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The Fiddler's Arms

3.4 (68 reviews)
ModerateBars
Open • 10:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

The Fiddler's Arms Photos

THE FIDDLER'S ARMS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - The Fiddler's Arms

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Wendy B.

An ice cold Guinness with a warm plate of bangers and mash and the perfect spectator view of Grassmarket to round out a day of sightseeing! The service was outstanding and the bangers and mash were spot on! Followed that up with the homemade warm sticky toffee pudding and a cup of "Scottish" coffee (not really sure what he put in it but it sure was good!) and bonus...they had fresh decaf to make it with!

Fish and chips
Amadeo D.

Decent pub food. Service was attentive. Great location in a high traffic touristy area. This old pub had just enough of a urine smell to be authentic without being overwhelmingly off-putting. Just mildly off-putting. Fish and chips were good and crispy. Excellent quality fish, but a bit under-seasoned. The peas that came with them were dried out and poor quality. I ordered the Bacon wrapped Chicken stuffed with Haggis. Chicken was a bit on the dry side, but the bacon and gravy helped with that. Haggis was good though and I really enjoyed the crushed potatoes. Had a whiskey and a cold pint with dinner. Our server helped me pick a good whiskey. All in all, an OK casual meal. This place gets crazy busy so either come early, or be prepared to wait for your table.

View out our window as we ate
Kathy K.

Stopped at this little pub in the Grassmarket area of Edinburg for a light lunch. Not a lot of seating which gave it an intimate feel. Unfortunately, at least 15 people were turned away while we were there because there was no available seating. I saw only two workers and they seemed to be handling it well. They took a little time to warm up but by the end of our meal they were friendly. The hubby ordered the Warm Goat's Cheese Salad and a Diet Pepsi. He also got three whiskeys for tasting. He enjoyed the salad and said if you like goat cheese you should give it a try. I ordered the Fish Cake. It was perfectly cooked and the homemade dill sauce was delicious. The salad garnish beside it was fresh and was a nice little addition. The food came out fairly quickly. Near the end of the meal the manager asked if we minded sharing our table with two other people. Technically it was two small tables pushed together so they just scooted the table over and up a few inches. It was about the same amount of space as the other table next to us. We didn't mind. It just added to the intimate feel.

Menu
Fran L.

A nice pub with excellent service and great foods. They give you a lot for your money! The beer on tap is cold and great. The chips are French Fries on steroids. The signature dish of chips and fries comes with hips of thick fries and large cod. I love the ambience and friendly service

Really good Whiskey.

We really enjoyed the restaurant. No reservations required. The food is really good. The staff is very cool. It was our go to place. 3 times

Flowery rupenzels hair
Dirk W.

We sat outside with a view of the bright flowery rupenzels hair (Figure 1) draping down the side of the Cold Town House. I had a cold pint of Innis and Gunn (figure 2). This local ale hit the spot after a long walk around the castle. The crispy chips (Figure 3) here were the best we've had in the UK in part due to their simple flume like shape which held a dollop of ketchup perfectly. The onion rings were also crisp and perfectly delicious. Simple, effective, just right as was the service which was brisk.

Kim M.

The staff are awesome, the drinks are perfect, and food is terrific! We're from the State's, if our favorite pub in Scotland!

Menu
Jennifer J.

After getting settled in our hotel at the Grassmarket, we decided to grab a bite and explore the area. We found the Fiddler's Arms and decided this was the place to try. Since it was early in the morning, we were able to sit where we liked. Service was friendly and very prompt too. We ordered two drafts of Guinness, and my fiancee ordered the traditional breakfast while I had the equivalent of a breakfast sandwich in the states. I'm not a fan of Guinness in the states, but I had heard it would taste differently in the Uk since it's not being shipped as far (or something along those lines). This is absolutely true - I loved Guinness in Scotland, and it was SUPER cold. The food was fantastic, although the orangish eggs took some getting used to. Jason enjoyed his traditional breakfast of fried eggs, mushrooms, toast, haggis, and a roasted tomato. His first day in Scotland, and he tried haggis! I wasn't as adventurous, but mine was equally delicious. We fell in love with the bacon that is used in the UK too. Overall, the service was friendly, the food was delicious and the beer was super cold - what more can you ask for?

Traditional Scottish Haggis, Neeps & Tatties

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Good food, good drinks, true Scottish Pub atmosphere. Great location just below Edinburgh Castle.

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Big portions. Good atmosphere. Friendly staff. Sweet spot in the city center if you're in need of food and drink.

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The Fiddler's Arms Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - The Fiddler's Arms

“Excellent food--had the steak pie and the sticky toffee pudding, both the best we'd had in Scotland.”

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Beer & Skittles - Opening night for Beer and Skittles! Great sports bar, cocktails and garden

Beer & Skittles

4.3(3 reviews)
0.8 mi•New Town
•££

Great new bar in the basement of Steak at Picardy place, a huge refurb has resulted in an…read moreamazeballs bar to enjoy a few drinks! I'd even be tempted to come and watch the sport here. They do beer cocktails yay. We tried a tequila based sangria style one and a beery take on a Moscow mule. Both were really tasty. They have a huge range of draft and craft beers and do bottles with chaser shots a personal fav was the Aussie bundy rum with my beer! Bar snacks are on to keep you going but not full meals yet, though you could always head up to Steak if you're peckish.

