Edinburgh is a large city with many pubs spread over different areas of the town. Rose Street is a very popular drinking trail so I have ignored it and have introduced nine other pub trails based in Edinburgh. There is a short one viewing pubs at the Grassmarket (red icons) and two slightly longer (or one very long) starting at Haymarket station towards Lothian Rd (green icons) or Princes Street to Haymarket (yellow icons) taking in pubs in the West End and Lothian Road triangle.

All of the pubs are highlighted on the map below.

Now added is a trail, Around Bread St (blue icons) linking West End trails to The Grassmarket Trail and a trail going Beyond The Grassmarket (purple icons) and finally The Royal Mile (brown icons).

There are also trails in The Cowgate (dark blue icons), heading to The Southside (orange icons) and Around Waverley Station (light Blue Icons)

 Start at Ryries which is found right outside the station. Across from that on the junction is The Haymarket. Walk up the road on the right side of the Haymarket pub, called Morrision St, and find The Jolly Botanist (was The Spider's Web), while further up on the corner is Diane's Pool Hall. Continue up Morrison St and crossover to Monty’s (was Carters Bar). Cross back over and slightly further up is Thompsons Bar.

There is now a little walk passed the Edinburgh International Conference Centre until almost at Lothian Road (recognised by being extremely busy) where there is Lebowskis now closed (try Henry’s Cellar Bar), just before the corner.

Turn left down Lothian Road and cross over to visit Innes & Gunn Tap, then cross back over to the square in front of the Sheraton Hotel there is All Bar One in the far-right corner. Leaving here cross the road to Shakespears on the corner beside the Usher Hall. Opposite this is BrewDog and further down The Caley Picture House (Wetherspoon’s). Then further down from this is The Red Squirrel.

After these bars continuing down Lothian Rd to Princes St there are five bars at the junction of the five roads found here where Princes Street (see start of trail 1 - Edinburgh West End)

 Ryries bar is just outside Haymarket station.

An entry in "Scotland's True Heritage Pubs" HISTORY

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024, 2025

Have one here

real ale      : Orkney Best  (Swanney);  You Shall Not Pass  (Loch Lomond); Man O’Hoy (Orkney); Hurricane Jack (Fyne Ales);  Landlord;  Dark Island (Orkney)

heavy/pale ale: Preserve;  Local Motive ;  Session IPA (Stewart);  Happy Chappy (Cromatory);  Caledonia Best

 Lager: Leith Pils;  Staroperaman;   Estrella;  Tennent’s

 cider   : Strongbow                                                 Guinness

 The Haymarket is a large pub set on the apex of a Y-junction which gives it a more interesting shape inside. It is a Nicolson's pub - one of 7 in the city. There is a lot of room in it but it can be crowded at the bar. 12 pumps of real ale were available. There is more seating upstairs

Regular in Good beer Guide, including 2023

Have two here

real ale    : Deuchers,  Nicolson’s PA, Doom bar, Hummingbird, Bell 80,  Fat Sprat (Adnams),  Two Tides (Sharp’s), Timothy Taylor Dark Mild

heavy       : John Smith, McEwan's 70/-

lager         : Tennent’s;  Peroni, Carling;  Urquell

cider         : Aspall                                                Guinness

The Jolly Botanist (formerly The Spider's Web)

Have a pint here

Real ale:   Deuchers

Heavy;     Coast To Coast;  Peculiar IPA

Lager:    Heineken,   Birra Moretti,   Affligem,  Amstel ; 3 Hop Lager

Cider:    Symonds           Guinness

Diane's Pool Hall now called Malone’s had cheap pool, cheap beer and a largely male bias. Loud customers, loud juke box, lots of TVs

Have a half pint here

real ale    : nil

heavy        :Caledonia Best

lager         :Tennent's, Stella, Carling

cider         :Magners

Monty's (formerly called Carters Bar) is a small intimate bar.  Squashed seating either side of staircase leading to balcony over the bar.

Have a pint here

real ale    : Devil's Advocate (Caledonian), October Zest

heavy        :Belhaven Best

lager         :Kirin Ichiban, Stella, Red Stripe;  Tennent's

cider         : Strongbow                                                  Guinness

Thompson's has two entrances to a one roomed bar. Wood dominates not just behind the bar but around the doors as well. Tables around the sides but plenty of standing room. Real ale is not luxury good. Loud and chatty.

Real Ale guide (CAMRA) regular 2022 last

Featured in Bob Steel's Edinburgh Pub Walks - books

Have one or two here

real ale    : London Pride, Jarl,Bitter & Twisted, Tyneside Blonde

heavy        : MeEwan 80/-; Belhaven Best

lager         :Tennent's

cider         : Strongbow                                                  Guinness

Lebowskis  has a bar to the left with lots of standing room and some tall tables. Further to the right is a lot more seating. Outside decking to watch the traffic from.

Unfortunately closed down. Greene King say hope new premises opens soon https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/legendary-edinburgh-theme-bar-closes-22082133 . Meanwhile there is Henry’s Cellar Bar still operating down below it.

Have a half pint here

real ale    : Deuchers

heavy       : Belhaven Best,

lager         :Carling, Coors, Grolsch, San Miguel, Heineken

cider         : Addlestone                                           Guinness

Innes & Gunn Brewery Tap is a bar diner by Innes and Gunn has stools and shelve looking out of the windows either side of the door. Up a step or two is a long metal bar counter on the left-hand side. Opposite this is booth seating. Food offered all day. Some outside seating on pavement

Real Ale:      Jarl (Fyne Ales); Landlord;  Pilot Stout; Edinburgh Pale Ale (Edinburgh)

Craft:            Lagunitas IPA (Lagunitas Brewing, USA); Innes & Gunn Toasted Oak;  Innes & Gunn Original; Camden (Camden)

Lager:          Innes & Gunn Lager;  Camden (Camden)

Cider:          Thistly Cross (real)

All Bar One is a large modern barn. Bar straight in front with large standing area. Seating to either side and outside.

Have half pint here

real ale     : Natural Blonde (Harviston)       Ruthaus Wheat Beer

lager         : Esterella,Tennents, Stella, Peroni, Grolsch, Amstel; Heiniken, Pilsner Urquell

 cider        :Aspall                                                

Shakespeares is a corner pub, its frontage is short but it goes back a fair bit and has outside seating down the side where it faces the Usher Hall.  A long pub that was probably two separate rooms at some point. This still splits into two serving areas. The rear area has 12 foot screen for sports. Food served all day

Have a pint here

real ale    :  Luck of The Irish (Stonehenge); Drop Kick (Caledonian);  Greene King IPA;  Butcombe Haka;  Extra Pale Ale (Nottingham)

Craft:         Punk IPA; Dead Pony Club; Bitter & Twisted, Schielhallion;  4 West

heavy       : Belhaven Best

lager         :Peroni;  Heineken, Stella, St Mungo

cider         : Symond's Founders                                          Guinness

Red Squirrel is bar/cafe diner on Lothian Road with small tables and some bar stools. Attractively presented it has beer fonts coming out of back wall (which is being copied a lot). Excellent Burger Food served all day

Have one here

real ale     : Jarl, Cock of the Walk,

heavy        : Belhaven Best, Joker IPA, Hardcore Pale Ale,   Innis & Gunn

lager         :Black Isle Organic, San Miguel, Urquell, St Mungos,    Peroni, Tennent’s, Blue Moon, Weihenstephen

 cider        : Aspall                                  Guinness,    Black Ball Stout