The Last Word Saloon
- Telephone 0131 225 9009
- Opening times Mon–Sun 4pm–1am.
- Bar open Mon–Sun 4pm–1am
- Food served Mon–Sun 4pm–1am
- Website www.lastwordsaloon.com
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The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.
There are no tacky cocktail umbrellas or blingy details in this understated, warm, generally excellent cocktail bar. Just very well mixed drinks, and the odd fancy toastie if you’re hungry. It’s a more streamlined update on its previous guise as The Saint, run by the same people behind Bramble on Queen Street, and it gives the same focus as its sister bar to small batch spirits, craft beers and unusual mixers (chilli jam, thyme-infused honey, homemade peach pearls and apple syrup, for example). Whisky lovers might enjoy their ‘Be Lively’ (Smokehead whisky, green chartreuse, fresh lemon, cream soda and egg white), or the delicious ‘Short Black’ (Black Bottle whisky, fresh espresso and vanilla sugar), while there are also sophisticated twists on gin, mescal, apple brandy, rum – or the option to go ‘off menu’ and get the bar tender to fix something tailored to your need for sugar/ caffeine/ sour flavours/ fresh herbs and so on. The fact it’s hidden away down a few steps off St Stephen Street means it can be overlooked, and be quiet on week nights, but that’s definitely part of the charm, and a welcome antidote to the George Street hordes.
- High point: Low-lit hideaway, with excellent cocktails
- Low point: Getting out of bed the next day …
- Provides: Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Belle and Sebastian, rock, electronic
- Open since: 2012
Comments & ratings
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2.
ChampagneTasteBeerBudget – 25 Jan 2013, 5:19pm
The Last Word Saloon
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After 2 separate visits and at least 8 cocktails, I can say this is the best bar in Stockbridge. The cocktails are creative and different, grown-up drinks that are as far from an alcopop as you can find. Even if you're not normally a cocktail drinker, the unexpected and well-thought out creations are well worth a try. Whilst not on the cheap side, the drinks are more than generous and the skill and care taken to create them makes them worth every cent. As newly settled international residents of Edinburgh, the cocktails here compare to any place we've ever been thrown out of.
The Last Word is dark and atmospheric, which we agreed was definitely part of the appeal. It's a little bit sexy but still very cosy in front of the crackling fires and flickering paraffin lamps. This is not a place for those older people who forgot their torch and glasses but we're sure Weatherspoons is superbly lit.
The staff here are attentive and clearly passionate about their craft. We have only visited on week nights but the service has been great each time and all the different staff very friendly.
Perhaps with the price of drinks, you won't want to drink here all night - our budget certainly doesn't stretch that far but for a few excellent drinks this place is hard to go past.
- 1. The Infidel – 20 Jan 2013, 11:22am Report
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Visited The Last Word with a group of five others after a great meal in the area. With hindsight we could have went along the street for a pint and enjoyed the remainder of our evening much more.
The bar itself is dark and dingy, so much so that the paraffin lamps are essential for even reading the menu or recognising your friends. I appreciate the need to set up some atmosphere but I like to see my drinks, be able to read a menu and find my way to the toilet between the furniture.
The cocktail menu is unconventional which is possibly the aim, but out of 9/10 drinks from our table the consensus was that most were ill conceived and tasted more like out of date alcopops. FYI chartreuse is not viewed as a sensible cocktail base for anyone who wants to enjoy a drink. Also, beware of the ice berg size chunks of ice in several of the drinks, this is a poor attempt to reduce the amount of liquid in your glass while seeming "cool". When drinks are between £5-7 there is no need to be miserable with the measures which they most certainly are.
There was however sufficient illumination in the ladies bathroom, enough to see a puddle of vomit which remained there for the entirety of our 3 hour stay. The staff provided infrequent table service and struggled to remember what was ordered on occasion, pen and paper works well for this in the bar industry.
Edinburgh has a plethora of excellent cocktail bars across the city, make no mistake this is not one of them. When it comes to enjoying a drink most prefer substance over style. This bar has neither.
Average rating /5 from 1 review of The Last Word Saloon.
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