Pints & Pubs

Rachel Newton
Sep 25, 2013
2 min read

Confession: Due to my tendency to get carried away during my “research”, I often forgot to take notes and/or photos of my pub exploration, so unfortunately this is not a complete documentation.

But…that’s all part of the experience! The pubs gave me a true taste of Scottish culture…one pint at a time.

So, what’s a pub?

I posed this question to numerous Scots, and there doesn’t seem to be an actual difference, although bars may be characterized as a little trendier and more modern than pubs.

Notes & Observations:

-Tipping the bartender is appreciated, especially if you order food. However, it isn’t an unspoken expectation like in the States.

-Pubs & bars are generally pretty small inside, thus crowd quickly. Nab a table when you can!

-It’s not uncommon to see groups of elderly Scots getting rowdy with all the youngsters. Edinburgh knows how to party!

–Most bars & pubs close at 1:00 (womp womp). A handful are open until 3:00.

-If you ask for a red or amber ale in Edinburgh, prepared to receive a puzzled look in response…not a big thing there.

-If you order a shot with a chaser, this may happen:

Shot with ice and straw…and a bottled chaser that you had to pay for. Be sure to be specific!

-Scotland is famous for its whisky.

-Drunk Scots LOVE to sing. These range from various traditional Scottish songs to Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. Seriously, the Scots are obsessed with that freaking song.

Where to go?

If you ever find yourself in beautiful Edinburgh, here are some bars/pubs I’d recommend:

Bennets Bar

Fairly quiet, with great beer, whisky, and tasty Scottish food.

An Irish bartender there shared his thoughts about ‘Merican tourists:

“I always enjoy the wonderment in their eyes.”

Apparently, many come to Edinburgh and still expect American beers like Bud or Miller Light. Silly.They also aren’t used to the complexity of Scottish Whisky.

FYI, in Ireland:

-Where he comes from, it’s normal to start a friendly conversation with a complete stranger on the street, merely from making eye contact with them. In fact, it’s considered rude not to!

-Ya’ll right? = hi

-How’s she cuttin’? = How’s it going?

Cuckoo’s Nest

This trendy joint is a fun, cozy place to grab a burger and a beer. The bartenders were extremely friendly and glad to share tips with silly tourists like myself.

Victoria

Cute, artsy bar in Edinburgh’s Leith District. Nice beer, wine, and drinks.

World’s End Pub

This pub actually marks the spot where Edinburgh’s 16th century city walls once ended. At that time, no one left the city, so it really was the “world’s end” for them. Today, it’s a great place to grab great Scottish food and beer.