Okay, let me tell you about The Pakora Bar in Edinburgh because honestly, this place left such a strong impression on us. We went in not expecting much and came out absolutely stuffed, smiling, and still talking about the meal days later. It’s the kind of meal that ticks every box — food, vibes, service — all on point.
The Vibe at The Pakora Bar
First thing you notice when you step in — high ceilings, lots of natural daylight streaming through, and the space just feels so open and airy. The background music? Full-on Bollywood, upbeat, the kind that makes you want to bob your head (or sneak in a little shoulder shimmy) while you eat. It’s super casual and chill, the type of place you’d bring your colleagues after work or your family for a weekend catch-up.
And the owners — so warm and welcoming. They kept coming round throughout our meal to check if everything was alright and if we needed anything, but never in that overly hovering way. Just genuinely hospitable. You can really feel it.
What We Drank at The Pakora Bar
- Passion Fruit Lassi (£3.50): Thick, creamy, milky in the best way. Tangy and refreshing — my personal favourite to sip alongside the meal.
- Mango Lassi (£3.50): Equally thick and creamy, but sweeter. I’d say this one’s better as a dessert to round things off.
They also served us water in a bottle, which was a nice little touch.
The Rest of Our Order at The Pakora Bar
Chef’s Choice Pakora (£8) — The Highlight
We went for this because it comes with 6 assorted pieces so you can try a bit of everything. There’s Veg, Aubergine, Mushroom, Haggis, Black Pudding, and Chicken. Every single one was delicious — no wonder they’re called The Pakora Bar, they really do specialise in this and absolutely nail it.
- Mushroom — so juicy, my favourite of the lot
- Haggis — tasted almost like a sausage, very hearty
- Black Pudding — a bit on the salty side but the flavour is so good
- Chicken — it’s chicken breast but somehow not dry at all, super tender
Heads up: the pakora sauces are ordered separately at 75p each. We picked the Mint Yoghurt (so refreshing) and Mango Chilli (sweet with a nice little spicy kick). Worth it.
Lamb Samosa Chaat (£8)
The minced lamb flavour is pretty strong but not in an overly gamey way, which I appreciated.
Filling was moist, the outside crispy, and eating it with the side salad made it really refreshing.
Butter Chicken Curry (£18)
Comes with rice, paratha, naan or roti — we went with rice. The basmati was cooked perfectly, al dente style. The butter chicken itself is a bit different from what we usually get in Singapore, but still just as fragrant and creamy.
Naan (£3.50)
Super chewy, which I love. Press it down and it springs right back up. Massive in size too, perfect for mopping up all that butter chicken gravy.
Final Thoughts on The Pakora Bar
All in all, this was honestly one of the best meals we had during our entire trip. The kind that leaves your tummy satisfied and your mood lifted because the vibes and service complete the whole experience. If you’re in Edinburgh, please do yourself a favour and check out The Pakora Bar. Highly recommend!