The Oxford Bar in Edinburgh, City of

Just had to come in here whilst in Edinburgh. A little out of the way but worth it to say I’ve been in here. Proper pub. Decent staff.

As far as Edinburgh establishments go this is up there with the least friendly and we’ve been in plenty over the years on our visit we were treated like something on the stuck up bar maids shoe never mind the I’m better than you look we got from the 3 stooges holding the bar up we obviously never passed their why are you coming in here smell test ( other than them totally empty) If Ian Rankin gets inspiration there he truly is a genius. Never Again might be a good name for his next novel , don’t bother going it’s not worth time out your life .

Good bar to stop by and get some beers.

Legendary place. I had a great welcome and a fantastic night. Tranmere supporting barman is a legend.

Went for the rebus connection. Nothing like in the book. But just a nice little friendly pub, that serves a nice pint.

The fact that this bar exists is proof that the Scots will never die out. An original, a must for everyone who is fed up with all the mainstream pubs...

Welcoming barman, made to feel at ease as a stranger. Nice atmosphere inside and tasty ales

Nice quiet little local boozer with good prices and well kept beer

Came for the drinks, stayed for the... drinks. Good beer, nice staff, great to come whether a local or tourist. This amongst the best bars in the city.

Adam is fantastic barkeep and a fount of knowledge for local places.

Stop in for a pint, a dram and a chat. Great wee place.

An unspoilt gem. Comfortable, atmospheric and good cask beer.

Great small independent bar. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. So different, in a good way, from your usual faceless pub of today. Ian Rankin was in the previous night apparently!

Great little bar, famous from Rebus

As advertised a great location for a quiet pint in the new town some genuine locals as well. I can see why a certain author enjoys spending time here.

Going to pub alone on a Friday night is always tricky but this is one of those places not feeling the overwhelming social energy and have a drink.

Went in for a beer,enjoyed it so I had another. Very friendly place with a good choice of beer and malt whisky’s.

A must every time I'm in Edinburgh 💗

If you’re familiar with the Rebus TV series and novels, then you’ll know this little bar in Edinburgh’s New Town. It’s got plenty of history and plenty of regulars - although during the day, it gets plenty of Rebus fans too. It’s small, nicely kept, has great beers and is an old school no telly/no music pub. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Great place for a whisky and conversation. 12 stars🙂

Great to visit an old school boozer

Stopped in for a half pint. Great atmosphere. Understand why it's a haunt for Ian Rankin.

As an Ian Rankin fan this was always going to be a must see. I had no expectations so was happy just to visit. To hear Ian visits and staff so happy to see a fan (I did bring 5 other friends along) I was very happy with my visit. Easy to find and well worth the visit. Highly recommended if you a Rebus fan.

Iconic pub, excellent as always.

A real pub - not many left like this.

Kirsty the manager/owner is so friendly. All the staff are except one nasty one, who I think hates me, I don't know why, maybe she hates autistic people

No food for us, just a quick one for the road after a tour of a few drinking establishments in Edinburgh. From the front door, you walk straight into a room with the bar on your left, a seating area with a few tables on your right, and a further small table ahead. I didn't explore deeper to see if there was more seating elsewhere. The bar area was comfortably full, with a variety of friendly patrons with the barman expertly managing the needs of all whilst welcoming us. A great range of ales available and a good selection of spirits. The establishment is nicely lit, courtesy of large windows on the front of the building, and whilst cosy and fairly busy, we quickly found a table to continue our conversation in comfort. I'm not sure how easy it would be to get in with a wheelchair (there may be a rear entrance). One thing that struck me was suitability in a zombie apocalypse. The windows felt to be fairly high from the road side (although I had had a few by this point) which would be a useful positive for defence as the Zs couldn't just fall into the building like most of these new cafes bar places, but there was certainly sufficient large tables to ensure you could barricade easily. Entrances both front and back within clear sight of each other means you can avoid surprise flanking although it does have the problem of being overrun in one wave, but the reduced space may mean your choice of weapon is restricted to shorter bludgeon types. Likely to be a good range of snacks to tide over a small group for a few days.

If you are a fan of the Ian Rankin books, it was worth seeing. Good beer and scotch selections. Very small.

Enjoyable friendly pub in the heart of Edinburgh

Hadn't changed in 15 years. Still nice

A real old school pub. Great drinks, tiny with amazing amazing atmosphere.

We have been meaning to visit this well known pub for years and finally succeeded! Pub retains its history and hasn't given in to modern trends. Highly recommend.

Made to feel really welcome. It would be our regular place if we were a bit closer.

