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The Sheep Heid Inn

3.9 (100 reviews)
ModeratePubs, Gastropubs, British
Closed 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

The Sheep Heid Inn Photos

THE SHEEP HEID INN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Very loud
Good for groups
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - The Sheep Heid Inn

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What a cool stumble-upon discovery! I had take the bus over to visit Dr. Neill's Gardens and then hike up to Arthur's Seat. I was a bit peckish and this was one of the only places in the immediate area to grab lunch. The original inn was established in 1360 - making it the oldest pub in the city. It's hard to say how much of the original structure is still there, but sitting in a 665 year old pub is pretty cool. (It also has the oldest bowling alley in the city tucked away in the back - only 2 lanes, but very cool historic decor.) The crab thermador toast & brilliant house salad were just enough fuel for my next adventure.

Teena D.

Gord and I had supper Monday evening at the Sheep Heid Inn because it's apparently the oldest pub in Edinburgh ... established in 1360! Gord ordered Battered Line-caught Cod & Chips (minted pea pureé, chunky tartare sauce, lemon) and I ordered Steak and Ale Pie (creamed potato, beef-dripping. Plus Gord ordered a black currant mousse. All were good. Lucy was friendly and took good care of us.

Chairs
Lacy B.

The building is pretty cool. Service was nice, but the food is subpar. Dinner was edible however dessert was not. The flour on the apple crumble tasted raw, the apples were still firm and the most awful thing... the custard. It tasted like play dough boiled with milk. I actually gagged. Go for the atmosphere and a drink, skip the rest.

image courtesy of www.sheepheid.co.uk
Fiona H.

This. Place. Is. Amazing. It claims to be Scotland's oldest pub, and it's easy to see why it's still in business since 1360. This place is just far enough out of the city centre that you can justify spending a whole afternoon or evening there, but close enough that almost everyone you ask will know about it or have been at least once. From the outside, it looks just like any given old man's pub, serving real ales and home-cooked food. Nothing surprising so far. But when you get inside the place has a surprisingly young and laid back crowd, with an atmosphere to match. The food is way better than you'd expect in most pubs, although it is slightly pricer. For your money though, you get decent-sized portions and according to the menu certain ingredients like the sausages are sourced locally, so you can feel proud of yourself for helping out local farmers/butchers in the process of stuffing your face with bangers and mash. I'm not a real ale drinker, in fact I'm about as far in the opposite direction as you can go, and there's definitely a good range of spirits and wines to cater for the likes of me. They stock ginger beer to go with my gin for a start, instead of watery ginger ale that a lot of places have. But saving the best 'til last... they still have the original Victorian skittles alley out the back which you can hire out. Most pubs are doing well with a pool table or an it-box, but this definitely trumps a dartboard and I'd highly recommend it.

Nice chilled out music at the sheep heid.
Georgina R.

This is such a cool place! Not only is it Edinburgh's oldest pub which makes it great in itself, but it is set in a lovely location, being in Duddingston Village and close to Arthurs Seat. It's good to go to on sunny or rainy days. I love the atmosphere in this pub. When I went I was able to grab a seat in the beer garden, before it became really busy, and was able enjoy the sun (yes sun in Edinburgh). Then myself and a friend went inside to have some good food. I don't think you're allowed to have food out in the beer garden, though there is a small balcony area upstairs where it looked like you can have food. There's a good mix of clientele from families to groups of friends out for a few drinks. They had a guy singing in the beer garden yesterday which was a nice touch. He did covers of what I consider to be chilled out songs which suited the atmosphere of the place. There is also the skittles alley which I've yet to try, but I've heard great things about it so it's definitely on my list of things to do. Great pub!

Morracan-inspired cauliflower tart - unbelievably good

Outstanding pub. I appreciated the impressive vegan options. I ordered the Morracan-styled cauliflower tart. The pastry was delicious and the filling was so creamy it just melted in your mouth. For dessert I had the apple plum crumble with soy custard. It was the perfect ending. Definitely make reservations. The night we went there was a sign on the door saying they couldn't accept walk ins.

Sheep's Heid Inn from official website
Anna F.

Have you wanted to get out of the City but you don't have a car and can't be bothered with buses? Head towards the famous "hill" of Edinburgh, Arthurs Seat. You can climb it if you want- it does have spectacular views from the top and provides the feeling of self accomplishment. However you can also walk around it and head towards the village of Duddingston. There are a variety of routes to reach the village, either following the road , from which you will get to see Duddingston Loch, or under via the Innocent Cycle Path or even over Arthur's Seat. Once you arrive at the village head towards the famous Sheep's Heid Inn- the "oldest public House of Scotland" (from 1360!). It was thought to be the stopping place for travellers and royalty going between Holyrood and Craigmillar Castle. Here you will find a good selection of beers and ales and other drinks (much needed after the walk) as well as food. The pub is like a treasure trove, with various memorabilia left from previous visitors-so take your time to have a look around(I surely did), as well as board games you are welcome to use. There is also a cute beer garden in the back if you are lucky with the weather, and do not miss out on taking a look at the old skittle alley- ask a member of staff to let you in if you can't find it. Skittles is like an early form of bowling and the Inn is quite popular for it, so it is usually hard to book a slot. There is a large variety of food to choose from, from tourist favourites of haggis and other Scottish delicacies to lighter options. On Sunday's there is also a roast which tends to get quite popular (call to book in advance!) and around spring and the summer there are various barbeques and beer festivals (check their website for more details: http://www.sheepheid.co.uk/history.html). Prices are on the verge of affordable, but one is really visiting this place for its ambience. I always take visiting friends here as a sort of "outing". Although the food can be quite stodgy and heavy I would highly recommend this place to any visitor or resident of Edinburgh who wants to let go of the city and get a feel of an "authentic" pub-a cosy place whatever the weather may be!

