The Compass Leith - Edinburgh

We were in Leith on holiday and our Airbnb host recommended Compass Bar as it was very close to where we were staying. It looks like Compass has undergone recent renovations to the interior and menu (something to note based on past reviews). From the outside, it has the appearance of a possible dive bar, but it is so posh and cosy inside! The interior is airy and light and beautifully decorated. We ate here twice whilst on holiday, dinner in the restaurant and brunch in the bar, and were very pleased with the service and food. Compass is dog friendly in the bar. The staff treated our dog like a rockstar when we brought her along for brunch. To set the scene: We spent all day Tuesday hiking around Lake Lomond and got back to Leith late at night. After a day of hiking and a 2 hour drive back, we were starved for something warming and filling to eat. Compass serves food from 10am 10pm, and is open for drinks until 1am. It was perfect for us For dinner, I ordered a hotdog with chips. Oh my goodness! It was a HUGE and tasty meal. It was so filling, I wasn't able to finish everything. The hotdog meat appears to be house made or locally made and is spiced somewhat like a sausage, and measures in at a foot long. The kitchen fried the dog, which I normally don't like but absolutely loved the preparation for this dog. The dog was topped with caramelized onions, yummy mustard, and crispy bacon bit. The most delicious heart attack you'll ever eat. The chips were cooked to perfection fluffy inside and crunchy outside. For brunch, I ordered the french toast topped with bacon and maple syrup. Absolutely incredible. The brioche style bread was thick cut and pan cooked to perfection. The maple syrup is thick and glossy, grade A Canadian. The bacon at Compass is the best I've had in the UK. It was lightly salted and really fresh. It was a flavorsome balance for the french toast and overall very filling. Compass is such a versatile location. It would be perfect for a date night, casual dinner, or mimosas for brunch with friends. I'd highly recommend Compass to anyone who likes good food.

I went to Compass about a year or so ago and it was great, fresh fish and chips and my boss had a 'boss looking beef sandwiches. The stylish surroundings weren 't too overpowering and the sun was lovely as it streamed through the many, many windows.. Anyway, I was down that neck of the woods recently and went back and the food was pretty poor, I don 't understand it was a world of difference. Perhaps the place had changed hands or chefs but it certainly slashed my rosey memories.

This is a nice, laidback, local establishment in Leith, which is good for some decent food and a few bevs. The red decor and brick wall beside the bar make this an attractive wee place, which feels pretty spacious and beams in lots of light. There's the traditional wooden chairs and tables thing going on, no sofas about, which makes it slightly more of a restaurant where you have to sit up straight at the table, rather than a pub and restaurant where you can lean back a bit more in comfier seating, and chill with both food and drinks. It always seems to be busy here, and it is definitely really popular with the locals. The menu is really reasonably priced too, so this is a worthwhile stop if you're drinking or eating in the Leith area.

Compass used to be my local for years. So much so I used to eat there more or less once a week. I couldn't rave about this place enough up until about 6 months ago when I think the quality went down a notch or two. This lovely little bar in the heart of Leith has a great atmosphere and usually you can just walk in and get a table though that's not to say it is really quiet. I always thought that the food menu was great value, main meals ranging between £7-£13 for great quality, local produce such as seabass, venison, steak etc. However, lately we have been in less frequently as we have noticed that the usually extensive menu has turned more pub grub like with everything battered and accompnied with chips. I wouldn't rule it out though as it is a good place. Definitely worth a try.

Really nice food, but had to wait absolutely ages for it. This is a bit of a problem when you're on a one hour lunch break and really need to eat in that time. When the food finally arrived, it tasted wonderful and that just about made up for the wait, until I realised I had to scoop it in about fifteen seconds. Boo! I went for the veggie tart with tattie salad it's one to go for if you have more time on your hands. I think there's a decent selection of beer, but as I was on lunch the booze was out of bounds. I liked the atmosphere and decor of the place though, and the guys behind the bar were pleasant and fun.