. read more

The World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The vibe in the bar is very cool and old world. The bartenders seem a bit tired of all the tourists. It is on High Street and the Royal Mile so it has high prices for what you get. The beer is cold and refreshing. I just had to come in because it is in the Outlander series. read more

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While it's the perfect pub name (and charming as hell inside), this is the absolute last place I'd go for a decent burger. Now, it's my own fault for deviating from the standard UK pub-norms of steak n' ale pie and fish n' chips, but I wanted a burger dammit! There's precious little dining space inside, so you may find yourself at the bar waiting for 30 minutes for a table. If you find yourself in this situation, head elsewhere; it's just not worth it. You can find similar grub with similar prices in a dozen other places on the High Street. That being said, if you're only interested in a pint and some sport then they've got a few cask ales and some high-quality bar ambiance. It's just not good for eats. read more

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The three stars are for Mick! His excellent service and suggestions went above and beyond. Unfortunately, we sat next to the kitchen and had a full view of food preparation and plating. The guy handling the food didn't wear gloves and everything seemed to be microwaved. The only items that seemed non-microwave cooked were the fish and chips and the steak. Very disappointing since we came here because of the reviews. Photos can lie. Everything looked great but the Sticky Toffee pudding was so over microwaved it tasted burnt. The mash with the steak and ale was so dry it had to be cut with a knife. We watched as the Steak and ale was microwaved and dumped on an old bit of pastry that was tough and hard to cut even with the gravy. Don't waste your time coming here unless it just for drinks. read more

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Service was pretty good but the food was really awful! The mashed potatoes are instant and super dry! The highlights were the beer and fresh butter! The raspberry dessert was made with frozen berries (mushy and freezer burnt) and not so fresh cream. The haggis dish was super dry and yucky due to microwaving them! We then noticed the cooks passing plastic TV dinner looking containers through the kitchen pass window and dumping them onto customer plates! It's no wonder the food lacked any type of quality! I cannot believe this place has more than one star and that's only due to the nice waiters! read more

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Walk in, have a beer and a whiskey and you experience Edinburgh! read more

The World's End - Great last night, folks! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is your typical Royal Mile pub..ish. It's a great location, and so tourists always find their way in here, but it's a good place to find your way into! It's a nice, friendly pub with good service and good food! I took my vegetarian friend here once for the vegetarian haggis, and I think I preferred it to the real one! But, with every good thing there has to be a catch. And there is...A few years ago there was a murder right outside The World's End, and as a result there have been countless ghost stories about what happened and the lingering spirit. I don't know about you, but that sort of stuff does spook me a wee bitty... read more

The World's End - World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Stuffy, not really any views as stated. Staff underwhelming. They seemed to be overworked and not happy to see patrons. Understand this is a common affect. read more

Cute interior, and we got a really comfortable / cozy / quaint booth, which was nice. But the food was really lackluster. Still, it is a good location, and the menu, which is heavy on fried foods, might be well suited to parties unaccustomed to other options. TIP: if you want a salad and want it to not be doused in salad dressing, ask for them to hold the salad cream. Mine was inedible from the dressing. read more

This is a cozy little Scottish pub towards the bottom of The Royal Mile. I stopped in here for a late dinner and a few pints. I think it was the name that ultimately lured me in? It was pretty busy with patrons eating dinner and drinking around 9pm on a Friday. Overall a very quiet and chill environment. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered a Belhaven to start. The NZ bartender was quite friendly, and we chatted about the New Jersey Nets and Texas steak for a bit. The menu is quite diverse, with traditional Scottish fare, specialty burgers, salads (yes, salads!), and a full range of desserts. I only wanted something small and ordered a lamb stew special that was very good - and very spicy. It certainly hit the spot on a cold December evening! I definitely recommend this place, although I may or may not return based on the overwhelming number of pubs in Edinburgh that are also worth a try. read more

