A lively Royal Mile burger spot with genuinely strong gluten-free options, big portions, and very mixed value: the cooking and service can shine, but pricing, automatic charges, and occasional misses keep it from being an easy yes.
Burgers and Beers Grillhouse delivers solid neighborhood dining with strong food quality anchored by juicy burgers, excellent wings, and inventive sides that earn consistent praise. Warm, attentive service and a prime Old Town location are genuine strengths, but inconsistent execution on fries and buns and frequent pricing complaints—especially the à la carte structure—prevent this from reaching higher territory. Best approached as a treat destination rather than casual dining.
Burgers and Beers Grillhouse feels like a high-energy Royal Mile pit stop that knows exactly what it is: big burgers, wings, tots, beer, and enough tourist traffic to keep the room buzzing. When it’s on, diners rave about the warm welcome and the kind of service that makes a quick stop turn into a long stay — one review summed it up as a place to “get away from the Royal Mile craziness” and settle in for a proper break. The cooking leans playful, hearty, and broadly crowd-pleasing rather than refined: loaded burgers, challenge-sized builds, hot dogs, wings, and over-the-top sides. That said, the menu is more inventive than plain diner fare, with things like truffle aioli, haggis riffs, plant-based options, and a dedicated gluten-free setup that gets unusually strong praise. It’s best for people who want a fun, indulgent burger session and don’t mind paying a premium for the location and the extras. For families, the menu actually helps: the kids’ section has familiar burgers and a plant-based option, so picky eaters should find something workable. The real caution is not kid-friendliness but pricing — meals can climb quickly once you add sides and drinks, so it’s better for a treat than a casual budget dinner.
Area vibe: Historic, tourist-heavy central Edinburgh with shops, attractions and heritage architecture.
Safety: Generally busy and well-lit in evenings due to tourists, but pickpocketing can occur and some side streets quiet late.
What's nearby: Adjacent to Royal Mile attractions, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum, Waverley Station and many pubs, theatres and tourist shops.