When I first moved to Edinburgh I was on a backpacker’s budget. I was living in a hostel, which meant many of my friends were on a modest budget too.
A night out in Edinburgh can be pricey- but don’t worry, because I made it my goal to find a handful of cheap pubs in Edinburgh!
You needn’t beg, borrow or steal for a night out in ol’ Reekie with drinks starting from just £1 at many bars, pubs and clubs, you just need to know where to go.
Here are my favourite cheap pubs in Edinburgh your wallet will love, plus I’ve included a map so you can find them easily.
Exploring Scotland? Check out my post on the best pubs in Scotland
Cheap pubs in Edinburgh Map
It’s important to note that the below prices shouldn’t be taken as gospel. Prices change at any given night of the week, and prices usually go up in summer and for the Edinburgh Festivals in August.
The following pubs will always be some of the cheapest pubs in Edinburgh, so rest assured you’ll be paying less for a dram!
The Globe
The Globe sports bar on Niddry Street is the perfect spot for cheap drinks and somewhere to watch the game.
Serving beers from all around the world, their pints start from just £3.30 with bottled premium lagers starting from £2.75.
House spirits are only £2.50 for a single and £4.10 for a double, and shots start from £1.50.
For sports lovers they have 6 screens and 2 projector screens showing three different sports channels simultaneously.
They also have a Quiz Night every Monday and karaoke every Thursday night, making it a well-populated watering hole for locals and backpackers alike.
Opium
Opium is your typical grungy alternative rock and metal pub, nestled in the heart of Cowgate- the party hub of Edinburgh.
Their bottled beer is priced from £2.75 with bombs starting at £1.50.
Their house vodka is from £1.50 during Monday to Thursday and all other house spirits are £2.
During the weekend all mixed house spirits are £2.50. They also have a great fishbowl selection at £9 each!
Subway Cowgate
Nope- I’m not talking about the restaurant.
If you’re a fan of cheap drinks and 90’s and 00’s music, you’ll love this nightclub located in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh.
Boogie down to the best 80’s, 90’s and 00’s throwbacks or grind away at their RnB nights.
Drinks start from just £1 and they have a range of slushies and cheap cocktails!
Shandwick’s
Shandwick’s is known for having one of the cheapest pints in Edinburgh, especially during the August festivals.
It’s a basic, no frills pub located just off Princes Street.
Tip: If you sign up to their mailing list on their website you get your first drink free!
Bar Salsa
Self-proclaimed as ‘Coyote Ugly vs. Dusk til Dawn’, Bar Salsa may be wee but it’s the place to party all night on a budget.
Shots start from £1, Shooters from £2 and pints from £3.25.
They also have cocktails from £4 and £12 pitchers to share.
During Monday to Thursday they have a deal where all spirits and mixers are £2, all VK’s are £2 and all Classic Cocktails are £3 for Loyalty Card holders. Bargain!
The Hive
I am way too old for this nightclub now, but you can pick up cheap drinks and party all night long at The Hive.
I’ve been to the Hive once, and stayed primarily for the cheap drinks, but it’s very popular with the under 25 crowd.
You do have to pay to get in, but there is free entry Sunday-Thursday.
So if you’re under 25 and looking for a nightclub- give The Hive a try.
J D Wetherspoon
‘Wetherspoons’ or ‘Spoons’ as called by the locals, is actually a pub/restaurant chain in the UK.
They are known for having fantastically cheap meal and drink deals, many for less than a tenner! There are several Wetherspoons in various locations around Edinburgh.
The Caley Picture House is located in New Town on Lothian Road; The Standing Order and The Alexander Graham Bell are also located in New Town on the opposite ends of George Street; The Booking Office is located just outside the Edinburgh Waverley train station, and The Playfair is on Leith Walk.
If you’re lucky you can get a pint for less than £2, however most range between £3-£4. House spirits are from £2.50. Still not bad prices, especially when you can order a cheap meal too!
MY BEST TRAVEL TIPS FOR SCOTLAND
Here is a list of travel resources that I always use that save me time and money. For more tips check out my ultimate guide on planning a trip to Scotland.
💜 Planning: If you’re on a budget I highly recommend grabbing my Ultimate Scotland Travel Planning Bundle. It includes an ebook, digital travel planner, and cheat sheets for planning your trip.
💜 Planning a Trip to Scotland Course: If you are looking for help to plan your trip from start to finish, my Planning A Trip To Scotland course is my absolute best resource for creating your itinerary! It includes 70+ videos about every aspect of planning a trip to Scotland.
💜 Booking flights: I use Skyscanner when researching and booking my flights as I find them to have the best deals. I also use Google Flights to compare flights I’ve found on Skyscanner. I always book direct with the airline.
💜 Accommodation: I use Booking.com when booking my accommodation in Scotland. I also have a list of my recommended accommodation in Scotland here.
💜 Travel insurance: I always recommend booking travel insurance for any trip you take. Personally, I use CoverMore– I used to sell this insurance when I was a travel agent and dealt with claims on behalf of my customers frequently and they were really easy to deal with. World Nomads is also another high-quality insurance provider I recommend.
💜 Tours and Activities: I use GetYourGuide whenever I can to book tours and activities. I also recommend purchasing the Explorer Pass if you plan on visiting a few attractions.
💜 Transport: When hiring a car in the UK I always use Celtic Legend. You can save 10% off your car rental by using the referral code WAYFARINGKIWI when you ask for a quote. For train times and bookings I use Scotrail (Scotland’s main network) and I also compare prices with Trainline. For bus travel, I use Megabus for cheap fares.
💜 What to pack: The weather is changeable in Scotland and you can sometimes have four seasons in one day! I’ve written this comprehensive packing list for Scotland that will tell you everything you need to pack, whether you’re travelling from abroad or living locally and you’re planning a day trip to Scotland.
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