The World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I visited The World's End for dinner without consulting my trusted Yelp app. I am glad I did! I didn't try the acclaimed fish and chips (since every place claims to have the best), but did see quite a few people enjoying the dish. I opted for the haggis stuffed chicken. While the mashed potatoes did seem to be instant, the rest of the veggies were fresh and fabulous! The sauce was just the right amount of flavor. The main piece of this dish, the stuffed chicken, was great! Definitely an ideal way to be introduced to haggis for the first time. For dessert I tried the special for the evening -- toffee pudding. WOW. It was rich but impossible to stop eating! The service was great and the food exceeded expectations! read more

The World's End - Haggis Stuffed Chicken - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I was kind of disappointed coming here. It was featured in both guide books I had for Scotland and it seemed like it might be the kind of kitschy tourist spot that had a charm all it's own, but it really didn't. Maybe it's better for dinner, but at lunch the place was a bit empty and sterile. The beer selection was only so-so, but that's par for the course in Scotland and most of the UK. The bacon burger was really only mediocre and cost nearly £10. The bun wasn't even a little warm and seemed like it might be a day over the hill. The bacon was undercooked to the point of being a bit stringy and getting in the way of easily eating the burger and the actual patty was a bit dry and lacked any real flavor. The only high-point was that the waiter we had was very nice and chatted with us about where we were from and then about the Seattle music scene for a bit. read more

Best food in town. It's a small place with a dozen tables so get there early. I had the steak pie and the chunks of beef was so tender smothered in a delicious brown gravy. My husband had the haggis special and he loved it. Great place to have lunch or dinner. read more

We we were lookin for fish and chips and tried out this little gem of a pub. We tried the fish and chips, mac and cheese, and sticky toffee pudding. It was a very busy time, however, the staff was still exceptionally friendly and welcoming to these two clueless Americans. Would highly recommend! read more

The World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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In the olden days, this pub market the end of the City. Hence the end of the world. Funny how our perceptions change huh? It's a very touristy orientated pub with frightfully overpriced food and drinks. I came here once and even though I have never pulled a pint, I could have done a better job with the pints they gave us- the beer was still and their was no froth whatsoever. Plus they were making it obvious that they were not happy that only 2 out of the 5 of us were ordering drinks, on a very quiet Thursday night. I am willing to give this place another shot perhaps, but in the meantime I'll just enjoy the random history about the place. read more

The World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The World's end is one a pub I have visited quite a few times during my time in Edinburgh. Always busy, this pub has a very cosy atmosphere with it being split in two with both a restaurant and bar part. The bar section is small but provides a great selection of real ales and drinks. Seating is also at a premium so if you come late in the evening it is unlikely you will get a seat. The restaurant on the other side is also snug, with the warmth from the kitchen being felt through the entire place. The food is very good in here, slightly expensive but well worth it in my opinion. The burgers are very filling and come with generous portions of chunky chips! The fish and chips are good but the fish, when I have been there is always slightly over done! A great bar, and a bar which must be on your list of places to visit on the Royal Mile! read more

The World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

On the Royal Mile, this was an average pub with a limited beer selection. Stopped in randomly to check out the pub in the evening. They were open but seemed to be annoyed that we were there to give them some business. The tap list didn't have too many beers of interest, though I did see Inveralmond Brewery's Ossian Golden on cask, which was delicious and served in a very nice dimpled mug. But the ambiance was all but dead inside and the staff weren't particularly friendly. After a few minutes, we were the only patrons left and we were sort of asked to hurry up and get out. Alrighty then. read more

Legit That's the one word review you came for but Yelp forces a bit more wordage. Decent scotch selection, excellent service and great swag. Nothing more is required read more

This is a small and comfortable pub halfway down the Royal Mile, or Halfway up whichever way you are coming, it has rough stone walls, tartan carpets and is very popular with tourists. It offers a varied and very reasonable priced menu in a traditional Scottish style. The bar itself is broken up into smaller areas of tables including a booth which is cut into the stonework. There is often live music, usually twice a week and a quiz night on a Tuesday. The bar is quite small but offers a nice selection of whiskies and cask ales and wine is also available. You access the pub by means of steps from the street. Good food, good beer, great welcoming atmosphere, polite friendly staff and the service is good., well worth a visit. read more

The World's End - The worlds End on the high street Edinburgh - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Everything you want in a Scottish pub: old world feel, good service, and great drinks.

