You don't get a spectacular number of students here and the average age is quite high, but this…read moreworks in this places favour, as despite being a student myself I do recognise how they change the atmosphere - take the Crags for an example. You don't get food here either, but for a beer and a chat or to watch a game it does the job and you get a more pleasant atmosphere than anything closer to town. It's not that expensive either so it's well worth a visit just so long as you're willing to be content with what it has to offer.

Swany's is an out of the way bar trying to avoid the student scene and succeeds. You won't find an…read moreitbox here or pool tables or a jukebox with the Black Eyed Peas (thank God) here but this is not what Swany's is about. This pub stays away from the limelight and the inside is just what you'd expect, quiet and relaxed. The regulars are generally quite old but they don't make you feel excluded when you come in and just carry on chatting. That is pretty much what you'd come into Swany's for, just a bit of a chat with a few drinks. The relaxed atmosphere makes it ideal for this but not much else. The beers are reasonable and averagely priced, nothing too special. There is a TV here is well, and this is when the pub livens up a little. It's an ok place to go to with a few mates to watch the footie but don't expect much more.

In some places you get corner shops and in others you get corner pubs - this is the latter; a pub…read morewhere the locals gather to have a drink, chat or watch the footy. Should this not be sufficiently exciting then there is a dartboard on offer and on Friday or Saturday night there's a good chance there will be karaoke on offer. On these nights the standard of karaoke is really rather good and whilst it will be busy enough to create an atmosphere of sufficient calibre, you will not have to wait forever and a day to get a song in. The drink prices are pretty standard for the area, but if you check out the chalkboard out front either on entry or on your travels there you'll find that on some days the prices are cut for specific drinks - this board is well worth paying attention to if you're planning a visit.

The International bar is mostly a local bar and it is not that studenty, but it is worth a visit. I…read morethought it would be a typical old man pub, filled with drunk men by about 1pm, but I was pleasantly surprised with the clientele who drank in here when I came. Situated in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh, the International Bar is just a short walk from the city centre and is really close to the Meadows too so it is a convenient place to reach. This is a fairly traditional pub, with a dart board, and there is a good atmosphere in here as the staff are always cheerful and inviting and there is a jukebox which always plays out music playing. The drinks in the International Bar are pretty cheap and they serve a wide range of different beers and ales. The house red wine here is tasty and doesn't taste like vinegar which some you can find in other bars. The International Bar frequently has speical offers available which are worth while, especially as there is no student discount on offer. The food is also worth a try as they serve the standard pub meals such as fish and chips, burgers and baked potatoes, which are particularly tasty - really well cooked with fluffy potato in the centre and a crispy skin - yum! The International Bar does show A LOT of football matches, so perhaps it isn't one for the non-football fans on a football night as it can get pretty rowdy in here. A decent bar which is worth a visit.

I'd like to thank the fine people of Scotland for being absolutely drunk off their minds and for…read moreswarming through karaoke this fine evening in December 2022. The karaoke started slow, but that meant that the all-stars who showed up early (this guy named Travis should have a record deal, apparently he wrote Exile by Taylor Swift) got to do multiple songs. If you're not here on karaoke Thursday, you're probably having a bad time. The drinks were good. The food did not exist, unless you count the chocolate flavored condoms in the men's room.

Guilty pleasures rarely get better than this…read more The only reason The Globe isn't my one-stop locale for all my social/sport-viewing needs is that they don't do food; that said, however, I believe they are completely willing to allow you in with whatever grub you find from one of myriad takeaways located around the North Bridge, Royal Mile and Cowgate areas, in which Globe rests like a wee diamond. Mainly a backpacker bar, the drinks are obviously cheaper. But this also means there are always events on for the ever-changing regulars to get involved with. Live music, movie nights, quiz nights, crab racing.... okay not sure about that last one. But the point is it wouldn't surprise me. Never any hassle, which considering the amount of chavs that frequent on the weekends (a result of the cheapness) and it's proximity to the Hive (next door) I think that's a rather impressive claim. I think it's largely down to the fact no one wants to get barred from this place. You may as well cut off your drinking arm...! Okay not really. With a tv on every wall, The Globe is a haven for sport lovers, often alternating the screens between 2 to 3 separate events. Eyes in the back of my head please...? Staff are laid back and friendly. Crowds are ever-revolving and always multi-national. If you're into random banter and cheap drinks, The Globe is perfect.

