Heads & Tales Gin Bar — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Drink here, don't eat here. I was due to travel away for a while, and decided to bring a few of my friends to Heads and Tales for drinks before leaving as I really like the decor.

The drinks are nice, I had been before, and I like the G-I-Y version, but as we had just come from work, I ordered some bites for friends- the waitress coerced us into ordering way too many starters but that was not all, when they came, the 'fish' in the fish and chips was off, the chicken wings tasted really bad, we could not eat them and the haggis balls she recommended we ordered were also very very bad. To top it all off, they had charged us a 'discretionary' service charge which is applicable to tables of 6 or more - we were 5.

I decided not to pay a discretionary service charge for bad food, and left the right amount for what we had ordered, including £3 as a tip. The waitress came back and in a LOUD voice announced to us and everybody else at the seating area that we had not paid the correct amount.

I told her that we had, and she said no - that there was a compulsory service charge for groups of six or more. I said, well count us - she saw that we were 5 and stammered and went away, without bothering to apologise to us. She came back to give us our change, and we said she should keep it.

I think, even if we had made the wrong payment, she could have been discreet about it, and come to tell me that she thinks there is a problem with the bill, as opposed to shouting it out...

Heads and Tales is a hidden gem of Edinburgh's drinking scene, and that is literally true as the only indication that there is a bar below is a small brass plaque on the wall above a set of stairs leading to a basement bar. Descend down these steps and you move into gin distillery, cocktail bar and a bar with some of the most helpful staff I have come across.

There is a list of cocktails, mainly gin, as this establishment transforms during the day to the distillery of Edinburgh Gin, but there is also a good selection of other cocktails, beers and spirits. Don't feel restricted by the menu, if you ask behind the bar for a particular cocktail or even suggest a few flavours that you like and you'll have your own personalised cocktail made for you.

A small snacking menu is available of meats, cheese and fish which can be accompanied by small tapas style vegetables and a delicate and tasty Crostini. The quality is very good but don't expect a full meal. It is really just nibbles.

If I was going to fault anything about the bar, it is the room on the right as you enter which can be a little dark but that is a minor criticism and certainly wouldn't affect the score I would give...

One of Edinburgh's brilliant hidden gems! Also now home to Edinburgh Gin and you're able to peek through the big windows into their distillery while sitting in the bar.

I love the private booths which are reminiscent of the old Edinburgh Caves.

Having worked my way through the majority of their cocktail menu, I can honestly say, there is a great range and there is something to please everyone. My favourites are : the one that come with the pink wafer and the peachy keen.. There is also a fun one that comes with popping candy.. Names are hard to remember once you've had a few!

For those who aren't cocktail fans (do such people even exist??!!??) They also do beers and wines and there's always just a classic G&T with a long list of gins to choose from.

With it being underground and no natural light fading to mark the passing of time.. beware of entering in the daylight but emerging...