Makars Mash Bar

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 mash and gravy. Two adjacent doors separate booked tables from walk-ins; both lead to the same dining room. Its proximity to the castle and Waverley station makes it convenient before or after sightseeing, although its popularity can mean a wait.

The menu brings together house-made haggis, slow-cooked lamb and beef, chicken, vegetarian dishes and several mash combinations. The restaurant says it works with Scottish producers and offers vegan and gluten-free choices; it also warns that some meats and gravies are cooked with alcohol and cannot be changed, useful information for anyone avoiding it. Diners repeatedly praise the meat, sides and welcoming team. They also mention queues, generous portions and mash that is drier than some styles, balanced by the gravy. Restaurant Guru reproduces a Google rating of 4.8/5 from 10,924 reviews for this branch in its 11 October 2026 check.

The official site lists daily service from 12:00 to 20:30 and clarifies that 20:30 is the last food order. Reservations open exactly 30 days ahead; for walk-ins, the restaurant keeps tables aside, takes a name and texts guests when a table is ready, but closes the list once the quoted wait exceeds 90 minutes. Bookings are limited to groups of eight. This system helps with day planning: a reservation is safest in peak season, while arriving at opening may shorten the wait. For a more casual comparison centred on pub-style comfort dishes, MUMS Great Comfort Food is a few minutes’ walk away.