Hey Palu — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Negroni flight is disappointing, doesn’t taste good. Just a gimmick.

Had 2 drinks and then they refused to serve our group of 3 anymore without giving a reason, just that it was at the staffs discretion without elaborating. We explained that we weren't drunk and how we were confused at the decision - thinking it must have been something we said, or that they misheard. None of us were at all drunk or doing anything that would warrant this.

Edit in response to reply: We each had one drink with a meal an hour before we arrived, we had just been at a show, so definitely did not arrive “obviously drunk”, and definitely none of us would have insulted any member of staff. (Have you confused us for another group?) We spoke quietly amongst ourselves the entire time. This was a really weird experience and other, better, cocktail bars were happy to have us. We had 2 drinks each in 1 hour 45 mins, while drinking lots of water and having the bar snacks, not exactly going to cause anyone to become extremely intoxicated to the point they can’t be served. There were certainly people next to us who were seemingly more drunk, and louder, but that's what is expected at a bar during the busiest time of the year.

I also booked a TABLE for 4 and we were squeezed in at the bar, with 3 of us, though didn’t complain about this. Lucky it was just 3 of us not 4, otherwise we wouldn’t have been accommodated.

We have been to many of the best cocktail bars around the country, we have worked in hospitality, there is absolutely no chance that any one from your staff was called that, so this is a misunderstanding, or trying to discredit my review. If we were too drunk and asked to leave I would accept it the next day and say the judgment was fair and you're just doing your job - but the reason I am bothering to write this review at length is I know how much we drank before arriving, I know how we acted during the time there, and I know that we were not causing any issue. I seriously question the judgment of your staff, and I wonder how you are able to serve anyone at all if that is what you consider to...

The sign on the door says "Negroni and Shenanigans," and not only would that be a great autobiography title for me, but it's the perfect encapsulation of Hey Palu! This is a truly lovely place, feeling especially homely and inviting when sunlit, making it the ideal spot for an early evening drink.

Behind the bar, Becca is an absolute magician and an exceptional host. Our time here was genuinely great, thanks in large part to her. I indulged in a Negroni flight and then a larger version of my favorite from the selection, the Caffe Cyroni. This Negroni flight was easily right up there with my other top pick, the one at the BKK Social Club – I highly recommend it!

I also wholeheartedly endorse their Dealer's Choice option. Becca whipped up a wonderful, floral drink for my partner which she absolutely loved, and I'd trust the bartenders at Hey Palu to craft something tremendous every single time. And yes, the snacks were delicious too, perfectly complementing the drinks.

Hey Palu is a must-visit for its fantastic cocktails, warm atmosphere, and truly exceptional...

EDITED ON 02/01/25: I am editing this review as the reply from the business was really considerate. HOWEVER, I would like to give further details about what happened so the reader can appreciate my initial review.

When I asked for the bill, I was not given one. The waitress directly handed me the payment terminal with an amount of £11.05 (which I read as 11.5, but I might have been wrong). To me, this felt coercive and not discretionary, as the only way for me to avoid paying the added tip was to confront her and ask for the bill to be issued. Also, I can see that I am not the first one to complain about the service charge, so it might be good to review this specific practice to match your service standards.

Original comment: Abusive forced-tip practices. I went there for just one drink. It was a £10 margarita, the waitress charged me a £1.5 extra for tips without even asking for my permission. The drink was good but the tips practice...