I've been here recently with a couple of friends for a dinner and I must say that, if you are searching for a place to feel the real Scotland, then come here. The inside of the tavern is amazing. It is designed in a very thematic and atmospheric way. It feels so cozy and domestic in there. The stuff is remarkably friendly and fast. We spent a lot of time in this pub. The food is not something unusual or different, it is pretty simple, but due to this amazing place, it feels special. I had some haggis with sauce and scotch. It was good, all of us enjoyed that meal. Thank you guys. Keep on doing this place so outstanding! See you soon ;) read more

Went here for our last dinner in Edinburgh and was not disappointed! I had the steak and ale pie and sticky toffee pudding and both were delicious. If we ever come back through Edinburgh I will definitely stop here again. Certainly a cool place with an interesting history and worth a visit. read more

We stayed at the Air B and B above so went here for dinner after arriving in Edinburgh late at night. Cute, cozy little place. You can smell the fish and chip through the whole restaurant. My friend ordered fish and chip, of course. I ordered the sausage and gravy and onion caramelized gravy. The onion and gravy was good. Had a little bit of sour taste to it, in a good way. The sausage weren't that great. Not much flavor to them. I tend to like mine spicy anyway. My friend fried fish was good. The chip weren't that great. The food was brought out fast. The waiter never refill our water. He checked once after the food was out and that was it. Two meals and a beer came out to a little less than 30 pounds. Just your average dinner price. read more

I honestly hate to give this place a bad review because it does feel very authentic, the staff was very friendly, and it's a very inviting little pub! However, I was unfortunately sat directly across from the open kitchen and watched as they prepared all the food- everything was frozen or prepackaged and was just heated up in a microwave or by some other means. For example the peas were frozen and just blanched in boiling water. The sticky toffee pudding (although still yummy) was frozen and prepackaged and just placed in the microwave (or some microwave-like machine). The lasagna is either just pre-made/prepared (which is okay) or it's totally prepackaged and frozen like everything else and just heated up in the oven. I had the fish and chips, as it was recommended by our non-Scot Uber driver, it was oily and the crispy exterior fell right off the fish. The peas were wrinkled (for lack of a better term) and dehydrated in taste and texture. The fries were good and what I mainly ate. Again, the staff was great and the pub is very warm and inviting- so maybe just go in for a beer or whiskey- but not worth eating at. read more

Had to wait a while for a table, but the food was worth it. I got the haggis and potato pie, which was delightful. I was nervous to try it for the first time but I'm so happy I did! I recommend anyone walking the royal mile at dinner time to stop in read more

The World's End - Haggis and potato pie - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Underwhelming and slightly disappointing. This seems to be a popular tourist spot, but I can't think of a reason to come here unless The Whiski Bar & Restaurant across the street is fully booked (that's what happened to me). I ordered the Haggis and Potato pie, sticky toffee pudding, and seasonal raspberry dessert, the last of which was recommended by the server and which I'm regretful to have listened to. The Haggis and Potato pie was actually pretty good, it's topped with a generous amount of cheddar cheese and served piping hot, so give it time to cool. For people who think they won't like haggis, this is a great way to try it since it's on a layer of neeps (turnips, for us non-locals). The side of vegetables is incredibly plain and unseasoned, but I noticed that's a thing around here. The gravy on the side is a good addition to your bite of this pie. I absolutely love sticky toffee pudding and ate it for like 4 days straight while in the country, but World's End was definitely the worst one. It tasted exactly like blackened part of burnt marshmallows, but because it's dark in color I couldn't see the charring. For fear of appearing like one of "those Americans" I didn't complain about it. The server did recommend the seasonal raspberry dessert as well, which was a cup with layers of raspberries that were way too tart and sour, whipped cream, and a few sprinkled oats on the bottom. It didn't taste great, nor was it worth the ~£5-6 price (nearly $6 USD?! I don't think so). Judging by the table next to us that ordered fish and chips, you will definitely get a huge portion of fish. No joke, it's literally about a foot long, so definitely share this one. This place is (in)famous for a number of reasons including The World's End murders in the 70's and a movie sharing the same name. If either of these things mean a lot to you, I guess come check it out, but otherwise try and find a more tradition Scottish bar to enjoy a drink. read more

