Reviewed · EDINBURGH TOURS
Dinner and Private Tour with your Personal Scottish Sommelier
Edinburgh’s food scene is the real star here. Your personal sommelier builds a four-hour private evening around your tastes, pairing Scottish artisan foods with single malt whisky, European wines, and dinner at places chosen for your group. I like the freedom to ask for neighborhood bars or central spots with castle views. I also like that dietary needs can be handled with advance notice.
The main drawback is the price: $677.51 per person is a serious splurge, especially since extra food or drinks cost more. The exact restaurants and stops are not fixed, so you need to share a clear wish list before booking if particular dishes, bars, or wine styles matter to you.
Key points at a glance

- Your route is built around your tastes: Restaurants and stops are arranged after your preferences are discussed.
- Scottish flavors lead the evening: Expect artisan foods, fresh local produce, dinner, single malt whisky, and European wine pairings.
- It is fully private: Only your group takes part, which makes the evening more relaxed and personal.
- Joanne may be your guide: She is named in the available feedback and is praised for laughter, learning, food, wine, and memorable local stops.
- The evening starts at 6 pm: Meet at 42 St Andrew Square, then return there at the end.
- Plan ahead for value: The tour is often booked 34 days ahead, and extra food or drinks are charged separately.
A private Edinburgh supper built around your wish list

This is not a fixed pub crawl with the same plate and whisky pour for everyone. The basic idea is more personal: you discuss what you want before the evening, and the sommelier arranges a food and drink route to match.
You might ask for Scottish produce in central Edinburgh, with views toward the castle. Or you might prefer smaller neighborhood bars that sit away from the main sightseeing circuit. The information provided does not name a set list of restaurants, which is both the appeal and the one uncertainty. You get flexibility, but you should not book expecting a specific famous venue unless it has been confirmed in advance.
I like this setup for a short Edinburgh visit. A standard restaurant meal gives you one address and one menu. This evening gives you several tastes across roughly four hours, with someone helping connect the food, wine, and whisky. It is a good way to make dinner feel like part of your sightseeing rather than an isolated stop.
The private format matters. You are not trying to keep pace with strangers or fit into a large group’s preferences. If your party wants more whisky education, more wine, more food, or a quieter pace, those requests can be discussed before the date. The final plan still depends on what the provider can arrange, so clear communication is important.
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What the four-hour evening may include

The route begins with the meeting at 42 St Andrew Square at 6 pm. The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Pickup is offered, but the supplied details do not explain where pickup is available or how it is arranged, so confirm that point before you rely on it.
From there, the evening becomes an epicurean walk and meal around Edinburgh. The stops are selected to suit your wish list. You are promised a selection of different foods over the four hours rather than one single dinner plate, along with alcoholic drinks included in the experience.
The food focus is Scottish artisan produce and fresh local ingredients. That may appeal if you want more than the standard sightseeing menu. Instead of treating Scottish food as a quick novelty, the format gives you room to taste several items and talk through what you are eating.
The exact dishes are not specified. That is useful if you dislike rigid menus, but less useful if you need to know precisely what will be served. Ask in advance about the food plan, serving sizes, and any ingredients that concern you. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
Wine and whisky are central to the evening. You can expect single malt whisky and European wines, with pairings selected as part of the food experience. The sommelier role suggests that the drinks are not simply added to dinner as an afterthought. You should have a chance to understand why a particular wine or whisky fits the food, though the depth of instruction may depend on your guide and your own interests.
One particularly attractive feature is the possibility of visiting places you would not find during a quick walk between Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The available feedback describes an evening that included a local spot the party would not have discovered during a short stay, along with good food, wine, and a dessert cocktail. That detail captures the appeal: you are paying for local judgment as much as for the meal.
Scottish food, whisky, and European wine together

A good food tour should give you a sense of place. Here, Scotland comes through the artisan foods, fresh produce, and single malt whisky. The European wine element adds contrast, letting the sommelier build pairings beyond a strictly Scottish drinks list.
That combination should suit you if you enjoy tasting rather than simply eating a large meal. The word dinner is included, but the description emphasizes several samples over the course of four hours. I would approach it as a progressive dinner with drinks, not as a traditional two-course or three-course restaurant booking.
The whisky component is another reason to consider this experience. Single malt has a wide range of styles, and a personal guide can adjust the conversation to your level. You can ask for an introduction if you are new to whisky, or focus on comparisons if you already know what you like. The supplied details do not promise a formal tasting flight or a set number of pours, so ask about that if whisky is your main reason for booking.
Wine drinkers get equal attention in the plan. European wines are specifically included, and the guide is described as a wine and spirit specialist. If your group has mixed tastes, this is more flexible than a whisky-only event. Still, alcohol is part of the experience, and all participants must be at least 18 years old.
Joanne and the value of a personal guide

