Bar & pub food within 5 miles of Edinburgh

This unprepossessing little back-street boozer will likely never escape its literary association with Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus, its favourite fictional regular, but that doesn’t work to its detriment. In fact there’s probably a certain sport to…

The flagship venue of the Montpelier Group, Tigerlily is boutique hotel, bar, restaurant and club rolled into one. Its lavishly styled and maze-like interior includes internal courtyards (where smoking is permitted), private booths and a number of nooks…

Formerly known as the Bad Ass Bistro, this Rose Street pub has a dusky but snug interior, with walls peopled with iconic photos of the twentieth century’s good and great, making for a slightly clichéd yet classic pub vibe. Although 1780 seems to be in…

Red Squirrel follows a recipe of premium burgers and beer similar to its older sibling Holyrood 9a – indeed the menus at both bars are practically identical. Substantial burgers, including three vegetarian versions, dominate the menu and provide a…

An Edinburgh cultural institution, this independent cinema gem incorporates a popular cafe-bar, which enjoys the pleasant ebb and flow of cineastes, or those just out for a quick bite with friends or colleagues. Fast-moving and often busy, this is…

‘The Vinnie’ has built a loyal following over the years, drawn by a cosy atmosphere, an array of draft ales supplemented by a guest option, an equally impressive range of bottled beers, and a wide choice of spirits. While some drinkers prefer to stand…

This bistro bar on the edge of the Meadows has carved a niche between formal dining and local pub grub. It attracts a pre-theatre crowd with the King's near-by, lunchtime couples, those seeking brunch at week-ends, late-night drinkers and many in…

Recently taken over and in the midst of a gradual improvement process at time of writing, the Cambridge lives somewhat in the shadow of its more famed counterpart the Oxford along the road, simply by dint of not being mentioned in a best-selling crime…

Prepare to be swept away by one of the best looking bars in Leith – and it's got stiff competition – because Compass is designed for dramatic effect, with two rooms opened out into one high-ceilinged corner unit, with blood-red walls, a bit of foliage…

A classic New Town pub, small and unimposing next to the grand tenements around it but filled with a diverse clientele from all walks of life, Kay’s has recently come under the ownership of the old bar manager following the former owner’s retirement. A…

You don’t have to be a massive fan of the Coen Brothers’ 1998 movie to enjoy Lebowskis, but it can’t hinder the experience. The White Russians are dedicated to characters (The Maude, The Jeffrey) and key objects (The Toe) in The Big Lebowski with a film…

The Links Hotel, nestled by the Meadows park to the south-west of Edinburgh city centre, is situated in the leafy haven of Bruntsfield and is within walking distance of Edinburgh Castle and the vibrant shopping precinct of Princes Street. Emerging…

If you are a lover of both wine and jazz, then Whighams has pretty much got it covered. Their Sunday-night jams and monthly wine-tasting events are in with the West End bricks, occasions suitably enhanced by the bar’s candlelit cellar atmosphere. The…

If you were ever in any doubt that this is a Scottish bar, a warm greeting from a rugged gent in a rugby-style shirt awaits. Surroundings are of a distinctly rustic and wooden nature while a piano sits desperately wanting to be played, all of which…