Phoebs's Qype profile

I'd never have known about this place if one of my friends didnt live round the corner, what a find!, I'm a bit reluctant to spread the word. It's a fab wee local with lots of character. It gets really busy after work on weekdays with all the local ofifces spilling into it but has a friendly and fun atmosphere. It has a jukebox (I havent seen one in ages and ages!) and a stack of boardgames and books. The Star Bar wouldnt feel out of place as the only pub in a small town as it has that community feel to it. I love it!

I love love love the Winter Wonderland! It's so festive and pretty with the lights on. There's an outdoor ice rink and this year they're having a kiddies ice rink too and a huge snow slide for sledging down. You can warm up with mulled wine and browse the stalls selling crafts, jewellery, knitwear, cheese, mince pies - all sorts! The German Market is nearby on the Mound and sells lots of yummy treats. There's also the ferris wheel next to the Scott Monument which is quite scary, you feel even more high up when you look down into Princes Street Gardens! The Winter Wonderland just lights up the centre of town and is wonderful couldnt be more Christmassy!

Cafe Rouge is great for big parties as it's so huge! The food is delicious and there's lots to choose from. It is a chain restaurant and as such it does lose a bit of atmosphere and character as when inside you could be in any Cafe Rouge in any city. That aside I really would recommend it for a big gathering, I've had a work 'Do' there and it was perfect as you can have mixture of people eating and some just drinking a coffee or a beer so it suits everyone. It's reasonably priced and the food is great.

This is a fab bar that serves fab food!!!! The staff are really friendly and it has a great atmosphere, especially after work on a Friday! It's always packed but there are places to perch with a drink until a table becomes available. If eating in the restaurant it is best to book in advance but you can also eat in the bar too. It has the feel of a friendly local with plenty of character and cool furniture.

The Slug and Lettuce is fine for a drink before or after the cinema but it has no real character or charm, as with most chain pubs. I had the worst nachos here, they used flavoured Doritos instead of plain nachos and there was hardly any salsa or sour cream, it was really just a plate of dry Doritos. It was very disappointing and I won't eat here again. There are so many pubs in Edinburgh with character and atmosphere and this one just didnt stand out in any way for me. The sofas were comfy though.

The all you can eat buffet here is pretty standard and nothing special but they also have a Chinese Fondue, and it's brilliant! I was in once and saw a couple with a gas ring on their table with a big pot of soup on it and lots of raw food and asked what it was. The first time we went we werent sure how it worked but we were put in the back room where it was full of people eating the Fondue. We were asked to choose two soup bases and given a laminated menu and a pen to mark down what raw ingredients we wanted, there's prawns, squid, thinly sliced meats, noodles, Chinese vegetables and lot's more. You then get the gas ring put on your table and the big pot that's divided in two for the two soups and you get your ingredients and put them in the soup and cook them at your table. There's a table to the side with lots of ingredients to make dipping sauces, soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic, chilli sauce etc. It's good fun and once you master the art of mixing a dipping sauce that doesnt blow your head off or is too salty then it's really tasty. I would definitely recommend this, just ask for the Chinese Fondue when you go in or reserve a table. Oh, and it's only £10 each!

A friend and I stumbled across this bar one lunchtime during the Festival as it was the only one with an empty table. What a find! It is tiny and a bit grubby (in an old way not a dirty way) and had really friendly staff and locals! It has the smallest of small menus, panninis and nachos and that's it ,and they had run out of nachos. But the panninis were great and only about £2. I'd really like to go back one evening, I bet it would be a good laugh!

Tiles is absolutely covered in tiles inside, it's quite magnificent! It might not be the nicest colour scheme (pale browns) but it's pretty cool. The food is really nice and not expensive and you feel just as at ease with a coffee or a glass of wine. In the summer it's nice to sit outside and watch the world go by on St Andrews Square.

I was here recently and had to wait for quite a long time just for a cup of tea. But, it is a lovely place for a chat with friends, the huge windows are great for people watching and in the evening it has a cozy feel, they dim the lights and it had has a nice atmosphere. It was quite chilly inside, every time the door was opened the cold air swam in and then it would warm up a bit then the door would be opened again, so they could do with cranking the heating up. The staff are not overly friendly but despite a few negatives I will certainly go back. I didnt eat there but I saw food go by me to other tables and it looked really nice with big portions (always important!).

Coconut Grove is really really good! I've been a few times and the menu is mouth watering! The starters are huge, maybe too big though. There's a nice mix of modern and classic Mexican dishes and some unusual stuff. The margaritas are fab and wash the food down perfectly. The restaurant is small and the tables quite close together but it's warm and cosy and good fun.