Under the Stairs

This is the kind of place I love. Rustic cozy atmosphere, hip, but none too complicated cocktails, quality food, not ridiculously expensive.
Started with olives and a whisky sour made with the bartenders choice whisky. In the USA we usually have a whiskey sour (bourbon) but this Scottish version tasted really good– mellowed with the egg white. Highly recommended. The olives, both black and green, were amazingly flavored, and the serving size was ample to share.
For dinner I ordered the duck confit, and they easily substituted potatoes for rice. The duck melted in my mouth (duck is my favorite dish!!!) and the sauce flavored the green beans and rice well. I ordered an (expensive) glass of Pinot noir with the duck as my cheeks were already red from a drinks session at the dragonfly and the whiskey sour. Overall no complaints about the meal, drinks, and atmosphere.
When the three of us got the bill, I did see a Questionable open drink sale charge that seemed phantom.
Additionally, there were some «Strange Guinness tactics» going on– someone ordered a Guinness and instead of taking it from the tap the bar tender poured it from a can and then stuck it under the Guinness tap for a while. Not sure what that was about.
Overall I would definitely return to this gem under the stairs for a good drinks and eating session.

Love this place so much. Delicious hearty food, unique selection of cocktails and spirits, cosy low ceiling, softly light, great staff, a total home from home. In fact a real all rounder. Great for a sexy date night, out with friends or just chilling with a good read and a snifter or two on your own.

Stopped by on my last night in Edinburgh, and though we had a difficult time finding it (even though we had passed it hundreds of times and reminded each other we had to come back here), we were pleased by what a gem this place was! If you are not eating, you get seated in the front away from the dining crew, where they have such cute decorations and furniture. The ambiance was very. comfy, I guess. I felt like I was at home. As we only came in for a drink right before closing time, I can’t say much about the food. But the drinks were exceptional! And the service was great. Everyone were very friendly, and quick with taking our orders and asking questions about our travels and Norway. This gem certainly reminded me of many hidden gems I have come upon in Brooklyn, and it definitely made me very nostalgic. When I return to Edinburgh, I will come back here and hopefully try more of the cocktail menu and the food! If you are in the area, you certainly should stop by!

This has been the go-​to bar for a group of ex-​colleagues and I to meet up in, for the past 4 or 5 years because it’s so comfortable and friendly.
It has a shabby-​chic vibe, with an odd assortment of vintage furniture and bric-​à-​brac dotted around the place a good drinks menu (decent variety of whisky’s and vodkas and usually something like Ichiban/​wheat beers like Erdinger etc on tap) and a ‘trendy pub’ food menu (sweet potato chips, gourmet burgers etc. quality’s ok but nothing to write home about). However, it’s the bar here that’s the star. In the evening there’s always a buzz from the open kitchen and it’s usually busy. The friendly staff and mix of eclectic (and sometimes very comfy) seats makes this place feel more like your front room than a bar. It can get a tad claustrophobic when very busy what with the low ceilings and maneuvring’s into awkward corners but it’s a cool place that doesn’t take it’s coolness too seriously. One warning… watch out for the entrance, it’s a small menu attached to the railings, as the name suggests it’s a basement bar.

Really nice people. We ordered the lamb. It was a grilled cut of leg. So, it was a little tough. That cut might do better to be roasted or braised rather than cut off the leg and grilled. The beer list wasn’t bad. We got the honey & sesame prawn tostada. We were expecting grilled prawns on a tostada. However, it is actually a tostada flavored like prawn, the way that prawn potato chips are. The meal was only so-​so. I would give them another chance.

