Amicus Apple

Visited Amicus for the first time at the end of December for a mid shopping lunch. It has a funky décor and the staff were friendly and helpful. I didn’t find the cocktail list massively tempting but that is just a personal taste: it’s quite a girly, sweet selection. We had a gin and prosecco cocktail which I felt was a little overpriced but was tasty. When it came to eat, there were quite a few things on the menu not available unfortunately but what we did get was delicious: I had a roast cauliflower and pork belly salad which I would highly recommend. My co-​diner had a kale, quinoa, endive, pear (etc etc) salad specifically to try quinoa and it arrived missing that key ingredient! But we were compensated with a free dessert so we did come away happy.

Amicus Apple is not really my kind of place. The drinks are hugely expensive, they do a lot of cocktails and I’m not a massive cocktail fan and the clientele seems to be the Standard Life-​after-​work crowd. Not that I’m dissing the joint or its customers — it’s just not somewhere I’d usually choose to go.
Saying that, if you like cocktails it looks to me like they do some pretty decent ones. There’s also a riddle on the menu, which I appreciated on many levels. It’s not often you see riddles on a bar menu!
There’s a little space outside you can hope to sun yourself with a drink, but most of the seating is inside. I don’t know what it’s like during the day, but at night time the music is so loud you have to scream in folks’ ears, which doesn’t bode very well for chat.
But hey. It is what it is. Could be a lot worse!

Well done!
What a wonderful transformation this bar has had. Completely funked up and lots of inspired and sexy design features.
The wall that used to adorn a 50″ flat screen has been transformed to a life like ‘living wall’ feature — bright green moss enclosed in a glass front. Don’t be fooled like I was. I had a chat with the manager and he explained this is actually fake. but using natural materials.
The miss match on chairs and tables is deliberate and if you pay a closer look it all fits very well together.
The bar needs security guards. Why you may ask? Because a lot of money is on display — real money — EVERY bullet proof glass panel on the bar is deep filled with 5 pence pieces — yup. There is 10 (and a half) panels about an inch wide and filled to the brim with 5p coins.
As this is a charity guessing game I will not disclose the amount of money locked into this bar. — They will announce the competition very soon and all you need to do is guess how many 5 pence pieces there are. The winner will be able to donate all this money to their favourite charity. After that they will refill it with 10p coins and so forth. I like this a lot!
— Have a look at their homepage if you want more details. but I was already making calculations whilst sipping my Estralla draft.
They still have the the food area and this is in keeping with the whole funkiness. It is now slightly separated using wavy glass panels.
The music levels were just right, not too loud and a very pleasant mix. I mention this as before it was a bit of a hit & miss, now it is right.
I am pleased with the transformation — it is now a special place to visit.
Again — Well done Amicus Apple, I will visit the bar a little more now.

Went back to Amicus Apple last night for a little birthday drink wth a couple friends and i still really like it… cosy and stylish! I decided on a Pink Angel and it was very nice. Waitress was very attentive, even asking what i would like to drink before I had my coat off!
Nice selections of drinks and would definatley say this is a place designed for the ladies!

Service was great and venue was chic and contemporary. Food was not at all bad for bar food.

I met friends here for a Monday night dinner and when I walked in, I instantly got that Friday night feeling — aided by the sexy purple mood lighting and trendy vibe but I felt a little underdressed for the venue in my jeans and t-​shirt.
I browsed the cocktail menu whilst waiting for my company to arrive and was impressed by the extensive range on offer which sounded just too good to pass on so I opted for ‘She’s a Lady’. As soon as I tasted my first sip my face instantly beamed at this fruity delight and I wished it was the weekend so i could enjoy more of these babies!
For dinner we shared chilli squid, haggis balls and mini sausages in honey-​glazed sauce — mmm mmm mmm to start with. I hummed and hawed over my main but eventually decided on a burger with bacon, cheese and the best chips I have had since I can remember. I devoured the chips very quickly but was unable to finish the burger. I felt it had something missing — not sure whether it was seasoning or because the chips were so tasty or maybe I had over indulged with the starters.
On a whole, the service was excellent and we even appreciated the background music — something more laid back than that trendy beat you tend to get in cocktail bars — maybe that was because it was Monday night.
At the end of the night I was ready for throwing some shapes on a dance floor so I will have to go back for the cocktails to kick off my weekend.

