The Bow Bar in Edinburgh, City of

Great to find, we're doing to entire week in scotland visiting every spot. This good pub with large choices

Small traditional ale and whisky bar that's a pleasant change from many of the tourist trap pubs in the city centre and certainly an oasis of calm on the tourist madhouse that is Victoria Street. Excellent beers served by enthusiastic and knowledgable staff make visiting a real pleasure. Sells excellent pies too. Highly recommended.

Good local in town, not much atmosphere.

Great bar and service. I was looking for a place to taste different whiskies and Bow Bar didn't disappoint. The staff was very helpful. I had no clue what I was looking for but after a short convo about flavor they were able to find me some delicious whiskies. They have £5 whiskies of the moment which are a good place to start if you have no clue. There's also a vast menu that shows where the whiskies they have in house come from but I was too overwhelmed by it. They accept card. Seating is a bit of a dance but as people come in and out you'll be able to snag a spot to hang for a drink. I would recommend bringing some cash if you'd like to tip the bartender as there isn't a choice for tip when paying for drinks. In the end I got a good recommendation for a bottle to buy for my trip home and a place to buy it from.

Fantastic although would be good to have some nice ciders available

Bryce and T were fantastic, best service, beers and whisky in Edinburgh…..in fact currently the UK IMO 👊👍🍻

Fantastic pub - great atmosphere and excellent selection of ales and whisky. Fantastic location too.

Very friendly bartender, not so friendly manager

Great pub with a huge selection of drafts and whiskeys. Felt to be frequented by locals mostly.

An unforgettable moment! I had the opportunity to taste some real whiskey gems. Guided by real enthusiasts, what’s more. Thank you very much for your expertise, you were able to share your love of whiskey, which is much more than serving a glass, even a good glass.

We went to visit Dean village, on our return, we found this place for something to drink but we ended up having a tasty cheeseboard too. Very delicious with a great atmosphere.

Awesome selection for a whiskey drinker

We came for the absolutely exceptional whiskey list at this place. We had an excellent evening, with an excellent quality tasting and a really pleasant team with good advice. Thank you very much for your welcome and your passion, which is felt in the way you serve. I recommend with your eyes closed. We are in finesse but without fuss or unnecessary frills.

On a Gents weekender ( all 50+) we did 25 pubs over 4 days, this bar came out top. It's only small, great selection of drinks, friendly locals & tourists. Bar staff 10/10

Great lovely rustic bar with good beer selection. One of my favourite bars in Edinburgh :) only slight downside is a few mini fly's.

A really great bar. The service was very friendly and helped me a lot to recommend and sell whiskeys that I like. I liked it very much

Always a good pub to visit when in Edinburgh usually a few tourists visiting Always a good choice of cask ales & a great selection of whiskies

Great Edinburgh pub. Lively chat, good beers and plenty pictures and mirrors to look at sand read.

Staff always great with their recommendations.

Typical Scottish pub in the main street of Edinburgh. Wide choice of whiskey and beer, recommended

Gorgeous pub and a must visit when you’re in Edinburgh after some beers and scotch.

A pub that is rapidly becoming one of my favourites. A lovely selection of real ales at all times and an incredible selection of whiskies, with a few “malts of the moment” to select from. Best thing is no mass produced beers or cocktails, which tends to prevent that stag/hen nights and group nights out. Keeping the atmosphere much friendlier. The staff are always incredibly friendly and very informative about the ales and whiskies.

Wonderful pub, frequented by Scots and non-Scots, offering various local beers and whiskeys... very friendly staff! I would go back again tomorrow....

A fantastic Scotch collection, and very knowledgeable staff! Paul and Bryce were great!

A very traditional pub where people talk and laugh, we are not saturated with loud music. Authentic decoration, very good beer especially the Stout, I haven't found better in Edinburgh and yet I've been working in pubs across the Channel for a long time. If I didn't want to offend the Scots I would say that we would think we were in Ireland...😁

This was my favourite Edinburgh bar. Used to have a drink there 3 or 4 times a year on my city breaks. Sadly last week a barman just ignored my wife and myself when we tried to get served. He appeared more interested in someone behind us who I presume he knew? The bar was only moderately busy. We had to leave and will never return.

Loved this small, cozy place with a perfect atmosphere to peacefully enjoy the best whiskies. The service was superb, great recommendations by the very knowledgeable staff for both beginners and experts in the field.

Great knowledge and friendly staff

Good spot in the heart of the city center with a great selection of beers.

