The Jolly Botanist

The Jolly Botanist, Edinburgh 256-260 Morrison Street - Edinburgh

Now open
Bar
• British
• Pub
• Scottish
• Gastropub
• Sit down

83/100
Recommended by 2 people
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Ratings and reviews

83
/100
Based on 2793 ratings and reviews
Updated

Ratings of The Jolly Botanist

TA

Trip
Last update on 11/11/2023
4,0
615 Reviews
Google
Google
Last update on 29/11/2023
4,3
1 Reviews
Foursquare
Foursquare
Last update on 16/09/2023
4,4
105 Reviews
Facebook
Facebook
Last update on 16/11/2023
4,0
386 Reviews
Zomato
Zomato
Last update on 07/10/2020
3,2
15 Reviews
Euan's guide
Euan's guide
Last update on 29/11/2023
4,0
2 Reviews

T

Trip.com
Last update on 29/11/2023
4,8
4 Reviews
Yelp
Yelp
Last update on 15/11/2019
4,0
25 Reviews

FB

Facebook business manager
Last update on 07/01/2022
4,6
294 Reviews

PW

Pubswith.com
Last update on 07/01/2022
4,3
1286 Reviews

Available menus

Reviews

Zomato
Angel
+4
Food was very nice and staff really accommodating after we rocked up 13 mins before the kitchen closed with no reservation.

We had the belly pork with black pud mash which was tasty, but could have used some crackling...

Staff couldn’t have been more helpful and must thank them for that.

Obviously we had to try some of the many, many... many gins and discovered some new ones, as you always will - try the milkthistle gin!!!

Quirky decor and fast service by friendly staff made this a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Mar 15, 2019
Zomato
Ana Elisa Nunes
+4.5
Cosy, hipster hangout with a massive gin selection and pleasing food offerings. We had the burger - it boasted mashed avocado as well, as pertains to such a place, although the menu here doesn't mention it. The burger was very well served, generous in size and toppings, and quite tasty. Add something with haggis and a couple of really good, no-frills Gin and Tonic's (Botanist Dry and Caorunn, preferably) and you have the best welcome-to-Edimburgh meal you could ask for.
Nov 27, 2017
Zomato
Arantxa
+3.5
The selection of gins is definitely good. However, the staff is quite inattentive and you practically have to grab the menu yourself. Another strange thing is that while the price of the cocktails is indicated on the menu, it's not the same regarding gin tonics. I mean...if you are in a student budget (as me) you want to decide how much to spend before ordering. When you pay the gin and the tonic are charged separately which is also curious since you are ordering a single "gin tonic" and it makes unnecessarily complicated to share the bill with your friends. As for the atmosphere...well it's fine, bit does not look authentic. Pretends to be hipster, but I wouldn't say it's even that. Anyway, as said before, the gins are very good!
Aug 06, 2016
Zomato
Humandustbin
+3.5
Have been to the Botanist lots of times to savor their huge gin offering, but as we were in the area anyway we decided to head there for dinner. The place was absolutely mobbed, with people settling in to watch the rugby. From seeing the menu in the past - it looks to be a lot shorter than I remember. We both were very keen on the haggis Scotch egg...only to be told when our waitress came back that there was none. That was a game changer. Instead-we got the meat sharing platter to start, and the rib of beef main. The platter could have done us, it was massive...and we weren't forewarned. Hams, houmous, pizza bread, crostini and olives. Was ok. Next came a HUGE rib of beef, with sweet potato fries and horseradish slaw. The beef was slightly dry, and saved by the bbq sauce. The slaw wasn't horseradishy (that's a word) enough for me, but the fries were good. Service seemed to lack, given how busy it was I can see why though. Cocktails were good, food was average.
Mar 20, 2016
Zomato
Ann Jacob-Chandler
+3.5
I've been to the Jolly Botanist several times as it is quite close to work. They serve a super collection of gin and gin related cocktails which is right up my street. The place can get very busy towards the end of the week with office crews conjugating for drinks so it is wise to book a table if you do decide to go there on a Thursday or a Friday. I've had their burgers and their fish - the panfried sea bass was lovely. I also enjoyed their desserts - the ice cream selection was very good. My favourite though is their chunky chips - overpriced for the amount they give you but very tasty.I've once been there with a colleague who has food allergies and they were very considerate. I've generally been quite pleased with the service and efficiency.  A good spot for lunch or drinks if you are in the Haymarket area.
Jan 01, 2016
Zomato
Alice Cruickshank
+3.5
I'm glad I finally got a chance to visit this great little place. I only went for drinks and I didn't see anyone eating so I can't comment on the food. However, there was a really great atmosphere- it was super busy for early evening on a Thursday!

I'm not a gin expert and I was a little disappointed there wasn't an obvious gin list on view anywhere as I would have liked to peruse at leisure.