Amicus Apple offers a lunchtime menu offering a range of dishes for £5. I chose the steak and ale stew, which proved to be really quite tasty. As a no-​nonsense plate of sustenance, it was a winner. The place is quite smart, plays its music just a notch too loud, and is a good stop-​off on an evening out. The cocktail menu is very decent, too.
Overall, we said: «though I have severe reservations about the term „gastrolunch“, I was quite impressed with what the folks at Amicus Apple delivered. I like the notion of being able to pop in to somewhere like this, get a dish that’s high on flavour and low on complications, to fuel you for the afternoon ahead. In that regard, it’s much like the lunchtime offering at The Rosehip. I’d happily pop back, and would be entirely comfortable with suggesting that you do likewise.»

We popped in here for a quick dinner on our way to a Science Festival show, after we noticed they had a ‘2 for 1′ deal on main courses when you booked online. I’d never been in before, but have a couple of friends that positively rave about the place, so I was naturally curious!
It was a Wednesday night, and there was a good mix of ‘after-​work drinking’ groups, ‘after-​shopping girlie’ groups and our ‘on our way to a show about the Psychology of Humour’ group! The décor wasn’t as flashy as I was expecting, and there were lots of cosy wee booths to sit in. The tables were well spaced out, and the music was at an acceptable level to permit good conversation.
Both the drinks and food menu were exciting and extensive, and both were served fairly efficiently. We did get a wee bit edgy at one point as our food seemed to be taking longer than expected and, given we had to be somewhere to watch a show, we were cutting it fine to have time to enjoy it. However, it did arrive in time, and we did have time to enjoy it!
My dining companions had the Crombie of Edinburgh’s wild boar and apricot sausages, with caramelised onion mash and red wine gravy and many ‘ooohhs’, ‘aaahhhs’ and ‘Mmmmm”s were emitted! My Thai green curry with roasted butternut squash was absolutely fantastic, and I would have happily married the chef by the time I ate the last mouthful… then he could cook it for me every day! :)
Unfortunately, with the last mouthful, our visit came to an end as we had to dash off for some science and culture. I’ll definitely be back to sample more food off this great, and reasonably priced menu… and to find out if the chef is single!

I have walked past this place hundreds of times I never been all that tempted by it but a friend was having her leaving night there so I went along.
The place it’s self was a bit showy and I got the impression that the dim lighting and colourful lights were just to mask the fact that it was a fairly bland bar. The music was blaring from the second we arrive at 8.30 pm so having a conversation was difficult at best.
Biggest problem was the people, I knew from one look that this was a «trendy» bar, something which I certainly am not, but thats no excuse for being completely ignored by bar staff in favour of girls in short skirts. The clientele were a nightmare too, admittedly it was a Saturday night and it is a stones throw from George Street so its no great surprise but most of the guys there seemed to walk around with a smug sense of superiority and had no problem (making an attempt at) literally pushing you the way at the bar if they felt you weren’t cool enough to be in their presence. No time for people like that, and it seemed to be full of them.
While cocktail bars aren’t my thing normally, I have been to enough to know what constitutes a good one and this one left just felt a bit hollow with no real substance. Yeah they had a good list and the feedback from those drinking them were that they were good, but between the music, service and the people it’s difficult to actually enjoy your drink which pretty much defeats the purpose.
It may be a better place to go in the afternoon or during the week, but after my experience there I won’t be rushing back any time soon to try again.

I ended up taking a wee visit to Amicus Apple after having a leisurely stroll round the German Christmas Market. Main reason being my friend had seen the £5 cocktail menu outside — Hollaback Girl, I want one of those. Think that about covers her response, and I was not going to say no to a lovely wee cocktail after the eventful ferris wheel experience.
When we arrived I did feel a little under-​dressed, I don’t like walking in somewhere and immediately feeling like all the women there are judging me based on what I am wearing, I mean really, get over it. Yeah what I am wearing may not cost me an arm and a leg, and may not necessarily match to perfection, but all I want is a darned cocktail.
Ignoring this we perched ourselves at the bar, then perused the cocktail menu. There is certainly enough choice here! But we ended up ordering a Hollaback Girl, which my friend quite enjoyed, and I had some Raspberry-​ish lovely thing, the name escapes me. It was scrummy though, and disappeared very quickly! There were people around us having little plates of food, which smelled very tempting, and looked just as tasty!
Service was good, very friendly and not too bad on the eye either. My friend particularly liked one she nicknamed ‘tasty’, and I liked the one she accurately named ‘hairy’. All the things you would look for in a good barman, I would go back for that alone!

