West End
The West End of Princes Street centres
on a corner with Frasers store (check who is being stood
up tonight at this traditional rendezvous point), the elite
Caledonian Hotel and the Rutland Hotel. In this guide it
includes Queensferry Street to the Dean Bridge and the streets
around Shandwick Place.
The area includes several well-known
and renowned bars from the trendy spots, to the bistro set
and the good local bars that still remain. Like the rest
of the city centre, the West End is a place where people
live as well as being an entertainment area.
Ainslie Bar
3, Melville Place
EH3 7PR 0131 539 8500
Smallish bar with a raised area at the front looking
out onto the street. Seems popular with locals and young
tourists alike. Serves Calders 70 well kept, Guinness 80%
etc. Nice collection of old Edinburgh prints and photos.
Au Bar
101, Shandwick Place
EH2 4SD
0131 228 2648
Bert's Bar
29-31, William St
EH3 7NG 0131 225 5748
A fine place with a range of real ales and guest beers,
good food and traditional architecture. Bar area and two
smaller rooms with old newspaper front pages and rugby shirts
framed on the wall. TV for sporting events.
Bistro & Parador Restaurant
26, William St EH3 7NH
The Drunken Monk
3 Rutland St
EH1 2AE
0131 228 3687
Edwards
4 South Charlotte Street
EH2 2AW 0131 226 5526
Deceptively huge 'in' place on this West End lane. New,
young and lively with disco music and dance floor. Exciting
design with a wrought iron staircase up to a higher level
and a spectacularly lit modern gantry. The gantry is on
one bar that stretches the length of the room with a huge
range of drinks. There is another smaller bar in the opposite
corner with great lamps. Bass owns this well designed night
spot.
Granary
42-45, Queensferry St
EH2 4RA 0131 220 0550
Good menu makes the food probably the priority for this
pub. Quality interior that has that New Town village look
- I know what I mean by that.
Harry's Bar
78, Randolph Place
EH3 4TH 0131 539 8100
Despite its discreet entrance down basement stairs (or 'area'
as these used to be known in Edinburgh), this is a deceptively
large pub. Billed as Edinburgh's 'New York' bar, the place
manages to maintain an intimate air. Characatures adorn
the walls round this long bar with a semi-conservatory area
at the rear. Food served and busy at lunchtimes.
Mathers
1 Queensferry Street
EH2 0131 225 3549
Used to be all done out in white tiles and was famous for
standing room only with the ability to serve you immediately
even if you were at the back of a six deep crowd. Now done
up but not overdone and many of the original turn of the
century features remain and are listed. Always had a reputation
for good beer and this remains with real ales, over 100
whiskies and a clientele that appreciate all this. Snacks.
Melville Lounge
23-25, William St
EH3 7NG
0131 226 0924
A real charmer. Modern with a reference to the traditional,
what makes this pub is the friendly atmosphere (August 2003)
and clean toilets! For this yuppified part of town it is
unusual to find such a locals bar. Good pint of Deuchars.
Lunches and evening meals served.
Rat & Parrot The
26-28 Shandwick Place
EH2 4RT
0131 226 4579
Rutland No 1
1 Rutland Street
A large corner pub with an impressive bar that wraps round
the corner. Lots of private wee neuks, some of which offer
a view out onto the bustle of the West End. Spiral staircase
up to a balcony. Serves food and has a fair range of beers
and whiskies. An important site makes this a very busy and
lively bar at weekends.
Scruffy Murphy's
13-14, Melville Place
EH3 7PR
0131 226 3404