Phenomenal service, great food and very reasonable pricing. This gem is hidden, yup, under a set of stairs. It’s easy to miss. As you wind up Candlemakers Row, hang a left at Merchant Street and look underneath the Italian restaurant (Divino I think it’s called).
We’re pretty jaded by snobby, rude service in Los Angeles (Santa Monica, Venice, etc.) so we were especially surprised at how trendy this place seemed to be and yet, the servers were so damn friendly. They seemed very concerned that we were comfortable, made sure we didn’t order more than we could eat (so we didn’t waste money). The cocktails were interesting and delicious. There’s plenty for vegetarians and vegans (and it’s not old school veggie like you get at Henderson’s — these vegetarian/​vegan dishes are made with care and have layers of flavor). Try the cheese or vegetarian board. It’ll provide good noshable treats that’ll easily fill you up and it’s great for sharing.
This is a total «recommend» for any tourist. You’ll be treated as sweetly as if you were a local.

Very nice and cozy place. Couches and relaxing furniture. Candles. Beer. Good food. How much more is there :)

I came here on the recommendation of a friend of mine who used to study in Edinburgh, and I’m so glad we went! We were there on New Years day and it was absolutely packed! Service was a bit slow, but it was no doubt just because there were so many people packed in there. I mean, it WAS one of the few restaurants open on New Years Day.
I went with the Miso Salmon salad and my husband went with the lamb steak. Both were fantastic. My salmon was quite filling, but still left me feeling like I’d eaten something good and healthy. My husband’s lamb steak was cooked PERFECTLY and it was so full of flavour. I will definitely be coming back here the next time we’re in edinburgh.

Excellent food and service. Great selection of beer, wine and cocktails!
A bit surprised by the 10% service charge added to the tab. It’s not that we wouldn’t have rewarded the servers, but it made me feel targeted as an American. I can’t tell you if they add the charge to everyone’s bill or not. I can say it was not our normal experience in Edinburgh to have the service charge added.

I can’t believe I’ve never reviewed this place! It’s been in Edinburgh longer than I have and I’ve ended up here at least once every three or so months.
Under The Stairs is what I’d describe as ‘grand’ …in a very Irish way.
I should clarify, it’s alright, it’s ok, it’s not first in my list but it’s not last. Honestly, I think it’s on some other list as I’ve never had a ‘oooh, I think we’ll go to Under The Stairs tonight’ feeling.
Since they started the table service the demographic shifted up a wage and age bracket simultaneously. The cocktails are great but not the best around. The drinks selection is good, the food looks great (I’ve never eaten here), the clientele are all very trendy… and yet, meh. You won’t find any craic here besides that which you bring with you– and I think that’s why I’ve never fully warmed to it.
And holy moly the toilets… I do not like them. A good foot of space under the door! *insert ‘Nope, Nope, Nope’ gif of your choosing*

I’ve only been here a couple of times, but loved it each time. Great food, good wine, and a nice atmosphere. I love how it is a little quirky. You do need to make a reservation as it does get busy. If you’re just going for drinks it is table service, which I like as it means it doesn’t get too crowded. Make sure to try the olives…

I absolutely love Under the Stairs, a cure little basement bar/​restaurant near the Grassmarket.
I love its quirky, comfy and cozy décor — mixmatched chairs, armchairs, plates and cutlery. It has a great cocktail menu and a food menu that changes every couple of months but which is always good value for money. They always have sharing platters with cheese and meat so it is good for small nibbles with friends.
You can go for dinner and/​or drinks but I would recommend booking as it is quite small, so if often quite busy. It is not the best option for large groups.
It always has a great atmosphere too.

Interesting to see quite a diverse range of opinion on this place. I have eaten here twice and I have to say I’ve enjoyed the atmosphere and haven’t had any of the problems referred to. I admit, however, that there can be an air of confusion upon arriving, regarding the slightly (only slightly) odd restrictions regarding seating, eating, and table service. I had heard (unconfirmed) that this was a licensing issue, but that doesn’t fully explain it.
We should all admit, also, that while the format of the place with its blurred boundary between bar and restaurant is not UK typical, it’s not so strange a format for other places.
Anyway, Under the Stairs has a nice vibe and decent Food. What I particularly like about it is that there’s decent gastropub fare like burgers, fish ‘n’ chips, etc but they also do less intense, less stomach-​busting options as well.
I like it. I’d go again — but understand maybe not everyone’s cup of tea.

