The Mother Superior is a restaurant in Leith, Edinburgh. Rated 4.5 stars from 343 Google reviews. Known for whisky expertise and live music without noise. Best for groups and whisky exploration. Price range: £10–20.
Rankings updated
The Mother Superior
Across 325 rated reviews, 89% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.5★ |
| Reviews | 343 |
| 1-star share | 5.5% |
| Best for | Groups |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“Good beer selection, amazing prices, friendly staff, nice decor.”
“Very friendly service, tasty cocktails and good live music.”
“Warm, friendly atmosphere, great food, great selection of beers.”
397 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
A craft bar where the whisky selection and staff knowledge outpace the hype, and the room feels like it belongs to the people in it.
Book if you want a bartender who knows whisky and won't oversell you.
About The Mother Superior
A night at The Mother Superior means landing in one of Leith's warmest bars, where the staff — Cullen, Connor, Joey and the rest — treat every visit like a proper occasion. The whisky selection runs to over 400 bottles, and the bartenders will build you a flight based on exactly what you like, whether that's a Leith-focused pour or something further afield. The classic rock soundtrack hits the right note, the regulars are the kind who pull strangers into the conversation, and the Trainspotting theme gives the room its own particular character. When hunger lands, the spice bag is the thing people keep ordering. Dogs are welcome, the space is wheelchair accessible, and the crowd is reliably LGBTQ+ friendly — the sort of bar where the atmosphere does the work before anyone's even poured a drink.
The Mother Superior is the neighbourhood spot done right — unhurried, unpretentious, with a wine list that gives it an edge over most of its category.
What Stands Out
Whisky expertise
Over 400 bottles curated by industry-leading staff; recent reviewers praised Joey and Cullen for matching recommendations to individual taste rather than defaults.
Live music without noise
Saturday sessions feature classic rock and folk that reviewers describe as 'spot on' and 'excellent', anchoring the week without overwhelming the room.
Staff who engage
Bartenders are described as 'very knowledgeable', 'super knowledgeable', 'attentive', and 'fantastic'—consistently mentioned across recent reviews as the reason people return.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about The Mother Superior
The Mother Superior in Leith, Edinburgh draws solo drinkers regularly; bartenders like Joey and Cullen engage with customers and make recommendations based on taste, and the room is designed so a single person at the bar is part of the conversation, not apart from it.
The Mother Superior stocks over 400 whiskies, accessible via QR code. Staff are trained to match recommendations to your preferences rather than push the obvious choice; recent visitors praised bartenders for curating tastings and flights based on individual interests.
The Mother Superior hosts live music on Saturday nights, featuring classic rock and folk. Recent reviewers described the music as 'spot on' and 'excellent'—the kind that anchors the evening without drowning out conversation.
The Mother Superior in Leith welcomes dogs, making it a natural choice for anyone bringing a pet into the city centre for the evening.
The Mother Superior has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and is fully accessible for disabled guests.
The Mother Superior's kitchen menu is small and carefully considered. The chicken schnitzel with buttery potatoes and the spice bag are the dishes reviewers mention most often, both at fair prices.
Also in Leith
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