Makars Mash Bar is a scottish restaurant in Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Rated 4.8 stars from 10871 Google reviews. Known for slow-cooked meat and mash variations. Best for lunch and dinner. Price range: £20–30.
Makars Mash Bar is rated 4.8★ on Google (10,871 reviews) and 4.8★ on TripAdvisor (11,153 reviews) — a consistent rating across both platforms.
Rankings updated
Makars Mash Bar
Across 9,720 rated reviews, 95% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.8★ |
| Reviews | 10,871 |
| 1-star share | 1.3% |
| Best for | Lunch |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“Amazing food, super friendly staff, great service and a cozy ambiance :)”
“I ordered the slow cooked lamb shank and haggis pie which was served quickly.”
“All the family enjoyed the beef, lamb, sausage and chicken.”
Consistently rated across Google and TripAdvisor
22,024 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
Makars Mash Bar delivers on its reputation: the food is genuinely excellent, the service is swift without rushing, and a reservation secures a seat at one of Edinburgh's most consistently busy tables.
You want authentic Scottish meat cooked low and slow, paired with mash variations that elevate the potato to something unexpected.
About Makars Mash Bar
Scottish comfort food done with real conviction — rarer in Edinburgh than it should be. Makars Mash Bar keeps the concept simple: slow-cooked meat or vegetarian toppings over mash, and the execution is what fills the room every night. The lamb shank is the one everyone mentions first, the scotch egg runs close behind, and the beef shoulder and vegetarian haggis round out a short menu that needs no padding. The mash itself comes in versions like smoked applewood cheese or smoked bacon and onion, and the portions are the kind that make dessert a distant ambition. Staff — Jenny, Scott, Andy, Anya and others who come up by name in review after review — are attentive without being rushed, which is no small thing given how busy the room gets. Walk-ins join a waiting list and get a text when the table is ready, so the wait is manageable. Book ahead if possible: this place fills up.
Makars Mash Bar lands in the category of venues that are as much about the cocktails as the food — a destination choice rather than a convenience one.
In the last 90 days, Makars Mash Bar has drawn 50 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
Slow-cooked meat
Lamb shanks, beef shoulder, and haggis pies are tender enough to eat without teeth; reviewers consistently praise the beef shoulder and lamb shank as the standout dishes.
Mash variations
Smoked applewood cheese potatoes, smoked bacon and onion potatoes, cheddar mash, and black pudding mash pair with each protein; reviewers note the potato sides elevate the entire plate.
Service under pressure
Staff maintain genuine warmth and efficiency despite constant crowds; the text-based waiting system allows diners to leave and return when their table is ready, and staff are praised by name across recent reviews.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about Makars Mash Bar
Makars Mash Bar in Grassmarket, Edinburgh serves a kids' menu and provides high chairs, and multiple recent reviews from families praise the quality and portion sizes. The casual, cozy atmosphere suits all ages, though reservations are essential given the constant crowds.
Makars Mash Bar operates a text-based waiting system and strongly recommends reservations for both lunch and dinner. Reviewers report waits of 30–90 minutes during peak times, but the system allows you to step outside and return when your table is ready.
Makars Mash Bar's signature plates are the lamb shank with smoked applewood cheese potatoes and the beef shoulder with smoked bacon and onion potatoes—both are mentioned repeatedly in recent reviews. The haggis pie and scotch eggs are also standouts, and the sticky toffee dessert finishes cleanly.
Makars Mash Bar in Grassmarket has a wheelchair accessible entrance, accessible restroom, and accessible seating throughout the venue.
Makars Mash Bar welcomes dogs in the outdoor seating area, though October in Edinburgh is not ideal for sitting outside.
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: 93/100 · 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.
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