Looking for the best Edinburgh Old Town Pubs to lose a lively night at? If there’s one thing we know at Everything Edinburgh, it is where to drink in Scotland’s capital!
This guide details Old Town bars that are the cheapest, the cosiest, the most historic and the loudest!
We’ll also tell you where to get a boozy Harry Potter butterbeer, so if you are local looking for something different or a visitor planning your itinerary, keep reading to find out our recommendations.
Have we missed out your favourite? Tell us in the comments below!
Whether you want a pint of real ale in a 500-year-old coaching inn, a dram of scotch in a hidden close, or craft beer on a rooftop under the castle, the Old Town has it all. From the Royal Mile and the Cowgate to the Grassmarket and the east end, here are the best pubs in Edinburgh Old Town for regulars and visitors alike – picked for history, character and a proper welcome.
Updated: September 2026
→ Read this first | Our Old Town Edinburgh guide
| Pub | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Devil’s Advocate | Advocates Close | Cocktails & whisky flights |
| Deacon Brodies Tavern | Lawnmarket | History & tartan snugs |
| The City Cafe | Blair Street | Boozy milkshakes, open late |
| The Banshee Labyrinth | Niddry Street (Cowgate) | Gigs, films & haunted caves |
| Whistlebinkies | South Bridge | Live music & dancing |
| Monteiths | High Street | Cocktails in a hidden close |
| The World’s End | High Street | Historic inn, pub grub |
| The Last Drop | Grassmarket | Date night & alfresco drinking |
| Cold Town House | Grassmarket rooftop | Own-brewed beer, castle views |
| Brewhemia | Market Street | Big beer list, events |
| The Bow Bar | West Bow (Victoria Street) | Real ale & single malts |
| The White Hart Inn | Grassmarket | Historic coaching inn, courtyard |
| The Beehive Inn | Grassmarket | Cask ales, refurbished 2026 |
| The Halfway House | Fleshmarket Close | Tiny historic pub by Waverley |
| Holyrood 9A | Holyrood Road | Craft beer & burgers |
All venues within or on the edge of the Old Town, verified open September 2026.
1. The Devil’s Advocate for Cocktails Inside or Outdoors
The Devil’s Advocate is a compact, modern, bi-levelled restaurant with outside seating.
It is known for its cocktail menu and location down one of Edinburgh’s most famous pathways, Advocates Close.
The restaurant and bar was once an old Victorian pump house.
If you are a whisky fan you should check out their flights.
Our friends from North American adores The Devil’s Advocate. It is worth booking a table at weekends – this close hides one of the city’s best whisky lists.
- Address: 9 Advocate’s Close
→ Check out our favourite Old Town Restaurants here
2. Deacon Brodies Tavern for History and Tartan Carpets
Deacon Brodies Tavern is a busy High Street pub which enjoys footfall from The Royal Mile tourists. It is one of the most traditional taverns along the mile, split into snug rooms that fill up fast.
The decor is Scottish with the upstairs bar carpet being none other than tartan!
There are also historic pictures and quotes on the wall.
This pub is named after Deacon Brodie, Robert Louis Stevenson’s muse for his infamous book, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Like many pub-goers, Brodie was a respectable citizen by day but a drinker by night.
He also gambled, which resulted in him turning to burglary to cover his debts.
Brodie met his match when he was caught and sentenced to death at the Tolbooth in 1788.
Be sure to check out both sides of the outside sign to see Brodie’s two faces!
Close to Deacon Brodies you will the remains of the gallows which saw the last execution in Edinburgh. Find Hume’s statue and cross over the road.
If ghosts and gore is your kinda thing, check our guides to Edinburgh’s legends and spooky locations and tips on dark things to do in the city, including the best ghost tours!
- Address: 435 Lawnmarket
3. The City Cafe for Boozy Milkshakes
This trendy, diner-style restaurant and bar is an Ev Ed favourite for its boozy milkshakes and casual menu.
Visitors can dine at booths or tables.
Its posh mac and cheese features in our guide on what to eat in Edinburgh.
- Address: 19 Blair Street
4. The Banshee Labyrinth for Ghosts, Gigs & Movies
There is no pub in the world like The Banshee Labyrinth.