Joanne is the guide named in the available feedback. She is praised for creating an evening with laughter, learning, food, and wine, and for taking a party to favorite Edinburgh places they would not have found on their own. Her response also makes clear that she enjoys sharing her own preferred stops.
That personal connection is likely the strongest part of the product. A private sommelier can respond to your questions and shape the tone of the night. You can ask for practical advice about Edinburgh’s food and drink scene, not just listen to a prepared speech.
I would not assume Joanne leads every departure, however. The experience is sold with a local guide and wine and spirit specialist, but the details do not say that she is guaranteed. If having Joanne matters to you, request her by name before booking and get confirmation.
The comments also point to a dessert cocktail, which adds a playful finish to the food and drink theme. It is not listed as a guaranteed stop, so treat it as an example of the kind of extra touch your guide may arrange rather than a promised part of every evening.
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Is $677.51 per person a fair price?

At $677.51 per person, this is expensive. The value depends on how much you care about privacy, personal planning, and access to a guide who knows Edinburgh’s food and drink spots.
Your price includes dinner, a selection of foods, alcoholic beverages, and the private guide. It also covers the work of matching restaurants and stops to your preferences. If the evening gives you a meal plus several well-chosen tastings and a strong local introduction, the cost may make sense for a special occasion.
It is harder to justify if you mainly want dinner and a few drinks. Edinburgh has many restaurants where you can spend far less, and this experience does not include every additional item you may choose to order. Extra food or drinks beyond what the guide offers are charged separately, so keep that in mind when comparing the total cost.
Group discounts are offered, though no discount amount is provided. Since the activity is private, ask for the full price for your party rather than assuming the per-person figure will remain unchanged. This is best suited to a small group marking a birthday, anniversary, reunion, or other occasion where the private setting matters.
The advance booking pattern is also worth noting. It is booked, on average, 34 days ahead. That does not guarantee every date will sell out, but it is a useful warning for a planned Edinburgh trip. Book early if you want a particular date or want time to discuss detailed food and drink preferences.
Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy food, wine, whisky, and conversation more than a checklist of landmarks. It works especially well for a private party that wants the guide to listen first and then build the night around personal tastes.
It also suits people staying in Edinburgh for only a short time. The local-stop element can help you use one evening well, and the guide may take you to a place you would not find during a brief independent visit. The experience gives you a social night out without asking you to research several bars and restaurants yourself.
This is less suitable for children, families with under-18 participants, or anyone avoiding alcohol. Every participant must be over 18 and may need to show proof of age on arrival. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation.
You should also think about your preferred pace. A four-hour food and drink evening is a substantial commitment. If you want a quick meal before a show, this may feel too long. If you like lingering over several courses and drinks, the duration is one of the better features.
Practical details before you reserve

The start time is 6 pm, which gives you the afternoon for sightseeing and lets the food and drink portion carry into the evening. You finish back at 42 St Andrew Square, making it easier to plan your evening afterward, although the exact finishing time is not stated.
Confirmation is provided when you book. Mobile tickets are available, and the activity is near public transportation. Pickup is offered, but confirm the pickup area and timing directly because the stated meeting point remains St Andrew Square.
Tell the provider about dietary requirements before the date. The tour can cater to them with advance notice, but last-minute requests may be harder to manage when several restaurants or bars are involved.
Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.
Should you book this private Edinburgh food tour?

Book it if you want a personal, adult-only food and drink evening and are happy to pay for planning, privacy, and local guidance. It is a strong choice for a special occasion or a short visit when you want someone else to connect dinner, wine, whisky, and neighborhood stops.
Skip it if you need a fixed restaurant list, a low-cost meal, or a clear promise of exact dishes and tasting pours. Before booking, send a detailed wish list, ask who will guide your date, confirm pickup, and check what is included versus extra. If those answers fit your plans, this could turn one Edinburgh evening into a memorable introduction to the city’s food and drink culture.
FAQ
Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at 42 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD, UK, at 6 pm.
Where does the tour finish?
The activity ends back at the meeting point at 42 St Andrew Square.
How long does the experience last?
The tour lasts approximately four hours.
Is the tour private?
Yes. Only your group participates in this private activity.
What food and drinks are included?
The experience includes dinner, a selection of different foods sampled over four hours, alcoholic beverages, single malt whisky, and European wines.
Are dietary requirements accommodated?
Yes. Dietary requirements can be catered to when you provide advance notice.
Can children join the tour?
No. All participants must be at least 18 years old and may be asked to show proof of age on arrival.
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