Bogarts is a small local pub on the fringe of Kirkcaldy. It…read moreis very much a 'local's local', with a pool table, and screens with satellite channels. The ambience is quiet and relaxed. Bogarts is an ideal pub for a quiet pint.

My favorite place to drink in Edinburgh. Dom is a legend &…read moremade lock down tolerable with deliveries of delicious German lager.

The Brauhaus might just be one of the best pubs in Edinburgh…read more It's tucked away, and just off the beaten track enough for it to be an absolute treat when you discover it. It's small and its decor is a mixture between a traditional pub and a hip contemporary watering hole. It's fairly small inside, and although the window seating area is comfy with an array of cushions scattered around, it's still hard to get a seat after about 8pm or so. If you've travelled this far to get here however I would argue that it is worth standing for the drink, since they house over 250 beers from around the world! Their menu is categorized by country, and you can hope to try anything from the alluring, brooding darkness of Duvel to beer with a bit of a kick and more percentage! It can get crowded, but it's never in an unpleasant way. It's a very cultured bar with a good atmosphere that I would recommend you visit once during your time in Edinburgh. I have a mission that one day I will try all these beers - this bar at least lets me fulfill my life's ambition without having to leave the country!

Had there been live music I would give this a 5. It sits in the first floor of a hotel so maybe…read morethat is minus. They have. Very nice selection of scotch whiskey, gins wine beer etc. Tons of Indy leather chairs and tables. The menu is not large or long but very eclectic. We settled in the olives as an appetizer and it's a ton of assorted olives sitting in a well done olive oil and spices mix. Foe my entre I had the curry wich was great and came with and excellent rice and nan. The wife had a bery good salad wich included some of the olives. She also a shrimp tatami which was basically quite a few large shrimp in an excellent Italian style red tomato sauce. It came with some very good bread for dipping. They have a great desert menu but we were too full. It's a pub so you order at the bar. Very good experience and would be back if lived here.

Comfy chairs (although those at the bar are doing it a bit of damage) but this will never be a…read morepatch on The Tap O' Lauriston, which it's for some reason now nodding to with the name change which occurred sometime in the last couple of years. It's the hotel bar for the Novotel with city centre bar prices, despite (or maybe because of) being a mile south of that and with good actual pubs within a stone's throw in all directions. No real ale on tap and toilets not quite up to the standard you'd expect from the hotel chain.

We came here because the reviews were good and it was my husband's birthday. They apparently have…read morefree dinner for your birthday. 3 of us arrived on a Tuesday evening and took a seat. We sat for 10 minutes and no one acknowledged us. There was one person working behind the bar but everyone seemed like they were served as she was out of the bar talking with seemed to be friends since they didn't have food. When I went to the bar to ask if anyone was working, the woman said she was with another customer. She then said I was supposed to order from the bar. Had no idea since I was a traveler as I'm sure a lot of people are in Edinburgh. Very disappointed with the place.

This place loses a couple of stars for a few reasons…read more 1. Why is there no more 5 pound special?? They still do have specials.. but they are more like 8 quid, and that doesn't sound too special to me. 2. How come the downstairs STILL smells like toilet cleaner? Caman guys, get. it. together. Everytime you go down there, there is one awkward couple that want alone time. And they WILL get it. Because no one wants to smell toilet cleaner. 3. I love burgers, yes I do.. but I think Edinburgh is starting to have... TOO many burgers?(if this is possible). Their menu is now 100% burgers and maybe 2 options for wraps. Quite boring. HOWEVER. The onion rings are still delicious. I've tested those a few times. 4. My friend got a piece of plastic in her chicken wrap. Fortunately they took the meal back and gave her a full refund and were SUPER apologetic but... Plastic in food, really? I will give the cuckoos nest more tries. I do REALLY like it here.. but I feel like it has slipped a bit. Fin.

What a fun find! Fantastic local pub with everything you would want. Good tap list, good food,…read morewelcoming atmosphere and fun staff. We ate lunch here, the hubs loved the mince and tatties and I had the steak pie. I would go back for both. The menu is not extensive, but you will be well fed and have good drink at a great price for being in the middle of the city.

Kay's might be my favorite pub in Edi! The environment is very cozy -- the back room is lined with…read morebooks, board games, and vintage trinkets, there's plenty of cushioned seating, and it sits just off the busy tourist areas. There is a wide selection of flavored gins, and prices are reasonable for the area. It's difficult getting a seat when the rugby is on, but is otherwise just busy enough to feel lively without being overwhelming.