It’s haunted and you need a map to make your way through each room.
There’s bars with snacks, pub seating areas, games, a stage and a cinema playing free films.
The Banshee Labyrinth is located in the caves just like the popular underground tours. The labyrinth sits just off the Cowgate at 29-35 Niddry Street, its cellar rooms hosting live gigs and free film nights.
You won’t be surprised to hear that this Old Town pub features in our Halloween guide.
5. Whistlebinkies for Sweaty Dancing and Drinks
If anyone tells you they hate Whistlebinkies, they are lying!
Sticky floors, drunk punters, live music, and hot sweaty dancing.
What’s not to love?
Times have changed now so there might be less sweat and more sanitisation but still, Whistlebinkies should be on your pub crawl bucket list.
- Address: 4-6 South Bridge
→ Read next | Things to do at night in Edinburgh
6. Monteiths for Secret Close Drinking Indoors or Outside
For a calmer evening and a cocktail or two, head down the fairy light tunnel of one of Edinburgh’s closes to find Monteiths.
This classy bar has house goals decor!
The lighting is intimate, the staff are friendly, and the menu throws up a butterbeer-style cocktail for Harry Potter fans! It is perfect for a date-night drink away from the tourist crowds.
- Address: 61 High Street
→ Potterheads! Read our Harry Potter locations bucket list
7. The World’s End for History and Good Chat
No Old Town pub guide would be complete without a visit to The Royal Mile’s historic World’s End.
This cosy traditional bar is more than meets the eye, as its exterior wall forms part of Edinburgh’s ancient Flodden Wall. Order a pint of heavy or a dram by the fire and you’ll understand why locals call it one of the great old town pubs.
Good selection of whisky and pub grub menu available. Check out our Old Town restaurant guide for more on where to eat.
- Address: 2-8 High St
8. The Last Drop for Date Night or Alfresco Drinking
The Last Drop will forever hold a special place in my heart as it was one of the first pubs myself and my now husband went to on our first date!
Locals do frequent this Grassmarket bar so you may be sitting next to a Scot while having a drink and listening to the banging soundtrack. Pull up a stool before a gig – the Grassmarket buzzes here all weekend.
The Last Drop gets its name from its location.
In front of the pub is where public executions took place and the name is a nod to the last hanging.
- Address: 74-78 Grassmarket
9. Cold Town House Rooftop For Drinks Under the Castle
Climb Granny Green Steps to the Cold Town House rooftop which sits just underneath Edinburgh Castle at the bottom of the Grassmarket.
On a sunny day, the roof is rolled back so you can drink Cold Town House craft beer which is made onsite underneath Edinburgh’s most prominent landmark.
The drinks menu also includes frose, ideal for hot days in May. The on-site brewery means some of the freshest beer in the Old Town, with castle views thrown in.
Go with an empty stomach and enjoy a stone baked pizza with drinks.
Reserve ahead as this beer garden books up quickly from spring through to autumn.
In winter, you can take the kids along to meet Santa.
10. Brewhemia for Lively Drinks and Special Events
Brewhemia is a huge space across from the Waverley Train Station on Market Street.
This bar makes a massive effort with its decor, utilising flowers around the entrance arch.
The menu has an extensive list of beers and gin. It is a great first or last stop for craft beer fans – two minutes from Waverley station.
There are different sections to the space, with a quiet area upstairs if you are looking for a working space during the day.
Bands play on an elevated stage in the main bar and dancers in costumes dance on the tables.
There is a real carnival feel to Brewhemia at the weekend.
You can also hire out private rooms and choose to join in the action or not.
Keep an eye out of events such as drag brunches and Oktoberfest.
- Address: 1a Market Street
Don’t complete your planning without checking our Old Town bucket list
More Old Town Pubs Worth a Pint
Old drinking dens we couldn’t leave out, from a historic coaching inn to a freshly refurbished snug – all verified open in September 2026.
The Bow Bar For Real Ale and Whisky on Victoria Street
The Bow Bar (80 West Bow, EH1 2HH) may look like an ancient coaching inn but it is a loving modern recreation. Eight traditional air fonts pour real ale and cask-conditioned ales, and the shelves hold hundreds of single malts and scotch whiskies. It hides in plain sight at the bottom of Victoria Street, with a snug that regulars guard jealously. Open midday to midnight daily.
