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Understory, Edinburgh,

Understory

4.9 (19)
£25 and under
Cocktail Bar
1a Rutland Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2AD

Make a reservation

A photo of Understory restaurant

Understory

4.9
£25 and under
Cocktail Bar
Westend

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Innovative
  • Good for groups
Understory is a subterranean cocktail bar and kitchen in central Edinburgh. Set in a stone-vaulted room below street level, it opens in 2026 under a new team.

The drinks are built from ingredients made in-house: shrubs, cordials, ferments and infusions produced in our own lab, then served cold, dry and unfussed. The list changes in batches rather than seasons.
The kitchen runs a short menu of small plates designed for sharing across a long evening, alongside bar snacks and soft serve.

Open seven days. Walk-ins welcome; booking advised Thursday to Saturday.
The vaults are also available for private hire.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Speakeasy, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–1:00 am Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–3:00 am
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Westend
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    10 minute walk from Haymarket Train Station, 20 minute walk from Waverley Train Station.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Wine
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Concierge
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Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Understory.

4.9

4.9
(19)
  • 4.9Food
  • 5.0Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.8Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Best Overall

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Best Food

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Best Service

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Best Ambiance

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Best Value

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Innovative

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Good for groups

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Hot spot

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Romantic

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Lively

  • Edinburgh

    Best Overall

  • Edinburgh

    Best Food

  • Edinburgh

    Best Service

  • Edinburgh

    Best Ambiance

  • Edinburgh

    Best Value

  • Edinburgh

    Innovative

  • Edinburgh

    Good for groups

  • Edinburgh

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Edinburgh

    Hot spot

  • Edinburgh

    Romantic

  • Edinburgh

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Understory offers a "beautiful" setting with a "fabulous" atmosphere and "innovative cocktails." Guests rave about the "attentive" staff and "delicious" food, making it ideal for special occasions. The venue's "quirky twist" on classics and "sumptuous" décor create a "memorable" experience, promising a return visit for many satisfied patrons.
19 Reviews
  1. Aliyah

    Edinburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 23, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience for 24th birthday! Beautiful beautiful bar

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  2. Michelle

    Dunbartonshire7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 17, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A really cool bar with lots of different areas to sit in. Really nice decor, dark red walls and a dark floral ceiling, soft lighting made it feel really cosy. Great service. Cicktails were nice, a bit pricey but fairly average for Edinburgh
    UnderstoryResponded on October 19, 2026
    Hello Michelle, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback on your experience in Understory. I am so glad you enjoyed your experience in venue. We really look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Regards, Team Understory

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  3. Gillian

    New York City34 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 3, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful venue with a good choice of cocktails. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. Mt birthday was recognised in the loveliest way. I felt very spoiled.
    UnderstoryResponded on October 5, 2026
    Hi Gillian, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are delighted to hear that the team were able to make your birthday special. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon. All the best, Team Understory

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  4. Minnie

    Edinburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 2, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was amazing and cocktails are creative and delicious. Perfect way to spend my birthday. Thank you!!
    UnderstoryResponded on October 4, 2026
    Hi Minnie, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. I am really glad that you chose Understory to celebrate your birthday and that we were able to make that occasion special for you, we look forward to welcoming you back again in the future. All the best, Team Understory

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  5. joana

    Edinburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Understory is an amazing bar and the staff was absolutely marvellous! I can’t even find the words to describe how perfect the service and overall experience was. The staff were super attentive, kind, patient (we asked them to take pictures and they made sure we were happy with the pictures they took). Not to mention the food and drinks - delicious food and delicious cocktails! We were 10 people in total and there wasn’t a single person who didn’t ask “how did you find this place? It’s amazing!” - needless to say we will be coming back very soon. 10/10, highly recommend it! The decor, the service, the food, drinks, staff - it was everything I could have asked for. So so happy to have found this bar. Thank you for the lovely night. And a huge thank you to the staff who were impeccable! Keep up the great work.
    UnderstoryResponded on October 2, 2026
    Hello Joana, Thank you so much for your amazing feedback. It is so great to hear how fantastic your overally experience was and that we were able to provide you and your guests with an amazing experience. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Regards, Team Understory

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  6. Julia Gold

    Portland6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved our experience here, the staff were very helpful with recommendations, and came by whenever a glass was low. Great food options too!! Definitely will be back again
    UnderstoryResponded on October 2, 2026
    Hello, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback. It was absolutely a pleaseure to welcome you. We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Regards, Team Understory

    Is this helpful?

  7. Julie

    Edinburgh1 review

    4.0

    Dined on September 19, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Hi Fantastic cocktails and super friendly helpful staff Bar was cold maybe because we went early in the evening. Sat with jackets on
    UnderstoryResponded on October 2, 2026
    Hello, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback. It was absolutely a pleaseure to welcome you. We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Regards, Team Understory

    Is this helpful?

  8. Lesley

    Edinburgh16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 18, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    New cocktail bar open. very cool interior, great service, innovative cocktails
    UnderstoryResponded on October 2, 2026
    Hello, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback. It was absolutely a pleaseure to welcome you. We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Regards, Team Understory

    Is this helpful?

  9. Carol

    Edinburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 13, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Attended the soft launch over the weekend and can't fault anything. The cocktails were amazing, loved the quirky twist on traditional. The food was superb, we tried the nashville fried chicken, steak tartar and caviar and teriyaki cauliflower poppers and couldn't fault any if it. Highly recommend the chicken. Even the dirty martini olives were some of the best of tried. If your looking for somewhere a little bit different, classy with lots of character, id recommend you give it a try

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  10. Rona

    Edinburgh13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 13, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Gorgeous place, sumptuous and beautiful. Cocktails and food both excellent L. The service is impressive and attentive. Definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Speakeasy, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–1:00 am Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–3:00 am
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Westend
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    10 minute walk from Haymarket Train Station, 20 minute walk from Waverley Train Station.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Wine
Gift card

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FAQs

Heads & Tales is open Tue–Thu and Sun 17:00–01:00, and Fri–Sat 17:00–03:00; walk-ins are welcome.

Yes, Heads & Tales’ hidden, underground setting and cosy, dimly lit atmosphere make it a lovely pick for date night, and multiple guests report anniversary and special‑occasion visits.

Expect Heads & Tales to be buzzy at peak visits, several reviewers note it can be very busy or loud with larger groups, while many visits are described as relaxed and quiet, with background music that still allows conversation.

Yes, Heads & Tales welcomes bookings for food and drink and asks you to contact them directly for bookings of eight or more; staff are also frequently happy to create custom cocktails to suit guests' tastes.

Heads & Tales feels like a hidden, subterranean speakeasy, cozy, dimly lit nooks, exposed stills and leather seating create an intimate, relaxed spot perfect for cocktails and conversation.

Smart casual is the guide, think polished but relaxed, a neat, put-together look that suits a night out at Heads & Tales.

Yes, Heads & Tales is listed as dog-friendly, a tucked-away underground bar that welcomes dogs.

Heads & Tales is an underground cocktail bar with a central bar, cosy booths and nooks, and a small private room ideal for groups.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Edinburgh/Midlothian
  4. Edinburgh
  5. Westend

Make a reservation

A photo of Understory restaurant

Understory

4.9
£25 and under
Cocktail Bar
Westend

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today
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