Lovely traditional pub with good real ale

We followed in the footsteps of Inspector Rebus, like most foreigners. We found what Racklin described, a classic, non-touristy place with good drinks. The toilets are cramped but very clean and the prices are reasonable. Racklin's photos on the walls. Pass by.

Traditional old style bar recommend.

Pleasant quiet bar, beer was good but decor was a bit tired. Fine for a few pints, I would not take my girlfriend or wife here.

Never again , the bar maid and locals couldn’t be less welcoming and dour ,plenty material there for Rankin . Don’t waste your time overrated unless your face fits .

A good old fashioned boozer. Hasn't changed in many years since I last drank there. Took a lady friend from Canada, who is a Rebus fan, to see it. No food available

Really atmospheric pub with lovely bar staff. The fireplace made it extra cosy and the beers were nice.

Great bar friendly was quiet when I went in which was really nice a good chilling vibe

Local bar for local people vibes when we walked in.

John rebus and Ken stott, respect given

We went to this bar because Rankin mentions it in a book. It's a boring bar, atmosphere is sad, no place to come back to. We had one drink and left within 15 minutes.

The good old Oxford - best pub in Edinburgh

Only one other customer in the pub. Landlady was very pleasant. This wee pub maybe off the main drag but deserves a visit . Had a pint of hand pump ale. Very nice.

A proper, old fashioned pub, it refuses to go trendy or touristy to cash in on it's literary connections, remaining a proper, old school Scottish pub

Basic bar, the haunt of Inspector Rebus. Cosy, log fire, decor a bit dingy. Tiny bar, you take your drinks off to a side lounge. Interesting ...

A Proper Pub. Does not serve food. This is the way we like it. Friendly people and good beer. Thank you for welcoming us all the way from Wales

Great old-fashioned bar with great beer, lovely real fire and a wonderful welcoming atmosphere. The Rebus connection is a big bonus but this is NOT a tourist trap. It is lovely and an authentic old pub.

Nice pub and friendly staff and tried to see my favourite author but no luck on this trip

This is a proper pub and has none of the fancy affectation you might get in some chain pubs with regards to the decor. It's clean and comfortable though. In through the front door and you're immediately at the bar area which is compact. There's a snug/lounge area up a few stairs and to the right. There was a few different beers/ales to choose from and a decent range of spirits and wines at reasonable prices. Staff were friendly and attentive on the Friday night we were in. (19/01/2024) Wasn't too many people in but it filled up a little bit around 2230 of memory serves. Worth a visit if you want a proper pub.

Was quite quiet when we were in. It's a good 'old school' type pub.

My husband, a family friend, my son and I popped in here for a drink after spending a lovely day in Edinburgh. We ordered our drinks (two pints, a white wine and a coke) and paid for the drinks. During the pouring of said drinks (pouring three out of the four), we were asked for identification for our (clearly) 13 year old son. When asked why we needed ID for a coke, we were told that under 18’s were not allowed on the premises AT ALL, and told he’d have to go outside. Surely the bar staff should have asked BEFORE we ordered and paid for our drinks? Needless to say, I left my drink untouched, as I absolutely refuse to ask my child to stand outside a pub whilst I am inside drinking. I won’t be back.

I like the sound of people talking instead of music. That's what this bar is about.

A very interesting pub a Ian Rankin haunt. Good fire and interesting photos and pictures.

A day out in Edinburgh would not be the same without a visit to this historic bar.

Well... the smell of fresh urine was very nice as we first walked in.🤮 Finally got served by a young man in a turtle neck jumper and had a drink. A welcoming couple let us sit at their table however I think it was because they wanted our car keys in a bowl. Toilets were dirty. Seats were stained. Artwork was amazing on the walls for sale. I loved the lion king sketch and the budgie one was amazing I just wish I had £430 on me. Gutted

Great service, great history. Nice Guinness

Top pub, one of the best places to go for a drink and chat with friends in Edinburgh.

An Edinburgh institution. Enjoyed my most recent visit.

What a place. If you’re looking for a pub that isn’t full of neds or weirdos, come here. It’s quiet, relaxed. Would also be a good place for a pint and studying, it’s got the right atmosphere for it. Bartenders are polite and are friendly enough for conversation but won’t talk your ear off.

As a massive fan of the Rebus novels by Ian Rankin this was a must visit. Can imagine Rebus and Siobhan sitting in the corner discussing their latest case. Brilliant

Reminded me of a little Irish bar. The actual bar are was smaller than I expected, but the seating area was what I expected from the books. It had a good vibe.

