Edinburgh Castle crowns Castle Rock after centuries as a fortress, royal residence and military garrison. After a visit, the descent along Castlehill and The Mound opens two routes to comforting meals without leaving the Old Town. Haggis with neeps and tatties, braised meats, pies and mash are well suited to a cold day or a long walk along the Royal Mile. The choice is not only about which dish to order: it also depends on whether you want a menu centred on mash and slow-cooked meats or a broader café-restaurant selection.
Makars Mash Bar is on Bank Street, a few minutes’ walk from the castle and The Mound. Its formula pairs house-made haggis, slow-cooked lamb and beef with different flavoured mashes; one door is for bookings and another for walk-ins. Reviews include plenty of praise for the meat, gravy and service, but popularity can mean queues. A few minutes south, MUMS Great Comfort Food serves haggis, sausages, savoury pies, stews and desserts such as crumble. Its Forrest Road dining room is informal, and breakfast-to-dinner hours offer visitors more flexibility.
For planning, Makars lists 20:30 as its last food order and allows bookings 30 days ahead; its walk-in list may close when the estimated wait exceeds 90 minutes. MUMS’s public listing shows a morning opening, but check the schedule on the day. The route from the castle to Makars descends along the Old Town’s cobbled streets; MUMS is near Greyfriars and the National Museum of Scotland, so it can fit before continuing to Grassmarket or after a visit to the historic kirkyard.
Haggis is a traditional preparation of minced offal with oats, onion and spices, often served with turnip and potato. At Makars it becomes part of a meat, mash and gravy combination with several variations; MUMS places it among a wider selection of familiar dishes. Makars also states that some meats and gravies contain alcohol used during cooking and cannot be changed, while listing vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. If you have dietary restrictions, check the official information before ordering.
Visitors wanting to try a Scottish dish near the castle and willing to book or wait will find Makars the more focused experience. MUMS works for groups with different tastes or anyone looking for a wider menu and an earlier meal. Both let you finish a castle visit on foot without adding another transfer; choose the style of dining room and leave some time for queues at busy periods.
Makars centres on slow-cooked meat and mash; MUMS adds pies, stews and broader hours. Check booking and dietary details before setting out.
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Makars Mash Bar
12 North Bank Street (entrada de clientes sin reserva: 9 North Bank Street), Edinburgh EH1 2LN, United Kingdom
Makars Mash Bar is on Bank Street, on the slope linking the castle with The Mound and the Old Town. Its frontage can be easy to miss among the shops and visitor traffic, but the restaurant has made a simple formula its signature: slow-cooked meat or plant-based alternatives served with flavoured mas
House-made haggis, slow-cooked meats and a choice of mash combinations
MUMS Great Comfort Food
4A Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QN, United Kingdom
MUMS Great Comfort Food is at 4A Forrest Road, between Greyfriars Kirkyard and the southern end of the Old Town. Its name explains the idea: stews, savoury pies, sausages, mash and home-style desserts in a casual dining room with a retro look and no formalities. Unlike Makars, its menu is closer to
Haggis with neeps and tatties, sausages, savoury pies, stews and classic desserts
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Makars Mash Bar ↗
Primary source
Makars Mash Bar · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Makars Mash Bar ↗
Primary source
Makars Mash Bar · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MUMS Great Comfort Food ↗
Primary source
Forever Edinburgh · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MUMS Great Comfort Food ↗
Primary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Edinburgh Castle · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Forever Edinburgh · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Makars Mash Bar ↗
Primary source
Makars Mash Bar · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Google rating and visitor comments for Makars Mash Bar ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 11, 2026
La ficha de North Bank Street reproduce Google: 4.8/5 con 10,924 opiniones; comentarios recientes elogian carnes, puré y servicio, y señalan esperas. Consultada el 11/10/2026.
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Google rating and visitor comments for MUMS Great Comfort Food ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 11, 2026
La ficha de 4A Forrest Road separa plataformas y reproduce Google: 4.5/5, 4,965 reseñas; comentarios recientes elogian platos, cerveza y porciones. Consultada el 11/10/2026.