Bar Brig

Good food and good tunes galore in this colourful Leith local.

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

Bar Brig is part of the wave of new pubs transforming Leith Walk into a hub for local live music. While perhaps not everyone welcomes this new vibe, especially those who have seen their local taken over by the younger generation, colourful places like this feel just as much at the heart of Leith’s ever-changing community. It’s a tight space but they cram a lot in, with booths around the edge and wee tables poking out from the bar. The staff are friendly, with a real welcome extending to new and returning customers. The crowd is mostly thirtysomethings in for the music, a few pints and a bite to eat and the food is a step up from the usual pub grub, riffing on a Mexican theme with tacos, tortillas and fajitas alongside burgers and ribs. Local bands play the Brig Below most nights while ad hoc acoustic sessions keep toes tapping upstairs.