A lively modern izakaya that leans as much into sake and cocktails as food, with standout small plates, late-night service, and a few complaints about cramped seating and inconsistent pacing.
KOME Izakaya delivers exceptional food quality and outstanding service knowledge, with staff consistently praised for thoughtful sake and menu recommendations. The warm, carefully designed interior creates genuine destination appeal for evening outings, though occasional dish-to-dish variation and modest space comfort prevent a flawless showing.
KOME Izakaya feels like a compact, high-energy Japanese hangout that takes its drinks seriously and its food pretty seriously too. Reviews keep circling back to the same vibe: warm, knowledgeable hospitality, a buzzy room, and a place that can make a Tuesday night feel a bit like an occasion. The best shorthand is probably one diner’s description of it as a tiny corner of Japan with Edinburgh charm. The main caveat is that the room is small, the music can run loud, and when it’s busy the staff can look stretched. On the food side, this is modern izakaya rather than sleepy comfort-food Japan. The menu leans into small plates, yakitori, temaki, okonomiyaki, rice bowls, and a few playful twists like matcha tiramisu and fusion-leaning cocktails. That means it suits people who like sharing, trying a few things, and pairing bites with sake or a cocktail flight. It is less ideal if you want a huge, conservative menu or very large portions; the charm here is in the variety, the pacing, and the drink pairing more than sheer volume. For families, this is not the easy yes. The menu has a few child-accessible items like rice, noodles, tofu, cucumber, and some simple grilled bites, but the overall experience is clearly built for adults, especially drink-led evenings. If you’re bringing kids, expect a small-plate room with a lively bar feel rather than a classic family restaurant; picky eaters may find the menu a bit adventurous.
Area vibe: Upscale, residential-commercial mix with boutique shops and restaurants.
Safety: Generally safe with good lighting and evening foot traffic near Haymarket and Lothian Road.
What's nearby: Close to Haymarket station, Lothian Road theatres, boutique hotels, and popular restaurant streets.