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    Old Bell Inn

    4.1 (41 reviews)
    ModeratePubs
    Open 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

    Old Bell Inn Photos

    OLD BELL INN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Old Bell Inn

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    Brian S.

    This is a lovely pub on Causewayside. A nice selection of ales, plenty of seating, and a pleasant atmosphere. A friend and I popped in for a couple of pints after a day of studying. The place was a busy (Friday evening), but we managed to get a seat downstairs near the bar. In case it's too full, there are also seats upstairs, so space shouldn't be an issue. The Masters Golf was on, so it was nice to be able to watch that as well. Drinks prices are fine, pretty much in line with most other places nearby. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is warm. Didn't try any food, but will review again in future.

    Alex C.

    The Old Bell is a traditional Scottish pub, it feels like a country pub has misplaced itself and got stuck in the city. It's got a homely atmosphere, the kind you'd expect from an old school pub, but it is lively as well. The people inside range from students to the older generation and it has a good communal feel, everyone is happy to chat to you which makes a nice change from most pubs. The pints are good, they do a fine Guinness here and there is a wide selection of booze - the ales are especially good, as they should be in any self respecting traditional pub. The prices are not cheap, but this is not the place where people go in to get wasted, just to have a quiet few and a but of a chat. This lends itself to the atmosphere; it is always friendly and you never have to worry about drunken louts runing your evening. Upstairs is the New Bell, the restaurant part of the pub. Again, very traditionally decked out it serves excellent Scottish cuisine. The menu is based on pub food but they have clearly made an effort to raise the bar. For starters the salmon and haddock fish cakes are great, and the steak pie was a well cooked main meal. Again not particularly cheap but you get what you pay for

    Corner seat facing the bathrooms--surprisingly cozy
    Alexa H.

    My fiance and I were starving and wanted a good quick dinner after arriving in Edinburgh from London. This pub was recommended by our B&B host and we were extremely pleased. The interior was cozy like a typical pub you would find in London only cleaner. It was clear as soon as we walked in that it was frequented by locals, which is always a good sign. We started off with mussels in a white sauce--big entree-sized portion for a very cheap price! I ordered a sandwich with chips and the portion again was very generous. The sandwich was stacked. I seriously asked the waiter how to eat the sandwich because I didn't know if I should eat the two stacks of sandwiches as 2 slices or four. It was even tastier when I dipped it in my fiance's leftover gravy from his meat pie. That was also amazing. The plating for all our dishes was also on point. My only grievance is that my rum and cokes were a bit weak (but that's what I get for ordering that drink in Scotland, am I right?) And that the waiters messed up our bill twice, though their actual service was very professional and prompt. Tldr; excellent choice for a pub, delicious food, good atmosphere, and prompt service. Just double check your bill.

    Robert L.

    For any visitor to Edinburgh wanting to take in a bit of traditional Scotland, I cannot make any greater recommendation than to visit The Old Bell Inn. This pub is the quintessential traditional pub. When you walk in, the sheer atmosphere of this pub will envelope you; at the bar you'll hear local banter between long time residents and the decor cannot be faulted. It may not be the cheapest pub in town and I wouldn't start adding it to any pub crawls or start you're night out here, but if you want a chat over a quiet drink this might be the ideal place to go. Worth the extra prices for the atmosphere advantage over the cheaper pubs which can have negative atmospheres at times - if you go out for drink you want to enjoy yourself and enjoy your surroundings. This pub will let you do both.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    it was very nice the waiter was lovely but definitely be back again and your cajun chicken burger was absolutely amazing

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    3 years ago

    Great traditional Scottish pub. The burger was good and servers were very friendly to wayward Texans!

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    3 years ago

    Beautiful pub , great food , great staff , and great screens for the football . Cozy and warm first class pub

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Great Edinburghh pub with friendly staff. A nice place to sit and drink on a cold Scottish night.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Old Bell Inn Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Old Bell Inn

    The Old Bell is a traditional Scottish pub, it feels like a country pub has misplaced itself and got stuck in the city.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    John Leslie

    John Leslie

    4.1(12 reviews)
    0.1 miNewington
    £

    The best aspect of The John Leslie pub, for me, has the be the staff. They are extremely…read moreapproachable, friendly and open besides serving you great pints quickly. The decor also contemporary, yet still manages to retain that feel of a traditional, old pub. The clinetele are almost all locals and they seem a friendly and eclectic bunch. This isn't a standard boozer with fruit machines and gassy, frothy pints of cheap lager, but a proper pub with a good atmosphere and a great range of alcohol. They have a wide range of real ales and beers as well as a decent selection of spirits, including specialist whiskeys from the Highlands. This a good pub with a hearty atmosphere - well worth a visit.