Great pub, fine stone walls with the right feel. Guinness as well as a nice selection of draughts. Good seating for small groups; a perfect place for finishing off our evening! read more

The World's End - The sign - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Great authentic Scottish pub right on the Royal Mile. Seriously, some amazing fish n chips! Fresh halibut, not too greasy. The service is great and the place is so cozy! Always make a trip to this place when here in Edinburgh. read more

The World's End - Great night here with my crew on a cold, rainy February night with my crew! - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The best piece of advice you can really give to visitors of the Royal Mile, would be that if the place is overtly Scottish, it will almost certainly be shit, so avoid. The World's End isn't quite as bad as the likes of Rabbie Burns Cafe and Whiski, but it's still naff, grubby, and grasping for every last penny it can get from grinning middle-aged Canadians with cameras round their necks. It also has a slightly seedy, sinister atmosphere that I just can't put my finger on, but which at least makes it a bit more memorable than the "och aye the noo" persona shoved down our throats on Edinburgh's least culturally interesting street. Barely deserving of averageness, but better than a boarded up unit. Probably. read more

Yeah okay I admit it. I went here cos of the movie. Even though I walked past about half a dozen other 'World's End' pubs in England, this one just beckoned me! It's a very cozy pub - I imagine it would get very cramped quite quickly of a night time! But it was so warm for what was a freezing day in Scotland! I ordered the fish and chips and a mulled cider. Both absolutely delicious! Best fish and chips I've had in Europe! This place is definitely worth a look in if you find yourself on the Royal Mile! read more

My younger sister, Coquette was the first person to review this place, nearly 2 years ago on YELP ! Too funny! Now close to 2 years later, I must concur with my intelligent sibling: 5 stars!!! I came here with a friend and ordered a few pints and the best Fish and Chips I have ever consumed in my whole life!!! There were sooo many different sauces on the table to dip your entree into!! It was at this time I traded in my American ketchup for mayonnaise and I haven't looked back!!! It is the right way! hahah. The batter is so clean tasting and not so greasy like the states make it. I won't eat this dish anywhere else but in the UK now. read more

