Edinburgh’s Best Pubs

Edinburgh is a town steeped in history, strolll through Edinburgh and you will find yourself on cobbled streets full of charm and character but it’s not secret Edinburgh’s best ‘character and charm’ is to be found within it’s public houses and bars.

For Edinburgh locals and visitors alike, the lively, friendly and relaxed atmospheres of these establishments make your visit to Edinburgh highly enjoyable.

Edinburgh benefits from several areas of entertainment, located along the centre of the city. Lothian Road, The Grassmarket, the Royal Mile, Rose Street, George Street and the streets running bewtween them all have a constant stock of . You could possibly visit Edinbugrh many times and never go to the same bar twice, There is a certain amount of comfort to be found in finding your favourite bar and we ran a small survey via facebook to Edinburgh residents, to find out their hidden gems and the reasons why. Their answers are not surprising, we love these bars too!

A firm favourite is Elements on Rose street, located between Princes Street and George Street. (formerly Brecht’s Bar for any previous visitors.) Having undergone refurbishment three years ago, it looks very modern on the outside but has retained it’s cosy interior. The warmth of this bar takes me back to my student days, where I hung out with friends after classes, although I did not study in Edinburgh!  A full cocktail list will help get your evening off to a merry start and their menu will helpfully line your stomach. For the excessive among us their brunch menu will also aid you back onto your feet.

Next up is The Amber Rose on Castle Street, located between Princes Street and George Street. Always a good night out, The Amber Rose is one of those small from the outside but big on the inside bars.  Benefiting from some good and reasonably priced deals on drinks, this bar has the atmosphere of a real local pub despite it’s central location. You will usually find it full with Edinburgh residents. The dimly lit and dark wooden interior add to the atmospheric ‘old world pub’ theme.

BrewDog Bar in the Grassmarket is a new addition to Edinburgh and has firmly found it’s place on the vibrant Edinburgh nightlife scene. Nestled down in the lively Grassmarket area of Edinburgh, Brewdog Bar has a little something for everyone. Their mission statement is to provide all kinds of beer from all over the world, and they do just that. Brewdog attracts a different kind of crowd and is more than a trendy wine bar than a typical Grassmarket beer house, but beer house is what it is. Go, see and enjoy!

Shakespeare’s on Lothian road is a firm favourite for serving good old fashioned pub food. The burgers in particular are great and they run special offers during the week to suit different budgets. It serves most Ales and Beers as well as teas and coffees and located rather centrally, built close by the theatres The Usher Halls and The Traverse, Shakespeares has a lively entertainment calender.  Typically showing all the top sporting events, though if you head there on a Saturday, you are able to sing on the karaoke, or watch others. Again stocked with locals, Shakespeare’s is a great Edinburgh night out.

Bramble Bar on Queens Street is our last but definitely not least favourite city bar. Always lively yet relaxing, Bramble is a friendly place to head to for a bit of Edinburgh hospitality and charm. Bramble is well known in Edinburgh as a cocktail bar and attracts all types of people. Enjoy watching your drink being made at the bar, it is almost as much fun as drinking it. Almost. As well as the uber friendly staff, the lighting and music help to create a welcoming ambience to Bramble bar, making it a place you will revisit.