Edinburgh Adventure | Review: Angels with Bagpipes

Following on with the 'let's have a wander and see what we can find' theme of the Edinburgh Adventure weekend, after heading back from the Camera Obscura and braving the cold we decided to stop for a bite to eat. Pret, Maccies and Wetherspoon's all offered the same old same old we could get on our lunch break. So after having a stroll around the old town, a gorgeous restaurant caught our eye.



Angels with Bagpipes (what a name - well, it is opposite St Giles' Church) is located on the Royal Mile,and a prime tourist location. It looks absolutely gorgeous from the outside, and as we were dressed in jeans and tees, we weren't sure whether we'd be allowed in. After being refused entry from a MEXICAN restaurant with my parents as a child for wearing jeans, I've always been mortified at dress codes, preferring to find something more suitable than go through that ordeal again.

Amazingly we were warmly greeted by the girl working front of house. She mentioned that as it was Mother's Day, the back area of the restaurant was booked up with lunches and dinners, but we were more than welcome to grab a table at the front.

We sat at the window table, and the menus were brought over promptly. We decided for a glass of prosecco and two courses, as we still hada bit of walking to do, and went with the beef, a chocolate dessert and a rhubarb concoction. The menu was a bit limited, but what do you expect from a lunch menu?



The beef arrived soon after ordering, and was the most tender meat I've ever eaten. It was more the texture of pulled pork, but it was delicious. It looked gorgeous on the plate too, so of course there were the obligatory photos (don't hate us).

With the mains polished off, it was on to dessert. The chocolate was so, so rich, and so tasty. It was served with a refreshing Clementine sorbet type cream which balanced the flavours so well. And considering I've never understood what people mean when they say a 'balance of flavours' I'm pretty sure a trip to this place years ago would have solved that issue.

The rhubarb and custard treat was served rustically in a Mason jar, and was just the right combination of sweet and bitter. It came with two little biscuits which finished off the meal nicely.

All in all, it was a flying visit. We probably didn't stay for more than an hour, and it would have been lovely to have stopped for dinner. Still, we're so glad we stumbled upon this gorgeous little place.

A two course meal with glass of prosecco will cost £21 each.

Angels with Bagpipes | 343 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1PW | 0131 220 1111