The best pubs Edinburgh

This great Irish bar on popular Victoria Street has built its success on daily gigs made possible by the presence of bands every night. The atmosphere is effervescent and people come more to party than to chat. The room is quite dark and has relatively few tables. Students and residents of most youth hostels have discounts on drinks: remember to ask! And on the drinking side, you will have a wide choice of scottish gins, scottish whiskies (and irish whiskeys), scottish craft beers...

Pandas are not only honored at the zoo in Edinburgh. A bit of a hipster with an imitation barber shopon the front - no, no, you're not mistaken... push the door! It's an old hidden bar, like in the prohibition era -, Panda's & Sons is an ideal place to settle down to chat while sipping a cocktail with popcorn, the great strength of the establishment. The decor is eclectic, with a Victorian saloon feel and a nice wooden bar. The cocktails are original and very creative.

This is without a doubt the best pub in the Royal Mile. In the quiet of a dead end, people passing by see him less often, but locals know he is there. Its terrace is very pleasant in good weather and its warm room partially in the basement, with a low ceiling, comes straight from the Middle Ages. Small and friendly, the regulars come to chat by the fire. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful and will be able to help you choose from a wide variety of whiskys, ales, stouts and ciders.

The Abbostford is barely pushing its door down in time. Its splendid circular central bar, made of dark carved wood, was installed in 1902 and has not moved since. On the ceiling, beautiful green and gold moldings catch the eye as you enjoy one of six traditional beers or a dram of whiskey. A lot of locals come here to chat, especially white collar workers at afterwork time. The few tables on the pedestrian street of Rose Street are quite popular. Upstairs is the restaurant area, which is more chic: think about it for dinner.

Nice pub on 3 floors, with 3 bars. The decor is inspired by Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory, and the monster even comes up every hour, leaving a hole above the main bar counter. We come to eat, drink and enjoy. Several animations are scheduled throughout the week.

Here is a real little architectural jewel of Edinburgh's heritage. It has one of the finest and best-preserved Victorian interiors in the country. Splendid ceramic frescoes under a beautifully decorated ceiling and the stained glass windows, of rare beauty, were designed by the same company that supplied the House of Lords. We'll have to search a bit between Princes Street and St Andrew's Square to find the entrance, but it's worth it. We drink four hand-pulled beers and the lunch break is very enjoyable.

One of the oldest pubs in the city owes its name to one of the most mysterious creatures in the Highlands, unless tonight to the legend of the great white stag that would have disarmed King David I during a hunting trip in 1128, without hurting him. Before disappearing, a silver cross appeared on the animal's forehead, between its woods.... The pub, which dates back to 1516, serves an excellent haggis and one offers a fairly large choice of whiskies. Every evening from 9pm, musical groups come to warm up the atmosphere until late at night.

Good pubs are not uncommon but such a beer garden is a blessing in Edinburgh. On sunny days, especially when there is a match, its huge outdoor tables are stormed and the atmosphere is guaranteed. For the rest of the year, the pretty 18th century house covered with ivy is more than a bargain and many students enjoy the fireplace and the games on offer, over a homemade beer, a good burger, quesadillas or nachos to share. A huge classic!

This festive establishment is housed in an old and spacious church. Fervent promoter of Scottish culture, he organizes every Friday and Saturday ceilidh sessions, the famous traditional national dance, with drinks, 3 courses, traditional dance & music, then DJ. Concerts take place every night of the week, at different sessions: 4pm, 7pm and 10pm. You will also be able, upon registration, to offer you the unusual experience of a cocktail masterclass. Finally, fans will appreciate the broadcasts on the many match nights.

The Bow Bar no longer has its reputation among the public houses of the capital. Dubbed by CAMRA and consumers, it was created in 1987 and still offers about 200 single malts and about fifteen real ales. He even holds his own beer festival during the summer. Decorated with old advertisements and mirrors, its unique little room lacks space at weekends and you often have to stand on your feet. Its location in the friendly West Bow is very appreciable. Good plan: "whisky wednesdays" with whiskies available only on Wednesdays.