The White Hart Inn, a 500-Year-Old Grassmarket Institution
The White Hart Inn (32-34 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU) is often called the city’s oldest pub – reputedly a hostelry on this site since the 1500s, when the Grassmarket was the market square. Wordsworth drank here, and Burns reputedly too. Today it is a CAMRA-listed traditional local with a sunny courtyard and proper ales. Open from 11am every day.
The Beehive Inn For a Fresh Grassmarket Local
The Beehive Inn (18-20 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU) reopened in February 2026 after a £1 million refurbishment. Snug corners and low beams are back, paired with Belhaven beers, outdoor seating and live sport on the screens. A proper neighbourhood local at the foot of the castle.
The Halfway House For CAMRA Pints by Waverley
The Halfway House (24 Fleshmarket Close, EH1 1BX) sits up the steps opposite Waverley station’s Market Street entrance – the city’s original tiny pub. CAMRA members get 50p off a pint of the rotating cask ales. Open from 11am, it is the perfect first stop after the train.
Holyrood 9A For Craft Beer and Burgers
Holyrood 9A (9a Holyrood Road, EH8 8AE) anchors the east end of the Old Town near Holyrood Palace. Brilliant burgers, craft kegs, a sunny terrace and late nights Friday and Saturday.
Also Worth a Look
- Greyfriars Bobby Bar (30-34 Candlemaker Row) – the Nicholson’s pub beside the famous statue; grab a front table for kirkyard views.
- The Hanging Bat (133 Lothian Road) – nano-brewery pouring its own craft beer since 2012, now on the Old Town’s western edge.
- The Guildford Arms (1 West Register Street) – a proper local five minutes from Waverley, just outside the Old Town.
Best Pubs in Edinburgh Old Town: FAQ
What are the best pubs to visit in Edinburgh’s Old Town?
For history, Deacon Brodies Tavern and the World’s End on the Royal Mile. For real ale, the Bow Bar and the Halfway House. For atmosphere, the Banshee Labyrinth off the Cowgate and the White Hart Inn in the Grassmarket. For a rooftop dram, Cold Town House under the castle.
Which is the oldest pub in Edinburgh Old Town?
The White Hart Inn in the Grassmarket is widely considered Edinburgh’s oldest pub, reputedly a hostelry since the 1500s. Deacon Brodies Tavern and the World’s End also occupy historic buildings – the latter forms part of the ancient Flodden Wall.
Where can I drink real ale or craft beer in the Old Town?
The Bow Bar pours real ale from eight traditional air fonts, the Halfway House and Beehive Inn are beloved for their cask ales, and Cold Town House brews its own craft beer under the castle. For the east end, 9A has craft kegs; the Hanging Bat nano-brewery sits on the western edge.
Which Old Town pubs are near Waverley station?
The Halfway House is up the steps directly opposite the Market Street entrance. Brewhemia faces the station across Market Street, and the Guildford Arms is a five-minute walk away.
Which Old Town pubs have a beer garden or outdoor seating?
Cold Town House has the famous rooftop under the castle, the White Hart Inn a sunny Grassmarket courtyard, and the Beehive Inn outdoor tables. The Last Drop spills onto the square in summer, and Monteiths hides a terrace down its fairy-lit close.
Do I need to book a table at Old Town pubs?
For the Devil’s Advocate and the Cold Town House rooftop at weekends, yes. Traditional locals like the White Hart Inn, Beehive Inn and Halfway House take walk-ins, though groups should reserve ahead.
Our Old Town Edinburgh Guides
- The Ultimate Guide to Edinburgh’s Old Town
- 50 Things to Do for All the Family
- Where to Stay in the Old Town
- Old Town Hotels for Every Budget
- Best Old Town Airbnbs incl. Harry Potter Apartment
- Our Fave Old Town Edinburgh Restaurants
- Walking Tours Including History and Harry Potter
- Spooky ghost tours featuring Edinburgh’s Underground
- Every Harry Potter Location Muggles Can’t Miss
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