A proper Edinburgh pub. Was recommend by a friend and didn't disappoint. Got the Tennents on draft. Crisp , light and an excellent Scottish Lager. Tried the Balvenie double wood single malt that was so smooth. Under $10 USD for a double shot of Single Malt?! Unheard of! They also have an area where they show films. Food is limited though and they didn't have any when I visited Sunday evening- all about the spirits here! Great vibe and decent service. read more

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Some good to know facts. A nice stroll from campus, and in a good neighborhood. A block away from a major bus route. A lively and friendly crowd, and as busy as they were I still received excellent service. I came in during pub trivia and just had a couple of drinks so I cannot write on the subject of food. But there are plenty of options to choose from in the vicinity. A great place to bring your friends for a fun evening out! read more

Brass Monkey - From just inside the door. - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Great off the path Pub for a real brew experience. Great selection of beers and super friendly staff. Great vibe and really a basic local pub. Had a great time read more

Seems like a typical Scottish pub, the beer was good, only had a couple of beers so I can't elaborate too much on the place but seemed worth a trip! read more

Perfect Pub. Perfect Prices. The moment you enter this place you feel great. It super cozy. The bar staff are very friendly and courteous. You can expect to find the standard beers here with two taps that I assume they rotate or might be more. Been there just the once and will go back again. Probably make it the regular watering hole.. It's a place definitely worth visiting if you're in town. read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Gosh, I've been coming in here on and off for a pint during the Festival and I never knew they had the whole cinema thing going on in the back. I like the Monkey for the traditional bar area and the selection of real ales at reasonable prices; it's a good bar to sit at if you can get a stool, and the little bench window seat at the front is a haven out of the flow of traffic. It does get pretty busy at times and the bar area can get very crowded. There's another good seating area with tables at the side, and the sofas at the back are great for relaxing in as long as you're not the one who has to get up and get the next round in, which becomes increasingly difficult as the night wears on! read more

What a great little pub this is - nipped here for a few pints after a nice meal with friends and not only was there a good selection of beers but the general vibe was spot on. Great music, sandwiches for sale on the bar and super friendly staff - just the sort of anything goes places that made it super relaxed and the perfect place for the occasion. Really enjoyed their music - a food range of britpop, indie and 60/70's tunes - worked for me anyway! read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Brass Monkey's a bit alright - a good boozer for a drink (or 5, depending on which Yelp Community Manager you are). Comfy couches, a chilled vibe and lots of wee rooms to chat away in mean you will be pretty cosy here. We headed here for post-dinner drinks and we were all kind of merry already. The place was pretty busy for a Tuesday night but thankfully we were able to grab the L-shaped couch and gradually take over the space. I was drinking cider and I'm not sure what they had on tap as someone else ordered for me (cheers Stevie M, Belfast CM!) but it was a perfectly acceptable pint. Overall, it's a nice pub - dark features, a good range of drinks and a mid 20s-mid 30s kind of crowd. Worth a visit if you're in the area but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to go here. read more

I was seduced by the poster of the vintage pin-up on the front of this place. You can't judge a book by its cover but with that hot blonde emblazoned on the side, I knew The Brass Monkey was going to be cool. I was right - it's awesome. Movie nights, a wee room where you can cosy up, cushions in place of chairs, chilled out, a heap of old movie posters lining the wall and a decent selection of booze - this is where I'd drink more frequently if I lived in Edinburgh. The bar staff are laid back and due to the nature of the bar, there's always a good atmosphere. It seems to attract a nice crowd, which I most certainly want to be a part of. Outstanding. read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

As others have suggested, Brass Monkey really is a fantastic pub that stands out from the rest. The pub itself is quite small that can get very cramped. While on that topic, you may want to avoid Brass Monkey on busy nights, particularly weekends during student term time or during the festival. It really can get overly crowded. And yes there is a cinema at the back. A huge elevated, carpet covered, mattress thingy faces a large screen on which films are played twice weekly. There is a great range of films shown, of which you can choose (as long as no one disagrees). They are mostly classics but there are some more odd ball choices, and they get new films in monthly. Yes Brass Monkey is actually one of the few Edinburgh pubs I really would choose to go spend my afternoon/evening. They have quite a good selection of sandwiches and soup too, often with deals, making lunch at the Brass Monkey quite an appealing prospect. Highly recommended! read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Ok so maybe not so great this time round but still very good!! It's got a great atmosphere, it's really happy and a good place to be!! Lots of positive energy and lots of happy faces. The food wasn't as good as last time, but hey!I's still a good place to be! read more

