The Olive Branch
Greenside, Edinburgh
Restaurant in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
The Olive Branch is a sensible Broughton Street pick when ease matters more than a destination meal. Lunch is the stronger value play, while dinner works for a relaxed neighbourhood plan; for a bigger culinary spend, compare it with Fhior, for a clearer Modern British brief, look at The Broughton.
About The Olive Branch
The Olive Branch is a casual venue in Edinburgh, best considered by how its schedule and easygoing dress code fit your plans.
The opening hours are useful for planning: The Olive Branch is closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday and Thursday from 12–9 PM; Friday and Saturday from 10 AM–10 PM; and Sunday from 10 AM–9 PM. The dress code is casual.
Use the opening hours to decide whether it fits your day
The venue has daytime and evening hours on its operating days, so it may work for either an earlier meal or an evening plan depending on the date. If menu details, pricing, booking difficulty, cuisine type, or service format matter to your plans, check directly rather than building the decision around assumptions about a specific kind of meal.
For diners comparing other options, keep the comparison broad and practical. The Broughton, Fhior, L'Escargot Bleu, Broughton Delicatessen, Vinette are other venues to consider depending on the occasion; compare their current menus, prices, service styles directly with The Olive Branch.
Who should choose it over other options
Choose The Olive Branch if its Edinburgh location, casual dress code, opening hours fit your plan. If awards, tasting menus, chef-led formats, signature dishes, dietary accommodations, take-out, delivery, or a specific drinks programme matter to your decision, check current details directly with the venue.
The practical verdict: The Olive Branch is a casual Edinburgh option with clear planning anchors in its hours and dress code. If you need a more specific comparison, check current information directly with the venue before deciding.
Planning details
- Location
- 91 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3RX, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- theolivebranchscotland.co.uk
- Phone
- +441315578589
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Olive Branch sits squarely in Edinburgh’s neighbourhood middle tier: serious cooking delivered in an unpretentious, street‑level room. Housed among Georgian and Victorian tenements on Broughton Street, it feels like a local answer to the city’s more formal destinations — no jacket required, but the kitchen is attentive. The surrounding independent shops and cafés lend a small‑scale, charming character, and the wine list is curious rather than trophy‑driven. Overall the place reads classic and relaxed: comfortable for regulars while offering enough culinary intent to reward repeat visits.
Best For
This is a neighbourhood spot that plays well for relaxed brunches, family dinners and casual group nights out. Its position on Broughton Street and the emphasis on repeat custom make it naturally suited to locals dropping by across the week, and the menu’s classic British lines — Fish and Chips, Steak Frites, Haggis and Lamb — translate easily to both midday and evening occasions. Diners looking for unpretentious, well‑executed cooking in a friendly room rather than a formal, trophy‑driven service will find this a reliable choice.
Ordering Tips
Stick to the classics that define the kitchen: Fish and Chips and Steak Frites are reliable anchors, while the Haggis and Lamb showcase the more traditional side of the menu. The description notes a wine list that reflects curiosity rather than a sommelier’s trophy cabinet, so allow some flexibility and ask the staff for approachable, well‑matched bottles rather than pushing for high‑end vintages. Given the neighbourhood focus, consider sharing a couple of main plates so you can sample both the comforting, familiar dishes and any seasonal specials the kitchen is turning out.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and laid-back atmosphere with an intimate, welcoming vibe perfect for relaxing dinners or brunches.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Fish and Chips
- Steak Frites
- Haggis
- Lamb
Planning details
Location
91 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3RX, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If the meal needs a clearer Modern British identity, choose The Broughton. If the occasion justifies a higher spend and a more creative format, choose Fhior.
Restaurant context
How it compares on Broughton Street and nearby
The Olive Branch is the low-friction choice in this group: easier to plan than Fhior and less defined by a specific cuisine angle than The Broughton. Choose it when the goal is a relaxed Edinburgh meal that does not need to anchor the whole day.
Fhior is the splurge comparison, with a Creative ££££ positioning that makes it better suited to diners who want a more ambitious meal. The Broughton is the safer peer for Modern British at ££, especially when the group wants a clearer food identity and a pub-neighbourhood feel.
L'Escargot Bleu, Vinette, Broughton Delicatessen are better cross-shops when the brief shifts toward French, wine-led, or daytime deli-style eating. The Olive Branch sits in the practical middle: useful for ease, less compelling if the table wants a sharper point of view.
Explore Edinburgh
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Olive Branch guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Olive Branch
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Olive Branch | Edinburgh | ; | ; | No published awards |
| L’Escargot Bleu | Edinburgh | ; | ; | No published awards |
| The Broughton | Edinburgh | Modern British | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Vinette | Edinburgh | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Broughton Delicatessen | Edinburgh | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Fhior | Edinburgh | Creative | ££££ | No published awards |
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How The Olive Branch Edinburgh compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat at the bar at The Olive Branch?
What should a first-timer know about The Olive Branch?
Start with the hours and dress code. The Olive Branch is closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday and Thursday from 12–9 PM; Friday and Saturday from 10 AM–10 PM; and Sunday from 10 AM–9 PM. The dress code is casual.
What should I order at The Olive Branch?
Check the current menu with The Olive Branch before visiting, especially if you are planning around a particular dish or style of meal.
Is The Olive Branch good for a special occasion?
The dress code is casual, so it may suit a relaxed plan in Edinburgh. If awards, private dining, tasting menus, or other special-occasion features matter to your plans, check directly with the venue.
What time is better at The Olive Branch?
The hours include daytime and evening opening on operating days: Wednesday and Thursday 12–9 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM–10 PM, Sunday 10 AM–9 PM. Choose the time that best fits your schedule, confirm current service details directly with the venue.
What are alternatives to The Olive Branch in Edinburgh?
Other venues to consider include L'Escargot Bleu, The Broughton, Vinette, Broughton Delicatessen, Fhior. Check current details for each venue before comparing menus, prices, or availability.
Does The Olive Branch handle dietary restrictions?
Contact The Olive Branch directly before visiting if you have specific dietary or allergy requirements.
