Whiski Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

When we go to a restaurant we desire a full good experience. Food and drinks, atmosphere, ambience, service...About the food and drinks, I must say Whiski Bar & Restaurant is definitely 5 stars!!! We all order the Haggis Tower and wine. The kid's menu was good and my son enjoyed it.

However, as I said most of the visitors are looking to have a good experience. I booked a table online (August 29 at 19:15) to 4 people (my elderly mom, my sister and my 9y-old son). When I got to the restaurant, there were many empty tables, 3 tables for 4 people and 1 for 5 people. The hostess indicated a table for us just near the entrance. The door was fully opened and it was windy. So, I asked for another table...and then... the problem started!!! The hostess said she couldn't fit us in another table as all were reserved (I reserved too). Then, she decided to put us on a table for 5, she gave us the menu and told us that we had only 1h:15 min to eat as it was reserved (note that my booking was for 2 hours). I asked to change to a table of 4 as I had previously booked because I didn't want to hurry.

What an awful experience! She tried to explain that we couldn't move as 'the system' didn't allow her to make the change and that I had booked the table near the door. Nonsense as there was not an option to choose the location of the table online. After, I said if it was going to be a problem I could leave and find another restaurant, she 'agreed' that we could sit in a cosy table for 4. 15 minutes later we could experience the food that the restaurant has to offer.

note: the table for 5 people (that she offered us to eat in 1h:15) was empty for 1 hour. Two people arrived there. 50 minutes later (when I asked the bill), one more person arrived, making it 3 people. the table at the entrance was empty most of the time, with just people who hadn't booked sitting there for a quick drink.

conclusion: staff training and common sense would be essential to avoid this...

Awful experience. We were sat outside with a drink and were asked to come indoors as it was after 10pm and by law you can't drink alcohol outdoors. As we went in we couldn't find a table. A group kindly offered us theirs as they were leaving. The manager said that we were intimidating customers and they were only leaving because of us! 😮🤔 The bar staff- a young male and female then went on to talk down to us and said that we were being rude and pathetic! Never ever experienced anything quite like it in my life. The barmaid then came outside aggressively stacking the chairs around us as we finished our drink we had just bought indoors. Honestly if you ever go in there look out for the RUDE, passive aggressive behaviour of staff in there!! Disgusting customer service. Won't ever step foot in the place ever again. The owner has now responded by spouting utter lies!! Wow just wow. See below. So I sent them an email.

Lies.. Wow just wow. We were not intimidating anyone. They were Canadian not American. Get your facts correct before spouting nonsense. They offered us their table. We didn't ask anyone or demand any table. We bought drinks and will finish them illegally outdoors seeing as you told us to leave for absolutely nothing! I left Dundee to come to Edinburgh in the hope of a better life. It's unsavoury people at your dingy overpriced pub that make life so miserable. Thanks for treating thoroughly decent people out trying to enjoy themselves feel extremely anxious, embarrassed and intimated!! The only intimidation created was by you and your terrible bar staff! If you don't like dealing with the general public then leave! Really is that simple. You're in the wrong job! You should have called the police, I would have loved to have told them about your behaviour. I sincerely hope customers start to disappear from your establishment. I've seen several other reviews that echo my sentiments. Have a rubbish...

Would NEVER recommend going there! After visiting so many great places in Scotland and having such wonderful service from such kind people - we were in distraught at very rude service from the manager of this place, as he did with others as I can read below. We never said there was anything wrong with the previous order we simply didn’t like it. This is not how the manager perceived it. He took it very personally. Every customer should be able to order as they like to.

How on Earth an establishment can have managers running places like this who should be simply making sure their customers are at ease and comfortable rather to be the ones to escalate an unnecessary situation. I assume this was possibly a newer manager that had been given some kind of authority and he didn’t utilise this well. Being refused service in this place was just the confirmation that the insecurity lay with the management and they in the end I believe will have felt shameful for their behaviour because the two ladies next to us also walked out after seeing how disrespectful they were to us.

For all of those searching for live music in Edinburgh this will likely come up as first on the list but I DONT recommend it. You are looking for a fun enjoyable evening with friendly people. THIS will definitely dampen your mood! If live music is what your looking for then I recommend ‘ George IV Bar’ - the address is 54 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EJ, United Kingdom. Super friendly welcoming staff and prices along with much more space and great live acts performing. Open until super late too! We are glad we left this place and went to 54 George IV Bridge as we had the best night.

To whisky bar - do better with your customer service and maybe rethink your management approach...