The Mussel and Steak Bar

As a frequent traveler, I often rely on Google ratings to discover local dining spots, and this restaurant did not disappoint. While it’s clearly popular among tourists—there were plenty dining during my visit—it exceeded expectations in both service and food quality. The staff were genuinely friendly, and the meals were thoughtfully prepared. This is definitely not your typical tourist trap. True to its name, the mussels were exceptionally fresh and flavorful—some of the best I’ve had on my travels.

+2

I highly recommend this place, The food was so delicious and one of the best foods I have so far on my UK holidays. And it had a great drinks menu as well

10/17/2025 Early dinner, we walked in and were welcomed with complimentary oysters on the half with Tabasco. Yummers! Thai noodles with chicken and shellfish dish. Both dishes are excellent. Impeccable service.

+2

What a fantastic place! We weren't able to make a reservation in advance, but they still found a cozy spot for our family. The staff gave us excellent advice, and the food, wine, and whisky selection were fantastic! We had a wonderful evening, so a special thank you to Polish Pete! 👌🏼👍🏼

Nice and friendly place in the middle of the city. The lunch menu is cheaper so its better to go during the day. Both the haggis and the mussels were excellent. The staff was super kind and attentive, highly recommendable.

I could not find the name of this place for the life of me! My husband and I trotted in August 2024 and were greeted and served by Duncan. Firstly his service was outstanding super welcoming, patient, and informational. Our food and drinks were delicious. The restaurant is located in such a cute little corner near the castle and when you sit outside you can have such a beautiful view. I hope I’m blessed with another opportunity to visit again!

From the first moment the service was excellent, gave us a choice of seat in a comfortable area away from the cold door, complementary oysters on arrival. Few deals going on as well. Great recommendations on whiskey and the service it was super caring all the time. Food really worth it, great size and quality for the price. All the experience was wonderful.

Best Advice: Reserve a table. Fantastic welcome and service throughout. Worth every penny of the 10% Service Charge. The food was a complete success. I have eaten here twice before but several years ago. So delighted the standards have been retained. My first visit with my wife and she approved.

Beautiful spot at the bottom of Victoria St. Delcious mussels, coffee, whiskey sour, and pumpkin soup! My favorite restaurant in Edinburgh. I recommend a reservation. They also offered a free oyster, which was delicious. Excellent service by Dana! I will be back on my next trip.

I took my daughter here and we were not disappointed. Pete, the server, was excellent. He was attentive, engaging and funny. The service was super quick and the portions were substantial. The seafood was fresh and tasty. The ribs were succulent and tender. We left with a smile on our face and a full stomach!

We had such an amazing meal out for our 10 year anniversary. The food was exceptionally good, huge portions, excellent quality, and great value for money; we had the surf and turf and a portion of mussels, with beef dripping chips, complementary oysters, bread for soppin’, and broccoli. God it must be the best dinner out we’ve had in a long time and both the steak and seafood dishes were incredible. The service was really an highlight and Artur made us feel looked after throughout, giving great suggestions, and checking in regularly. He was knowledgeable and warm and, at points, he knew us better than we knew ourselves. Thanks for a great anniversary meal out, we will most definitely be back!

It's has such an unassuming look to it when you first walk in. There's just one big round booth in the back with only a few tables to the side and back of the bar. There is an outdoor space that sits on the West Bow bend of Grassmarket, but nothing was set up for that when we were there for a late lunch. Perhaps it's a seasonal thing. All first impressions aside, it turned out to be a very good lunch. We were greeted immediately upon entering. We were fortunate to get a table without a reservation. You will definitely need one here during peak times. The service was warm & friendly. Artur was very helpful in answering all of our questions. The lunch menu is limited, but you can also order from the higher priced dinner menu as well. I was mostly amazed by the fact that you get complimentary oysters delivered to your table. My husband is not a seafood fan, so I was fortunate enough to enjoy both of them. These are large & tasty Pacific oysters grown at a farm in Loch Fyne. Delicious! It was such a great starter. I couldn't pass up the half kilo pot (lunch portion) of steamed mussels. These are Scottish rope-grown mussels. I should have ordered a kilo. They were so addicting. The white wine sauce with shallots was perfect. However, I did have a difficult time deciding which sauce to choose. The whisky with smoked bacon also sounded amazing. If I had to say anything negative, it would be to maybe add more bread to soak up the sauce. I probably could have asked for more, but I didn't. That's on me. I really wanted to return to try the Surf & Turf. We just didn't have enough time to do it all. I would go back in a heartbeat. It ended up being a great find. A great experience!

+2

The food here is amazing. We just had lunch and were treated to complimentary oysters. It was our first time trying haggis, and it was absolutely incredible. We also enjoyed the linguine soup and sticky pudding—both delicious. This place is a must-visit, and we even tried some local gin. The service was top-notch, and the food tasted fantastic. A must-visit spot in Edinburgh.

