Edinburgh Pub Guide: The Bow Bar

Bow Bar

Located on Victoria Street (also known as West Bow), one of the most spectacular streets in the Old Town, the Bow Bar hides unassumingly behind its narrow frontage and plain glass windows. It would be very easy simply to walk past it without noticing, which would be a shame for this is one of Edinburgh's best pubs.

Interior Looking Towards the Front The Bar Bow Bar and Victoria Street

Inside is a lovely pub, selling a superb range of real ales. The walls of the single room are decorated with old advertising mirrors, while the bar itself is businesslike. A long line of taps for the ales, with shelves on the wall behind for the malts. One of the beers you will find here is Caledonian Deuchars IPA.

Pub Sign

This is hardly surprising as it is both a lovely beer and found in many of Edinburgh's pubs: but you should make a point of having a drink of it in the Bow Bar: because Deuchars started life as the pub's house beer.

And real ale is really at the heart of the Bow Bar's success story. It is one of just two pubs covered by this guide that have been featured in all eight of CAMRA's Good Beer Guides from 2000 to 2007 (the other being the Guildford Arms). Others pubs have come and gone from the GBG's prestigious listings, but it says a lot for the consistency of the Bow Bar's excellence that it has remained a fixture.

Address: 80 West Bow, EH1 2HH
Telephone: 0131 226 7667
Opening hours, normal: 12.00 midday to 11.30pm
Opening hours, Sunday: 12.30pm to 11.00pm
Real ales: Belhaven 80/-; Caledonian Deuchars IPA; Timothy Taylor Landord; 5 guest beers
Whisky choice: A selection of 150 malt whiskies is available
Cocktails: No
Hot drinks: Coffees and Hot Toddies
Food: Pies and toasties
Food service times: 12.00 midday to 2.30pm Monday to Saturday
Music: No
Policy on children's access: No children's license
Disabled access: The Bow Bar is accessible as are the toilets, though there are no special facilities
Clientele: Lovers of good beers, good malts, and good pubs
Outdoor seating: No
Other attractions: The friendly atmosphere
Features in: Good Beer Guide 2007; Good Beer Guide 2006; Good Beer Guide 2005; Good Beer Guide 2004; Good Beer Guide 2003; Good Beer Guide 2002; Good Beer Guide 2001; Good Beer Guide 2000; CAMRA's Edinburgh & SE Scotland Real Ale Guide (2004)
If there is anything above that needs updating, please let us know.