The King's Wark is a gastropub in Leith, Edinburgh. Rated 4.5 stars from 1513 Google reviews. Known for sunday roast that lands and service that actually notices you. Best for sunday roast and group dinner. Ranked #10 of 16 in Leith. Price range: £20–30.
Rankings updated April 2026
The King's Wark
Zone Ranking
Ranked weekly from live Google review data
in Leith
↑ Up 1 this week
Quick Verdict
Locals book ahead for Sunday lunch and return for the roasts; tourists stumble in and leave converted. The food's honest and well-executed, the service genuinely warm, and the room itself—historic, firelit, Shore-facing—does the work without trying.
You want a proper Sunday roast, a weeknight dinner where the staff actually care, or somewhere to take a visiting friend and look like you know Edinburgh.
About The King's Wark
The King's Wark is a gastropub on Leith Shore that does traditional British comfort food without fuss. Stone fireplace, cosy dining room, locals at the bar, and staff who treat walk-ins like regulars—reviewers mention arriving without reservation on busy nights and being "received like kings." The menu shifts between seasons but leans on proper pub classics: fish and chips, lamb stew, venison, Sunday roasts with all the trimmings. Sticky toffee pudding appears to be the standout dessert. Real ales on tap, decent wine list, and they'll serve you coffee or tea after. Dogs are welcome inside. It's the kind of place where you'll eat something someone else ordered and wish you'd ordered it instead—one reviewer noted "order envy for at least 2 other diners."
What Stands Out
Sunday roast that lands
Multiple reviewers singled out the Sunday lunch as "great" and "delicious." One called it "top ten dinners of my life." The venison and veggie haggis in pastry both drew specific praise, with "well cooked and tasty veg accompaniments."
Service that actually notices you
Reviewers consistently praised staff by name (Vicki and Keira), noted they were "attentive," "brilliant," and made a birthday group feel special. One visitor arriving without reservation on a busy night said they were "received like kings."
The room itself works
Fireplace, historic setting, cosy atmosphere described repeatedly. One reviewer captured it perfectly: "people-watching as homeward commuters cross the bridge outside while you sit in a cosy and atmospheric dining room." Dog-friendly and accessible.
What Customers Say
Fish and mussels were amazing but 2 goes at the pheasant and it was still tough.
Food was great, traditional and comforting.
Friendly staff comfort foods with something for everyone on the menu.
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Practical Information
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about The King's Wark
Brunch, lunch, and dinner reservations are recommended. Reviewers mention the place fills up—one noted it was "busy all evening" on the night they visited—but another arrived without reservation on a busy night and still got a table. Weekends and Sunday lunch especially need advance booking.
£20–30 per head. Includes mains, sides, and service is table service. Coffee and tea available after.
The Sunday roast (venison and veggie haggis both singled out), fish and chips, lamb stew, and mussels all drew specific praise. Sticky toffee pudding is the dessert reviewers mention by name. Ask what's fresh—one reviewer noted pheasant was tough on two attempts, so they're not hiding poor prep.
Yes. Dogs are allowed inside and outside. One reviewer specifically praised it as "dog friendly."
Yes. It's listed as popular for solo dining, and the bar seating and atmosphere support it—reviewers describe locals popping in for after-work drinks.
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