Brass Monkey is definitely one of the more unique pubs in Edinburgh. First off, the couches, oh my god. They make it hard for anyone to ever want to get up and leave, especially if one's been drinking. The drinks are also good. They're priced comparably to other pubs in the area so it's not cheap but it's not expensive either. But really, the best part about the Brass Monkey is the movie showing every day at 3 PM. It's just such a fun way to hang out and relax with friends. I'm sure it's busier on the weekends but I've only gone during the week and every single time my friends and I got to pick the movie and it was usually just us in the room. They have a pretty large selection but some of their movies are missing. I've heard that you can also bring in your own DVD if you're pretty set on watching something they don't have in the library. So, to summarize: 1) amazing couches, 2) decent drinks, and 3) movie day every day! read more

Perfect little pub if you are a visiting American. Old school USA culture photos everywhere, local Scot folk abound, lounge areas, chess tables, great local beers. And good prices! Just far away from the hustle and bustle to have some good conversation. read more

I love the idea of this place. Lets take something really cool and combine it with something else. Make both things better. Who cannot love that? Take a pub and put a cinema in the back. Have the cinema room as a Middle Eastern Bedouin tent with Beer Holding Tables. This is brilliant. I do like this place. Stay near the bar and read your paper. Lots of comfortable seating around. Then take it up a notch - move to the cinema room and watch a great flick - with your friends - while relaxing on rugs - and drinking beers. Anything else we can add to this (and stay legal) - I doubt it. Top Marks Mr Monkey read more

Okay. It's hard to get served when it's busy. It's a nightmare to manoeuvre around with more than one drink but any pub that has a fireplace, monkey tat, great choons and a big chill-out bed-type area that doubles as a cinema, gets a thumbs up in my book. Seriously original. read more

Just about keeled over when a pint of coke, pint of Deuchars and a pot of tea came to the paltry sum of £6. That is genuinely impressive for a city centre bar with pleasant atmosphere and comfy couches. Bloke behind the counter was very chipper and friendly too. And great music playing. WILL BE BACK. read more

Been coming to this pub for years and it is consistantly great. The venue itself is really interesting with a couple of rooms off to the side. One is like a wee back room of a traditional pub and good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main bar area. The other is really quite special with bed type seating and movies... well they used to show movies not been through in a while so I presume that this is still the case. The main bar is a classic Edinburgh pub with a few interesting twists here and there to the decor. The toilets are a little strange with the ladies and gents being merged... not a negative as it seems to work just a little odd. The staff are great here always helpful and friendly even when they are rushed off their feet. The booze selection is really good. This is a great venue for a quick pint on the way to somewhere else or for grabing a larger table and setting up camp for the evening. Thumbs up from me. read more

I was in love with this place the few times I came here as a tourist. When I moved here I fully expected to just live in the place, it could be said that the location of my first flat was chosen with The Brass Monkey taken into account (total street cred to say 'Oh, yeah, y'know the Brass Monkey? Near there...' with my folk back home) Nice, quirky barstaff, a cinema screen that will play Rocky Horror if you're there on a weekday afternoon and ask nicely, decent drink selection and friendly clientele. It still has all those things but.... Maybe I'm getting older, but The Brass Monkey doesn't appeal to me quite so much anymore. Whereas I used to walk in, run to the cushions and laze about for hours, now, I go in and look for a chair near the bar, where stinky feet aren't an issue and I definitely won't get a sore back or some drink spilled on me. I'll leave this place to the youngsters...(Oh goodness, what has happened to me?!?) read more

