1820 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant Edinburgh

Absolutely gorgeous - both the views and the whisky. If you're on the fence about whisky, or you're not sure if you'll enjoy it or not, this is a place where you'll be able to find out definitively whether you're a whisky drinker or not. Plenty of others have raved about the views here already, which to be fair are absolutely gorgeous, but I'm going to stick to the whisky for this review. As a novice in the ways of whisky appreciation, I wasn't sure what I would make of the place but I'm definitely glad I came! Our server, Louise, was incredibly nice and knowledgeable, taking the time to answer all of our questions and offer some suggestions & recommendations based on our preferences. The only thing I really knew going into this experience was that Highland Park 16 was the first whisky I'd ever truly enjoyed, but with just that information Louise was able to offer a glut of information on other whiskys I might enjoy. I decided to splurge on some rarer whisky, and I'm still not sure if I'm glad I did or not, because I'm not sure if I'll be able to get any bottles of what I tried and loved - with the one exception of the Dailuaine 17, which can apparently only be had at 1820. For that alone, I might need to come back here soon! However, my favorite was definitely the Mortlach 21 - at cask strength it started off with a bit of spice almost like a smoked cayenne, then transitioned into a slightly tart apple flavor before finishing off with a light licorice bitterness. After enjoying it straight I added just a tiny splash of water which softened and rounded all of the flavors a bit without diluting or muting any. As I slowly sipped, the spice and tartness stayed but the end note began to sweeten a bit more, almost like shifting from black to red licorice. Upon swallowing, the spicy tingle seemed to abruptly end at the back of the tongue, leaving a rather cool and dry feeling in the throat with nary a burning sensation to be found. I think my friend Gerry was right, and I probably am a proper whisky drinker now.

What a stunning spot! 1820 Rooftop Bar and Restaurant on the 6th floor above the Johnnie Walker store offers one of the best views of Edinburgh—absolutely breathtaking. You can choose to sit inside or out on the terrace, both offering great ambiance. For lunch, we enjoyed the cheddar croquettes and the Black Isle pork belly with chunky chips—everything was flavorful and perfectly prepared. I had two Ruby Sour cocktails, which were smooth and vibrant, while my wife loved her Black Ruby Collins. Both drinks were as tasty as they were well-crafted. A fantastic place for a scenic and flavorful meal—definitely worth a visit!

Perfect for watching the sunset over the city skyline. The ambience is stylish and relaxed. Limited indoor sitting in case of bad weather. So I would recommend booking prior to visiting. Great spot for drinks with a view and definitely a worth visit if you're in Edinburgh!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard we were going here. Part of me feared a soulless, corporate setup - but the 1820 Rooftop Bar turned out to be a genuinely lovely experience. The views are absolutely worth it, we went at sunset which was a great time to go. Having the money they do, they have a great location, and have elevated things beyond that into a great experience, with warm hospitality, a solid drinks list, and quality food. Definitely recommend booking in advance to make sure you get some time here. They have a full menu, and while I spent much more of my time in Edinburgh trying to explore smaller, local whiskey makers and establishments - I will remember my time here. I enjoyed my Blue Label with a view, and had a great time grabbing some photos with the Johnnie Walker statues, soaking in the skyline, and have to admit that the vibe of the establishment surprised me in the best way. If you’re an actual or wannabe influencer, or just want a cool photo for your Instagram attached to a fun time, this place is definitely worth it.

We had a great time overall. There’s a large variety of drinks on the menu, and every single one we ordered was spot on—really well crafted and delicious. The food options are a bit limited, and portions are small, but everything we tried was flavorful and well prepared. Definitely fair for the price. The host and our server were both very friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The only issue we had was with a staff member named Ruadh, who approached us about 1 hour and 15 minutes into our reservation to say we had only 15 minutes left at the table. This was confusing since the website clearly states a two-hour seating limit. We had just ordered our second round of drinks and suddenly felt rushed. She mentioned the time limit three more times but didn’t bring the payment machine until the end—reminding us yet again that our time was up, even though we hadn’t hit the two-hour mark. Because of this awkward ending, I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5. We had made a reservation in advance and expected to enjoy the full time allotted. Hopefully this can be improved in the future.

Visited after the Johnnie Walker whisky tour for some lunch before waiting to catch the train back home. Looked at the reviews online before and thought it looked good. The view off Edinburgh from the outside areas are amazing and the seating is nice and relaxed. Service was good, you get a 10% discount from your bill if you do the whisky tour prior which is a nice little bonus. We had the charcuterie and cheese selection plates to share and both were very nice. I had a low alcohol beer as I didn't want to feel drunk Sikhs on the train, my wife was driving after the train journey so had cola. Everything was good and as mentioned the price was good also. I would definitely recommend that you try this bar, even if you don't do the tour as its a lovely place for a drink and little bite to eat.

Decided to grab a small dinner after our whisky tasting. It’s got a nice ambiance and probably more on the drinking only type of vibe but we enjoyed the food we ordered. The food and drinks we ordered were all delicious. I gave 4 stars overall rating and for the service as well due to the fact that when we arrived the hostess told us we had the table until 2100 …but…at around 2030, another waiter, who didn’t serve us at all , told us that we had 15 min left at the table..I wanted to order another drink but gladly we were done eating so we decided to just pay the bill and leave..I understand that we were fortunate to get a table without reservation but the confusion of having to leave before our initial time was up was disappointing.

Very cool rooftop bar in the middle of Edinburgh. Staff was very friendly and accomodating eventhough the place was quite busy on a random weekday afternoon. You can try some hard to find whiskies there and great coctails. You can enjoy the view over St. John's church and the castle.