Pubs & bars and Outdoor dining
- Nobles Bar
In this re-vamped Victorian bar the kitchen makes expert use of the best local ingredients without taking away the bar atmosphere - Joseph Pearce
A traditional Edinburgh pub transformed into Swedish beer house - Lebowskis
Lebowskis offers you some of the very best food Scotland has! - The Abbotsford
The Abbotsford and Above Abbotsford restaurant - The capital's finest island bar, est. 1902
Bennets of Morningside
1 Maxwell Street,
Edinburgh,
EH10 5FT
Not to be confused with the establishment of the same name located on Leven Street, this Bennets Bar is to be found on Maxwell Street in Morningside. With the same owners as The Cumberland Bar, Bennets is another very traditional pub specialising in…
Cathedral House Hotel
28–32 Cathedral Square,
Glasgow,
G4 0XA
Taking up the ground floor of an ancient-looking building across from the Necropolis and Cathedral, and close to Strathclyde University, it's no surprise that this bright and spacious bar is popular with tourists and students. A mezzanine provides a…
Criterion
568 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6RH
Half old traditional Partick café, half hipster hangout, The Criterion is slightly more bar-oriented than its next door neighbour and sister establishment Velvet Elvis. But it's just as eccentric in terms of fixtures and fittings, with its shelves…
Greenmantle
133 Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9JP
With a scoreboard of their top beers on the wall and poker nights on Sundays, this old-fashioned corner bar’s relatively recent update appears to have taken place with the local student population in mind. The atmosphere is somewhere between shabby-chic…
iso-bar
7 Bernard Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6PW
In a location more useful to locals than those after destination dining and drinking, Leith’s iso-bar has long since deservedly outstripped the era of the style bar with an attention to detail that’s best exemplified by the food. Chef and co-owner Allan…
Lebowskis
18 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8BJ
Considering this lively bar takes its name from a cult American anti-hero, the menu has a distinctly Scottish bent. That’s no bad thing though, especially given the quality – you could easily imagine Jeff Bridges’ character chowing down on some…
Maggie May's
60 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5EP
If you believe the deep-fried Mars bar is an urban myth, proof of its existence can be found at Maggie May’s, an indie/folky music venue and pub with a surprisingly civilised restaurant tucked away at the back of the bar. The crisply battered…
The Pour House
1038–1042 Argyle St,
Glasgow,
G3 8LX
A newcomer to the vibrant Finnieston drag, and reviewed here within days of opening, it’s fair to say the Pour House is still finding its feet. The exterior signage of a large squirrel guzzling from a tap is indicative of the quirky interior, featuring…
Rab Ha's
83 Hutcheson Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1SH
Rab Ha’s is a well-loved and fairly busy Merchant City pub (and small hotel), and over the past 20 years or so its basement restaurant has meandered up and down market, with varying critical and commercial success. Currently it feels like an…
Rick’s
55a Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
A stalwart of Edinburgh’s style bar scene for over a decade, Rick’s is gently re-inventing itself with accessible, casual dining at its heart. The space works well, divided by banquettes and wood panels into lots of cosy nooks and crannies, all…
St Louis Cafe Bar
734 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 7RD
This family-run café-bar originally opened as just a café, but as its evening popularity grew so did its modest menu. The venue is as welcoming as a good friend’s living room with Klimt prints, fairy lights wrapped around pillars and an aged wooden…
Sygn
15 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
Sygn’s geometric print wallpaper, grey fabrics and beech tables create a retro-chic vibe that’s simple yet elegant, proving to George Street’s style bars that you don’t need to be ostentatious to be cool. And if you can resist the temptation to go home…
Three Judges
141 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6PR
From the numerous certificates that decorate the walls of this traditional bar it’s clear that the Three Judges has the deepest respect for real ales. On the day of review they were also received their latest award from CAMRA, the 2012 Scottish cider…
Tonic
34 North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3BN
While first and foremost a cocktail bar, Tonic also manages to produce a small but appetising menu. And although the surroundings might bear more than a passing resemblance to a Polish casino, the food is both tasty and good value. Succulent prawn…
Traverse Bar Café
10 Cambridge Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2ED
As one of Edinburgh’s most popular art hubs, the Traverse Theatre has long been a firm favourite – and the attached café-bar plays its part in that enduring appeal. Families are made welcome day and night, thanks to the café being kid-friendly until…
Whighams Wine Cellars
13 Hope Street, Charlotte Square,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4EL
For almost 30 years, stressed professionals have uncoiled at Whighams. At 6pm on Fridays the shadowy cellar’s nooks are jammed, the restaurant side is heaving and the bar stools are occupied by smart ladies gratefully cradling one of 40 wines by the…
Bar 91
91 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NP
Regularly filled with an eclectic mix of professionals, students and families, Bar 91’s welcoming vibe and contemporary interior see it busy all day. In addition to the usual array of mainstream lagers, there are beers from the nearby West Brewery…
The Bridge Inn
27 Baird Road,
Ratho,
West Lothian,
EH28 8RA
Those familiar with the Bridge Inn at Ratho before its recent renovation, will remember a decent watering hole located partway up the Union Canal. But since its facelift in 2010-11 it’s become even more worth a visit. Not only has the inside undergone a…
Church on the Hill
16 Algie Street,
Glasgow,
G41 3DJ
For someone who’s never seen it before, the Church on the Hill is pretty stunning – a refurbished church that looks like the Parthenon in Greece, facing on to Queen’s Park. It really is a lovely venue, and very popular with a cross-section of…
Duck's at Kilspindie House
Kilspindie House, Main Street,
Aberlady,
East Lothian,
EH32 0RE
Tiring of the city restaurant scene a few years ago, Malcolm Duck upped sticks from Edinburgh's New Town and moved his business operation out to tranquil Aberlady in East Lothian. There he took over Kilspindie House and set about transforming it from a…
The Hudson Hotel
7–11 Hope Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4EL
On first appearance there is very little to lift the Hudson out of that popular subcategory of pub that should perhaps be termed 'elegant Edinburgh bars that also serve food'. Like so many it is a haven of shining dark wood, subtle lighting and leather.