I  Sheep Heid Inn
Tom G.

This place is the perfect country pub - but you don't have to drive out to the country. Very cosy with great staff (though maybe a bit mental). Always got a couple great Real Ales. Good bar menu, we had the steak frites and the burger, both were great value for money. freshly ground coffees also, and we shared a chocolate brownie, BOOM! This is what pub lunches are all about, don't look anywhere else. Also, don't forget, beer garden, beer festival, separate restaurant, child and dog friendly, skittle alley.... I HEART The Sheep Heid!!

from "www.sheepheid.co.uk"

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6 years ago

Fantastic lamb and drinks at the oldest pub. Loved the STP too. The calamari was good too. We will visit here again.

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3 years ago

Good food, they were out of a couple things. My wife did not love her plate; I had the chicken and thought it was very good.

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3 years ago

Excellent food, drinks, service. Off the beaten path in Edinburgh but well worth the journey for the meal and atmosphere.

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The Sheep Heid Inn Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - The Sheep Heid Inn

We were staying up the street in an AirBnB and our host recommended this place as being the oldest pub in Scotland.

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Old Bell Inn

Old Bell Inn

4.1(41 reviews)
1.3 miNewington
££

This was our first night in Edinburgh (Sept 2024), having flown all day from SFO. This delightful…read morepub was a short walk from our B&B (check out the 23 Mayfield B&B), and we reserved a table which turned out to be a good idea. It was a Monday, and trivia night, so it was crowded. Good food and good beer, trivia was hard. (Name the fast food chain with most outlets worldwide? Name the top ten grossing Tom Hanks live action movies. That kind of thing - didn't need to be Scottish to play). A huge bonus that we didn't fully appreciate until a week into the trip - they offered skinny fries, which we yanks think of as fries, as an alternative to the thick cut chips that are included in every meal in every restaurant in all of Scotland. Okay, we have not been seeking out Michelin restaurants, but I sure long for some mashed potatoes with my chicken sandwich. Also, really friendly staff at the Old Bell (because we had literally just arrived, we didn't have two pounds in order to join trivia night; they said no worries, and just added it to our food and drink bill). And great ambience - traditional Scottish pub, with food and beer. Check it out.

Wonderful. Warm. Inviting. Our waiter/bartender happily…read morehelped us select beer and whiskey to start our journey into traditional Scottish cuisine. Every dish was artfully made. Smoked salmon so fresh that its firm flesh gives a good bite. The steak and ale pie is also sublime. The haggis is rich, savoury, and delicious. Finally, the sticky toffee pudding has such sweet depth and complexity that I became teary with joy,

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Old Bell Inn - Old Bell Inn interior

Old Bell Inn interior

Old Bell Inn - Smoked salmon

Smoked salmon

Old Bell Inn - Old Bell Inn exterior

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Old Bell Inn exterior

The Green Mantle - Sticky toffee pudding

The Green Mantle

4.4(40 reviews)
1.4 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.

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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.

The Spiegeltent

The Spiegeltent

4.8(4 reviews)
1.5 miThe Meadows

I can vouch for this place, both as an artist and as a customer. Excellent atmosphere, excellent…read morestaff, organised, good bar, that isn;t cheap, but it's reasonable for a theatre style venue ,and some truly excellent shows on, and open until super late, so excellent for fringe goers. We watched "sh*t faced shakespeare" here, in december, and even then we weren't cold, although there are cute little booths around the edges, we sat near the front on the seats at the centre, comfy enough, and such a great place to enjoy any performance.

Just for atmosphere alone this place deserved 5 stars. From 28th of July until 28th August the…read moreSpiegeltent will be returning to George Square Garden's. After the clamour last year at it being changed to Hullaballoo, the Fringe organisers have reverted it back to its original format. And it is awesome. Open until 5 in the morning, this square is the best place to mingle as the sun begins to rise. Although the pints are ludicrously priced, and come in plastic cup, this adds to the festival atmosphere. It is invariably rammed, but this adds to the charm as you can always be guaranteed to bump into someone you recognise, or start up a drunken bromance with someone you just met - 'I love you man'...'No, I love you dude'...etc. It is like you enter into a different little world; the location in George Square Gardens helps displace it from the city, and it does feel like you are at a festival. Couple this with the carnivalesque element, you have a Cabaret show and an oddities mini-museum / exhibition, and there is always the most pierced woman in the world hanging about waiting to have her photo taken with you. If you come to Edinburgh during the festival, you have to come here. Forget the overpriced drinks, the atmosphere is incredible and to be honest most of Edinburgh is overpriced during the Fringe

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The Spiegeltent
The Spiegeltent
The Spiegeltent

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Queens Arms

Queens Arms

4.4(114 reviews)
2.2 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 Sheep Heid Inn - pubs - Updated May 2026

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