Waverley Bar

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Waverley Bar

1 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TA

Telephone 0131 557 1050
Food served Sun–Thu 11.30am–midnight; Fri, Sat 11.30–1am.
Average price Soup and toastie £6; pie and a pint £7.50 (set lunch); £4 (bar snack)
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A simple, classic Edinburgh bar whose near-century of history has been respected under new ownership.

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

The Waverley Bar lay untouched for a year after the death of its owner ‘Captain’ Ian Walker in early 2016, his family having owned it since the 1920s. But this much-missed fixture of Edinburgh’s traditional pub circuit has now returned. To their credit, owners Caledonian Heritable have changed the atmospheric Victorian interior very little, with the maroon wood panelling, bright horseshoe bar and decorative Fringe flyers from years gone by lending the same convivial air. The upstairs room hosts folk sessions on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, as well as Fringe shows in August. While the tap selection is limited to Tennant’s, Guinness or cider, 60 whiskies and 40 gins offer drinkers variety, and the food range has increased slightly from the Captain’s bags of free crisps to include lentil soup, toasties and a selection of hot pies.

High point: A pub with real classic character which honours its history
Low point: Overload of Billy Connolly memorabilia in the gent's suggests a tourist-focus
Notable dish: Mince and tattie pie.
Average price: Soup and toastie £6; pie and a pint £7.50 (set lunch); £4 (bar snack)