The Old Town

Quintessential Edinburgh, in that it’s hilly, cobbled, a bit dank, and full of ‘character’. There are many places to eat and drink around the subterranean Fringe venues in the Old Town

Words: Peter Simpson

The City Cafe

If you’ve ever dreamt of going to an American diner in the 1950s, well... you can’t. Sorry. Luckily, The City Cafe is a pretty good alternative, with its chessboard floor and leather and chrome booths.

19 Blair St, @thecitycafe

Civerinos

The vibe is great; all flypostered walls and marble statues. The pizza is great: sourdough base, brilliant toppings, and big enough to fuel even the busiest flyerer.

5 Hunter Sq, @civerinos

Cold Town House

Bannermans

The back room of Bannermans is one of the favourite haunts of the city’s rockers, but the main bar is more laidback. A good-value, roomy haunt right in the centre of town.

202 Cowgate, @Bannermans

Banshee Labyrinth

If a dive bar were designed by a crypt-keeper, it would look like Banshee Labyrinth. Endless caves, copious hiding places and free-flowing drinks.

29 Niddry St, @banshee_labyrinth

The Bow Bar

One of the best pubs in the Old Town, head to the Bow for an impressive range of draught beer and whiskies, all in an extremely woody environment. 80 W Bow, @the_bow_bar_edinburgh

Chop House

If the Fringe is getting you down, may we recommend the Chop House’s frankly outlandish breakfasts, or one of their incredible dryaged steaks?

East Market St, @chophousesteak

They’ve got a bar on the roof. Cold Town House is a threefloor hive of drinks, food and fun times, but its unquestionable ace in the hole is its rooftop terrace.

4 Grassmarket, @coldtownhouse

The Hive

The wild and cavernous Cowgate haunt is a notorious student haunt for good reason. If you only know The Hive for its Fringe programming, you haven’t lived.

3 Niddry St, @thehivenightclub

Hula

Bright and breezy, Hula does a great line in fresh fruit juices with exotic and outrageous blends that you never would have considered, as well as great coffee and exciting food.

103-105 West Bow, @hulajuicebar

Lady Libertine

Mezze, cocktails, multiple areas through which to sashay, and a late closing time all combine for an ideal end of day venue.

25 W Register St, @Lady_Libertine_

Mary’s Milk Bar

A cute little gelateria inspired by the milk bars of the 1960s but with 2022’s flavours, Mary’s is the one place you must go while you’re in town. No ifs, no buts, have an ice cream.

18 Grassmarket, @MarysMilkBar

The Milkman Or should that be Milkmen?

Head to The Milkman at the top of Cockburn Street for an excellent flat white; if it’s too busy, go to the other Milkman at the bottom of the street.

7 & 52 Cockburn St, @themilkmancoffee

Moo Pie Gelato

Exceptional modern ice cream in the heart of the Old Town, Moo Pie offers up small batch gelato and soft serve. Yep, Mr Whippy’s gone all fancy; we love to see it.

26 St Mary’s St, @moopiegelato

OX 184

A lengthy bar stocked with a legion of beers, ciders and spirits and nightly DJs are a solid start. Then there’s a wood-fired grill and handsome BBQ menu served until 2.30am.

184 Cowgate, @ox_184

Room and Rumours

There’s tasty coffee and exciting brunch options, yes, but a trip to R&R is about getting one of their delightful filled doughnuts, made fresh each morning.

25 E Market St, @roomrumourscoffee

Salt Horse

Salt Horse features one of the most comprehensive beer selections in the capital, an eclectic and impressively dense range that will take the whole month to work through.

57-61 Blackfriars St, @salthorsebar

Sneaky Pete’s

It’ll make your Fringe flat seem like a palace, but what Sneaky’s lacks in area it makes up for with energy. A huge range of club nights with an ever-pres ent crowd of the city’s most discerning clubbers.

73 Cowgate, @sneakypetesclub