Monteith’s is a restaurant and bar tucked into the Old Town, and the reason it makes any Potter list at all is a single drink: the Hot Buttered Beer, a warmed, spiced take that’s about as close as Edinburgh gets to a real-world butterbeer. It’s not marketed as an official Potter tie-in, and there’s no wider theming through the venue, but for anyone chasing the drink specifically, this is the order to know.
It works well as a low-key alternative to the fully immersive bars elsewhere on this list — no costumes, no booked sessions, just a warming drink that fits the theme on a cold Edinburgh evening.
Location & Nearby
Monteith’s sits in the Old Town close to the Royal Mile, within easy reach of St Giles’ Cathedral and the City Chambers, where J.K. Rowling’s confirmed handprints are set into the courtyard. It’s a natural stop to combine with a Royal Mile walk, and close enough to the Old Town Potter cluster to add on without a significant detour.
The Hot Buttered Beer
The drink itself is served warm, spiced and rich rather than as a cold soda-style butterbeer some visitors might expect from theme park versions — closer to a spiked hot toddy than a novelty drink, which suits Monteith’s setting as a proper restaurant and bar rather than a themed attraction. It’s a seasonal favourite in colder months, when a hot, buttery drink makes the most sense after a day spent outdoors around the Old Town sites.
Who It Suits
Good for visitors who want a genuine sit-down meal with one themed drink attached, rather than a fully costumed experience — pair it with a Royal Mile day that includes J.K. Rowling’s Handprints nearby. If you want the full immersive show instead, book The Cauldron.
Practical Tips
- Order the Hot Buttered Beer specifically — it’s not always prominently listed on the main menu
- Best enjoyed in colder months, given it’s served hot
- Works well combined with a Royal Mile walk toward the City Chambers and St Giles’ Cathedral
- No booking required for the drink alone, though a full meal may need a reservation at busy times
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you get a real butterbeer-style drink in Edinburgh?
Monteith’s in the Old Town serves a Hot Buttered Beer, a warmed, spiced drink that’s the closest equivalent to butterbeer in the city, though it isn’t an official Harry Potter tie-in.
Is Monteith’s a Harry Potter themed venue?
No, it’s a standard Old Town restaurant and bar. Only the Hot Buttered Beer drink has a Potter-style connection, rather than the venue itself.
