Edinburgh · city guide

Edinburgh brewery tours & beer experiences

Edinburgh was once one of Britain's great brewing cities, with dozens of breweries at work around 1900, and the trade shaped whole districts.

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Eat & drink in Edinburgh

Where to drink in Edinburgh

Edinburgh was once one of Britain's great brewing cities, with dozens of breweries at work around 1900, and the trade shaped whole districts. That heritage is still easy to taste. The Old Town's historic pubs cluster along the Grassmarket and Cowgate, the Café Royal's Victorian interior is worth the visit alone, and the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston is said to be the city's oldest pub.

The modern scene has settled in Leith. Down towards the water, Newbarns, Moonwake and Campervan all brew within walking distance of one another, and the Shore has become one of Scotland's best places to eat. Back in the centre, Rose Street's pub run and the Bow Bar on Victoria Street cover the traditional end, the latter with a formidable cask and whisky list.

Don't miss:

  • Leith's brewery cluster: Newbarns, Moonwake and Campervan
  • A pint beneath the Café Royal's Victorian ceilings
  • The Bow Bar on Victoria Street for cask ale and whisky
  • The Sheep Heid Inn, Edinburgh's oldest pub by repute

Planning a group day out in Edinburgh?

We run private brewery tours and beer tastings for stags, hens, birthdays and corporate teams in most UK cities — from £29 per person.

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