Whilst in the middle of Leith-nowhere, The Pond still manages to attract a merry band of revellers…read moreany time of the day, any day of the week. A workers pub for many, being filled with a mix-mash of market researchers from the nearby Ipsos Mori to the dock workers at the nearby Leith shore, it is worthy of a trek off the beaten Leith track. A fantastic selection of wheat beers and European ales which make Pivo's selection of far flung, 'point instead of pronouncing' beers look distinctly Fischer Price in comparison. The highlight would be the frequent rotation of one of the beer pumps for hefty (5%+) lager poured to perfection which would take a Ryanair flight to find anywhere else, alongside others such as cult Tennants to cloudy Addlestones cider. Whilst a fantastically varied selection of malts et al rest on the shelves, reasonably priced normal bar fair nestles in the hidden fridge in one corner ensuring the atmosphere can still be enjoyed by those who may have questioned initially walking beyond Wetherspoon's 'Foot Of The Walk'. The pub is ran the way you would love every pub to be ran, encapsulated in a Thursday night scenario recently. A handful of us, after a visit to the nearby Mongolian buffet restaurant Khublai Khan's, were the only remaining patrons after last orders had been rang at 12:45. This was even after the pub barely reaching a dozen in capacity for most of our visit, but we weren't hurried to the door at all but simply politely informed that kick out would be 1:20, by which time we had enjoyed our drinks and said our goodbye. No hussle and bussle from the bar staff, no downing of half a pint of fantastic German Oktoberfest beer, no regrets about not making a final visit to the gents. In addition, an all year open beer garden may be exposed to the unsheltered shore elements adds to the quirks which include a chalkboard wall above the gents urinals, a laptop 'jukebox' and two inquisitive fish-tanks sparking the watery decoration theme. A hidden gem that will probably stay that way. And is all the better for it.

If you were driving across a desert and saw a sign saying 'Last beer in 500 miles' then I've always…read moreimagined this would be that outpost. I say this as I think its a fantastic place with a friendly and very varied custom from office workers to dock workers and many more visitors throughout the town. Everyone is united by the quirky nature of the pub and the fantastic range of mainly German and Belgian beers on offer, many on tap. If you are coming from Portobello, make sure any ladies with you know what to wear as a short skirt and long jacket is not advisable. This place sits on the edge of the Red Light district on Seafield Rd which makes for some interesting watching out the windows. In the many times we've walked along we have had more bother from the police kerb crawling myself and my girlfriend wondering why we were walking along at night and never had any hassle from the local prostitutes or pimps. Lots of board games to play too make for an excellent evening

This is exactly the kind of pub I love. Not fancy. Not touristy. Great music. Great drinks. A bit…read moredivey. Dark enough to be intimate. Friendly barkeeper. Moderate prices. Old-school pub atmosphere. If I'd live in the neighbourhood, this would be my local pub to go to all the time.

Having undergone a lick of paint outside and a renovation inside the bar is now a very good choice…read moreshould you wish a quieter establishment in which to watch the football on TV or play Trivial Pursuit or just drink and talk somewhere you don't have to raise your voice in to be heard. At £3.50 for a pint of Joker IPA it's also got a more sensible pricing policy than many of its near neighbours. On visiting again the other week I saw the pub now has an arrangement with the Origano pizza takeaway further down Leith Walk. You can therefore order (from around a dozen or so different types) a pizza & have it delivered to the pub for consumption there.

Oh my goodness, we just LOVED this local pub, with amazing food and busy atmosphere! It's almost…read moreas if you're sitting on a barge, and it's a fun vibe, with different seating options and QR Code ordering. Super cool, and the service was fast and cheerful. Food is GREAT! Again, lot's of GF options -- I was able to get the calamari, which was tender and delicious, and it was served with chips that were GF, with salt and pepper seasoning. My husband had a mug of the Cullen Skink with chips -- also very good, hot and filling. The menu has many, many options, and the portions are very good sized. Lots of beer on draft, and a good selection of ciders. Leith is a beautiful place to explore, and this was a lovely lunch and respite from the intermittent rain. Highly recommend making a stop at Teuchters Landing!

This place is in an amazing location right on the Waters of Leith. And when I say "right on" I…read moremean, their outdoor dining area includes a dock on top of the water. It's a bit cold out there but we wanted to sit outside. The other outdoor dining area with heat lamps was more pub-like which also meant people smoking outdoors. To the dock we went! The husband got the fish and chips, and of the five fish and chips he ordered during our 2 and a half weeks in the U.K. this one was neither the best nor the worst. (But still good!) The daughter and I were only lukewarm on our scallops. But what made a lasting impression was the mac n cheese served in a mug. The son and I still talk about it. We think it was the BEST MAC N CHEESE WE'VE EVER HAD. All others are put to shame now. 5 stars - mac n cheese 3 stars - other food

I visited this pub late on the seventh of march. The owner started shouting at everyone saying that…read morethe bar was closing. He went to collect some empty glasses. I was standing finishing my last couple of mouthfuls of my drinks when he rushed past me and tried to grab my drink from my hand as I had the glass to my mouth.It spilled all over me. Asking for an apology was completely pointless. Dangerous thing to do. The glass could have shattered in my hand. Absolutely disgusting behaviour from a bar owner. Will never ever be back in that establishment.

I was lucky to have found this gem of a pub during my vacation in Edinburgh from San Francisco…read more The pub was literally 10 sec walk from my Airbnb apartment, but the convenience factor is the least of what made this place great. It was the people inside (both bartenders and patrons). After exploring the city all day and tired from walking, just chilling at the apartment felt like a waste of time. So what makes the Port a great a place was it draws local folks from all walks of life, and allowed me to meet new people leading new things to do the next day! The Port is a must for anyone exploring Leith.

