The Canny Man's

Although Morningside might be a bit off the beaten track for those used to the bright lights of the city centre, it really is worth jumping on a bus to check out one of Edinburgh’s best – and most individual – pubs. A place so welcoming that the first thing you see is a hat and coat stand, the Canny Man’s is one of those pubs that’s old-fashioned yet timeless, a maze of brightly lit nooks decorated with all sorts of endearing knick-knacks that encourages conviviality above all else.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

With a colourful history and formidable reputation, the Canny Man remains a truly unique institution – how many pubs do you know that sell Salmanazars (nine-litre bottles) of champagne? Service from impeccably dressed staff is frequently charming but stories of the management refusing to serve people whose face doesn’t fit are rife. For some people this is part of its charm; others brave the frosty reception for the vast selection of whiskies, impressive wine list and one of the best Bloody Marys in town. The unusual decor sees every nook and cranny filled with everything from moose heads to muskets, sheet music to stuffed animals. Undoubtedly divisive, but genuinely one of a kind.