The top drinking venues in the Scottish capital have been crowned.
Edinburgh’s top pubs have been named(Image: Callum Moffat / Sunday Mail)
The “best pubs” in Edinburgh have been named, with well-loved drinking venues singled out on a new list published by The Times.
Edinburgh is known across the UK and beyond for its historic pubs. The Scottish capital is home to bars that date back hundreds of years.
On Thursday, July 24, The Times shared a roundup of eight of the top pubs across the city. Beloved and renowned venues from all over Edinburgh were included.
Coming in at number one on The Times’ list is Café Royal. The Victorian bar is situated on West Register Street, just off of the city’s iconic Princes Street.
Café Royal is a grand bar and oyster restaurant that is renowned for its real ales and fresh seafood. The pub dates back to 1893, and features opulent Victorian interiors.
Visitors to Café Royal can enjoy a curated selection of beers and continental lagers, as well as various wines, spirits, and cocktails. In terms of food, the pub offers up dishes such as fish and chips, steak, and Cullen skink.
Café Royal topped The Times’ list(Image: Callum Moffat / Sunday Mail)
The Times wrote: “Victorian gin palaces were often considered gaudy and brash, especially by those who thought they were too good to drink in them. Really they were intended as palatial spaces that made for a heightened drinking experience but would still feel welcoming to casual visitors. The Café Royal, built in 1863, pulls off that difficult feat.
“The oval central bar evokes top Manhattan hotels, but images of notable Scottish historical figures in stained glass and tall paintings never let you forget you’re in Edinburgh. I’m not sure anywhere else could achieve this balance of grandeur and approachability.”
Meanwhile following behind at number two on the newspaper’s roundup is The Royal Dick. The pub is located within the courtyard of Edinburgh’s multi-arts venue Summerhall.
The Royal Dick was once Edinburgh’s vet school, with many nods to its heritage inside. Featuring one of Edinburgh’s biggest beer gardens, the venue is a popular spot to enjoy some food or drink before or after a show at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
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The newspaper stated: “Theatre cafés are rarely memorable but the Dick, while being clean and modern, also pays homage to its history, with animal bones and lab apparatus among the many interesting specimens and artefacts around walls. A relaxed yet stimulating place, it is of course six deep at the bar during the festival.
“But it’s worth timing a visit for when the show before the one you’re planning to see has just started.”
Elsewhere, coming in at number three on The Times’ list is The Abbotsford. The pub is located on Rose Street in the centre of the city.
The Abbotsford placed at number three on the roundup(Image: Callum Moffat / Daily Record)
The Abbotsford is known for its lavish decoration and original island bar carved from Spanish mahogany. The Edwardian venue is home to both a pub and restaurant, the latter of which serves up traditional dishes such as haggis, neeps and tatties and steak and ale pie.
The Times singled out The Abbotsford for its whisky selection and “beautifully corniced ceiling”. The newspaper recommended that visitors follow the “local tradition” of ordering a dram and a half-pint at the bar.
The full list of “eight of the best pubs in Edinburgh” can be found on The Times website.