Super pub and not too expensive bar staff are a1 mini Bloody Mary is fun . Very sociable place even if your not Scottish not like other bars read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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So I'm not in love with my new city just yet... but if anywhere is going to help, my round the corner local university pub Brass Monkey will probably have something to do with it. Why you ask? Is it because they play particularly decent music at a reasonable level so that you don't feel like an old biddy, and still can hear your friends (and/or people you don't particularly like but need to hear in order to figure this out)? Why yes, yes it is. Is it because they not only serve beer, but coffee too? And you love coffee? Why yes, yes it is. Is it because the bartenders happen to be people who serve you because they don't hate their jobs and/or life rather than the student pint pullers who seem to hate everything about the universe while they're working? They also smile as you walk by in the afternoon and make you want to come in for a pint later? Um, yes, definitely. Is it because they were playing a moderately creepy Japanese movie about a crazy woman who went revenge killing and there were cringe-worthy scenes of damage to her lover's junk and the ENTIRE bar was mesmerized? Why yes it is. Is it because they play Top Gun and The Big Lebowski in the same week in their mini theatre (yes! i'm in the mfing uk - i can spell it like that if i want!)? Yes, yes it is. Not to be hasty about it... but I think I might just fall in love with Edinburgh, and this, like an adorable nose crinkle, dimples or a facial scar may be the first thing that I fell in love with. read more

This pub is fantastic, for the simple fact that one of their rooms is completely bounceable! I'll elaborate by saying that the floor seems to consist of a large mattress, which makes me doze off each time I've plopped down there with friends to spend a lazy evening. It's easy to find, just off Southbridge, and has a very laid back atmosphere. You are bound to suffer drink casualties, as there will inevitably be difficulty in trying to consume your drink whilst lying down.. I sadly lost two irish coffees in a row on those cushions! Movies are shown every Wednesday at 3pm as well as on request in the "cosy" room, which has walls coincidentally covered in vintage movie posters. read more

Brass monkey has a great local feel. It attracts a mix of students, and 'normal' Edinburgh folk alike. Its a great place to have a natter over a pint and regularly has events on and has a fun as heck pub quiz once a week. Cosy, with good priced drinks this place has been my local for quite a while now. read more

From the outside the Brass Monkey looks small, the bar is located more or less beside the door and if you haven't been here before you may think it is full. However once you step inside, the pub it is bigger than it looks. The drinks selection is decent and fairly priced making it a good choice to sit back and relax with a few choice brews. It is close to a few University building but isn't overly populated with students. The toilets as mentioned by others are unisex, odd but doesn't seem to cause any issues. The Brass Monkey is a good pub and well worth a visit. read more

A traditional Scottish pub, with a good selection of beer. read more

Brass Monkey - The Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The cinema room has too many posters of my favourite movies for me to ever write a negative review of this place. What an awesome idea! I mean, I've been to plenty of cinemas with a bar but not many bars with a cinema. Usually a screen means either sports or film clips to the song playing. Aside from that one room though, Brass Monkey didn't ABSOLUTELY blow my mind. It's basically a student bar for seniors or the newly graduated. It's not an old man bar, it's not a sports bar, it doesn't do cocktails and it's not as sticky as your usual uni bar. It falls somewhere in-between all that, which I think is nice but doesn't make it a world-beater. It's better than A-OK. It's cool enough. read more

Wow, I've heard a lot about the Brass Monkey from Edinburgh folks...and finally I was able to pop in and see what the fuss was all about. It certainly lived up to expectations! I loved the arabian style seating arrangements. - I've never been in a bar like this in my life! (Warning: Prepare to get cosey with your fellow drinkers!) The old-style cinema posters were very cool, and combined with the music, (a fusion of funk and soul) set the perfect drinking atmosphere. I was a tad weirded out by the unisex toilets but that's probably just because it's something I've never come across and I definitely wouldn't let it put me off. At £3.50 for a large hendricks and tonic with cucumber, the Brass Monkey was a refreshing quick stop before setting back to busking on the Fringe-filled streets of Edinburgh! read more

This is one of my favourite bars in Edinburgh. It was also probably one of the first ever bars I went to when coming over here for weekend visits before finally moving over. The atmosphere/crowd reminds me of pubs I used to go to when I was in art college. It has a nice chilled out vibe and is totally unpretentious which I like. I like the quirkiness of the room with the bed and the movie screen, and the way people kick off their shoes to make themselves comfy on the bed. Great atmosphere/great bar! read more

Ah, the Monkey, that is the one on Drummond Street I am talking about. Always good for an evening drink, has all the standard drinks you could wish for and a nice mix of people is making it easy to enjoy yourself. Good to meet people, too. It's not a highlight but it's certainly always a good option :) check out their cinema events in the backroom! read more