Interesting sports bar under Steak on Picardy Place. I was a bit unsure as a previous reviewer said…read moreit was a bit of a lads' place. Anyhow the OH persuaded me to give it a shot for a quick drink to shelter from the rain whilst we deliberated on a venue for dinner. I'm glad he did. In addition to a decent selection of craft beers, there's a hefty cocktail menu. I tried the Ginger Tom Collins & it hit the spot. Just the right amount of ginger to pack a punch but not enough to be overpowering. The OH had a pint of draft beer & seemed happy enough. The low ceiling means it gets noisy even if it's not packed. There was a stag do, 2 birthday parties and hen group as well as some other folks. It was only just possible to hold a convo at normal volume & be heard. There's a decent sized courtyard out the back too but it was too wet & cold to try it out. I'd definitely visit again but maybe on a week night when it might be a little less noisy.

Pickles of Broughton Street - Inside front room (there's a back room as well)

Pickles of Broughton Street

4.9(20 reviews)
0.8 mi•New Town
•££

We were doing our regular research, hoping to find the perfect anniversary restaurant, when we…read morestumbled upon Pickles on a map. A quick Google search later, we decided to add this to our "must visit while in Edinburgh" list. This wasn't our anniversary restaurant, of course, but we knew we needed to dine here at least once. It was a long walk from our hotel, but it was a nice way to see parts of the city that we wouldn't normally have gotten to. The restaurant itself is nestled in the basement (or downstairs) of a cute building. It's small in there, but they're very good at maximizing the space they're given. We settled in at a teeny-tiny table off to the side and swiftly ordered a couple of pints. The menu is very straightforward: you're either getting a meat and cheese plate, just a cheese plate, or pates. We decided to share the Mixed Meat & Cheese platter. We figured that we'd snack and drink some Scottish beer, then head off into the night to find our "real" dinner. Thing is, though, that combo platter filled us the heck up. The waitress came out with the meat and cheese plate and a box of bread, oatcakes and crackers, and my husband and I had a "where is all this going?" moment. But our pro-waitress dropped the plate on the table and popped the bread box into a shelf on the wall next to us - a shelf that neither of us ever even noticed, to be honest. The meat and cheese selections were delicious and paired really well together. Kind of hidden away on that shelf (holding the bread and oatcakes) were a couple chutney jars. That chutney - lots of fruit pieces and complex flavors - brought a lot to the cheeses. We really did love the food, the surroundings, the beer and the staff. I wish we had something like this back home.

Comforting environment, food and drink. It's like being in your own home, warm with friends. Staff…read moreare helpful and friendly. Enjoy yourselves.

Photos
Pickles of Broughton Street - Cheese platter

Cheese platter

Pickles of Broughton Street - The cheese board

The cheese board

Pickles of Broughton Street - Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

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Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - Difficult to find, but well worth it!

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives

4.6(17 reviews)
0.4 mi•New Town
•££

I was there on 30 October 2025 with a few travel friends, and it turned out to be one of the best…read moresurprises of our trip. The minute we found the door off the little lane on Rose Street, there was an air of mystery... exactly what you hope for from a "detective agency" style speakeasy. Once inside, the vibe was perfect for a chilly Edinburgh evening. Like, moody lighting, vintage-style furnishings, and that cozy, clandestine feel that makes you glad you made the effort to find it. The service was absolutely welcoming. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and even at 9p, mid week (when you might expect things to be winding down), the place was comfortably busy but not packed, but full enough to feel alive. Drinks menus came in little "confidential" envelopes, which instantly added to the fun. We ordered several cocktails that evening, and every drink was carefully crafted and flavorful, smooth and topped off with warm hospitality. I honestly did not have one bad cocktail. If I were to highlight a few things from our night - I came away loving the atmosphere, the attention to detail, and the general ease at which we were treated which is exactly what I wanted out of a night out in Edinburgh. If you're visiting Newcastle, upon, Tyne, Edinburgh, or just wandering through Rose Street and looking for something a little different... don't walk past this place. Bryant & Mack Private Detectives is a fun little secret with classic cocktails, cozy speakeasy vibes, and service that makes you feel like part of the case, lol. It's a fully immersive experience.

Awesome speakeasy in New Town…read more It really is on the hidden side, it took me a few minutes longer than I thought it would to find the door (look at the posted pictures, it helps). Once inside (you'll have to knock to get in), you'll find a cool little lounge with great cocktails, chill music, and amiable bartenders. We were surprisingly the only ones in there around 9 pm on a Friday night, which we thought was odd (as did the bartenders), but it meant we got to hang out with them and shoot the shit (meeting bartenders from all over the world is one of my favorite hobbies). Besides the fact that both were into motorcycles (and one came to Edinburgh once and immediately backed up his bags and moved over from Italy - props), we found out that they could make a mean cocktail. We, of course, started on menu, but wanted to see if they could do any variations, which they not only did, but nailed: "do you like bitter or sweet" - bitter "Floral or not so much" - surprise me "base?" - gin Dunno what it was called, but it was one of the nicest gin drinks I had in a town that is crazy for gin at the moment. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a good cocktail place, the ambiance is on point and the drinks are superb.

Photos
Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - Bowery theater

Bowery theater

Bryant & Mack Private Detectives
Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - September gem

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September gem

The Fiddler's Arms - bars - Updated October 2026

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