A guide to real ale pubs in Edinburgh

There is nothing quite like spending a lazy weekend afternoon in a good old fashioned pub, drinking proper real ale and enjoying a good chat with friends. Maybe even grabbing a hearty Sunday lunch.

You might even meet the love of your life while supping on a pint of best bitter as research by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) shows that 25 per cent of married couples met down the pub.

Yet more than 4,500 real ale pubs have been forced to close since the recession began, so supporting our local boozers is essential. The best beer emporiums are not only places to enjoy a jar, but hubs of the local community and, if you're a visitor, a friendly place to meet the locals while supporting independent businesses.

As CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner says: "Pubs are the original social networking sites, and will continue to provide an invaluable community service as long as they are used by the local people that surround them."

With this in mind, we've drawn up a list of our favourite real ale pubs to help you when you're staying in Edinburgh hostels. Bar crawl anyone?

The Beehive Inn
Sitting on the northside of the city's Grassmarket, the Beehive is a large pub that comes into its own during summer when its beer garden at the rear and on-street 'sitooterie' at the front are at their best.

Inside, it is as traditional as it comes, with stone walls, wooden panels and rafters leaving the ancient building unadulterated. Upstairs is Rafters Restaurant, which provides food for the bar, but make sure you keep an eye out for ghosts and ghouls. The building is thought to be one of the many in Edinburgh thought to have spiritual residents.
18-20 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU. 0131 225 7171

The Bow Bar
A proper traditionalist's pub, the Bow Bar has a strict no music and television rule (though they do make an exception when the rugby is on) and is all about good beer, whisky and conversation.

With eight hand pulls on the bar, there are always five different guest beers available and the establishment's selection of bottle beers is rather remarkable too, though it is nothing compared to the 200 whiskies it has on offer.
80 West Bow, Victoria Street, EH1 2HH. 0131 226 7667     

BrewDog Edinburgh
The young Scottish brewery has turned the UK real ale industry on its head since first launching its 'cool' brand of beers, and many traditionalists won't go near them, which may be a good thing given the beards and body odour image real ale has held for so long.

The BrewDog Edinburgh is one of the brand's own pubs and has been open since March 2011. As well as its own beer, it has a huge selection of guest bottles which are all served in a wrought-urban pub with a bare-brick-and-girders atmosphere.
143–145 Cowgate, EH1 1JS. 0131 220 6517     

The Canons' Gait
One of the best pubs nestled on the historic Canongate at the bottom of the Royal Mile, the Canon's Gait sits right next to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood if you're passing by.

Spread over two floors with a bar in the cellar, it has a good selection of both hand pulls and draughts, as well as serving homemade food.
232 Canongate, EH8 8DQ. 0131 556 4481

The Castle Arms
With a good selection of real ales and Scotch whiskies, The Castle Arms is a good choice if you're looking for a nice outdoor seating area. An upstairs terrace has great views down over Edinburgh's Old Town and it even serves cocktails.

Located just off the Royal Mile, it is an ace place to end up after a day of tourist activities and its top pub grub has a reassuring emphasis on burgers and fish dishes.
6 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW. 0131 225 7432

Greyfriars Bobby's Bar
Overlooking the famous statue of the world's most loyal dog Greyfriar's Bobby - a huge tourist attraction on Candlemaker Row [HHYPERLINK http://www.euro-hostels.co.uk/hostel-news/2667_how-to-explore-edinburgh-on-a-shoestring-budget] - the bar by the same name is a thriving place to grab a pint or some pub food.

It has a cosy feel inside complete with red leather chairs and a good selection of ales and whiskies. The food menu is large and includes breakfast as well as mains and bar snacks.
34 Candlemaker Row, EH1 2QE. 0131 225 8328

Halfway House Edinburgh
Hidden away on Fleshmarket Close, a street made (even more) famous by Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus novels, the Halfway House is a good old fashioned boozer. It has four real ale pumps that change all the time and a great selection of whisky too, with standard favourites alongside some rarer malts.

The pub is also a great place to try some traditional Scottish food [HYPERLINK: http://www.euro-hostels.co.uk/hostel-news/2659_how-to-handle-a-haggis-and-other-scottish-specialities-you-have-to-try], with the likes of haggis, neeps & tatties and Cullen skink on the menu.
24 Fleshmarket Close, Edinburgh, EH1 1BX. 0131 225 7101     

Sandy's Bells
While Sandy's Bells can be desolately quiet during the day, it comes to life in the evening when local folk musicians descend for a live session over a pint or four. A sign above the door proudly proclaims "Purveyors of fine ales and spirits. Home of world renowned folk music" and this perfectly sums up what Sandy's Bells is all about.

The bar is legendary for its folk music and many make the pilgrimage on that basis alone. The beer ain't bad either.
25 Forrest Road, EH1 2QH. 0131 225 2751

Staggs Bar
Staggs Bar is a bit of a way out of the city centre, but making the trip is well worth it. The award-winning pub was named CAMRA Edinburgh Pub of the Year for the tenth time in 2011 and has been around for more than 150 years.

Its selection of real ales is exceptional and it also has a great paved beer garden that is brilliant during summer. That is in addition to its amazing array of whiskies, more than 20 kinds of rum and ten different gins. Epic!
81 North High Street, Musselburgh. EH21 6JE

The White Hart Inn
Another of the Grassmarket's exceptional real ale pubs (there are six in total but we only managed to squeeze two in here), the White Hart Inn has a pavement seating area and the obligatory selection of ales and whiskies. Traditional wooden furniture and raftered ceilings are in keeping with the building and quality pub grub is on offer too.

In 2005 it was named the Most Haunted Pub in Edinburgh, while legendary Scottish poet Robert Burns is thought to have visited in 1791.
34 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU. 0131 226 2806 

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