Panda & Sons — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

WOW.

I'll admit I thought this was going to be one of those obnoxious yet trendy molecular mixology speakeasy cocktail bars. It may be trendy, it does use speakeasy kitsch, and does employ fancy technology for their drinks... but something about this particular spot draws it all together in a beautifully cohesive way.

I mean, it's also got pandas everywhere. How can you be a hater when you're surrounded by pandas?

First up was the woman at the door. She was awesome. We showed up with no reservation (MAKE A RESERVATION) but it was early in the evening so we didn't think we'd need one. It would have been a very good idea to have made one. Despite it being full, she managed to move some things around and squeeze us into a table. All the staff were great. Super helpful and accommodating.

The drinks were outstanding. Really interesting flavours, textures, and presentation. I was a doubter until I tasted them. I don't normally even like rum but the Culture Club surprised me in the best way. I do love bananas so that helps. A lot of the cocktails seem simple in the menu when you look at ingredients, but the techniques really bring the drinks to a new level. I think some of the best cocktails are ones that know how to perfectly balance unique combinations of minimal ingredients in new ways.

We had only been planning on one drink, but stayed for 2 more rounds.

Amazing experience in every aspect. I can see why this place is consistently packed and has won so many accolades. I can't wait to try them again on...

Now this is about expectations - as a basement bar Panda and Sons is perfectly acceptable - the fact at street level the windows are styled as a barbershop is novel - a rather tired stair case leading to a door disgusted as a book case is fun and opening into a rather ordinary bar area - but to be named among the WORLDS best - in fact named the 2nd best bar in the world by the US Food and Wine magazine - I expected so much more WOW. Welcome was friendly, knowledge of servers very good and they were attentive - but to be amongst the world's best the premises needs to be much more imaginative - velvet curtains that would benefit from a dry clean - paintwork and furnishings would benefit from upgrading. The cocktails were good - and at the prices changed they have to be - so service was good, drinks were good - but reinvestment into the venue is really needed - otherwise it's just a basement bar behind a door with false books. If it had not been styled as amongst the world's best then i would have adjusted feedback - it does question what criteria was being applied by the awarding body. So as somewhere a bit different to go and if you are willing to pay pretty much top dollar - almost £50 for 3 cocktails - then Panda and Son is fine - it's all about...

This has to be up there with one of the best, if not THE best, cocktail bars I've ever visited.

Every member of staff, from the doorman to the waiters and bar staff were exceptionally friendly. My partner and I were made to feel welcome from the moment we entered the venue til the moment we left. As for the service, it was fantastic; staff were attentive without over-doing it.

The venue itself is very impressive. Enter behind a subtle bookcase door into an underground Aladdin's cave of drinking and music. Great touch. There was plenty of seating and the rows of small bar tables and proximity to other patrons makes for an intimate experience.

Now we come to the cocktails - Panda & Sons' bread and butter. They were mindblowing. The menu is built up of a few cocktails they have come up with themselves, and a variety of drinks that other cocktail bars around the world have devised. You can take yourself to Paris, New York, Melbourne or Oslo, amongst many others. I went for a Red Panda and it was like a Bloody Mary laced with a secret ingredient designed to get me hooked. Out of this world.

If you are on the fence about visiting this place, and you like cocktails, DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY. It is so worth it - even if there's a...