The Devil’s Advocate

The Devil's Advocate is a bar and restaurant on Advocate's Close, one of the steep, narrow closes that drop from the Royal Mile in the Old Town. It occupies a historic building just off the main tourist routes, which gives it a pleasantly tucked-away feel even though it is only a few steps from the High Street.

Whisky is the speciality, with more than 300 Scottish and world whiskies on the shelves, making it a good place to explore beyond the famous names. The bar also has a list of inventive cocktails created by award-winning bartenders, a wine list, craft beers and low and no-alcohol options. Food is taken seriously too: the kitchen serves seasonal Scottish dishes from an ever-changing menu, as light bites, lunch or dinner, and food is served daily until 9.30pm.

The bar is open from noon until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and the terrace is open until 10pm. Tables can be booked through the website, which is a good idea for dinner and on weekend evenings, and the venue offers group dining and festive menus over Christmas and Hogmanay. Because of the historic building, access includes stairs.

The Devil's Advocate suits whisky lovers, couples and small groups looking for a characterful Old Town bar that also does good food. If you are new to whisky, a good approach is to compare a couple of drams from different Scottish regions side by side, and the food menu means you can make an evening of it rather than drinking on an empty stomach. It works as a lunch stop on a day exploring the Royal Mile and as an evening destination, and the long whisky list gives newcomers plenty to explore.

Advocate's Close opens off the High Street section of the Royal Mile, so it is a short walk from St Giles' Cathedral and the Real Mary King's Close. Cockburn Street and Waverley station are a short walk downhill, and the Scotch Whisky Experience and the castle are a few minutes uphill, so a whisky-themed day can easily end here. For live music afterwards, The Jazz Bar on Chambers Street and Whistle Binkies on South Bridge are both within around ten minutes' walk.