Edinburgh’s Old Town is a maze of historic streets, closes and stone-built landmarks centred on the Royal Mile. Its pubs range from traditional alehouses to intimate folk-music bars, making the area a rewarding place to stop for a drink after a day of sightseeing. These six characterful pubs in and around the Old Town are all within a compact, walkable area.
Getting There
Guests staying with Ben Cruachan can reach these Old Town pubs easily from both accommodation locations.
From Ben Cruachan Guest House and Ben Cruachan Rooms & Studios, McDonald Road: Walk to the McDonald Road tram stop and take an airport-bound tram to St Andrew Square. From there, walk across North Bridge towards the Royal Mile. Allow around 20 to 30 minutes in total, depending on which pub you visit.
From Caledonian Apartments, Caledonian Crescent: Walk to Haymarket tram stop, take a Newhaven-bound tram to Princes Street, then walk up The Mound towards the Lawnmarket and Royal Mile. For pubs around Grassmarket or Forrest Road, walking directly may be just as convenient.
All six pubs are in a compact central area and are easiest to explore on foot once you arrive. Check live tram information before setting out.
Pubs & Bars
The Mitre Bar: A traditional Royal Mile pub serving cask ales and familiar British pub dishes.
Sandy Bell’s: One of Edinburgh’s best-known traditional bars, with daily folk sessions, cask ales and malt whiskies.
Captain’s Bar: A small, characterful bar known for intimate, unamplified folk sessions.
The Royal Oak: A long-established folk pub known for frequent informal music sessions and its downstairs Wee Folk Club.
The Jolly Judge: A cosy independent pub tucked down James Court, just off the Royal Mile.
The Ensign Ewart: A historic Royal Mile whisky bar with an extensive changing selection and regular evening folk music.
Image credits: Grassmarket pubs by Reinhold Möller (Ermell), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Ensign Ewart sign by Oast House Archive, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Both images have been cropped and resized.