    This is a quintessential old man's pub but is still really good fun. Despite the fact it is almost…read moreentirely populated by old regulars, you don't get that 'local pub for local people' feeling, you know the one where everyone goes silent and turns around when you walk in so you slowly back out before they gather up their torches and pitch forks. The old guys in here are all really friendly and with a combined age of well over 1000 they all have stories to tell and are quite happy to tell you them. That's not to say you will be mobbed by people narrating their life to you, just quite nice that they are a chatty old bunch. The pub itself is pretty standard really. It is inoffensive but nothing particularly stands out. There is a good selection of beers and spirits and it is moderately priced. If you are a poker fiend but can't really be bothered to trek off to Vegas every week, on Sundays there is a poker night starting at 7.30 with a £5 buy in. Not quite the same stakes as the huge casinos but it's a bit of a laugh nonetheless

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    John Leslie
    John Leslie
    John Leslie

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    Queens Arms

    Queens Arms

    4.4(114 reviews)
    1.5 miNew Town
    ££

    Out of all the places I've been to in Scotland, I think Queens Arms was one of my favorites…read more We had reservations for this place recently and when I took one step inside, I was already in love. I mean who doesn't love a good pub? You get great drinks and great food at an affordable price. As I write it makes me think of think of when Zidane reunites with Freya in FF9. Sometimes we don't wanna eat at fancy Michelin restaurant that has small plates but charges a premium. Sometimes we just wanna cut all the BS and just get a nice hearty meal. And thats what we got. When we sat down we found out that they were doing a Trivia night. Normally I would have told my girl to pick another spot to eat but for some reason I was cool with it. There was even a table nearby with kids(yuck). And you know what? It was fine. That's because we had been sipping on some amazing cocktails. If you also partake, Gin and Mezcal enjoyers will love the Bramble and Hibiscus Crush. What color are Luigi's overalls from Super Mario? That's such an easy question. Wait...what do you mean Luigi's overalls are blue? They are green. Look at this picture onli...Oh... One of the stars of our meal was the Haggis. This was the first time I had ever tried it and after trying it at multiple places Scotland, Queens Arms I feel has done it the best. I love the complexity of the flavors of the meat with the creamy and pepper flavors of the peppercorn sauce. If you've never had Haggis, you definitely have to try it here. The best part is that it comes with mashed potatoes too! Shoutouts to the Fish and Chips if you are also into that. One of my friends ordered that and I definitely had to go back in for multiple bites. Finally the roast. The Sunday Roast should just be an automatic order if you happen to come here on a Sunday. You get so much food and it's all so damn tasty. They'll cook a roast to whatever doneness your heart desires. We went with Medium Rare and it came out perfectly. If you didn't have enough flavors with all the extra sides it comes with, they also give you gravy to pour on anything you want. Thanksgiving basically came early this night. But as I looked around and admired all the bookshelf's and all the families have a nice dinner with their loved ones, I just thought about how happy I was. I was finally here! This was the start of my trip. Queens Arms has set a high ceiling on great experiences in Scotland. We even went back there a couple of days ago just because we knew we would be able to end the night on a good drink. But in the end I think if you are Edinburgh, you have to come to this place. It is one of my favorite experiences I've had in Scotland so far and I dream about when I can come back again.

