Pubs & bars and Outdoor dining
- Tempus
Our concept is quite simple: fresh, local, uncomplicated and delicious food - El Bar
Edinburgh's only dedicated flamenco Spanish tapas bar! - Moskito
Moskito is a laid-back bar with an extensive drinks list as well as great food - Whighams Wine Cellars
Whighams is one of Edinburgh's leading wine bars and restaurants
Pivo Pivo
15 Waterloo Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6AY
Pivo Pivo was one of Glasgow's first pubs to serve an extensive range of world beers - from Argentinian Quilmes to Kirin from Japan - and still largely trades on punters' tourism. Located right beside Central Station, its small bar area lies at the foot…
The Sheep Heid
43–45 The Causeway, Duddingston,
Edinburgh,
EH15 3QA
Stranded on the shores of Duddingston Loch, the venerable Sheep Heid Inn (which holds a solid claim to be the oldest pub in Scotland) is a well-known spot long popular with footsore travellers escaping from the city. Entering the whitewashed stone…
The Basement Bar and Restaurant
10–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
Situated below street level, this bar looks like the sort of place American sitcom characters would head for after a hard day’s mirth-making, thanks to the obligatory neon sign, mustard-coloured walls and staff dressed in Hawaiian shirts. It could be…
Home
80 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
The decoration at this city centre hang-out is indeed a bit like home – if you happen to live somewhere that’s the ‘before’ part of a makeover. The furniture is a random mixture of leather booths (some with ripped seats), squashy sofas and gaudy chairs…
Dalriada
77 Promenade, Portobello,
Edinburgh,
EH15 2EL
Situated in an imposing building at the Joppa end of the Portobello Promenade, Dalriada is a fantastic bar-cum-café that's just perfect for an afternoon coffee and cake while you watch the waves roll in, or an evening drink as the sun sets over the…
The Holyrood 9A
9a Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8AE
If you can’t remember your last really great burger, head to Holyrood Road to have your faith in the patty renewed. Savouries are split between ‘one’ and ‘two handers’ – the former being edible with a fork while chatting, the latter needing both hands…
The Granary
32–34 The Shore, Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
This split-level restaurant and bar is well positioned on the Shore with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and views of the Water of Leith. With its seductive brown leather sofas, dark wood floors, rugs and realistic-looking gas-powered fires, you’ll…
Chinaski's
239 North Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7DL
Named after a Charles Bukowski alter ego, Chinaski’s maintains its underground roots by eschewing any signage on the exterior in an effort to deter large groups of rowdy drinkers from nearby Sauchiehall Street. During daylight hours the bar is bright…
El Barrio
47 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PJ
El Barrio is a thriving Latino Bar & Club serving up delightful cocktails in the evenings with fiestas on the dance floor every night of the week! That's how we Mambo!
The Rio Café
27 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5QF
The Rio Café’s 1950s diner-style décor and vibe has made it something of an institution in Glasgow’s West End, and it’s menu offers up tempting options whether you’re in for breakfast, lunch, or just a snack. The burgers come large and tasty, and even a…
Babbity Bowster
16–18 Blackfriars Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1PE
Located in an old tobacco merchant’s house on the periphery of the Merchant City, Babbity Bowster is a pleasantly secluded place for a drink and some good food, particularly in the beer garden if the sun is shining on this evocative street. Babbity…
Cruz Bar and Restaurant
14 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
A First World War minesweeper boat anchored right at the heart of Leith’s bustling Shore district, Cruz has to be among the most distinctive drinking venues in Edinburgh. A popular watering hole with the area’s young party crowd, Cruz serves up an…
City Café
19 Blair Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QR
Pull up your pop socks and pick a song for the juke box: the City Café is your Grease-shaped American diner. Its red banquettes are just right for a short lie down after eating more than your fill of the great BBQ sharing platter, with sticky pork ribs…
Indigo Yard
7 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
While not as conspicuously trendy as some of its West End neighbours, Indigo Yard’s exposed walls and unusual shape create a cosy, cave-like feel – although at weekends it can be cramped. It’s a popular spot for a tipple, with 15 beers on tap, another…
The Kilderkin
67 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8BT
With a name like this (it’s a unit of measuring ale equivalent to two firkins or half a barrel) it’s no surprise to find that Kilderkin is serious about its alcohol. Under the co-ownership of James Nisbet, also of Leith Walk’s Windsor Buffet and…
The Captain's
185 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9EB