I have mixed feelings about Brass Monkey ... on the one hand I think the cinema and boozy orgy bed/seating are awesome unusual additions to a bar. On the other hand, the boozy orgy bed/seating thing is a total pain in the ass to navigate around when it's busy because inevitably you will be at least a little intoxicated and you're walking on a bouncy surface covered in drunk hippies. The bathrooms are also unisex (unless I was just too tipsy to notice a separation) and I had my face broken by a wasted guy who broke the flimsy lock on my double-door stall. That sounds really extreme, and it wasn't, my face just met door. It was messy. The bar tenders are hit or miss - sometimes great and sometimes not paying attention to people wanting to give them way too much money for a drink. This is sounding really negative, which it's not. This just isn't really my kind of place. read more

The time was going to have to come sooner or later when I would finally have to bite the bullet and review this place......... and after four visits, the time has come. So i am going to just come straight out and say it. I love the brass monkey. I would happily move flats just so that this place could be my local. After first hearing of this wonderful, mystical pub on my first yelp night, from Steph and Allie I must say I was more than intrigued!! So naturally of course, it would only be right that they introduce me to what I must say is now one of my favourite pubs in Edinburgh. Well. I have only ever been for beverages of the alcoholic variety, and have enjoyed it every single time. The atmosphere is great. It feels much like what pubs back on the Isle of Skye are like, friendly, welcoming, full of 'usuals' and lots of banter.... and the occasional dalmatian?? Drinks are well priced and there is a really wide selection. I can always get on board with a pub that has desperados. The staff are always friendly, the toilets freak me out a little, I nearly saw some bare bum cheek when someone decided not to close the door, so just be warned! I will no doubt be back here several times in the future, for drinks, coffee, eats and general good times...... and I am stoked about that. Yass. What a great pub. read more

The Brass Monkey is a brilliant little hang out in the old town, and combines chilled, down to earth qualities with being a pretty cool place to have a few cheeky drinks of an evening. The big Aladdin's carpeted mattress area through the back is the highlight, and probably the quirk the bar is best known for. Cushions, wee tables to rest your drink and walls splashed with bright posters all make this section pretty awesome. It also creates a pretty friendly atmosphere because it's so communal, meaning that you might actually have to look pretty closely in someone's direction and maybe even give them some banter if you're sitting next to them, which I think is cool. I reckon there should always be some random banter when you're in a bar, even if you are with a bunch of mates. Aside from the one big comfy rug covered seat, for which you can leave your shoes on or off, there are wooden booths and tables in the rest of the bar, for those that like a more sturdy frame to their drinking and a nice supported back. There are also film screenings every day to be seen from the comfort of a mattress seat. Bring a fan at weekends though, this little room can get hot. read more

This pub has the huge advantage of having a cinema in the back room which I've been to many times for various university society film screenings. It's a fantastic amenity, which brings me back again and again. The pub itself is small, but very nice, and drinks are moderately priced. There's always a jovial atmosphere, and they have a selection of inhouse movies which can be watched if no group has booked the cinema room. Aside: the cinema room is so comfortable, with lovely couches and cushions. Get a drink, settle down, and enjoy the movie. :) read more

Wow it's been ages since I yelped. I woke up in the night sweating (which actually is a fairly regular occurrence as I generate enough body-heat to keep the tiny family who live under my bed toasty) and I reasoned that actually I've just been going to the same places a lot recently. However I ended up in the brass monkey on Monday evening for a quiet few pints. I've spent time here before, a good friend used to work there, but I've never felt that comfortable. It was also the site of my most disasterous "go for drinks actually a real date" ever. The space seemed wrong. However, they've changed it up and it really works. They've removed a sofa, replaced it with stools and they've put a walking bit down the middle of the big sofabed thing in the back room. This will help minimise smelly cushions! They still have a great selection of beers, and a fantastic selection of Rum and it's reasonable for Edinburgh if a bit pricey for the UK in General. So all in all my opinion has changed. I like them now. Well done Brass Monkey. I shall be seeing you regularly as my new office is about 100 yards away! read more

In a city where there are so many bars it really can be a pain to choose one, Brass Monkey has a solution which will help it stand out from the crowd. But for now, I'm gonna describe the rest of the bar. It's small - like 5 tables and a few seats small, but thats what makes it such a great place. It's intimate and quiet, so its pretty perfect really. The Brass Monkey also does some pretty damn good soup and sandwiches, so grab some lunch here if you fancy it. At night the pub can get busy and a bit crowded, but its a great atmosphere, and I am yet to have a bad night here. Staff are friendly, if sometimes distracted by other things going on. Now for the worst kept secret ever - there is a cinema in the back. Yep, a cinema with a giant bed/ couch thing. I can assure you, there is nothing better than kicking back with a bowl of that great soup, a sandwich and a pint with your mates and watching some classic 80's film on what is effectivly a bed. Its how all cinemas should be. read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

