A charming New Town bistro with genuinely appealing breakfast, brunch, and dinner dishes, but pricing, portion size, and occasional service lapses keep it from being an automatic yes for everyone.
The Olive Branch delivers solid food quality anchored by praised dishes like fish, steak, and French toast, supported by generally attentive service that keeps the experience reliable. A pleasant city-centre setting and consistent execution across most dimensions justify the grade, though occasional inconsistencies in cooking and service polish, along with uneven value perception at dinner, prevent a stronger showing.
The Olive Branch feels like one of those Edinburgh places people stumble into once and then start returning to for brunch, pre-theatre dinner, or a dependable catch-up. The room sounds intimate and casual rather than grand, with plenty of love for sunny window seats, a little terrace, and a staff style that is often described as warm and helpful. When it’s on form, diners talk about it like a small local winner: “a lovely little find,” “top service,” and meals that land with genuine charm. Culinarily, this is a modern Scottish bistro with a friendly comfort-food backbone and enough creativity to keep it interesting. The menu mixes breakfast classics, fish and chips, steak, risotto, haggis bon bons, and a few more playful touches like yaki udon, chimichurri, and sriracha aioli. That means it suits people who want familiar food with a bit of swagger, not diners hunting for ultra-traditional or avant-garde plates. The upside is plenty of choice and some real hits; the trade-off is that a few guests found portions modest and dinner pricing harder to love. For families, it looks broadly workable: the breakfast and brunch menu is full of kid-recognizable options like French toast, eggs, porridge, toast, chips, and burgers, so picky eaters should find something. Reviews also mention accommodating service and even individual requests for larger groups. That said, it’s not a cafeteria-style family joint; the space can feel tight and some dinner plates lean more grown-up than kid-first, so brunch or an early meal is the safer bet.
Area vibe: Historic, tourist-oriented city centre with many pubs, cafes and cultural sites.
Safety: Generally safe with good foot traffic but can be crowded; typical late-night rowdiness near pubs.
What's nearby: Close to Grassmarket, Candlemaker Row, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and tram/bus connections.