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The Basement, Edinburgh, Edinburgh

The Basement

4.6
4.6
639 Reviews
£26 to £40
Mexican
Top tags:

Great chat, tasty food, a crackin' selection of mezcal and tequila, creative cocktails and even an understanding of how to use a semicolon; The Basement has it all.

Our menu is the guac of the town. We’re not going to bore you with paragraphs about how our ingredients are locally-sourced (they are), how our love of Mexican-cuisine has inspired everything on our menu (it has) or how the person reading this is our favourite customer (they are).

Here’s a summary: Our food doesn’t just look tasty; it tastes even better. We have the largest selection of mezcal and tequila in Edinburgh, and boy do we know how to use it. Best-seller? It’s our iconic margarita. Give it a shot.

We make our famous guacamole at the table, definitely try share a portion with your friends over a few drinks. The good times are rolling here, now all we need is you.

Children under 18 are permitted until 8pm, so last bookings including under 18s are at 6pm.

Walk-ins always welcome!

Make a booking

2 people
May 2022
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
25
26
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29
30
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1
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19:00
Booked 22 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Mexican, Mexican / Southwestern, American

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon–Thu 16:00–00:00 Fri–Sun 12:00–01:00

  • Phone number

    0131 557 0097

  • Website

    http://www.basement-bar-edinburgh.co.uk/

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress Code

    Casual Dress

  • Private party facilities

    We have a separate area in the back which can hold up to 15 people.

  • Private party contact

    Reservations: 0131 557 0097

  • Location

    10A - 12A Broughton Street Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH13RH

  • Area

    New Town

  • Cross Street

    York Place

  • Parking Details

    Street Parking

  • Public Transit

    York Place Tram Stop, Edinburgh Bus Route 08. We are around a 10-minute walk from Waverley Train Station and are just around the corner from the Bus Station.

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 639 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Handcrafted Cocktails

  • Edinburgh/Midlothian

    Vibrant Bar Scene

  • Edinburgh

    Handcrafted Cocktails

  • Edinburgh

    Vibrant Bar Scene

Sort by

Filters

  1. C

    Cartj

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great staff, really friendly, helpful and attentive. They had a varied menu with good options for a party that contained a gluten-free vegetarian and a vegan (the churros are both, and are delicious!) Loved the decor and the whole atmosphere of the place.

  2. RC

    RobertC

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Brunch deal for a tenner per person is incredible. Obviously it costs more than £10 when you account for the truly addictive margaritas!

  3. DC

    DrewC

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was delicious and very reasonably priced. Service was brilliant, staff are fun and energetic. The cocktail choice is great and the ones we tried where amazing. Highly recommend and we will be back

  4. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Glasgow

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Really good food and drinks, great atmosphere. Very friendly staff.

  5. GH

    GabyH

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely little place well worth checking out. Great atmosphere, great cocktails, great service and great food!

  6. BJ

    BobJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Overall a pleasant experience, and good value. Quality of the food and fresh preparation was the stand out point.

  7. M

    Mole

    Newcastle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 10 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Had such a great time at Basement, the staff were really friendly and engaging and the food was delicious. There's a really fun, relaxed vine about the place, will definitely be back.

  8. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent service in a quirky venue that was a lot of fun.

  9. H

    Helen

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was delicious, especially the salmon ceviche and the portion sizes were really generous. Definitely didn’t need as much as we ordered! The service was great, really friendly and helpful offering drink suggestions. Would definitely visit again next time I’m in Edinburgh.

  10. CM

    CraigM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Very helpful and friendly staff, great food and cracking music playing. Quick service. No pressure, no hassles… just a really enjoyable experience. Highly recommend.

  11. CW

    CharlotteW

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was beautiful and the cocktails were too! 100% come again

  12. DM

    DMGrant

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    A great little find on the east side of Edinburgh. A small, yet perfectly selected menu with great cocktails makes the Basement one of the best Mexican restaurants I've tried in the UK (and I've been to a lot...). The Halloumi Tacos is definitely a new favourite. The venue was also small and intimate, with the authentic Mexican vibe, with staff more than accomodating and provided great recommendations.

  13. D

    David

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Good Food. Great friendly service. Great ambience. Would recommend

  14. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious food, great variety of cocktails. All servers were friendly and took interest in the people they served, very polite and helpful and genuinely interested in what you had to say. Great atmosphere and excellent service!

  15. LM

    LouiseM

    Exclusive

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Another fabulous lunch at the basement, love everything about it.

  16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 May 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    Our second visit to this venue lovely food and service we will certainly be back , thanks

  17. PM

    PeterM

    Edinburgh

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 30 April 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Excellent evening - the staff, the vibe, the drinks, the food - great venue all round!