A lot of good reviews here already!... And here's another! Thumbs up to this place, they've ticked a lot of boxes! Cinema in the back - lots of different areas to sit - good selection of drinks - friendly atmosphere - central - relaxed vibe - cheap 'drink and food' deals. It can get pretty busy at the weekends, you have to squeeze yourself to the bar, but that's just because it's so popular! I often visit here for the hangover cure of all hangover cures! And I'm willing to share the secret with you guys! The Monkey Bloody Mary! They put all sorts in this saviour, it hard to keep track! It's something along the lines of vodka, port, red wine, tabasco, lea and perrins, chilli, spices, pepper and thick tomato juice... A meal in itself! One of these will see you right I can assure you. It's pretty spicy so will probably knock any signs of a cold for six too! Toilets are unisex (well, the hand washing area is) it's a bit confusing but usually creates a shy giggle for the first-timers! read more

This pub seems like your average student pub until you turn into their inner room and find a large mattress on the floor. Yes you can sit on it and watch a free movie on Wednesday or lounge with your drink on any other day. Shoes are suggested to be taken off, so when crowded can get very smelly at times. Its a fun place though and don't worry if you don't make it on to the large mattress, the rest of the pub is really nice to sit in, with two medium sized rooms with tables and couches. Very popular amongst students for its great ambiance and good music too. Except for the smelly feet smell. That can kill the mood. read more

Somehow, this place manages to be right next to Uni, and yet not be over-run by students like most of the other pubs in this area. Being a student myself, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite, but sometimes it's nice to go somewhere that isn't full of sports teams and doesn't sell pitchers of beer. It's got character, yet it's not full of old men who are wasted by lunchtime. And even though it's not too studenty, it's still good value for money - when I was in there the other day they had half a dozen cocktails for £2.50, and pints were around that price too. There are loads of little rooms going off the main bar area, so it's ideal if you're in a bigger group. But the one thing that this place has over all of it's rivals is their cinema room - a big screen on one wall, and the biggest wall-to-wall bed you've ever seen taking up most of the rest of the room; you can come here for their daily film screening at 3pm, or hire it out for a private screening. If you're feeling peckish, they do pretty good food too. It's nothing fancy, mainly things like home-made soup and crusty bread or sandwiches, but it's really tasty and it's good value for money. read more

Nothing bad to say about Brass Monkey. I could and have sat in there all day watching films on the giant screen while slowly demolishing pints. The giant "orgy bed" as my not so keen boyfriend calls it suits me down to the ground and even though it's hard drinking lying down I can always find a way to do it. The only down side is because of how good it is, it's always packed and can end up lying a little too close to complete strangers which should feel a lot more awkward than it does. read more

It's a big padded lounge cinema boozer unusually named great pub thingy. The Brass Monkey is Edinburgh's worst kept secret and provides a quirky place to grab a pint. The afore mentioned 'padded lounge cinema' thing is a room located to the rear of the bar where they show the odd alternative film classic and offer spacious, cushioned seating: basically a huge crash mat for you to mooch on, pint in hand and chums accompanying. All great fun and a unique selling point. read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The atmosphere in Brass Monkey is better than any other pub I've been to in Edinburgh! I usually come here after a morning of classes or an exam and chill out in their 'secret' back room of mattresses and cushions. Although sleeping is not allowed it's extremely tempting to just doze off with a pint. The food is also great and I would definitely recommend their sandwiches which go well with the reasonably priced drinks. The front room, however, has the brilliant atmosphere I was referring to. It's small with very few tables and so isn't cluttered. If you're in there early you can grab a table with your mates and settle down for a heavy session in the midst of the bustling environment which the pub offers. The problem, however, is that if can't find anywhere to sit then you're forced to stand which is fine, but it can just feel a bit cramped and pointless. Brass Monkey is a cosy and affordable alternative to the larger and more conventional pubs in Edinburgh. Worth a visit no matter the occassion. read more

Brass Monkey - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH