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Best bars in and around Leith

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Best bars in and around Leith

David Pollock suggests the finest locations for a festival beverage, or two

Leith’s four popular, Swedish-owned bars are a pub-crawl in themselves. Starting off at the very top of Leith Walk there’s Joseph Pearce’s (23 Elm Row, 0131 556 4140), which serves full meals through the day. Halfway down the Walk and separated by only a block are Victoria (265 Leith Walk, 0131 555 1638) and Boda (229 Leith Walk, 0131 553 5900), both of which offer inventive drinks and nibbles menus in stylish surroundings, while down by the Shore Sofi’s (65 Henderson Street, 0131 555 7019) is a popular neighbourhood haunt with themed event nights every week. (See www.bodabar.com for information on all four bars).

These are highlights, but not all the area has to offer. The Roseleaf (23/24 Sandport Place, 0131 476 5268, www.roseleaf.co.uk) is a wonderful pub overflowing with character, which serves very good food and cocktails in china tea sets, while the large Bond No.9 (84 Commercial Street, 0131 555 5578, www.bondno9.co.uk) fills as much space as it can with possibly the best spirit bar you’ll find in Edinburgh. The Pond’s (2-4 Bath Road, 0131 467 3825) warm welcome and large beer garden makes it a destination for drinkers from all over town, and The Village (16 South Fort Street, 0131 478 7810, www.bevillage.com) is a pleasant local bar with regular folk gigs in its back room.

Honourable mentions also go to the stylish iso-bar (7 Bernard Street, 0131 467 8904), Guilty Lily (284 Bonnington Road, 0131 554 5824, www.guiltylily.com) for the food and service, and the recently opened, cycling themed Tourmalet (25 Buchanan Street), while the team from the city’s excellent Blue Blazer has only just taken over the lease at the Windsor Buffet (45 Elm Row, 0131 556 4558).

More: Days out, Life & style, Food & drink (Life & style), Live it (Life & style), bars, Best Bars, Blue Blazer, Boda, Bond No.9, Guilty Lily, iso-bar, Joseph Pearce's, Roseleaf, Sofi’s, The Pond, The Village, Tourmalet, Victoria, Windsor Buffet

Boda Bar
229 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 8NY
One of the quartet of Swedish-run pubs spread across Leith, Boda is the original branch and, like the others, it’s a classy local that works hard but makes it look effortless. Among the bright corner bar’s unique selling points are a range of cocktails…
The Pond
2–-4 Bath Road, Edinburgh, EH6 7JT
One of Leith’s more fashionable drinking dens, the Pond goes out of its way to widen its appeal to almost everyone who visits. And that includes the outdoor types who appreciate the ornamental animals decorating the bar’s interior, alongside its fish…
Sofi's
65 Henderson Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6ED
One quarter of a small chain of Leith pubs (which also includes Joseph Pearce’s, Boda Bar and Victoria), Sofi’s has much in common with its nearby siblings. A particular similarity can be found in the bar’s quirky detailing, with carefully mismatched…
The Tourmalet
25 Buchanan Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8SQ
On a corner a few yards off Leith Walk, the Tourmalet is less renowned than some of the area’s more well-known pubs, but that doesn’t hinder it from being one of the finest locals in Leith. Established in 2009 by Murray McKean, the founder and former…
Victoria
265 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 8PD
Like the other Swedish-run bars in Leith, Victoria is both refreshingly familiar and determined to assert its own individuality. Their drinks range is classy and well-chosen, including beers from at least thirty-five different countries and their…
Windsor Buffet
45 Elm Row, Edinburgh, EH7 4AH
The Windsor Buffet, a short stroll from the city centre, is an unpretentious bar that works hard to serve its loyal customers. Nevertheless, it is also striving to appeal to a wider audience, with events such as its ‘booze school’ tastings which are…

Comments

1. Hellsbells90@hotmail.com, Glasgow – 5 July 2010, 3:17pmReport

If you're planning a trip to Leith then lets not forget The Vaults on Giles Street, home to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Think leather sofas, dark red walls and fires (along with hundreds of different SMWS whiskies to try). You do have to be a member to use their members rooms, but if you can't get signed in by a member then member for a day passes are available to buy at reception. And if you do decide to join, they'll give you the price of the pass back.

And of course The Port O' Leith, a colourful night is garaunteed!

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