The White Hart Inn — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

The White Hart Inn is the oldest tavern in Edinburgh dating back to 1516. Many famous and notable patrons have frequented this establishment. The well known, celebrated and loved Scottish bard and poet, Robert Burns spent a week here in 1791 visiting his lover, Nancy Macklehose (Clarinda) for one last rendezvous. Notorious and sinister bodysnatchers, William Burke and William Hare also visited this pub. These two would lure unsuspecting victims to their intimately deaths and then later sell their corpses to Dr. Knox at Edinburgh Medical School. Their heads can be seen inside on the rafters peering down upon you. For many years, public executions were conducted about a hundred steps to the east from this establishment and the crowds kept the pub busy. The food is reasonably priced and tasty. It isn’t the best food I’ve ever had and the wait time can be a bit long, but The White Hart Inn makes up for it with the experience and the ales. I’ve come here many times and the place is always busy with people and spirits. Yes, that’s right! The place is reportedly haunted too! Some people love it so much they never leave 👻. The White Hart Inn is conveniently located in the heart of the busy and vibrant Grassmarket and is well worth a visit for a bite to eat, dram to savour...

Despite only popping in for a couple of pints on a Saturday afternoon, any pub deserves a quick review, even though I can't comment on food, live music, and the like! This is a Greene King pub, and while they may not do everything right, their staff (and management) is one thing they do really well, and the White Hart is no different. Service here is friendly and second to none. The place can get crowded but after a few false starts (we sat outside, at first, watching the world of the Grassmarket go by, but the rain came) we ended up sat at the bar (before moving out again, after the shower, for another smoke). Having a laugh with the staff at tourists' expense was a pleasure. The place feels cosy, despite the endless hordes of tourists. The toilets are clean. A good selection of drinks as you'd expect from GK and a decent menu (though, as I said, we didn't indulge in this occasion). My only criticism, as much as it is, would be the fixed PDQ/card reader, which means you're invariably bothering others as you try to pay. Or them bothering me, as I'm sat at the bar. Oh, and a marquee outside to keep the rain from...

Actually I didn’t want to write a review but I have the feeling I had to. I am sad. I’m coming over to Scotland since 15 years, minimum 2 times a year. The White Hart in was always my favorite pub. Here my daughter had her first Mac & Cheese, I had my first haggis and my first Whisky. But one week ago I was shocked. What happened to you? Noted it’s possible to do reservations now. We always found a cosy corner there before without but we gave it a try. So you are sitting at your table and the first thing is a sign saying new reservation in 2 hours. This certainly doesn’t make you feel welcome. Eat - pay and than please vanish. The steak pie we always loved before was not up to the usual high standard. To be honest, it was the worst steak pie we ever had in Scotland. The pastry was overcooked and dry, hardly no meat to find in it. Reminds us of a frozen pie out of a cheep supermarket. The staff did the job but with no love and no soul. We decided to leave as soon we payed and had some good beers served by welcoming staff round the corner. After 15 years this maybe was our last time in the...