I know what you're thinking. No, this is not the location which inspired the film. There are in actually at least three pubs called The World's End in the UK (probably more). They're not a franchise from what I can tell--I guess it's something people in the UK just do. It sure feels like a franchise given the amount of memorabilia sold inside, reminiscent of Hard Rock Cafes and Planet Hollywoods. It is claimed that The World's End is a landmark. It sure tries to make that argument. I found myself wandering the royal mile for most of this November afternoon, stumbling past the titled pub late in the afternoon. I hadn't planned on a pub to be honest, but one look at the name convinced me. Inside, tables are packed tighter than chickens in an industrial farm. Pictures, books, plaques, and statuettes pack the walls to such a degree, they spill onto the ceilings (t-shirts are actually stapled to the ceiling). Chalkboards are scattered about with various specials. This felt like a hoarder's open house. Like a complete gastronomic philistine, I failed to fill my role of a pub patron and just asked for a coke. The World's End is considered a tourist attraction strategically and iconically (it's a word) located at the junction of St Mary's and High Street, marking the outer rim of Edinburgh back in the sixteenth century. To those that lived in the city back then, the outer wall of Edinburgh marked the end of their world. In that, one can assume The World's End can own some metaphorical claim to the name. It makes me wonder if any of the other similarly named pubs can make such a connection. The more I read up on the history of the pub, the more I came to believe it earned its reputation as a landmark. And if you don't care about that, they still have WiFi. When it came to the food, I'm surprised how productive they are considering that their kitchen looked about the size of a broom closet. Given that, I still received my dish in a timely fashion. Of course, being a proper pub, the menu was jammed with sandwiches and pasta with a headline reserved for fish and chips. I was instantly hooked on their "haggis, neeps, and tatties"--locally caught MacSween's haggis served with creamy mashed potatoes and bashed neeps (turnips). The delivered plate was simple and delectable. The prices are a little on the expensive side mind you, an obvious inflation for eating at a tourist hot-spot. There also isn't a lot of variety, which I wouldn't normally complain about except that only four options on the general menu offers a vegetarian variation. And if you think I'm talking about the salads, you'd be wrong--those all have meat on them. Remember this is Scotland--their traditional breakfast is five types of meat. I was asked if I wanted their signature whisky cream sauce and by reflex I said yes. This dish as prepared felt more suited for a proper restaurant, so I appreciated the attention to detail. It also felt properly Scottish, though I won't claim it was authentic in any way on the off chance I get lynched by manic clansmen and beaten to a pulp with bagpipe chanter reeds (that happens, doesn't it?). All I am saying is that of the twenty six or so options on the main menu, all but six would never been found on a menu in North America. Let's put things into perspective for a moment; if The Worlds End was transplanted brick by brick, word for word to my home town, it would instantly be my favorite pub by such a degree, it would reside in the tallest tower with second place reduced to begging for crumbs and sleeping in the slop drain. However, if such a pub were to be "translated" to Canada, it would be larger and hopefully not be plastered with so many self-serving product advertisements. On the other hand, a Canadian pub would be a shill for a dozen different brands of alcoholic cooler. Take the good with the bad and I would see about The World's End a thousand times before welcoming a new dawn inside a Canadian pub. Food: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Presentation: 3.5/5 Value: 4/5 Recommendation: 3.75/5 read more

The World's End - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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World's End will forever have a place in my heart. My girlfriend lived above the pub while in grad school and it was our first stop each time I was in town. Here I had my first real fish and chips, cider and black, and sticky toffee pudding. They were all lovely. Great old-school pub feel and friendly staff. read more

Another Old Town, history laden pub on the Royal Mile - High Street. This is quite a famous pub and many tourists can be found here. On first impressions the interior is a tad untidy. Posters on the walls and doors, prullaria on the tables. The bar area is small, but well stocked. you have little nooks where you can sit around beer barrels or rickety tables. I guess this is all part of the "Ye Auld Toon" experience so many tourists crave after. They serve real ales, cloudy ciders and the obvious whisky references are plentiful. I did not try the food, but many plates past me by and the punters seem to enjoy it very much. - I could detect many languages and cultures which really added to the atmosphere but to get one thing very clear: This. Is. A. Tourist. Pub. To me it is difficult to class this as a local. OK the prices are similar to other pubs, but the ambiance, feel and impression all seem to scream TOURIST at you. Easy bar to meet up with people or even show off to visiting friend and family, but not for a nice evening of beer, nuts and banter. read more

It's a decent establishment, right on the Royal Mile; it has a slight infamous history, but we don't talk about that, because we're in polite company. There's a big restaurant space, which means a tiny bar space - a few seats and then seating at the bar for the discerning real ale drinker, as long as they like Bellhaven beers. Here's my tale of woe for in here though. Sat at the bar, ust getting out of the rain and waiting to hear from a friend where to meet him. Empty seat next to me, this drop dead gorgeous blonde Aussie chick asks "is this seat taken?" and I say no, on you go. She gets a beer and there's silence between us. The kind of silence that needs someone, maybe a guy, to start chatting her up. Maybe just flirt a little. She's looking around and watching me stare at the bar intently. I say nothing. I start to panic and sweat and order another pint. Maybe I should ask her if she wants another drink? I don't do that. I get a pint, down it in about 3 gulps, and practically run out the door. This is why I won't be back in here for a while. read more