Back to Rose Street area . Stockbridge Area

The New Town area

Pressure of space in the old town forced radical plans and in 1767 work on the New Town started. Architect James Craig came up with a grid concept with buildings of great grandeur, open areas and gardens and mirror image squares at each end. The St James Centre unfortunately destroyed some of the east end concept in the late 1960s.

The main street was George Street, with Princes Street a back street on to the valley that is now Princes Street Gardens. Time and the unique setting of a one sided shopping street opening out on to the valley and the castle soon elevated Princes Street to its current fame.

Princes Street itself also suffered in the 50's and 60's with a bizarre plan to link shops with a first floor level outside walkway. That's why there are so many frontages out of step with the style of the street. There was also a plan at one stage to have a motorway cutting through and flying over the castle area!

New Town pubs have usually been there a long time. Some are grand, most Victorian rather than Georgian, and a few have a village pub feel to them. You can do worse that stroll around a few of these. No matter how long you've been here, there is always something new and fascinating to see in a walk around the New Town.

The Cambridge Bar (website)
20, Young St
EH2 4JB 0131 225 4266
Famous for its real ales and CAMRA pub of the year 1999, I'm told. Lunchtime food is great. Aptly at the other end of the street from the Oxford Bar.

Clarks Bar
142, Dundas St
EH3 5DQ 0131 556 1067
Long, long local reputation as a 'good pub with good beer'. Local bar with lots of photos and memorabilia. People come for the chat and the big range of real ales. A great mix of folk.

The Cumberland Bar
1-3, Cumberland St
EH3 6RT 0131 558 3134
Excellent variety of beers and I once had the most perfect 20 year old cask strength Bruichladdich there. Good food, good atmosphere and well looked after beer.

Glencairn Lounge
19, Royal Circus
EH3 6TL
0131 220 2020

Harry's Bar
7b, Randolph Place
EH3 7TE 0131 539 8100
Deceptively large cellar bar, American style. Lots of fascinating photos and cartoons on the walls. Raised rear area with a conservatory looking out to a New Town garden. Long 'L' shaped bar with a wide range of drinks. Good range of food served.

Harveys
39, Thistle St
EH2 1DY 0131 478 7029
Was the Howff, a cosy wee bar. Is still a cosy wee bar, updated, nicely designed but keeping the character. Seems popular with a range of custom from local businessfolk to couples and young people looking for a less pretentious atmosphere. Friendly service, all the popular drinks and nicely presented beer. Probably the most imaginative pub sign in Edinburgh.

Kays Bar
39, Jamaica St
EH3 6HF 0131 225 1858
One of the first real ale revival pubs in the 70's it has a superb range of beers and whiskies. Smallish, with a bigger room. Food at lunchtime.

McLachlan Ale House
1 Canonmills
EH3 5HA
0131 558 7049

The Newtown Bar
26b, Dublin St
EH3 6NN
0131 538 7775

Northern Bar
1, Howard Place
EH3 5JZ 0131 556 1558
Good use made of the best features of this Georgian building.

The Oxford Bar (Website)
8 Young Street
EH2 0131 539 7119
At the other end of the street from the Cambridge Bar. Once run by a truly eccentric nationalist, now a lot more normal, good beer and the haunt of Ian Rankin's fictitious Inspector Rebus.

Smithies Ale House
49-51, Eyre Place
EH3 5EY 0131 556 9805
Gas lighting and fascinating mirrors make this worth a visit.

The Star Tavern
1, Northumberland Place
EH3 6LQ 0131 539 8070
Quaint from the outside in a wee neuk of the New Town, the Star's past included a time as the headquarters of mystic hippies who liked good beer. Now more New Townie with an interest in sports. Some real ale and daytime food. Lovely and largely original inside.

Wally Dug
32, Northumberland St
EH3 6LS 0131 556 3271
Cosy, charming, unpretentious, good beer.

The World Bar Cafe
55 Thistle Street EH2
0131 225 3275
fair range of beers, great disco on a Friday night - well it seemed good when we were there.