Ooh yum yum 👍 came in for lunch and we’re lucky to have a table (saw many customers came in to reserve tables for dinner). Was recommended the sharing platter and it was superb. Many oysters, mussels, crayfish, a lobster and a big crab..ooh, fresh and nice. There were so many mussels in the soup that we had to wrap it for takeaway. The staff were friendly and offered good recommendations. A must visit if you are in Edinburgh 😁

+1

A lovely and refined dining experience right on Victoria Street — the location is fantastic, with beautiful views and a charming atmosphere. The ribs were incredibly tender and full of flavour, paired perfectly with crisp chips and a fresh salad, while the sparkling drinks added a light celebratory touch. Elegant yet relaxed, with excellent food and a wonderful setting. I would happily return.

I haven’t had seafood this good and executed this well in a long time. The scallops were my absolute favorite, tender, sweet, burst of flavor from the ocean… so good, I ordered a second plate. Mussels and Prawns were also exceptional. Fantastic job by the kitchen. Hats off to the whole team.

+4

I had a great dining experience at Mussel Steak Bar today. The seafood was absolutely delicious and very fresh, which really stood out. The restaurant has an elegant atmosphere and is conveniently located, making it a great spot for a nice meal. The staff were also very friendly and attentive. Overall, a wonderful place for high-quality seafood—I’d definitely come back again.

We had a lovely meal, the food was both fresh and delicious. It was a very busy evening, but our server, Amelia, couldn’t have been more attentive. It was a bit pricey, but we were aware beforehand and would definitely recommend as somewhere to go for a special occasion.

Ok. The portions are small, but the food is absolutely delicious. We got the rib eye steak (with chips cooked in beef drippings), a side order of onion rings, and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Everything was perfect.

Food was excellent. Steak was cooked exactly as requested. Service was attentive and fast. Muscles were delicious. Highly recommend!

Absolutely loved the seafood here! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was cozy. If you’re a seafood lover, this place is a must-try!

I first came to this restaurant 4 years ago and had the salmon, together with the mussels. It was so good that I commented then that it was the best salmon I've tasted. 4 years later, they no longer served the dish I ate but replaced it with the salmon teriyaki noodles. Guess what.. it was delicious and my family loved it too. Coming from Asia, we're used to Japanese food so teriyaki is something we're familiar with. Their salmon teriyaki is an excellent twist to a Japanese cooking technique. Their mussels was delicious and you must order bread to go with the sauce. A must try for seafood!

The mussels and oysters were genuinely great — fresh, flavorful, and well worth it. The steak, however, didn’t live up to the name; it felt more like an afterthought than a highlight. The wine list needs a major update — limited selection and nothing that really stands out. The outdoor seating is lovely, and the service was warm and attentive. Go for the seafood and the vibe, not the steak.

The service was great and also the food was fabulous. I loved the atmosphere of the shop and I had a great stake and oysters at the resaurant.

I had dinner here on Saturday night. The decor is lovely and atmosphere were fantastic. The staff were all amazing, very friendly and smiley despite how busy it was. Food was to die for. We will definitely be back

Really tasty, had everything i was looking to try and staff was lovely Even though I was one person I booked a table in advance online and it does get busy so I recommend booking just in case

Absolutely fantastic service from Arthur and the food was amazing, all the mussels thoroughly cleaned, sauce unbelievably smooth and garlicky, and the homemade bread.. stunning! Well worth the visit!

Absolutely wonderful little place with exceptional food and service. Very friendly staff and great with my infant son. Raw oysters were to die for and the mussels and steak were cooked perfectly. I highly recommend the chili garlic sauce for the mussels. Definitely will be back!

Such an amazing evening. Food with personality. Thanks Polish Pete. Tried my first oyster.... yum

First time here and it didnt disappoint. Everything about it was amazing, worth more than 5 stars! 😍

We were recommended The Mussel and Steak Bar by someone we know and we were sold on the fact it was mussels and steak! We booked a table, a must as it was heaving and they were turning people away, and we were not disappointed. We had the surf and turf and the ribs and mussels and we shared the steak and ribs and Oh. My. Goodness. It was amazing. The steak and the ribs were delicious but the mussels were probably the best mussels we’ve eaten 😋 The staff were friendly and welcoming and very attentive as well which added to the experience. Don’t think about it c book it and enjoy.

My goodness. Where to start? My husband and I are visiting for the weekend and were looking for a good middle ground for what we were both craving. The menu is excellent, it has many choices and they are mindful of allergens. The server, Duncan was so kind and attentive, made sure my allergens were accounted for and was very knowledgeable on both the cocktails and food menu. We were served with complimentary oysters that were incredibly fresh, we then ordered the seafood linguini, the seabass, 12 oysters, wine, a cocktail and a delicious lentil soup. The food for us wad 10/10, service was top tier, food was served at the perfect time and was very fresh, portions were excellent so if you're hungry but want Michelin Star quality food, this is the place! Duncan's grandma- if you're reading this review, you should be very proud of him, we were served like Royalty.

