Edinburgh has been drinking on the record since the 1300s. One pilgrimage stop, then the Old Town closes in: oysters, a hanged deacon, fiddles, and a judge with low ceilings.
- 1 · The Cold Open
The Sheep Heid Inn
Pouring since around 1360, which outranks nearly every institution in Britain including several monarchies. Skittle alley out back, roast in the snug, Duddingston village quiet outside. Cab there, walk off the roast around Arthur's Seat if you have the constitution.
est. c.1360 · lunch pilgrimage · verified Jul 2026
- 2 · The Detour
Café Royal
Victorian tiles, Doulton portraits, oysters at the island bar under a ceiling that takes itself seriously. Order a half dozen and a half pint. The word for this is civilised.
est. 1863 · afternoon · verified Jul 2026
- 3 · The Anchor
Deacon Brodie's Tavern
Named for the cabinet-maker by day, burglar by night, who inspired Jekyll and Hyde and was hanged on a gallows he allegedly helped design. Eat the pie upstairs and consider your own double life. The Royal Mile will wait.
est. 1806 · dinner · verified Jul 2026
- 4 · The Wildcard
Sandy Bell's
A folk session most nights since forever: fiddles materialize, the room decides the setlist, and the whisky shelf carries everything worth arguing about. Stand where you are told and buy the fiddler a dram.
the session · night · verified Jul 2026
- 5 · The Last Call
The Jolly Judge
Down a close off the Lawnmarket, ceilings painted in 1682, and a name this route was always going to end under. A final malt by the fire, m'lud. Sentence served. The Old Town's beds are two closes away.
17th-century ceilings · last orders · verified Jul 2026