I think Under the Stairs suffers from a bit of split personality disorder. It doesn’t know what it wants to be, a restaurant or a pub. I’ve been here on quite a few occasions now and even I can’t make my mind up on the place.
As the name suggests Under the Stairs is a basement venue just off the Grassmarket, which makes the place feel cosy. The lower ceiling and eclectic mixture of furniture give the place a very intimate bohemian feel however the mis-​matched tables and chairs can be a tad frustrating. Last time I was there I was sat at a table I couldn’t get my legs under. When the place is busy not being able to get your legs under a table becomes a major problem as you end up blocking people trying to get by you. The tables are REALLY jammed together and you’ll often end up bumping in to people sat behind you if you try to move your chair.
The whole issue with service is a bit weird too. They insist on table service, which is fine when it isn’t busy and staff have time to check on tables, but it becomes a problem when you can’t get anyone to take a drinks order because the place is hopping. A little flexibility to allow people to order at the bar would be ideal.
The food is lovely here and is really its saving grace. The menu has a great selection of main meals and nibbley bar food; plus the specials board keeps things interesting. I’ve never had the burgers but I hear they are really good, especially as they come with sweet potato fries.
A few flaws to work on, but on the whole, not a bad place to eat and drink.

The more I think about it, the more I realise I don’t particularly enjoy Under the Stairs. I feel like I should, but I’ve been going less and less, and when I do go, I come away disappointed.
It’s full of mismatched, old arm chairs. It’s like an extended living room, comfy and cosy. There’s quite tasty food and an interesting, inventive range of cocktails.
There are also rude staff, and in particular (I think) a rude manager, with a bizarre ‘table service’ only policy. As other reviewers have noted, rather than politely helping customers realise this, you can get rudely asked to sit down before ordering your drink — although sometimes when it’s busy you CAN order from the bar but no one tells you this whilst you sit for an age without a drink.
The memory of the visit I had here in which I asked for sweet potato fries with my fish off the daily specials menu, only to be told VERY rudely I could not and if I wanted sweet potaot fries I’d have to order the burger (our whole table of 6 was left stunned and appalled at the manner the waiter /​manager had told me this) meant I haven’t eaten there since. (Read my previous review below).
But I have since been for cocktails. I found the window seat to smell of mouldy cabbage (I’m guessing just mould) and the cocktails just don’t seem to have any kick to them. They’re inventive but they fail to get me even slightly buzzed. I’m guessing there is alcohol in them, but perhaps it’s the ratio of ice that just means they’re quite weak.

Under the Stairs is a nice bar, eclectically furnished and with a fair range of drinks and good food, however it is also a bit pretentious and the staff can seem surly, no good thing when the bar has a strict table service only policy!
This is what you have to look forward to assuming you get into the place as the door staff have a very definite bias toward letting the female of the species in, in preference to their male counterparts…
In short, meh Under the Stairs you could be a great bar, you do have good food and drink however the attitude of your staff is just to be blunt, naff!

Under the Stairs is probably the perfect place for a solo traveller. I always felt cozy and comfortable to be alone, but never too detached to feel awkward and lonely.
Just like any solo traveller will tell you, when they say that a place is perfect to be alone, they also mean it would’ve been better with someone ha. The dim lighting, cool tunes, comfy couches, laid back staff make a terrific atmosphere for a date.
The place is not the the traditional gastropub that seem to be sprouting on every corner of the UK. The fare is light and everything that I’ve ordered has had an asian influence. The cocktails are a bit pricey but the single malts are reasonable at around 4 quid a pour.