We came here twice a year apart. Both times were amazing. We loved oysters here also haggis and venison. A little bit pricy but I guess It is standard here. We did not booked before but the staff kindly found us a table in 15 minutes. We were quite comfortable as 4 adults and a baby. Wishing to come here again to taste other meat options.

This restaurant was NOT on our list of "must visit" during our trip to Edinburgh. But a video on Edinburgh Evening News made us very curious. Suffice it to say, as our first meal EVER in Scotland, it was absolutely amazing. The staff were super nice and the food was awesome.

First restaurant we visited in Edinburgh — a great start. Friendly staff, and every dish was excellent. The mussels were especially delicious.

My goal was oysters and mussels in Edinburgh. We had a fantastic dinner with friends. The staff worked with us as our friends were delayed on a train from Glasgow. They had a great wine selection and great raw oysters to start our meal. The restaurant was nicely situated at the end of the Grassmarket. The are area is lively in the evenings and great to sit and watch people.

What a wonderful find,last minute.Feeling hungry, love seafood, steak, ribs? This place has it all, I ordered seafood Linguine,and my goodness i was unprepared for the size of the bowl, massive! It was the best I have ever eaten...so I ate it all, and don't get me started on the chips my partner had with his fantaic Surf n Turf...I ate a lot of them as well, Beef dripping chips, can't recommend this place enough! Fantastic food.

This was our second meal here and both have been amazing. We drove all the way from Dundee (about an hour) to eat here one more time before returning to Australia. Freshest and tastiest oysters I have ever eaten. Well done Mussel & Steak bar team, you guys are awesome 👌

We hadn’t booked and it was a rather busy evening, but the staff kindly squeezed us in to a corner table behind the main welcome area. They were all very friendly and we didn’t have to wait too long to have our orders taken. To start we shared half a dozen hand picked oysters that came with red wine vinegar and shallots - they were very fresh and delicious. For mains my husband had the beer battered fish and chips, as he fancied something ‘comforting’ - the portion was very large and very tasty, the chips were crisp and fluffy, the fish was flakey and moist with batter that wasn’t greasy, the tartare sauce had a punch and the salad dressing was zingy. He loved this fish and chips. I decided to have a simple ribeye steak, cook rare. And rare it was, perfectly so, it could have been slightly more seared on the outside but the flavour was great, again with the delicious chips that matched my husband’s. A great restaurant, although the seating could do with a good clean as there were a lot of stains on the blue material.

We had a really great dining experience at The Mussel and Steak Bar. The food was delicious—everything was fresh and full of flavor. The service staff were lovely: friendly, quick, and attentive, which made us feel very welcome. The only downside was the attitude of the person at the entrance, who seemed to be the manager or host. Their approach was a bit cold and unwelcoming compared to the rest of the team. Still, once seated, everything else was excellent. Definitely worth a visit if you’re into seafood and great service.

+2

I dined here on Wednesday 18 February and had the mussels and oysters. Around 30 hours later I developed sudden symptoms of food poisoning. Given the timing and the fact that shellfish is a higher-risk food, I believe this was likely linked to that meal. The food tasted fine at the time and the service was good, which made the experience even more disappointing. I’m sharing this so the restaurant can review their shellfish sourcing and handling procedures and ensure everything is being monitored appropriately. I hope this was an isolated incident, but I feel it’s important to raise awareness.

My partner and I recently been there for my first time visiting Edinburgh and to celebrate my birthday. We chosen this restaurant for our first night dinner in Edinburgh. My partner has booked the table in advance over 2 weeks at 20.00 pm before ours holidays in Edinburgh as he has read the good positive reviews of this restaurant and would like to surprise me with a good seafood restaurant for my birthday dinner. Negative: But unfortunately, we got the worst table in the restaurant even though we booked in advance for 2 weeks right in front of the toilet rooms on the 2nd floor and **I mean just in front of the toilet where you sitting and see people walking in and out after using the toilet** :( Plus the toilet was not clean and smells and no toilet paper as the pictures My partner sacrificed to sit on a chair next to the post, near the stairs and facing the toilet, while my chair was against the toilet wall I had to sit there in front of the toilet rooms and smell We were uncomfortable sitting there during ours dinner meal but we didn’t want to ruin ours dinner night and wished they might have offered us and move to the better table spot after we have ordered 3 meals, 12 of fresh oysters and 2 main course, 2 glasses of champagne and a bottle of white wine which cost about £194.xx in total. Honestly I would just wished they could afford and ask us to move to better table spot than that ONE! Eventually we have to asked the staff ourselves if we could move to other table:( As a seafood lover myself from my point of view the fresh oyster was not what I expected, it’s not fresh as I thought and smells quite stinky which we couldn’t eat everything and left 2 of them Positive: About the main course food was lovely But the table in front of the toilet, no way we would go back there again if we have book the table in advance and have to sit there!