A must for connoisseurs! Before I made my “beer choice”, I was first offered beer samples by the staff. First class ambience and well-being!

we arrived unexpectedly for lunch and we didn't regret it! Good beer with an offer from the waitress, the pies offered were very good and the welcome was really friendly. We recommend

Popped in for a drink while exploring the city and had read good reviews. Was hoping to do a whisky flight but was informed they couldn't do that. Instead the bartender was kind and offered me a recommendation, even allowed me to nose it before pouring. Enjoyed a quick dram and headed back out as they did not have food at that time.

One of the best whisky selections in Edinburgh.

Great bar, cosy and welcoming atmosphere and exceptional and friendly staff.

It is a typical Scottish place, you have to go there! The waiter is super friendly and recommends the beers. I will repeat!

The bar tender is super friendly, knows his beer and sure know how to recommend one

Quaint pub with a large selection of whiskeys and beers! Here you can immerse yourself in Scottish “pub culture”!

Very nice and cozy old pub in the heart of Edinburgh.

Always good beer in one of Edinburghs best

Typical Scottish pub, friendly environment. Variety of beers

Reasonable price for where it is located and lovely decor. A but unclean tho.

An old fashioned pub serving a great choice of cask ales and whiskies, superb atmosphere and very authentic

Great beer and very friendly service. Great atmosphere.

Family feeling in a pub? Yes that works ! Great atmosphere, super tasty beer, simply an outstanding pub culture.

Very good selection of ales, staff gave the impression they cared about what they served. Line up of beers would suit all tastes Im sure.

Decent pub in a touristy area which doesn’t make you feel like a trap. Though the beer (both stout and pale ale) tasted like room temperature when we visited.

Great ale, albeit, not from a traditional hand-pull. Barman gave excellent whisky advice. Thank you very much. A great pub; not pretentious. Love it.

Ordered wine only one choice of red and white. RIP off price for bottle of wine. Unsmiling and unhelpful service. Does not take young people as they have no food and no kitchen. Would not go back

Very nice pub with a very wide selection of drinks, both beers and whiskey. Price/performance OK

Traditional pub in the beating heart of Edinburgh's tourism, but don't worry, inside you will find locals and true beer connoisseurs from all over Europe with whom you can chat in the afternoon over a pint

A must for cask beer and whiskey lover.

A great historical bar in the city - I mostly visit when the tourists have gone away.

Nice popular pub in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Great beer and atmosphere. No children.

Good selection of beers and large (expensive) range of whiskies - the place always has a buzz about it.

I had such a lovely night at the Bow Bar! Next time I’m in Edinburgh, I’m definitely coming back! Got to learn lots about Whiskey as well! :)

real Scottish pub! You can breathe the real air of Scotland, a cheerful place, friendly staff.

Great spot for drinks, easy ordering and good, local-feeling atmosphere.

Bartender was very friendly and had cool tats!!(:

Still, THE place for fine whisky and good beer in Edinburgh. The choices are overwhelming! It never changes..Thank God!

Wonderful pies, but go for lunch if you want to arrive before they run out. We tried four of them (chicken, pork, vegan, and spinach & goat cheese), and the vegan was my favorite—perfectly seasoned curried vegetables and chick peas. Great bar service as well, though they didn’t have cider on tap. If I lived in Edinburgh, I’d be a regular at this place.

Beautiful old pub with lots of old bar mirrors. For ale drinkers there are 8 cask ale taps! Don't worry for the philistines, there are also 6 kegs. Well-selected beers from all over the UK. Sorry Northern Ireland ;) I'll definitely come back and advertise.

Maybe the best whisky bar in Edinburgh. Very helpful staff, great crowd on a Friday night.

The guys behind the counter know how to lead you to a whisky you'd like.

Such a lovely find! Helpful and friendly staff. Good atmosphere with a great selection of ales and more 👍🏼🌟

My most favourite bar in Edinburgh! A great selection of beers and malt whiskeys (of course) with a genuine atmosphere, built-up over years, and not some false vintage inspired bar, of which there appear to be so many. This is the real deal, with a friendly and very knowledgeable bar staff too!!!

We didn't eat. However, they let us sample the draught before we chose our pints.

Had a nice couple of pints here

Centrally located great bar with good whisky collection and atmosphere. Staff behind the bar were excellent- patient and well-informed; recommending whisky and offering to nose them before we ordered. We ended up getting quite a few drams. It is a small place so be prepared to stand.