Really cool and classy cocktail bar! I’ve had a few cocktails in my time here, they also do a mean steak sandwich! hello!

A Beautiful little hideaway on Frederick Street — Amicus Apple is stylish and tasty!
The mood is always cosy with the comfy leather seats and in the winter the fireplace is perfect. I love that they always have a random film playing in the background to catch your eye in whilst waiting at the bar.
The staff are always very friendly and seem to know the cocktail list off by heart. I’ve always had a good experience in this bar and would recommend to any people who are on their travels in Edinburgh.

A trendy establishment, but with friendly staff and food that ain’t half bad.
I’ve stopped by a few times: for lunch, for coffee, and for cocktails. All were quite enjoyable, although perhaps not oh-​em-​gee rantable.
The food menu is quite big, the cocktail list is even bigger. Our food came quickly, the cocktails were fresh, inventive and tasty. And when I stopped by for coffee and requested an iced coffee, despite it not being on the menu, they whipped it up no problem in a tall glass with added cream. Take that starbucks.
It has a nice vibe, although perhaps quite trendy. When I stopped here for coffee I’d just been climbing Arthur’s Seat and in my jeans and trainers felt a little under dressed next to the gaggle of high-​heeled, bejewelled ladies who lunch with cocktails at 4pm.
I would definitely come again, although will be sure to swap the trainers for at least some dressy flats. I could happily spend an evening here trying a few of the exciting sounding cocktails — in fact, it’s on my to-​do list.

If you’re looking for an affordable snack, cocktail or lunchtime bite, in chilled out surroundings with comfy seats, then you’re onto a winner with Amicus Apple. They have an excellent range of bites to keep your tummy happy and the desserts to follow are excellent too.
I like the chilled out atmosphere in Amicus Apple with funky décor and friendly staff.
Of course, you don’t have to be dining to enjoy the full experience. They have an extensive cocktail menu all a bit more exciting than the boring old French Martini and all with funky names too. Each time I’ve visited, I’ve had a cocktail, or two… and try to have something different every time. It’s just so hard to choose as I’d happily guzzle down one of each.
I have a few favourite to recommend and these are:
–Taste the rainbow — which actually just tastes like Skittles, it’s a little bit dangerous.
–Heartbreak — a mish mash of everything really.
–Hollaback Girl — I originally got this because I really like the name but it’s a zesty mix with kiwi infused vodka that’s become one of my favourites!
Ps. If you have a sweet tooth, try the white chocolate cheese cake — to die for!

I think it deserves an extra star, don’t you? I’ve come to love Amicus Apple. The staff are lovely — especially Emma. The food is good — especially the baked camambert, and the drinks are great — especially the cocktails.
It’s a lovely cosy bar, it’s small enough to be intimate yet big enough to be roomy.
During the festival they have a great little beer garden with red and white bubble chairs that you can get so easily lost in. It’s slowly becoming one of my favourite places in the city!

Amicus Apple has always looked delicious to me, and I’ll tell you why — that awesome 70s bubble chair they have in their wee beer garden!
It’s not even so much a beer garden as a classy outdoors area where people can have a drink, a gab and some lunch while also being at liberty to smoke if they so desire. This area sets the tone, and sits at the entrance of this rather stylish bar and restaurant just off Princes St.
Serving up soup, sandwiches, burgers and a fancier take on chicken kebab, Amicus has quite the extensive menu for a cocktail bar. You can get a variety of foods, from some nibbles to accompany your drinks to a full-​on sirloin steak! Put on your Sunday best and hop down to experience their special Sunday food service, or cut to the chase and get straight to dessert — they do an awesome Rocky Road.
The cocktails are scrummy, and if you’re feeling inspired to make your own, Amicus do their own cocktails masterclasses.
Yes, Amicus attracts smarmy customers at times, and is full of people with money as Gavin says. But when I’ve been in (admittedly, during the day) it’s not been at all bad. I’d happily take a bite out of this bar from time to time!