  18. j

    jillc

    Edinburgh

    52 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    52 reviews

    Dined on 30 April 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    All okay. Staff friendly but often not in our area to speak to which was weird as we were in the main dining part. Food good value. We had a nice afternoon

  19. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 29 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Amazing food, quick and friendly service

  20. D

    Dani

    Bedfordshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 29 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Incredible service and lovely staff. We will definitely recommend and come back again !

  21. s

    selinam

    Glasgow

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 27 April 2022

    overall3food3service5ambience5

    I haven’t been back since before covid. The prices have really racked up. I think the price of the fajitas has doubled since I was last in. The atmosphere & service was fantastic. Special shout out to the lovely polish woman who made sure we felt welcome. She was excellent. Unfortunately i’ve had a really sore stomach all night after dinner. Think I might have had a bad fish taco. Shame as the bar and staff are great.

  22. L

    Lola

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 April 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience5

    Great food and cocktails, service a little slower than usual

  23. G

    Grace

    Edinburgh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 23 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great music, fun wait staff, tasty cocktails with lots of choice and amazing food - highly recommend!

  24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 21 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great atmosphere. Friendly and efficient service. Really tasty food

  25. RM

    RobertM

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    An excellent blend of friendly service, delicious food and awesome drinks! Cannot rate this place highly enough!

  26. CW

    CatherineW

    West Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a really lovely time at The Basement - such a fun place, fantastic margaritas, delicious tacos and really excellent service. Would recommend to all Mexican food fans and anyone in the area. Only wish they were closer to my home town so I could visit more often!

  27. P

    Poppy

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 April 2022

    overall3food4service5ambience5

    Food was nice, but very small portions for the price. Nachos were very cheap quality and poor elaborated. Tacos were really nice but small amount of food for the price. Nutella cheesecake very disappointing as it wasn't even a cake and was 8 pounds for a very flavourless mousse for call it something. Staff was wonderful tho!

  28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Mother in law’s birthday and as always the basement certainly know how to serve fantastic food, great service too. Highly recommend

  29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 16 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Very friendly staff with such a relaxed atmosphere. Great food and cocktails.

  30. SM

    StellaM

    Glasgow

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 April 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience4

    The staff was friendly, polite, and very helpful. However, the food was too greasy, especially the tacos, and overpriced. It's a nice place for a drink, but too noisy to seat there to enjoy your dinner or lunch.

  31. SH

    StephenH

    Edinburgh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 13 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Fab as usual! Never disappoints.. my go to venue when visiting Edinburgh!

  32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 12 April 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Showing signs of being a little understaffed for the number of covers!

  33. FB

    FoodieinaBubble

    Los Angeles

    6 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 12 April 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience4

    Fun atmosphere. Pricey drinks. Decent food. All in all a good time. GF churros we’re delish!

  34. LL

    LindaL

    Exclusive

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 11 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Amazing food! Staff very friendly and attentive. Gorgeous surroundings and a lovely drinks menu.

  35. MM

    MargaretM

    Glasgow

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 11 April 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Good food great atmosphere. Staff are first class. Great evening!

  36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 10 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Love this restaurant! Awesome cocktails and fab food.

  37. LS

    LouiseS

    Inverness

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 9 April 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Went there for the first time with two friends for a pre theatre meal . It has a really good vibe, if a little loud. Food was great and good value.Staff were excellent and very friendly and helpful. One staff member even came after us as we left the restaurant as she thought we had left something behind . We were only visiting but would definitely go back. Refreshingly different!

  38. JP

    JacquiP

    Perthshire

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 9 April 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Lovely and lively. Food was excellent and staff were very nice but service was slow. We waited 20 minutes for the bottle of wine we ordered and had to chase it up twice. Would go back though, was fun

  39. CS

    CorinnaS

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The staff are always super-lovely in the Basement - thanks for being so attentive. Food was also great :)

  40. J

    Jenny

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 April 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    Food was nice and chilled vibes inside. Cocktails were nice but small amount for price .

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Protective equipment

    • Waiting staff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Contact tracing information collected

FAQs

The Basement is rated 4.6 stars by 639 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
May 2022
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
19:00
Booked 22 times today
Google Map for The Basement

10A - 12A Broughton Street Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH13RH

Additional information

  • Cross Street

    York Place

  • Area

    New Town

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon–Thu 16:00–00:00 Fri–Sun 12:00–01:00

  • Cuisines

    Mexican, Mexican / Southwestern, American

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress Code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking Details

    Street Parking

  • Public Transit

    York Place Tram Stop, Edinburgh Bus Route 08. We are around a 10-minute walk from Waverley Train Station and are just around the corner from the Bus Station.

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wine

  • Website

    http://www.basement-bar-edinburgh.co.uk/

  • Phone number

    0131 557 0097

  • Private party facilities

    We have a separate area in the back which can hold up to 15 people.

  • Private party contact

    Reservations: 0131 557 0097

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