The Orchard Bar & Restaurant is a gastropub in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Rated 4.5 stars from 1186 Google reviews. Known for steak pie that commands repeat visits and small menu, large portions. Best for lunch and solo dining. Ranked #16 of 17 in Stockbridge. Price range: €€.
Rankings updated April 2026
The Orchard Bar & Restaurant
Zone Ranking
Ranked weekly from live Google review data
in Stockbridge
↑ Up 1 this week
Quick Verdict
Locals return because the food's genuine and the place doesn't perform. Book ahead on weekends or you'll stand at the bar nursing a cider.
You want a steak pie or fish and chips that justifies the trip, and you're willing to book because tables fill by dinner.
About The Orchard Bar & Restaurant
The Orchard Bar & Restaurant is a gastropub in Stockbridge that does what it sets out to do without fuss: small, rotating menu with portions that don't match the plate size, proper cask ales, and a fireplace that actually gets used. You'll find locals at the bar, families with pushchairs at lunch, and groups who've booked ahead because walk-ins on weekends face a queue. The steak pie shows up in multiple reviews as the thing to order. Fish and chips lands consistently enough that someone called it the best they'd had in Scotland. Service gets praised for being friendly but not hovering, and the staff handled a 3-month-old's first pub visit without making it weird. The art on the walls is local and for sale. It's off the main drag—far enough that German and Spanish visitors specifically noted the absence of tourist crowds, but close enough that you'll walk there from the city centre in 10 minutes.
What Stands Out
Steak pie that commands repeat visits
Multiple reviewers singled out the steak pie as exceptional. One called it 'famous' and another said it 'did not disappoint.' A Spanish visitor wrote: 'comimos como nunca en Edinburgo' (ate like never before in Edinburgh) after ordering it.
Small menu, large portions
A reviewer noted 'I loved the small menu with huge portions.' Another shared a steak sandwich with their daughter and said it 'really hit the spot.' The rotating menu keeps regulars coming back.
Genuine pub atmosphere without the performance
Reviewers described it as 'real quiet but a lovely place,' 'relaxed atmosphere,' and 'familial.' Multiple visitors from abroad specifically praised being 'away from tourist crowds.' Staff are noted for being 'friendly but unobtrusive.'
What Customers Say
The service was so friendly and I loved the small menu with huge portions.
I shared a steak sandwich with my daughter, that really hit the spot.
We popped in while walking back to our apartment after visiting gardens nearby.
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Practical Information
Contact
1-2, The Orchard Bar & Restaurant, Howard Place, Edinburgh EH3 5JZ, United Kingdom
+44 131 550 0850Visit WebsiteView MenuFrequently Asked Questions about The Orchard Bar & Restaurant
Yes, if you're going for dinner or on weekends. Multiple reviewers noted it's 'difficult to get a table if you don't book' and can be full by evening. Lunch is quieter and walk-in friendly.
The steak pie. It appears in multiple reviews as the thing to order—reviewers called it 'famous' and said it 'did not disappoint.' Fish and chips is equally strong (one person called it the best in Scotland). Haggis fritters and Cullen Skink soup also get consistent praise.
Yes. They offer a kids' menu, high chairs, and reviewers brought children of all ages—including a 3-month-old whose first pub visit went smoothly. Staff were 'very accommodating.'
Casual and cosy. Reviewers describe it as 'quiet,' 'relaxed,' and away from the tourist centre. There's a fireplace, local art on the walls for sale, and it fills with groups and regulars by dinner time.
Cask ales and a strong beer selection. Reviewers mentioned finding Rekorderlig ciders in flavours they hadn't seen elsewhere, and praised 'awesome ales on cask.'
Also in Stockbridge
View all7 venues changed rank in Stockbridge this week → See full zone ranking
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Rankings are recalculated weekly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews in 90 days), recency (how fresh), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this week.
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