The low ceiling and the huge exposed stones betray the age of this building, one of the oldest in the port of Leith. Built in the 15th century, it has seen many sailors pass through its lair to eat, sleep and water their evenings. Today, its intimate atmosphere, full of history, is still as famous as ever. We enjoy four real ales, but also good food (local suppliers, fresh products). The tables are logically quickly taken by storm and you can sit outside when the weather permits.

Yellow walls, raw light, school benches and floor carpet, the Royal Oak is a small neighborhood pub with no shades. The rooms are talkative and everyone seems to know each other. At the counter, many Scottish beers, including three from the mcewans brewery. Every night, musicians take their instruments to ensure the atmosphere and the success of this address that attracts traditional music lovers.

This small corner room doesn't let anything show through its blue front, but live music has been played here since 1942! Every evening and sometimes even during the day, lovers of folklore and authenticity can enjoy themselves here. Several instruments are logically brandished behind the bar and a lot of pictures are distributed in the room. If you're still not convinced, Sandy Bell's serves six real ales and several other draught beers. There is also a nice selection of single malts and the malt of the month offers good value for money.

This real area is hidden in a basement in Solicitors's small quarter. Covered with parquet flooring and wood panelling, he has all traditional features, including a portrait of Sir Walter Scott who watches over the chimney and to whom he owes his name, drawn from the eponymous novel. The room is warm and bottled filled with a large dozen, beer as ciders. Tuesday evening belongs to poker players and Wednesday to quiz fans, but it is Thursday at 21 a. m. that visitors are the most numerous with folk music sessions.

The Bailie is an institution, as it has been a bar since the 1870s, formerly known as the "Grand Bar". It was, for a time, a place reserved for men. Today, it is obviously open to everyone. You will appreciate its wide variety of beers, spirits (many whiskies) and wines, and its pub-style, traditional and hearty dishes (attention: the kitchens close at 10pm). Animations are regular: quizzes on Thursday evenings, live music on weekends, sports events broadcast..

Voted pub of the year in Edinburgh by the famous CAMRA in 2017, the Stockbridge Tap offers no less than 17 draught, over 70 single malts and over 20 gins. As its name suggests, it is located in the pleasant neighbourhood of Stockbridge and is only a few metres from the Water of Leith. Many of the beers come from small breweries throughout Britain and it sometimes organises beer festivals. The long hall is bright and has plenty of room. We also eat there very well: beautiful boards with generous burgers.

This small brick house was once the waiting room of a ferry link between Leith and Aberdeen. It has retained its character and has taken advantage of its location to install its terrace on the waterfront and take possession of the several rooms. A huge slate unrolls the choice of wines and the very complete selection of whiskies. Just like its sister store in the West End, Teuchters is putting the finishing touches to the real ales and also includes a restaurant section: A Room in Leith. We're sure you'll fall in love with both addresses!

Endless flowers and small colourful statues sounding their trumpets signal this pub overlooking the beginning of Leith Walk. The theme of cinema and theatre is reflected in the posters framed on the red walls, featuring Mamma Mia or Mary Poppins. The dark wood countertop is richly crafted in a square shape in the centre of the space, with crystal chandeliers hanging all around. Count five real ales and about thirty single malts. There are a few tables outside, at the entrance, for smokers.

This small corner shop, owned by the same family since 1896, a stone's throw from Princes Street, is a festival of gilding and good taste. The balustrade of the mezzanine gives an air of a 19th century theatre and the ornate ceiling is very harmonious. There is a choice of a dozen draught keg beers, a dozen cask ales (à la tireuse) and a very impressive menu of craft beers and other bottled beers (nearly 450!). The proximity of the Café Royal makes it possible to make a mini pub crawl very aesthetic and epicurean.

On the edge of West End, a few minutes from Murrayfield Stadium, this large pub is located on a level room, with its steel pillars and bare brick walls. Named after the Caledonian Brewery not far from here, it offers a full range of bottled beers and eight pressures, mainly from microbreweries such as Black Isle, Cromarty, Fyne Ales or Magic Rock. The clientele is mainly composed of amateurs but grows a lot on match nights. The food is also quite famous and there is also a good selection of wines and whiskies.