Sitting atop of one of the West End’s best known live music venues, the Captain’s Rest is a popular destination for the area's music lovers. Serving up wholesome, hearty pub fare, the bar constantly provides a source of live entertainment, from quizzes…
Joseph Pearce’s
23 Elm Row,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AA
Pearce's huge popularity is testament to the warm and genuine welcome it extends to a diverse clientele. During the day a raised area to the back is a family-friendly haven, stocked with all the toys, highchairs and feeding paraphernalia that junior…
Malone's Irish Bar
14 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QN
Malone's Irish Bar certainly can’t be accused of misrepresenting itself. Owned and run by natives of the Emerald Isle, the cavernous property oozes Irishness from its street-level entrance area, the large central room with tables for dining and large…
The Street
2 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
With its Coronation Street-aping sign, its dual-aspect floor to ceiling windows and the big iron ramp which stretches almost the length of the bar and back, the Street is a landmark pub in the Broughton/Picardy Place area. Its main business is a more…
The Bank Café Bar
443 Clarkston Road,
Glasgow,
G44 3LL
The Maclay Inns group, five of whose premises are featured in this section, tend to choose interesting buildings for their ventures that add a nice bit of character. In the case of The Bank it is, indeed, a former bank, now popular residential café/bar…
Bar Soba
116–122 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8TB
The sister venue to the Mitchell Street venue of the same name, Soba opened on Byres Road in early 2012 and is described as a ‘Bar & Noodle Kitchen’. The bar aspect means that Soba offers a great selection of cocktails. They may not be cheap but…
Biblos
1 Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HU
With a name that means ‘book’ it is hardly surprising Biblos has gone for the decadent library theme. Leather Chesterfield sofas, wingback chairs and dark wood abound, and, in case the point still hasn’t hit home, they even have small pictures of famous…
The Living Room
150 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5NE
Weekends at this popular bar and diner feature live music and even a regular magician – helping to create a lively infectious buzz that is easy to get caught up in. Couples and groups are seated in leather booths, helping to break up the restaurant…
The Waverley Tea Room
18 Moss Side Road,
Glasgow,
G41 3TN
This is perhaps the best of the G1 Group’s Southside outposts, as popular with early-rising families for its coffee and kids' play area as it is with evening revellers for its late licence, strong choice of beers and ten wines by the glass. It’s also…
The Art School
The Beresford Building, 468 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3LW
While The Glasgow School of Art is renovated, the union has made its home here in the Beresford building. It’s suitably scruffed up –- creative doodles on the wall, candle-lit tables, and lots of students (though all are welcome). There’s a friendly…
Big Slope
36a Kelvingrove Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7SA
It would be interesting to know how many folk come into Big Slope for a drink, but end up having something to eat. That's what makes a good bar food menu: perched on the table, teasing and appetising. Here we have pub favourites with lovely twists…
El Bar
6–8 Howden Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9LH
Little L-shaped El Bar is the tapas bar and restaurant of Scotland’s only dedicated Flamenco school and studio, Alba Flamenca. It’s an unusual set-up, but one that’s won plenty of fans since its inception in 2008. Diners hoping for intimacy here might…
Kudos Bar Restaurant
29 Waterloo Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6BZ
Situated in a prime spot close to Central Station and the financial district, Kudos is the ideal venue for office staff looking for a quick pit-stop at lunchtime. The bar’s express lunch menu, containing favourites such as battered haddock and macaroni…
Kyloe Restaurant & Grill
The Rutland Hotel, 1–3 Rutland Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2AE
Kyloe, previously the Restaurant at the Rutland, has been reborn as a place for all things beef. Occupying a grand, first floor space, it’s decked out with cowhide booths and other bovine-themed furnishings. The playful interior, however, belies a…
Moskito
200 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4HG
The ambient beats and distinctive green-turquoise hue of Moskito have been with us for more than a decade now, making it the elder statesman of Bath Street. Like its neighbouring bars, the location’s great for workers from the nearby offices, as well as…
Nobles Bar
44a Constitution Street, Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RS
Nobles is fast becoming one of the most popular bars in Leith. With its large, colourful stained-glass windows and original Victorian features lovingly restored this is a classic pub of the highest quality. This attention to detail extends to the food…
Offshore
