A beloved Portobello wine bar built around excellent cheese, charcuterie, and wine flights, with a relaxed, local feel; it is worth a visit if you like grazing-style dining, but portions can feel small relative to the bill.
Smith & Gertrude excels through exceptional service knowledge and attentiveness, with staff consistently guiding guests through wine pairings and selections with unusual expertise for a casual wine bar. Food quality remains strong and reliable, anchored by praised cheese boards and wine flights that showcase the kitchen's focus on high-quality grazing rather than elaborate cooking. The polished Portobello setting and warm atmosphere round out a well-executed experience, though modest board portions and limited destination appeal keep it just short of the very top tier.
Smith & Gertrude feels like a polished but unpretentious neighborhood wine bar that happens to take cheese very seriously. Reviewers keep coming back for the same reason: the wine flights, the pairings, and the staff who can steer you toward something you actually like instead of just reciting a list. One guest summed it up nicely as a place with a relaxed vibe, great music, and people who genuinely know their bottles. The culinary approach is simple, direct, and built for grazing rather than grand dining. Expect cheese boards, charcuterie, grilled cheese, burrata, and a few smart small bites rather than a broad kitchen menu. That makes it ideal for wine lovers, casual dates, solo stops, and long catch-up sessions; it is less ideal if you want a full-on dinner with lots of hot dishes or heavy portions. For families, this is more flexible than a serious wine bar but still not a kids-first spot. The menu does include familiar items such as grilled cheese sandwiches, bread, olives, and chocolate, which some children will happily eat. Still, the experience is really built around wine flights and adult grazing, so families with picky kids should go in expecting a light meal rather than a full kids' menu.
Area vibe: Seaside, residential high-street with cafes, independent shops and a relaxed vibe.
Safety: Generally safe and family-friendly with decent evening footfall on main street but quieter after pubs close.
What's nearby: Near Portobello Beach promenade, playgrounds, suburban shops and good bus links to central Edinburgh.