As an avid fan of Ian Rankin's Rebus novels I had to visit. Wasn't disappointed as I could just imagine Rebus sitting in the corner drinking and trying to solve his cases. Though small, it wasn't cramped and lovely to see it busy on a Wednesday lunchtime. The landlady was welcoming and happy to talk about the books.

Hadn't changed in the ten years since I was last there fantastic to see . Great staff, great atmosphere great ales ,a real pub not enough off these places left ..

We went in for a quick drink, got talking and ended up staying for over 4 hours!! Fab wee bar. The Rebus/Ian Rankin connection is a great draw but as a bar it's fantastic. The staff who were working (2 females) were so friendly and welcoming.

Quiet, just how we like it. An escape from the busy streets of Edinburgh.

very rude female bar attendant. nice pub but no atmosphere the lady who served us was rude,unhelpful and very dismissive.

Very rude female server , disappointing

A real no-nonsense pub serving real ales.

My favourite central Edinburgh bar

Big rebus fan so had to check it out and it didn’t disappoint. A proper boozer 👌🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I haven't been in there since the 80s and it hasn't changed one bit. Make your own mind up if that's good or bad. famous for its connection to Rebus. Its a no frills pub and the prices reflect this. For me it was a good trip down memory lane.

Always a nice bar...out of the way of the city bustle

This is the Pub that The writer Ian Rankin based his Rebus novels version of old school "town boozer" on. And it is. Small cramped bar with stairs up to a parlour which is for drinkers. Not sure if they do food at all. Really enjoyed the feel of it. Obviously the connection is evocative of Ian Rankin's writings. But as an example of times past this is far more real than many others in Edinburgh.

Yet another quality Edinburgh pub.

We stopped in for a pint and had a lovely experience with Becky! So much fun to hang out at the bar with her and hear about pub life and life in Edinburgh. Plus the scotch and pints were top notch. She gave us great recommendations and service. We will gladly be back the next time we're in Edinburgh!

I had been meaning to visit the Oxford for a few years after reading about it in the Rebus books. Burning hot day and I couldn't stay so I just had the one pint but it hit the spot. I'll definitely be returning.

A simple pub unspoilt but still friendly and cosy feels like a highland pub in Edinburgh.

Wonderful little pub, especially for those visiting who are looking for an authentic experience. There are few seats but that's part of its charm. If you can grab a seat at the bar, even better.

Lovely local pub. Nice beer options and good service. Everyone there was very friendly

1st ever visit to the Oxford bar and was well worth it - 2 pints of Edinburgh Festiv-Ale which were excellent and listening to the bar-lady chat to two regulars of pub - great anecdotes and worthy of the 2nd pint and longer stay.

Feel good factor being in "John Rebus's" favourite pub. Topped off my wee break.

Wer sich als Rebus Fan zu erkennen gibt, bekommt ein kleines Geschenk

We had a couple of pints no food but it was a great atmosphere

My kind of pub. Good beer. Small bar and one room. No piped music, no flashing machines, no faux-handwritten signs about pies :)

It's a tiny pub on a hidden side street. Visited as part of the follow the Rebus trail 😁

It is a straightforward bar with beer, whiskies and a few other spirits. Crisps are available. You can stand at the trench bar or go into the lounge. Bar staff do things properly and make sure the beer is good.

I came into the bar and couldn't have felt more unwelcome as all of the old men who are probably regulars glared at us and started whispering to eachother which made me and my friend feel very uneasy, the design of the pub is very boring and dull.

A real drinkers pub! No food, no frills and a really friendly barman. Famous for Rebus connection and Ian Rankin - sadly neither was in there today!!

Small pub, no music, so you can talk. Very friendly staff, even gave us some souvenirs as recognised we were tourists. Good selection of drinks.

The Bar to go if you love Rankin' s series about Detective Rebus.

Great bar ruined by hostile clientele

Kein Firlefanz, kein Essen (Knabbereien sind vorhanden), keine Heißgetränke, keine Hintergrundbeschallung. Freundliche Bedienung, gute Bierauswahl, ein „Malt of the Moment“ (GBP 3,90 für 35 ml) und diverse andere Whiskys, rustikale Einrichtung. Die Essenz eines klassischen Pubs.

Delightful pub, great location off the bustle of the Royal Mile. Populated by regulars, and Rebus fans.

Popped in had a pint of heavy, in a relaxed atmosphere . Excellent service. If you're just popping in for a drink, I highly recommend

A proper pub..and a landmark..just happen by and needed a break from the hills of Edinburgh..History and wonderful experiance!

Rebus knows where to have a drink!

Incredibly friendly staff, really well kept beer, an excellent evening to remember. I could even fit my wheelchair in!