I really loved the music and the decor. Very hipster though- avoid if that's not your thing!
Nov 16, 2015
Zomato
Urban Traveller
+3.5
I really enjoyed my visit to The Jolly Botanist. The bar is divided from the restaurant area which is a very good setting in my opinion. The bar area was very busy when we got there but we booked a table so we seated in the restaurant area straight away. The gin selection is very good and you can get any gin cocktail you can think of. I didn't order a starter but the pizza bread my friends had looked very good and it was a very big portion as well. I had a fish fillet but I don't see it on the menu now so they must have changed it since I've been there last time. I really enjoyed the food and the ambience. And I'll be definitely returning soon!
Sep 02, 2015
Zomato
Darth-Darth Binks
+4
Replacing the infamous Spiders Web pub, the Jolly Botanist has done a good job in massively changing the appearance of the premises, in the process shifty out the seedy types from the bar.

The bar itself has a fine selection of lagers, and it has three ale pumps, although at the time all were from the Caledonian Brewery. They do of course have much more on offer in the spirits category - especially an abundance of gin. If you are a fan of gin, which many people seem to be these days, you can easily find a gin to match your taste palate. The prices are fairly steep at £5.40 for a Caorunn gin and tonic, and their cocktail list is also a bit on the pricey side.

The food menu looked good, drawing you in like a sea siren, but there was no shipwreck, instead you were offered very good food at a reasonable price. For starters I shared three items of food with another person at the table, which were the Homemade Haggis Scotch Egg, Fishcakes and a Pizza Bread. The Fishcakes were okay, but the other two were excellent and came in fairly cheap for the size of portion.

The main course I plumped for was the Pork Belly with Chorizo Mash, which came in at £11. The meat itself was finely cooked, but perhaps the staff would be best served giving out a steak knife to cut through the pork crackling. The only downside was the size of the portion of the mashed potato which was laced with chorizo, it could have been slightly bigger. But on taste the food won hands down.

The serving staff were also very friendly and happy to help throughout, despite the bar being suitably packed due to it being a Saturday night. So for the gin enthusiast and people who like very good food in a bar, the Jolly Botanist is a fine venue.
Feb 27, 2015
Zomato
Emma Elizabeth Ciarrocca
+3.5
Nice quirky bar with exposed stell beams and unfinished brick work.  Casual atmosphere but bit pricey.   
I had a sauvginon blanc which was nice and well rounded.
Feb 22, 2015
5
Ryan Brake
+5
This place was great. Went with my dad and uncle for some Sunday lunch and was not disappointed at all. The Scottish tapas menu was really well thought out and has something for everyone. We got 3 dishes each, which was more than enough. However, this did make the meal relatively expensive, considering it was just an afternoon lunch. That being said, everything we ate tasted amazing, all the dishes were cooked well and the presentation was nice. Usually I'm not a dessert guy but the cheesecake I got was different class. Thankfully it was very light as it would have been hard to eat a heavy dessert after all that. I reckon this place is ideal for any sort of occasion. Definitely will be back!
5
A B78
+5
Recently discovered The Jolly Botanist and have made a couple of visits since then. It has a quirky unique decor inside with is very welcoming and comfortable. The food is fantastic! We opted for the 'scottish tapas' for a little bit of everything. It was all cooked to perfection and every dish was as delicious as the next one. Staff are friendly and helpful. With a great knowledge of the many drinks the have on offer. Treat yourself to a night here and you definitely won't regret it. Only problem will be decided which one of the fantastic dishes to order 😁
5
Cassandra P
+5
Food was amazing. Short ribs and lamb burgers are definitely worth a try. The drinks were great. Nice decor. Overall, we had a great experience
5
Kenneth Li
+5
The place is spacious with a nice vintage decor. We ordered a Sunday Roast with three Scottish tapas - cured salmon, Scotch egg and monkfish cheeks. All food was great - the slices of roast sirloin were flavourful and very tender, and we love all the tapas, particularly the gooey egg yolk in Scotch egg. There is a wide range of gin available, though we only had the cocktails and they were excellent. An enjoyable experience!
5
Ellina
+5
Food was great, but a little pricey. Great atmosphere and great drinks. Recommended getting the ribs and the pork belly bites.
5
Sue Brand
+5
Wow, what a venue. Great drinks, food and service. Really busy hub to visit. We stayed for quite sometime taking in the atmosphere. Tad on the pricey side but great for a night out.
5
Huib Weeke
+5
Surprisingly high quality dinner, great gins/GTs, nice modernish take on a pub and good service. We had a Sunday roast and a steak sandwich and the latter was probably the best I’ve had.
4
Lily faerie
+4
Chips and cocktails were amazing, nice decor with barrel tables and speedy service. Not too expensive but not quite cheap, would like to see more veggie substitutes (e.g. quorn) on the menu - the fried cauliflower wasn't as good.
5
Michał R
+5
An obligatory place to visit for every gin enthusiast. They have a great selection of many different gins from all around the world. Each one has its recommended pairing with tonic and garnish. Also be sure to try some of their light nibbles - the beetroot marinated salmon and tikka skewers are amazing while sipping G&T
5
Toby Trevett
+5
It was very good. We had dinner, two thumbs up. The adult beverages was also very good. I recommend going and giving them a try.

Timetable

Now Open
Monday:
04:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Tuesday:
04:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday:
04:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Thursday:
04:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Friday:
01:00 PM - 01:00 AM
Saturday:
12:00 PM - 01:00 AM
Sunday:
12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

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Our aggregate rating, “Sluurpometro”, is 83 based on 2793 parameters and reviews

If you need to contact by phone, call the number +44 131 228 5596

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