The Edinburgh Blog

The Filmhouse on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road is an Edinburgh institution. Its monthly film programme always contains a balanced and exciting range of movies. It really is a great place to watch a film. Just behind the main foyer at the Filmhouse is the Cafe Bar, which is often busy and sometimes crowded. The eminently popular and free to enter Filmhouse quiz is hosted in the cafe bar once a month. The emphasis is on informal dining, including snacks. Food is ordered at the bar, before its promptly delivered to your table. Between 3pm and 5pm each day the Filmhouse offer all main meals for £5 and special meals for £7.

There’s a fair selection of real ales and lagers on draught, alongside 12 wines by the glass and a good spirit selection. The Filmhouse staff really were very friendly and evidently happy in their jobs - maybe they get free tickets to movie screenings.

The chickpea and coconut curry (£6.75) is one of the most popular dishes at the Filmhouse. Its appeal is universal and the inoffensiveness it offers will surely attract many, although curry aficionados may find it a little dull. There was more of a kick in the spicy bean and chicken nachos (£7.15). The portion size was huge and the toppings addictive. If only there had been some guacamole I’d have been making my trip to nacho heaven.

The Filmhouse Cafe Bar’s menu is made interesting by dishes such as stilton and spinach nuggets, baked meatballs with rice and falafels. There’s also a cake stand, whose contents looked delicious. The slice of rocky road we sampled was a little dry, but £1.75 for a brief bite of dark chocolate and marshmallow pleasure is fair enough.

The Filmhouse Cafe Bar is a simple venue, with an appealing menu and good standards of cooking. With all dishes on offer at very reasonable prices, this is a Lothian Road destination which is worth a visit, even if you’re not seeing a film.

The Filmhouse Cafe Bar is located at 88 Lothian Road,Edinburgh, EH3 9BZ
Telephone: 2021 229 5932