Pubs


Nicol Edwards Pub

Location(s)

29-35 Niddry Street
Edinburgh, EH1 1LG

Three bars on three levels: Main Bar and Mary Queen of Scots Lounge, Scots Bar for live local music, and the Vaults Bar and banqueting hall in the old cavernous basement.  During the festival in A

Beehive Inn

Location(s)

18-20 Grassmarket
Edinburgh, EH1 2JU

A large, busy pub in the Old Town, the Beehive Inn has an upstairs restaurant and a beer garden in the rear.  During the festival, it offers shows as part of

Meridian

Location(s)

138-140 Leith Walk
Edinburgh, EH6 5DT

A modern and recently-refurbished bar on two levels, Meridian features free festival shows from midday as venue Laughing Horse @ Meridian during the

The Argyle Bar

Location(s)

15-17 Argyle Place
Edinburgh, EH9 1JJ

Two-level basement bar that operates as the venue Laughing Horse @ the Argyle for the Free Fringe.

The Standing Order

standing_order.jpg

J.D. Weatherspoon owned pub in attractive, Grade A listed Georgian building (the title is named after its original use as a bank for the Union Bank of Scotland).

Location(s)

62-66 George St
Edinburgh, EH2 2LR

Canon's Gait Bar

Canon's Gait

Friendly bar at the Canongate end of the Royal Mile modern upper lounge bar and cellar bar. Has a good tradition of supporting local music talent.

Location(s)

232 Canongate
Edinburgh, EH8 8DQ

Dragonfly Cocktail Bar

Location(s)

52 West Port
Edinburgh, EH1 2LD

Minimalist cocktail lounge offering free comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Open to 3am during the festival.

Voodoo Bar

Location(s)

8 Torphichen Place
Edinburgh, EH3 8DU

Basement pub in Haymarket area with poker nights, special promotions, student discounts, open mics, talent shows, and theme nights such as African Parties.

Brass Monkey

Location(s)

14 Drummond St
Edinburgh, EH8 9TU

Friendly student pub with a small screening room at the back which features a large bed.

The Crook Inn

Location(s)

Tweedsmuir, ML12 6QN

The Crook Inn, in the Tweed Valley, is the oldest licensed coaching inn in Scotland dating back some 400 years. The pub/hotel, which is situated on the A701 South of Edinburgh, has long been a meeting place for the rural community throughout the year as well as a stopping point for daytrippers from Edinburgh and shooting and fishing visitors mainly in the Summer months.

City Cafe

Location(s)

19 Blair Street
Edinburgh, EH1 1QR

Reliably good barista-made coffees and the diner layout with enclosed booths, as well as the Old Town location, make this a good place for tête-à-têtes during the day, while at night this

The Waverley Bar

Location(s)

3-5 St Mary's Street
Edinburgh, EH1 1TA

The Waverley Bar is located off the High Street, where it turns into the Canongate. As the name of the bar suggests it is a minute's walk from Waverley Station.

Sheep Heid Inn

Location(s)

43-45 Causeway
Edinburgh, EH15 3QA

It may not look it, but the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston may be the oldest surviving public house in Scotland, dating possibly from around 1360.

Moorings Pub

Location(s)

24-26 Hopetoun Road
Edinburgh, EH30 9RA

Pub with heated beer garden and live bands, karaokes, and discos. Perhaps best known for

Cafe Royal

Cafe Royale (interior)

In spite of its proximity to Princes Street and Waverley Station, Cafe Royal is not a pub you stumble upon easily. That's both a pity, but it's also part of the appeal.

Location(s)

17 West Register St
Edinburgh, EH2 2AA

Hawes Inn Vintage Inn

Location(s)

Innkeeper's Lodge South Queensferry
Edinburgh, EH30 9TA

Low-ceilinged, low-lit traditional pub that is found literally under the Forth Rail Bridge in South Queensferry.

Berlin Bierhaus

Location(s)

3 Queensferry Lane
Edinburgh, EH2 4PF

Low-ceilinged and intimate club venue playing soulish house grooves through the night. Central location. Lederhosen not required.

Potterrow

Location(s)

Teviot Row House Bristo Square
Edinburgh, EH8 9AL

One of the main features of this glass-domed student union complex, nestled in the armpit of the busy Potterrow road, is its size: capacity is 1,000.

Wee Red Bar

Location(s)

Edinburgh College of Art Lauriston Place
Edinburgh, EH3 9DF

Edinburgh College of Art's student bar has an artistic bent - for obvious reasons - and is a friendly setting for live gigs and club nights.

Po Na Na

Location(s)

43b Frederick Street
Edinburgh, EH1 2EP

Bustling New Town, night spot where in spite of its 350 person capacity, queuing often a necessity to get into the basement club/bar.