Hey Palu is a restaurant in Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Rated 4.9 stars from 1099 Google reviews. Known for cocktails tailored to taste and staff who anticipate. Best for groups and cocktail lovers. Price range: £20–30.
Rankings updated
Hey Palu
Across 974 rated reviews, 98% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.9★ |
| Reviews | 1,099 |
| 1-star share | 0.5% |
| Best for | Groups |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“Lovely friendly quality Place Great staff great service classy interior.”
“Delicious small bites, Italian beer & nice cocktails.”
“Give your customers a choice and stop automatically adding service charges.”
1,192 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
Inventive Italian-liqueur cocktails, attentive staff who remember details, and a welcome that extends to groups, dogs and LGBTQ+ guests.
You want inventive cocktails made with Italian liqueurs and staff who know how to find your drink.
About Hey Palu
Cocktail bars in Edinburgh rarely feel this personal. At Hey Palu in the Grassmarket, the whole point is Italian liqueurs — the amaro selection runs deep — but the bartenders will make whatever you're in the mood for, including things not on the menu: a caipirinha on request, a negroni built exactly how you want it. The champagne colada with almonds is the drink people are still talking about. Snacks are taken seriously too, with focaccia and anchovies and cheese doing the rounds alongside the glasses. The staff — Becca, Ben and Noto get named in reviews more than once — have a way of making a table of twelve feel as looked-after as a table of two, and a glass of water arrives before you've asked. Specialising in cocktails made with Italian liqueurs, the place is explicitly LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space, and dogs are welcome.
Hey Palu earns its romantic reputation through both atmosphere and a serious wines and cocktails — the kind of place where a dinner for two tends to extend well past dessert.
In the last 90 days, Hey Palu has drawn 25 substantial written reviews (50+ characters of genuine feedback) — recent momentum that is one of the signals behind its place on the hot list.
What Stands Out
Cocktails tailored to taste
Reviewers consistently praise bartenders' ability to recommend bespoke drinks and craft off-menu creations; one guest noted 'such attention to the flavours' and another requested a caipirinha made to order.
Staff who anticipate
A regular observed that water glasses stay full, napkins appear when glasses steam up, and one guest was greeted with an unbidden glass of water and described the welcome as 'the nicest of all smiles'.
Amaro and wine depth
The curated amari selection and wine list are named in reviews as standout elements; one guest specifically noted 'if you love amari' as a reason to visit.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about Hey Palu
Hey Palu in Grassmarket, Edinburgh accommodates groups with ease—a party of eight that called ahead to become twelve was seated without hesitation. Reservations are essential, particularly for larger parties.
Hey Palu welcomes dogs, making it a pet-friendly option in Grassmarket for a night out with your companion.
Hey Palu specialises in cocktails made with Italian liqueurs. The champagne colada with almonds, negronis and caipirinha are standouts, and the bartenders excel at crafting custom drinks tailored to your taste.
Reservations are strongly recommended at Hey Palu in Grassmarket, Edinburgh, particularly for groups and peak times. The venue is frequently busy but will accommodate walk-ins when space allows.
Hey Palu offers Italian bar snacks including focaccia and anchovies alongside cheese, served in generous portions. Gluten-free options are accommodated without fuss.
Hey Palu in Grassmarket is explicitly positioned as LGBTQ+ friendly and operates as a transgender safespace.
Also in Grassmarket
View allSee the full Grassmarket ranking
How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
Hot Score: 73/100 · ranked October 2026
The written profile on this page is generated from real Google reviews and reviewed monthly. Quotes are verbatim and belong to the people who wrote them — not to us.
How our monthly rankings workOwn or run this place?
booteek is the AI agent for independent restaurant and bar owners. It helps AI assistants like ChatGPT recommend your venue. It does not change this list: a place on the Hot List cannot be bought.
See how booteek works