Good pubs and restaurants in Edinburgh

I'm going to Edinburgh next week to visit some friends and am looking for some great pubs and restaurants that are inexpensive. I"m staying in the Old Town part of the city, so preferably places near there, but I'm willing to venture out, obviously. No places that get very rowdy as I'm travelling with two girls and although I'm sure they would enjoy watching a good fight/brawl, I'm thinking a place less "punched in the face"ish would be more pleasureable. So basically some good, yet inexpensive restaurants and some good pubs to grab a few (or 10) pints and enjoy the night. I'll be there for about 8 days. And budget-wise, well, we're students, so obviously nothing outrageous. Thanks!

Edinburgh pubs reviews.

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Finnegans Wake

#2, Finnegan's Wake is closed following a massive fire in the restaurant next door.

To the OP, you'll find all of what you are looking for around the Grassmarket and Victoria Street in terms of pubs and reasonably priced restaurants. I've been drinking around Edinburgh for the best part of thirty years, and have never seen anyone punched in the face.

There's plenty in the Old Town, but if you have 8 days you'll have time to go to the New Town too... Rose Street would an obvious place to go for pubs and there are some decent restaurants there too. All within walking distance.

First things first, I've lived in Edinburgh for the past 8 years and have yet to witness someone being punched on a night out. No need to worry too much about that. Having said that you'd probably be better off avoiding the Lothian Road area (can be a bit of a meat market). There are loads of really nice pubs down the alleyways off the royal mile.. Proper Scottish ones filled with locals, live folk music etc. Rose street is also good for a night out as is Stockbridge though that is further from the old town (but still walkable). Might be worth a wander up the bridges towards Clerk street too (popular student area). In all these areas you'll find plenty pubs and eating places.
Enjoy the beautiful city.

Edited by: fiona09

I did witness a fight on George Street in the middle of the morning recently - one guy trying to rip another guy's head off, which for George Street in particular is not normal! It didn't take long for a woman to weigh in as well... she turned out not to be a wife or girlfriend, but an off-duty police officer, who promptly arrested one of them and called for back-up to catch the second one :-)

Seriously though, that was not the sort of incident you expect to happen during your morning's shopping, and you're unlikely to find trouble unless you go looking for it.

If youve got an American accent you are guaranteed the punch in the face .

I went to Finnegans Wake with my USA accent and didn't get punched. I met many nice people, including some Germans who had come to Scotland to learn English.

Finnegans Wake is a tacky Irish theme pub. You could walk into identical ones with identical tourist clientele anywhere from Lisbon to Lithuania. Nothing whatever to do with Scottish culture.

thats because you went to the wrong place

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help. I'm leaving tomorrow and just wanted to share some pubs that I enjoyed this past week. I really enjoyed the Scotsman's Lounge on Cockburn St, and the Royal Mile Tavern, Hebrides down below Cockburn St., Mitre on the Royal Mile. Oh and the Queen's Arms in New Town. There were some other good ones I enjoyed as well, but these are probably my favorite but I'm sure there are a hundred more pubs that are great that I haven't been to yet. I did have one bad time at a place called Oliver's on Rose Street I think. I ordered a beer, it was about 3 pounds, I handed him a 5 pound note and he just took it and walked away and never gave me change and everyone kept staring at me like I shouldn't be there, so I had my beer and left, but every other place was great. Maybe I just went to Oliver's at a wrong time or something. If anyone is interested in going to Edinburgh, I highly reccomend it. I wish I wasn't leaving tomorrow. I've already looked into coming back again in a few months.

#7 - i'd punch you

OP Dont forget Leith next time you are back !!! You will see the real Scotland in the bars at the foot of Leith Walk.Enjoy.