Drinks Old Town, Edinburgh
The Bow Bar
A place for a drink in Old Town, Edinburgh, moderately priced ($$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Evening.
Why go
Traditional pub on Victoria Street with cask ales and a deep whisky list.
It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Edinburgh, alongside 6 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Oink and Victoria Street.
- Type
- Drinks · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- Old Town
- Price
- $$
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Evening
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Edinburgh, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Oink
Hog-roast rolls carved from a whole pig in the window.
Food · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2Victoria Street
Curving street of colourful shopfronts that drops from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket.
Shopping · 0.0 mi straight-line - 3The White Hart Inn
One of Edinburgh's oldest pubs, on the Grassmarket below the castle, with regular live folk music.
Drinks · 0.1 mi straight-line - 4St Giles' Cathedral
Medieval High Kirk with the ornate Thistle Chapel.
Sight · 0.1 mi straight-line - 5National Museum of Scotland
Free museum from Dolly the sheep to Lewis chessmen, with a rooftop terrace.
Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line - 6Edinburgh's Christmas
The city's Christmas market and fair, with stalls, rides and a big wheel in East Princes Street Gardens below the Scott Monument.
Shopping · 0.2 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
The Bow Bar is a stop on our Scotland’s Highland Rail Line route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Edinburgh
The Bow Bar is our only drinks pick in Edinburgh; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Edinburgh guide.
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Edinburgh Castle
Clifftop fortress holding the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
-
Royal Mile
Old Town spine of closes and wynds running from the castle to Holyrood.
-
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The monarch's official Scottish residence and ruined abbey.
-
Arthur's Seat
Extinct volcano in Holyrood Park with a 45-minute climb to city-wide views.
-
Calton Hill
City hill with monuments and the classic view down Princes Street.
-
The Kitchin
Tom Kitchin's Michelin-starred Leith restaurant cooking seasonal Scottish produce.
When to go
Average daily highs in Edinburgh run from 42°F in January to 65°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For The Bow Bar itself, we suggest: Evening.
Modelled monthly averages for Edinburgh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Edinburgh weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for The Bow Bar, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 80 W Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH, UK
- Coordinates
- 55.94845, -3.19418
- Destination
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The Bow Bar: quick answers
How much time do you need at The Bow Bar?
Plan on about an hour at The Bow Bar. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit The Bow Bar?
Our pick: Evening. Insider tip: Ask staff for a dram recommendation; small, so go early.
Where is The Bow Bar?
The Bow Bar is at 80 W Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH, UK, in Old Town. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include The Bow Bar?
The Bow Bar appears on Scotland’s Highland Rail Line, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add The Bow Bar to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Edinburgh.
Plan Edinburgh
- Edinburgh travel guide 15 places
- Best time to visit Edinburgh weather by month
- Edinburgh to Aviemore & the Cairngorms 89 mi straight-line
- Edinburgh to Fort William 95 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Edinburgh
- Calton Hill Sight
- Arthur's Seat Activity
- The Kitchin Food
- The Balmoral Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.