Woodland Creatures

Reviews

• Elaine D.

  star star star star star_border 7 June 2026

  Nipped in here for dinner last night after a day out in Edinburgh and the menu is slightly confusing and doesn't seem to have changed much since I was last there (maybe two years ago?).  (Vg) means vegan, and was only beside the hummus and pitta bread, and (v) means vegetarian but this mark was beside the "Vegan Sweet Potato and Beetroot Burger".  I wasn't fancying the soup of the day, which was suitable for vegans (mushroom - AKA the vegetable of evil), and hummus and pitta bread I can easily chuck together at home, so went for the burger and wedges with side salad. They had a seeded bun for vegans which was nice, it wasn't the usual if you don't do brioche then you're going bunless.  Despite me being a bit wary as I'm not much a fan of beetroot either (I don't like anything vinegary tasting except pickled onion Space Raiders) it was a really tasty burger, if it did fall apart a bit as I was eating it.
  
  They have Black Isle Brewery blonde lager on tap, which I quite like, so was happy to have a couple of pints with this and my meal.  At 8pm they cranked the volume of the music up to 11 - I'm never really sure why this is necessary as it's not a venue where you dance, so that leaves sitting down and talking, and the volume of music didn't really allow for this.  We'd been there since 5pm and it was starting to fill up so was happy when our evening was coming to an end and we were about to head back to Glasgow anyway.
  
  There are lots of other places in Edinburgh I've yet to try so probably won't be back for a while, but would be happy to go back if invited to this particular venue.

• Kenneth M.

  star star star star_border star_border 5 June 2026

  One of Leith Walk's more expensive pubs & one of the sort that also opts not to have hot water in the toilets.
  
  Good vegetarian options on the food menu though and, if the live entertainment in the back bar is not your cup of tea it's well soundproofed enough in the front part for you not to be disturbed if you relocate.
  
  Pleasant service each time I've been in and on the whole another welcome addition to the area's drinking culture.

• Gwen F.

  star star star star star_border 1 June 2026

  Nice place, very cute. I had a couple of nice beers and a pretty decent burger while I studied for a tax exam - they didn't have any problem with me getting my books out all over a table. Very friendly staff who offered to open a tab for me when I ordered my first drink.
  
  The only thing particularly amazing about Woodland Creatures is the door to the beer garden - it's a wardrobe and thus feels like Narnia. Other than that, it's a solid, friendly local place. I don't think I'd bring visitors to the city here but I'll definitely be stopping by for a pint and dinner occasionally.

• Michael B.

  star star star star star_border 23 May 2026

  I've been here a few times now but only had food for the first time yesterday. To be honest, Id rather not spend a night out here coz it's a bit too 'gentrified'. Its great for a daytime pint though.
  
  The staff: They were lovely.
  
  The food: I had a burger and chips and it was excellent. I'd say it was even better than the Holyrood 9A burger, better than the City Cafe version or the Southern. Reasons - A good helping of thick wedges, better than string fries from the freezer. The burger, was a great texture and homemade with plenty of Stilton on top.
  
  The drink: There are cheaper places and the doorman once told me they put the prices up to keep the riff-raff out..Meh. They serve that Black Isle Ale which is good though.
  
  Lastly - I just wish places would serve food on plates - It would actually be crazy/retrotastic! Why do I have to eat a burger on a small chopping board with wedges in a small metal bucket? Its boring now and makes you look out of date rather than original.

• Gillian L.

  star star star star_border star_border 17 May 2026

  Dyed black fringes, expensive clothes and greying quiffs - I had no idea Edinburgh had such a population of well-off but ageing hipsters.  
  
  Woodland Creatures opened this week on Leith Walk, in the former rough-and-ready Balfour Bar. It has a simple, austere style with a few wooden tables and chairs around the edges - and a central bar staffed by rather too-cool staff who take a while to serve you.
  
  I shouldn't be too harsh - it does have decent beer on tap and is going to serve food, and it's nice to have somewhere new to go. But it's an odd place, with an interesting clientele - including every 'cool' dog lover in town, so you have to watch where you put your feet for fear of stepping on a tail.
  
  I did feel sorry, too, for the poor old geezer, possibly a regular of the old Balfour Bar, who came and stared mournfully in the window. Then he shook his head, and walked off down the road...