3/5 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NU
It’s impossible not to mention the view from Offshore. Large windows looking out onto Gibson Street and onto the beginnings of Kelvingrove Park give the café a laid-back feel that makes it the perfect haven for anybody looking to chill out and watch the…
Revolution
30a Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HU
In the heart of Edinburgh University’s busy student zone in Chamber Street you will find what years ago was the Edinburgh Dental Hospital. Today there are happier reasons for opening your mouth wide and more sociable anaesthetics. Revolution, the 60+ UK…
Barioja
15-19 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
Barioja has been dishing out its albondigas for over a decade, so could be considered a pioneer of the still relatively youthful Edinburgh tapas scene. Sitting alongside its big sister restaurant, Iggs, it’s seen competition come and go over the years…
The Big Blue
445 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8HH
A perennial student favourite and something of a West End institution, the Big Blue endures in its picturesque location by the Kelvin. Portions are hearty enough to satisfy diners with big appetites. The fried calamari with lemon is a tasty starter and…
Dukes Bar
41 Old Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G3 8RD
Newly opened in 2011, refurbished by the same crew that fitted Epicures and BrewDog, Dukes Bar could easily win awards on style alone. There’s a pleasing reclaimed chic with exposed brickwork and vintage tiling, the booths being particularly well…
Earl of Marchmont
22 Marchmont Crescent,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1HG
Much like its Canongate sister the White Horse, the Earl is a grand mixture of classic Edinburgh local and funked-up eclectic touches. The crowd is a hotch-potch of students, cheery thirty-somethings and a clutch of venerable regulars decorating the…
The Garvald Inn
Main Street, Garvald,
by Haddington,
East Lothian,
EH41 4LN
A real community hub, Peter McQuade's bar-restaurant hosts a steady stream of regulars serving a mix of modern pub staples such as fish and chips, popular Sunday roasts and hearty but not heavy finer dining.
Red Lizard
51 Bell Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NX
On a corner site in the heart of the Merchant City, Red Lizard aims to combine different bar styles. From the drawing room-style drapes at the large windows and chunky leather chesterfields clustered in corners, to the tiger skin above the red-flock…
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…
All Bar One
62–72 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5TS
With floor-to-ceiling windows on the corner of St Vincent and West Nile streets, All Bar One is well placed to watch the world go by over a drink or a bite. Such is its bustling nature, however, it seems as if few people have time to linger at its…
Bier Halle
9 Gordon Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3PL
When the Bier Halle opened 13 years ago, lager enthusiasts embraced its ‘authentic German beer hall’ layout and menu of over 60 beers. Who would have anticipated that it would have pioneered a two-for-one pizza revolution that has now reached seemingly…
Bar Bloc+
117 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2SZ
From the mural of Brezhnev and Honecker kissing that greets you upon entrance to the imposing wooden benches one must then clamber into, Bloc is anything but subtle. And nor should it be, with live entertainment and a late licence all week. Its…
Booly Mardy's
28 Vinicombe Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8BE
Attracting the West End’s young professionals is a tough task thanks to the multitude of slick bars in the area, but Booly Mardys appears to have cracked the formula. Teeming with patrons at the weekends, the bar prides itself on the quality of its…
The Brass Monkey
14 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TU
Drummond Street’s long-established original branch of the Brass Monkey is a bar with a mainly studenty crowd and a bunk-seated cinema in the back room showing classic films at 3pm every day. It now has a sister venue on Leith Walk with its own big…
Ecco Vino
19 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BP
This understated, grown-up wine bar has been calmly getting it right for over a decade. The bottles that line the walls are laid out intuitively in the wine list, and there’s a reassuringly generous hand with the advice and the tasting glasses if you’re…
The Espy
62–64 Bath Street, Portobello,
Edinburgh,
EH15 1HF
It might officially be the Esplanade, but ‘The Espy’ – ideally delivered with an Antipodean twang – as it's better known, suits this laid-back beach bar better. With friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere it proves there’s more to Portobello than…
Favorit
19–20 Teviot Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QZ
Favorit is a late night diner for the young and hip and – most importantly – for those with the munchies. Black and white chequered tiles, retro tables and benches and a large, red neon Favorit sign set the scene. All that's missing is Pulp Fiction's…