Amicus Apple should tick all the right boxes really.
It has an unusual and catchy name that draws you in. Funky menus at the door make for a good start. Lovely interior and cosy booths are a win. Cocktails? Yush Pleash Barman. But there’s something here that just lacks… something. And I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.
My friends and I went for some early evening cocktails before dinner to kick start the evening, and were unfortunate enough to be sat at a table next to wannabe footballers who gave us crap chat the whole time we were there. This was the kind of clientèle the place seemed to have, as a quick look around proved.
However, it takes more than a few perma-​tanned Jack the Lads to put me and my girls off a cocktail, so we got to ordering drinks. I had a Mighty Aphrodite, which was strawberry’s and raspberries served in vodka, in a sort of slush style. It was yummy, and not too badly priced at just under £7. My friend was actually given the wrong cocktail and the barman looked at her as if it was her fault whilst listing the nice qualities of the cocktail he’d mistakenly made for her. She wasn’t impressed, but too embarrassed to say more so she just drank it. And to add insult to injury, It cost £1 more than the one she originally asked for! I wasn’t pleased with that at all.
Overall, it was ok. Not bad for a cocktail, of which there are many, but in a lot of ways it just tries far too hard.

There’s no denying that this bar is in a great location, tucked between Princes Street and George Street. It should be the ideal place to meet at the start of a night out. But somehow every time I drink or eat here I always leave remembering exactly why it’s been ages since the last time I was there.
There’s nothing that stands out as being particularly wrong with it, it’s just very much a case of style over substance. I ate dinner here once, and although you’d think there’s very little you can do to mess up pasta with arrabiatta sauce and grilled chicken — especially when you pay £9.95 for it — the past was so overcooked it was more like drinking a smoothie than eating a plate of penne.
Drinks are a bit better — the cocktail list is as long as your arm, and as long as they have the ingredients behind the bar they can make you whatever you want, whether its on the list or not. The only problem is that it really depends on who serves you. I was there the other night and my first white wine spritzer genuinely had more soda than wine in it, and cost me £5.70. When I ordered my second, I was served by a different barman who actually used a measurer for the wine, unlike the first guy, and only charged me £4.10!
If that hasn’t put you off, the décor and general feel to the place is great — it successfully attracts a mix of older students and young professionals thanks to it’s mix of cosy corner tables with sofas, to the white egg chairs suspended from the ceiling on in the smoking area. (Don’t sit in one after your second drink, as it will take you a good ten minutes to try and clamber out of it!)
I wouldn’t eat here, but on the basis of the atmosphere and the general relaxed feel of this place, I’d go back for drinks if I were in the area.

Amicus Apple is a super stylish bar, just off George Street. It attracts the usual sort of George Street crew of young professionals and the Edinburgh Yah crowd. It always catches my eye when I walk past so I was quite happy when a friend invited me for a drink here.
There is a huge, huge cocktail list which includes the usual suspects as well as some new, interesting ideas. I had a couple of different cocktails, with the price around £6 per drink. There is varying prices with some costing up to £9.95. The cocktails were good, perhaps not as good as some other places but the bar staff know their stuff. It wasn’t too busy either so it was good for a relaxing chat, most of the other customers seem to be doing the same thing. It seems to be a popular place for girly get togethers, I imagine this is due to the stylish interior and cocktail menu.
They also serve food which we didn’t try. I have heard mixed reviews on the food but I imagine I will try it at some point. Overall perhaps a bit more interesting and nicer than some of the George Street bars.

My experience of Amicus has been a bit varied. Some nights have been packed, and as the place doesn’t have air-​con it gets very hot in there! Other nights have been much more civilised and enjoyable. They’ve also recently had a deck built outside so you can relax al fresco if it’s not freezing/​raining.
The cocktail list isn’t great, but the bartenders know their stuff and will make you a cocktail based on your tastes.
The food isn’t the best in town, but is far above the usual bar/​pub standards, making this a pretty good place to have something to eat and a drink or two to start the night with.