The Voyage of Buck — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

When it comes to cocktails, The Voyage of Buck offers vibrant and diverse drinks that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

The cocktail menu here takes you on a tour across five major cities that were very poignant in the life of William ‘Buck’ Clarence, philanthropist, polo player and travel companion of Prince Albert Victor, the infamous grandson of Queen Victoria. ‘Buck’ returned to Edinburgh Scotland in 1900 and lived in the house that is now the Voyage of Buck until 1935.

Travel around the globe with cocktails from Venice, such as the Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini, the Black Opium Negroni from Shanghai or the Sumac Paloma from Istanbul. Maybe a wee trip to Monte Carlo is what you fancy with Bugatti Highball.

For our drinks we stayed local with a mocktail using local Talonmore; and we also hopped over to Jamaica with the Calypso Sour. All the drinks are very well balanced, not overwhelming on the alcohol and a delight to drink.

Voyage of Buck’s Autumn/Winter menu is all about sharing. For me, sharing plates are more than just a dining trend; they are a communal experience that fosters connection and enjoyment. The beauty of sharing plates lies in the opportunity to sample a variety of flavours and textures, transforming the act of eating into a journey of exploration.

As each dish arrived at the table, a sense of excitement filled the air, as we both reached across the table to claim our portion, with many an ‘oo’ and an ‘ah’ of delight as we savoured the offerings.

The Hummus and Sourdough provided the perfect appetiser whilst we changed our minds several times over what to order. The creamy, smooth hummus paired perfectly with the tangy, chewy sourdough.

We chose the Ricotta Raviolo and the Oxtail. Both dishes equally delectable. The raviolo was beautifully crafted golden pockets housing creamy cheese and sat in a pool of pumpkin veloute. The cinnamon flavour was very prevalent.

As for the slow cooked oxtail, it was a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy hidden underneath a blanket of the creamiest and lightest of truffle potatoes.

There's a choice of five mains dishes. Very tempted by the Beetroot Risotto it was the Chicken and the Venison that got ordered.

We indulged in the succulent cooked chicken breast boasting tender, flavourful meat that paired exquisitely with crispy, golden-brown potatoes and the chicken and mushroom jus.

The venison is their signature dish and no wonder. Cooked to absolute perfection - seared on the outside whilst still red in the centre. It was melt in the mouth incredible and I have to say, possibly THE BEST venison I have eaten since Kilted Lobster in Stockbridge closed!

A must order dish!

There’s two choices for dessert and a cheese course.

House custard tart, rhubarb compote (£7)

Whole St Marcillin cheese, maple roasted figs, pistachios, sourdough (£14)

Buck’s affogato; vanilla pod ice cream, espresso (£6)

We went for the Custard Tart and the Affogato. Although rhubarb is not in season, it is used here as a compote; and to me Autumn feels like the perfect time for rhubarb! Tart was well cooked and added the perfect sweet end to dinner. The Affogato was all it promised to be - coffee and vanilla ice-cream.

The Voyage of Buck offers a cosy yet stylish ambiance and knowledgeable staff which really enhance the dining experience, ensuring your visit is a memorable one.

Say goodbye to the ordinary and let your taste buds embark on a voyage...

I went to this place with my wife without a reservation and asked for a table for food at the entrance. We were offered a place at the bar where ordered some drinks while waiting for the table. After 30 minutes we saw an empty table for two and asked the staff if it was free but they said it was only for drinks and the chef was not taking any walk-in people for dinner. Also the same person told me that I've asked for a table and not specified we also wanted to eat, and the person who received us might have not understood or clarified. I asked if they could fix the misunderstanding by letting us sit anyway and eat, considering it was already 19:30 hs but they rejected the request even after being very clear about how frustrated I felt by their response. We left the place without any type of compensation besides a verbal apology. I am really disappointed with how I was treated as a customer and I only assign this behavior to this particular place, since I had an outstanding experience as a tourist in Scotland and this is the exception, not the rule. Also worth noting that the barman who provided our drinks at the bar was very nice...

We arrived at 3pm to find a party of around 40-50 people celebrating a wedding. The only table available was beside the bar and underneath a speaker. Given the noise levels of 40-50 people meeting and greeting this was not a great atmosphere for a pleasant afternoon lunch. The food menu looked interesting however several of the dishes seemed like culinary experiments - burrata with water melon & honey (sounds interesting) but when it arrived there was a heavy dose of sea Salton top of a what was otherwise a lovely burrata. Other dishes were similarly odd combinations. Wine (£9.00+) was very poor quality. Food aside the noise levels from the wedding party made it almost impossible for my wife and I to speak across the table. Perhaps this could have been a relaxed venue but I don't think you can host a group of 40-50 which almost fills a bar and simultaneously have couples at other small tables. I appreciate this group were great business for the pub however they sacrificed the small tables and lost the opportunity of cultivating possible return customers. Even with a better menu this meal is one of the worst experiences I have...