We were here twice in the same day. Don't ask. This is a…read morenice pub. The eats aren't super fancy, but it's a pub afterall. The service was good. And they had a variety of ciders. My personal favourite being the strawberry lime (or maybe it's strawberry kiwi). Either way, it's tasty.

Wonderful neighborhood pub here with a classic look and plenty of space. Dark wood, a clean bar,…read moreand great beers on tap. I noted the sign that they had a pub trivia night, which would have been exactly my type of activity, but I wasn't there on the correct date. Also, I was there when they had already stopped serving food. I can attest to the excellent service, fast pours, and the very clean bathrooms. This is a fantastic place and a great find if you're in the neighborhood.

Excellent food. Great service. Made haggis off the menu for us. Starters are great with salmon and…read moresmoked fish stew along such daily soup. Then we had two steak, a pasta, a fish and all the desserts. Cocktail is the true unsung hero here. Great food, perfect ambiance, always from the tourist trap, clearly a local favorite. Highly recommend.

Really great vibes inside. Food was good. Had the goat cheese tart which was great and the tofu…read moreburger was also great. I had the best drink EVER it was the one with raspberry puree- I forget the name of it... the service was okay.

I didn't have a reservation though they were quite full for them. They found a great table for me…read more I sat down great attention to me throughout the meal. I started with still water and a lager and the fried haggis bonbons which were fabulous. I'm not sure why haggis isn't liked by so many. I had a burger and fries too. Medium well was medium rare but it was still very good. The French fries were from a real baking potato not something more precious. The salad was an Asian thing I didn't care for. I had coffee too at the end of the meal. Quiet great place. Friendly efficient waitstaff. I wasn't rushed. Friendly other diners here too. The meal was 23 pounds with no gratuity. The picture is haggis bonbons.

Compass Bar is a well sited bar and restaurant, occupying the corner of Constitution and Queen…read moreCharlotte streets in Leith. When I first arrived in Edinburgh on holiday, it was highly recommended by locals. Honestly at night it looks a bit of a dive bar from the outside, so Brittany A. and I weren't sure what to expect going in for dinner our second night in town. Compass is physically divided into a bar at the entrance that can seat about 30 people, and a traditional looking restaurant located half a story up in the building that is good for groups. Both the bar and restaurant sections are served by staff, so you won't have to worry about ordering at a till. The interior looks like it was recently renovated. Original plaster details on the bar ceiling accent the warm wood and rock walls. A large hearth offers a visually intriguing focal point. The restaurant is decorated with large French posters and features a wood plank ceiling. A clear line of sight into the kitchen lets you watch your order creation. Our first visit was for dinner around 9PM in the restaurant section. Food is served for twelve hours, 10AM - 10PM daily. Compass has a good number of vegetarian options on the menu. I opted for their vegetarian club, a giant sandwich stuffed to the gills with hummus and halloumi, served with a side of chips. It's an incredible entree that requires a big appetite. I tried one of the Innis & Gunn beers on tap in addition to their complementary tap water infused with cucumber and mint. The dinner service was prompt and professional, and our entrees were out in a jiffy. We enjoyed the food so much we came back on our final day in Edinburgh for an 11AM brunch. We tend to take our dog with us on our travels, and Compass allows pooches in the bar area. The bar is very relaxed with some comfortable window booth seating and free WIFI. This is the kind of place you can get some real work done. I tried their small vegetarian breakfast, a full plate with vegetarian haggis, sausage, hash brown, beans, mushrooms, toast and more. For a small portion I once again was left completely full. It was honestly one of the best veggie breakfasts I've tried in the UK. We stayed for a bit, enjoying the music and several excellent espresso drinks. Overall Compass Bar is a great neighbourhood institution offering top notch service, great prices, and delicious food all day long.

So,so good. COZY with lovely staff. The food was delicious. We didn't have a reservation on…read moreEaster Sunday but they squeezed us in and we were ever so greatful. Best lunch. Everything was fresh and tasty.

We had a Sunday roast here while in Edinburgh and it was fantastic. The food was great the pub was…read morea wam and inviting atmosphere and the service didn't disappoint.

My husband has been drinking off and on at the Bowlers but he will never be back, he got a bottle…read moreof beer £4 something, that was warm, he asked politely for it to be changed, the really rude young man behind the bar refused and pointed to the door more or less saying if you don't like it there is the door. Not what you would expect from this pub at all, so disappointed!!!

I Loved the food and the staff are brilliant it's a fun pub to spend a night in the ambience is…read morenext to nothing

This is a phenomenal pub in Lithe with an outstanding selection of craft beers on tap and cask. I…read moretried a couple of local beers on cask. They were perfectly conditioned and tasted ridiculous fresh. Add to that the friendly bartenders, casual local vibe, and homely interior with a nice fireplace...you've got an all around winner.

Love this little boozer. When all around seem to be tearing out there traditional fixtures and…read moredusting off there cocktail shakers the Malt and Hops is still a proper pub. The pub over looks the dock area down by the shore and looks like it hasnt changed ever. I love coming here on a blustery afternoon to sit by the fire place with a pint. Nothing fancy but they do everything well. The place is immaculate considering the old man style presentation. Many pubs of this ilk can be a little grubby but they keep their bar tidy and cobweb free. The staf are always friendly and the booze selection is great. Thumbs up from me.