This is a gem of a find on the quaintest of streets. The whiskey and beer selection is huge and not an international brand in sight that I could see. Staff serving unbelievably friendly with excellent knowledge of the stock they were offering
Noisy and crowdy, as expected. A good range of diferent beers, but it was difficult to figure out what sort of beer they were - the bartender was not that available and the board wasn't that informative.
Simple yet everything you could look for in a pub. The Bow Bar is not the fanciest place in town... but doesn't have to be. This cute pub has a very good selection of beers, comfy seats and a great atmostphere.
This a pub... don't go in expecting fancy cocktails. I love the atmosphere and the selection of beers. Great old fashioned tables and wooden floors. They are doing an German bier festival starting 29th September so get yourself down there.
I think it depends what you're looking for in a pub. If you're looking for live music, crowd, lively atmosphere? This is not the place to go. But if you're looking for a laid back no-nonsense pub with old-school small tables, an ever changing set of ales on tap and patrons who visit that actually want not-just-your-usual-high-street ales and a warm friendly atmosphere...then THIS is definitely the place to be.
I have been here once a while ago, and was taken there by a friend who used to frequent the place. We went on a Friday evening, and it was overflowing with people. He managed to get to the bar and get our drinks. They did have an impressive selection of Whisky on offer, and I would have liked to have stayed longer and sample some more, but the crowd was oppressive, and we were not allowed to take our glasses outside.
Wonderful little place! I can understand why so many people want to come there! Would like to go back one of these days on a slow evening.
The Bow Bar has to be my favourite bar in Edinburgh, it gets top marks from me on each of the following points:
1. The staff are excellent and friendly, if I seem to swithering over choices I often get a small sample and that makes such a difference in getting the right pint for me.
2. The choices keep changing, every time I get something different.
3. The selection of whisky is brilliant and the whisky comes in a proper Glencairn glass.
4. The tables are only really wide enough for pint glasses and dram glasses. Another good touch.
5. There is no TV on or music, just people chatting and not many people on their phones.
All in all it just feels like a proper pub, great drinks, friendly staff, friendly punters, the kind of place you can sit and wind down with good people and some good banter.
my first pint of IPA came from one of the wonderful ale taps in this bar back in 1992. a proper drinking pub with plenty of real ales and a large selection of whiskies this is not the place to come if you want cocktails and shots or even just a pint of carlsberg.
The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed and very much olde worlde pub, you could almost imagine sawdust on the floor, and the selection of good ales and whiskies is fabulous, and for it's location the prices are not good and not like many of the pretty out the front Tourist traps.
Excellent for Beer and Ales, Whiskies, Peace and Quiet, Good prices, the bridies and pies at lunchtimes.
One of the best range of craft beers in Edinburgh, with an extensive whisky list to match. Extremely knowledgable staff with regularly changing casks.
The three stages of drinking scotch at the Bow Bar:
1) Order one of the featured drams, as they're normally a little cheaper and get you warmed up;
2) Go through their extensive list of scotch and select something you think you'll like;
3) Following 1 & 2, you'll feel brave enough to just ask the bar staff what they recommended based on your preferences, and they'll find you something you've never heard of that's the best dram you've ever had.
I'm not sure if you have to go through 1 & 2 to get to 3 (I think the third dram does tend to taste better...), but I would recommend asking the staff for suggestions as they do know what they're talking about!
We love this never-changing bar. We have been coming for years and it never changes - please keep it that way! Excellent range of real ales and whiskies, served by friendly, knowledgeable staff. Sometimes has gourmet pies. I had a pork and blue cheese and it was excellent. Thanks, Bow Bar - we'll be back!
Well if you want a pub that would have been the same if your great grandad had been in for a half then this is it. Great site and typical what an old style boozer should feel like. And I've never seen so many whiskies. Beer was great and stuff were lovely and happy to explain the wares they had . Do not miss this pub
Viby and there whisky collection has no limits if you are someone who fancy scotch whisky and ales this is your la e to be . They are more then best and lovely part they have such a historic memory depicted on the walls and ceilings
Great old fashioned whisky bar with extensive and interesting collection. A must visit for whisky fan in capital.
A fantastic, traditional local pub. Wonderful selection of whiskey and ale. Highly recommended if you're in Edinburgh!
Great selection, found this amazing whisky. Atmosphere could have been improved by having some music in the background though. But we went there for a few nights so we definitely liked it.
If you are a whiskey lover you will love this place. Only problem is at times staff get tied up handing queries on the whiskeys that you wait a while for a beer. Staff clearly know their stuff though so credit where credit is due
Amazing selection of whiskies! Also a lot of different beers/ales - and very knowledgeable staff who can make informed recommendations. The other great thing is the pies - in a variety of flavours. If it's not broke, don't fix it. That's the reason this lovely place has barely changed in more than a decade!
Great pub with an awesome beer selection and reasonable prices. Have a beer festival on at the moment with lots of different craft beer available. Very friendly staff and regulars! Would go back in a heartbeat.
Great cosy pub in the heart of the famous Victoria street with great beer and (almost) unlimited selection of Whisky.
Highly recommend
Lovely little pub, really friendly and helpful owners. There is an IPA tasting competition to take part in at the moment. The haggis pie was excellent.
One of the best pubs to visit in Edinburgh. Good beer and whisky, nice bartenders, amazing atmosphere. Recommended!
Charles “The Bombardier” Wells
+5
Great little pub. Friendly staff. Very cosy and traditional, serving 8 cask ales plus good selection of whisky’s. Been coming to Edinburgh for years, don’t know how we’ve missed this little gem. Will definitely be back.
Only stopped in for a beer but perfect traditional Scottish pub.
been there a hundred times (slight exaggeration), the atmosphere is always the same no matter the time of the year, nice and homey. One of the best whisky selection and the staff is always friendly and capable or finding the one for you. they also have good beers on tap .
Recommended by Graeme on the free walking tour. Stopped in for a quick lunch of a hot haggis pie, with a measure of whisky and half pint of beer on the side. Bar staff kindly talked me through what whisky I'd be most likely to enjoy.
Great variety of whiskies and beer with a selection of 4 presenter whiskies of the week. Lovely local atmosphere. Shame that staff behind counter look bored and not cheerful . Was there last day of the Fringe Festival probably the reason why … exhausted . Will give it another try soon
Nice pub , great beer / ales and a large whisky selection. Highly recommended to spend a nice evening. Friendly staff!
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