Feels like a step into the past at this pub in the heart of the old town. Great selection of whiskies and cask ales, and generous pours.

We smelled different whiskeys according to our preference and tried two beautiful whiskeys according to the price balance. The bartender was very helpful and friendly. A small but nice bar.

Tasty pies, great cask ales, accommodating and knowledgeable staff, affordable. For the old city, this felt very homey with good vibes. One of our favorites in Edinburgh!

Very friendly welcome, conviviality awaits you

Barman was sound! Nice pub nothing fancy.

Fantastic place for beer and it has a good atmosphere, definitely highly recommend

Superb little locale in a the heart of Edinburgh. Plenty of fine ales, beers, and whiskies to choose from. Unsure about which? Just ask the highly knowledgeable staff.

A classic old town spot for good Cask beer and a range of whisky. Traditional, and popular.

Went here based on Google reviews and it didn’t disappoint. My husband had the haggis pie and I had the vegetarian . Both were delicious. Staff are super friendly

Exactly what I would expect from the (voted) best bar in Scotland. Great dram serving sizes, whisky selection, and staff.

If you like cask beer, this is the place for you. Great staff and atmosphere.

Lieu convivial et pub typique. Au calme et da's l ambiance écossaise. Excellent accueil. Service attentionné et souriant. La bière est très bonne. Dégustation possible. et les pies sont excellentes !!!!

The Bow Bar is my favourite pub in Edinburgh. It may attract the tourists but the staff are always friendly, courteous and knowledgeable about the extensive range of whisky and beer. There is always a great atmosphere whether it be a chilled afternoon pint or a bustling weekend night out. Just a great traditional, wee bar.

Very cozy, good selection of different whiskeys!

Perfect place to get craft beer!

This is our favorite pub in Edinburgh! The bartenders are fabulous and knowledgeable about their very well stocked supply of malts. We had a steak pie as well and it was delightful! Sit in the window seat and watch the people passing on Victoria Street.

Nice place for whiskey and beer 👍🍻🥃

Really sorry to have to do this as I have visited this pub many times but last night, I ordered an Ardbeg Uigeadail, a whisky I am very familiar with. This was NOT Uigeadail. The colour and taste were wrong. Either it was Ardbeg 10 or, as I suspect, it had been watered down. The trust is broken and I will never return.

Great Pub in a great location. Friendly bartender, great pies (I can recommend spinach and haggis) make me want to come back. Vegan and NA options available as well. Very welcoming.

Can't comment on the drinks, other than to say that the selection available is impressive and staff seem very knowledgeable. However, the pork and blue cheese pie that I had was the best pie I've ever eaten. Service was great, bar staff super nice :)

Excellent little pub. Good beer selection.

Always amazing. Some of the best whiskies in town.

Great experience. Bartender was very knowledgeable and helpful with whisky selection. Enjoyed speaking with both bartenders, could not recommend more. Great staff with an incredible whisky selection.

Amazing traditional bar. Great selection of beers and whisky.

The bar staff came across a bit rude, unwilling to guide my friend and I when it came to picking a good whiskey. They served us the house option, which made us incredibly unwell.

This place was quite the surprise. A pub this centralized in a tourist zone has no business being this incredible. It's like a locals joint outside of town but right in the heart of the city. A great place to stop for a pint and a wee dram as I had a pint of cask ale and a good pour of Ardbeg Wee Beastie at the end of a long day of exploring. A cozy, warm interior and friendly folk both at the bar and throughout the establishment. This kind of place has the vibes that attracts good people.

Loved it here real friendly staff, great knowledge of whisky. Pies are great! If there is a sign saying nae pies they probably just forgot to take it down! Haggis pie is awesome!

A nice pub, good beers, typical setting and friendly and efficient welcome. To eat, exclusively “pies”, garnished pies. Your choice of haggis, pork, chicken, vegetarian... Something to nourish you with! A good address in this very touristy street.

One of my favourite pubs in Edinburgh. It's beautiful inside, really lovely friendly staff and a great choice of beer. On a day trip to Edinburgh so the plug sockets and free WiFi were very handy.

A truly Scottish pub, where loca and tourist grt among well. Impressive whisky list, although the place does not really work well woth peaceful whisky tasting.

One of Edinburghs little gems. Great whisky selection.Locals/tourists. Good ale selection and friendly staff. And look out for the Wonderful Whisky Wednesday's. When expensive whisky s are at better than half price.

Great beer, good service, interesting interior and nice atmosphere.