Review: Loch Ness Scottish Pub & Whisky Bar

Der Eingang des Loch Ness Scottish Pub in Berlin-Steglitz

Loch Ness Scottish Pub And Whisky Bar

Recently, we found ourselves back in Berlin Steglitz. Apparently, it’s a hotspot in Berlin for Irish pubs and pubs of all kinds. Although the name ‘Loch Ness’ already gives away that this is not an ‘Irish’ pub, we found the concept so special that we absolutely wanted to visit this pub. According to our research so far, there is no other ‘Scottish pub’ with special Scottish beers and haggis (for those who like it).

You will find Loch Ness about a 7-minute walk from the Botanischer Garten S-Bahn station. When you walk down a street where you think there is probably nothing else around, you are almost there. Loch Ness is actually located in a quiet residential area with few other establishments in the immediate vicinity. At least from the direction we came from.

This image is also reflected in the pub itself. It was noticeably quiet and relaxed for a Friday evening. Only very soft music was playing in the background. And the rather older crowd sat comfortably together enjoying food and drinks.

Loch Ness Scottish Pub and Whisky Bar | Berlin Steglitz

Loch Ness Scottish Pub and Whisky Bar | Berlin Steglitz | Bar

Ambience

Right at the entrance is the well-stocked bar, which mainly serves whisky. You can sit right at the bar or take a seat at one of the other tables inside. The Loch Ness is cosily furnished with several leather sofas and additional tables. So you’re sure to find a spot that suits you.

We took a seat on a leather sofa in the large front room, which we immediately sank into. This is definitely a great place to spend a cosy evening, almost like being at home.

The walls are decorated with pictures and metal signs from Scotland featuring typical brands and slogans, and of course there are plenty of pictures of Scottish Highland cattle.

Loch Ness Scottish Pub and Whisky Bar | Berlin Steglitz | Innenraum

In addition to the large interior directly behind the entrance, there is another small room at the back of the pub. If the front room is too busy for you, you will find a small oasis of calm there.

When the weather is nice, you can also sit on the outdoor terrace.

In general, it was very quiet throughout Friday evening during our visit. It’s probably different when there are events on. Loch Ness regularly hosts evenings of live music under the name Rock Ness. And anyone who has always wanted to celebrate a Scottish national holiday such as Robert Burns Day can do so in style at Loch Ness with a 3-course meal.

Friendliness

The Loch Ness Scottish Pub has clear rules. These can also be found in a lengthy FAQ section on the website. We can well imagine that running a pub can lead to some curious situations. Such an explanation is therefore justified.

During our visit, we received a very warm welcome and felt comfortable throughout our stay. Orders are taken directly at the table, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

However, the Loch Ness is not particularly fond of other typical pub beers such as Guinness, Murphy’s, Kilkenny or Newcastle Brown Ale.

Drinks

As already mentioned, you won’t find typical beers at Loch Ness. It’s not an Irish pub, so Guinness is nowhere to be seen here.

Instead, there is a selection of different Scottish beers from the Cairngorm Brewery as well as other guest ales. We tried the Black Gold Stout and Nessie’s Monster Mash. Both beers were very tasty. Nessie’s Monster Mash not only has a creative name, but also very special notes that made it our favourite. You should definitely try it!

Loch Ness also has over 800 whiskies on tap. There is a separate whisky menu that you can use to try them. You can also book whisky tastings at Loch Ness. Check the website for dates.

Loch Ness Scottish Pub and Whisky Bar | Berlin Steglitz | Whisky und IRN BRU

During our visit, we sampled a Scottish whisky we had researched ourselves, namely the Balvenie 12 Year Old Double Wood, Bourbon Cask / Sherry Cask. We both liked this whisky very much from the very first sip.

And as relative whisky novices, we also had an interesting eye-opening experience. The whisky is served here with a water jug and a pipette. You can gradually add 2-3 drops of water to the whisky and keep tasting it. The water intensifies the aroma and also changes the flavour. A really interesting experience.

To finish off, we ordered a can of Scotland’s national soft drink, IRN BRU, as we had never tried it before. The drink looks very artificial and tastes just as it looks. But it certainly helps anyone who may have had one too many to find their way home.

Food / Snacks

The Loch Ness has a well-stocked menu with main courses such as various burgers and fish & chips. What makes the Loch Ness special is that they serve the Scottish national dish, haggis. This is a dish that you certainly don’t find very often in Berlin. Unfortunately, we didn’t dare to try this classic Scottish dish and played it safe with a beef burger with wedges and sour cream.

Christiane was really looking forward to the stew, but unfortunately it was already sold out. As an alternative, she was recommended a soup made from green beans and smoked pork, which she gladly accepted. This soup was delicious and definitely tasted as if it had been homemade. Highly recommended!

Nico’s burger was also perfectly fine for a pub burger. Nothing special, but not bad either. Unfortunately, the wedges were very salty. After that, the onion rings, which in our opinion looked very pale and definitely came from some kind of packaging, at least had more flavour.

In general, the food at Loch Ness is solidly average. It’s best to go for one of the current specials rather than the standard dishes.

Tip: Be sure to note the kitchen closing times when eating. This is 8:30 p.m. for main courses and 9:40 p.m. for snacks and sweets.