Now that I’m back Stateside, I often find myself wishing that I had an Under the Stairs of my own to comfort me during the long, dark, rainy Portland nights. The little low-​ceilinged basement bar is cozy as all getout, with couches, armchairs and tiny tables for two packed in like sardines — cozy, cozy sardines. It gets busy early and stays busy late, but the helpful staff will somehow manage to wrangle you a table at the last minute.
If you’re after a bite, the kitchen will deliver in spades. We’ve tried the pan-​seared coley, the mushroom thyme rigatoni and the beef burger, and they were all excellent. The portions aren’t heaping big, but the flavors will have the classiest of patrons licking their plates.
While the kitchen is more than competent (and turns on a light when a dish is ready instead of clanging a loud bell) the real draw of Under the Stairs are the cocktails. Mary Under the Stairs is spicy and hearty, Chili Palmer is equally spicy but simultaneously refreshing, the Mango Margarita is just sweet enough and You’re A Plum is plum perfect, featuring such rare ingredients as plum liqueur and nettle cordial.
As far as I’m concerned, there are few places better for curling up on a rainy day and nibbling on a charcuterie platter or fresh crab cakes while savoring a meticulously-​crafted cocktail… or three.

Absolutely amazing! A great place to bring a date (have done so), extensive drink menus, chill environment, and amazing cocktails.
Well some of them are amazing. The Mango Margarita isn’t exactly a great combination. I love tequila so gladly finished my friends drink, as the mango does not mask, or lessen the flavour of the tequila. Traditionally Margaritas are made with a more bitter flavour. Maybe Acai would be interesting?
The Citrus punch is good, but the Mojito is what has brought me back 3 times in one week.

I’ve been to Under The Stairs once or twice in the past and liked its ambience and cocktail menu, but this was my first visit for food. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a very good time.
We had placed a booking for eight people and had a table set aside for us. I arrived to find that the place was freezing; not the best atmosphere to eat your lunch in. The back door was propped open, so the rear of the restaurant felt like a windy alley. It was baltic! I sat with my jacket on for the whole time.
We ordered food, but had to wait approximately 45 minutes to an hour — I can’t remember the exact wait time, but it was absolutely ages. A couple that arrived after us received two courses and left before we got fed. We were all starving, so even with plenty chat to keep us occupied the wait for food was ridiculous.
The saving grace was the actual nosh. I ordered the goats cheese and potato salad dish, which came in around £7.50, so not too expensive. Unfortunately, because we’d been waiting for so long it wasn’t enough to fill me up. The portion size was not really big enough so I wouldn’t order it again despite being nice — I really expected a large salad but all I got in the way of greens was a sprinkling of rocket. Not ideal.
Everyone else seemed to have a lovely meal, however. The falafel burgers and beef burgers were massive and came with amazing looking sweet potato wedges and a side salad. The lamb kofta looked brilliant too.
So I clearly ordered the wrong thing. Pick the burger and you’ll be good to go.
After the main course, we waited a loooooooong time for the plates to be cleared. We wanted to order hot drinks but the table service was very, very slow so again we waited a considerable amount of time.
We got to order hot chocolates, but when mine arrived it wasn’t warm enough, and it was the same situation with another diner on our table. The guy did return our beverages lickety split with much hotter milk, so I was happy with that but it shouldn’t have arrived luke warm in the first place.
All in all, a mixed bag. The place is quirky and cool and is affordable, but the service was very poor, the windy draft was terrible and I didn’t really enjoy my meal. For me, there were too many negatives to make this a good experience and I won’t be back for food again.

Pub/​Kneipe mit Wohnzimmerflair. Kann an gut besuchten Tagen sehr voll sein. Regelmäßg findet hier ein Pubquiz statt, bei dem es 100 Pfund zu gewinnen gibt. Die Cocktail Karte bietet gänzlich unbekanntes aber überraschend Leckeres. Biere gibt es auch eher ungewöhnliche, aber frisch vom Fass und teils sehr lecker.
Hauptsächlich von etwas hipperen Studenten besucht.