Fiddler's Arms

You're stepping into one of those pubs that actually feels like a proper local, not a tourist trap—even though it's slap bang on the Grassmarket. The Fiddler's Arms has that lived-in, wooden-beamed charm that comes from decades of people coming through for a pint and a crack. The real draw is the live music: fiddles, folk, the whole lot. On any given night you'll find yourself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and visitors who've worked out it's worth the squeeze. The bar stocks proper Scottish ales and whiskies, and the staff know what they're doing. It's rowdy when it needs to be, but there's something genuinely welcoming about the place—the kind of pub where a solo pint feels fine and a group night out feels special.