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We've compiled the best of the best in Edinburgh and the Lothians - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This charming little drinking hole is an interesting mix of the old and new. At first glance, it's a very traditional pub with a dark-wood bar, beautiful embossed ceiling, and beer mats decorating the walls. But look closer and you'll also find a great selection of craft beers, hip shabby-chic decor, and a surprisingly young clientele.
Like the Cafe Royal Circle Bar on the other corner of the same Victorian block, the Guildford Arms has a spectacular interior of intricate plasterwork, elaborate cornices, and wood paneling. The ornate ceiling alone is worth the visit. Stay for the range of excellent Scottish ales on tap.
In addition to a fine selection of local real ales and malts, The Canons' Gait has live jazz and blues performances, as well as edgy comedy shows in the cellar bar.
A spacious, traditional pub on trendy Broughton Street, the Cask and Barrel serves hand-pulled ales from a horseshoe-shaped bar, ringed by a collection of brewery mirrors. There is a second Cask and Barrel in Southside.
A favorite with beer-loving locals, this stylish modern bar of reclaimed wood and exposed brickwork has an extensive, regularly changing selection of craft beers from across the country on tap, from IPAs to saisons to porters. The food, cooked in the in-house smoker, is decent, too (try the house-smoked ribs).
Housed in a former Georgian coach house, this diminutive but friendly spot serves 50 single-malt whiskies, a range of guest ales, and decent bottled beers. Inside is charming and cozy; seek out the little wood-paneled library room with its tiny fireplace and shelves full of books.
There's plenty of atmosphere (and plenty of tourists) amid the nooks and crannies at The Last Drop. The name has a grim double meaning, as it was once the site of public hangings.
This historic pub has always been a popular Leith Walk haunt for locals, but recent acclaim for their gargantuan gourmet burgers has brought them wider attention.
First opening its doors in 1749, Malt & Hops has a fine waterfront location and serves microbrewery cask ales—with a selection good enough to be endorsed by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale). It also has an open fire, regular live music, and a resident ghost.
Tucked away down a side street near The Shore, Teuchters Landing is a perennially popular pub for its wide range of whiskies and beers, its decent pub food (from cheesy nachos to Shetland scallops), and most of all its pontoon for sunny days. It's also a great place for watching live sports. If you're feeling lucky, try the Hoop of Destiny game for your chance to land a vintage dram for a fraction of its usual price.
This pub is a hive of activity during festival season, when the courtyard transforms into a beer garden with food stalls, and is packed wall-to-wall with revelers until the wee hours. Outside of the summer months, it remains a lively local favorite with DJ sets and live acts such as drag shows. Plus, it's the best place to watch live sports in Edinburgh.
