Nestled in the heart of Leith, The Vintners Rooms restaurant is located in The Vaults in Giles Street. Wine importation into Leith, established by the religious orders, dates back to the 12th Century and a Vaults building has stood on this site since around 1580.

The current building, circa 1785, consists of the old saleroom with auctioneers alcove and the fine hand word stucco in this room reflects the importance of Leith as a wine port. Thomas Clayton whose work also appears in Holyrood Palace, Blair Castle and Brunstane House executed the delicate plasterwork.

With the lapse of wine importation, the saleroom became a museum and then ultimately a restaurant in 1985. It soon established itself as one of the finest dining rooms in Edinburgh, with a warm ambience created by the beautiful surroundings and candlelight.
Click to enlarge... By the 15th Century the strength of the wine trade became such that it was managed by a Guild, The Fraternity of St Anthony. There were even well defined workers groups as the "stingmen" and the "rollers", those who carried or rolled casks. In due course following the Reformation the monopoly on wine shifted to the ascendant Edinburgh's Vintners Guild.

About 1580 a single storey building was constructed above the "black vauts" using sea shore boulders and lime. This building was variously rebuilt culminating in 1785 with the present immense warehouse with pantile roof.

Customers can also eat in our less formal wine bar area where the original wine bins still exist.