    We got 3 reservations to split up our group of 8 adults and 2 kids, so we were all able to make…read moresure to get a table and have the Sunday roast. We shared the ultimate sharing roast and everything was delicious and so filling. It was also nice to be able to sit and watch a match while enjoying the food. The coffee was pretty good too. This is definitely a good option if you're looking for a Sunday roast in the area

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    Queens Arms
    Queens Arms
    Queens Arms - Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

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    Wellington upfront and Mac and Cheese in the back

    The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

    The Devil's Advocate

    4.3(630 reviews)
    1.2 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    Just an awesome, rockin' final meal in Edinburgh - fantastic food, good service and energized local…read morevibe! Absolute must to get reservations! We tried on our first week in Edinburgh and failed, but were able to make reservations 3 weeks out for our last night in Scotland, and we are glad we did. Pork cracklins were a bit hard and crunchy, but everything else was perfect. We had fresh bread and langostinis for starters, along with a smokey whiskey cocktail, the Smoked Indiscretion! For mains we enjoyed the poached Cod, and the Pork with Barley. Service was very good, and wine selection was extensive. Atmosphere was loud with music and locals' chatter in the bar below, but dark tables and heavy wood panels made it a perfect place for a couple celebrating 3 weeks of travel. Highly recommend a visit to the Devil's Advocate, if you can book a table in advance.

    The Devil's Advocate is undoubtedly a treasure to find in Old Town Edinburgh, especially if you…read moreaccidentally take the News Steps to get there, only to realize you should have simply taken the steps up Advocate's Close from Cockburn Street. But they call these lessons, "character building," apparently. No matter, the Devil's Advocate is worth the search. Located in an old Victorian pump house halfway up (or down) Advocate's Close, the Devil's Advocate is known for a killer whisky shelf of more than 300 different bottles from various distilleries across the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbelltown, the Islands, and Islay. I finally sipped on a 15-year Tamdu that has convinced me to keep a bottle at home. Then there's the Clydeside 2024 Limited Edition Cask Strength that was wicked impressive. The bartenders are class at making and serving seasonal and regular cocktails that have their spin and character. My wife enjoyed gin-based cocktails such as the Clean Slate (with St-Germain, citrus, and sugar), Rose Garden (with Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Rosa, apple, lemon, and mint), and Bee's Knees (honey and lemon). I went full speed ahead with the scotch cocktails, which are essentially classics with a scotch-substituted twist. The Double Shot is an Espresso Martini with Dalmore 12 in addition to Kahlua, espresso, and demerara -- quite smooth without being too sweet. The Scotzia is a Negroni with Fettercairn 12, while the Boxcar is a Sidecar only with Aberfeldy 12. We enjoyed the bar for a few hours, watching the bartenders make magic while sipping on cocktails, while listening to 80s pop tunes. A great evening indeed.

    Photos
    The Devil's Advocate - Whiskey flight tastings

    Whiskey flight tastings

    The Devil's Advocate - Fish Filet

    Fish Filet

    The Devil's Advocate - Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

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    Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

    The Green Mantle - Sticky toffee pudding

    The Green Mantle

    4.4(40 reviews)
    0.6 miNewington
    £

    Endorsed by locals! A few block from the university. Multiple generational appeal with a kids…read moremenu, a breakfast menu, and two granddads spotted enjoying pints on their own on a Wednesday night. A few monitors for sports, very friendly service. Cards accepted. I will twist your arm in needs be to get you to try this place, and I think it likely you will thank me later.

    The Greenmantle is a cosy pub in the heart of the Newington area of Edinburgh. It is a handy place…read morefor students to pop in for a pub lunch or for drinks in the evening as they offer student and snap fax deals. It is a very friendly and inviting pub and the bar has an impressive selection of lagers and ales and they select a 'malt of the month' which my friend religiously orders. They offer an impressive cocktail menu, including Cosmopolitan's and Mojito's, which are very reasonable at around £6. The Green Mantle is a very traditional pub and serves the usual pub food which is really delicious such as home made soup and burgers at a great deal of 2 for £7. Newspapers are always available to read with your lunch. The Green Mantel always have something going on in it every night, whether it is a pub quiz on a Tuesday night, live music on a Thursday or poker on a Sunday, they offer something for everyone. There is a also a big TV screen inside which is currently showing all the World Cup matches.

    Photos
    The Green Mantle - Side shot of the bar.

    Side shot of the bar.

    The Green Mantle - A respectable cross section of generations.  And a glimpse of the drinks menu.

    A respectable cross section of generations. And a glimpse of the drinks menu.

    The Green Mantle - A lazy afternoon.

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    A lazy afternoon.

    Old Bell Inn - pubs - Updated May 2026

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