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The White Hart Inn
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
historiclivelytouristy
About the Vibe
Edinburgh's oldest pub (records trace it back to 1516) sits right on Grassmarket in the heart of the Old Town, and it wears its 500 years of history proudly. You'll find Belhaven beers on tap, hearty Scottish pub grub, and live music most nights — it's the kind of place tourists and locals alike end up in, and honestly, that's part of its charm. Yes, it gets crowded and loud, but that's exactly what a historic Grassmarket pub should feel like.
Why it's worth it
Edinburgh's oldest pub since 1516, pouring Belhaven ales and hosting live folk music nights in a tiny, wood-panelled Grassmarket room steeped in five centuries of history.
Highlights
oldest publive musicBelhaven alesGrassmarket
Before you go
Go before 7pm on weekends if you want a seat — the pub is small and live music nights fill it up fast, especially during festival season.
Known For
- •Edinburgh's oldest pub (est. 1516)
- •Live music nights
- •Belhaven beers on tap
- •Traditional Scottish pub food
Best For
pre-Edinburgh-Castle pintlive music eveningsfirst-night-in-Edinburgh pub stop
1 review
City InsidersEditorialJuly 6, 2026
500 Years of Pints and Folk Music on Grassmarket
You can't walk through Grassmarket without noticing The White Hart Inn — it's been pouring pints here since 1516, making it arguably Edinburgh's oldest pub, and the place leans hard into that heritage. The interior is small, wood-panelled, and genuinely old-feeling rather than staged. There's live music most evenings, which fills the room and then some, and the crowd is a mix of tourists who've read about it and locals who know it's a reliable spot for a Belhaven and a bowl of haggis, neeps and tatties.
The food is solid pub fare — think pies, fish and chips, burgers, and Scottish classics done competently if not spectacularly. Where The White Hart really shines is atmosphere. On a busy night with a folk band playing, it's exactly what you came to Edinburgh for: warm, loud, a bit chaotic, and steeped in enough history that you half-expect Robert Burns to walk in. Bar staff are friendly and used to the crowds.
It's not a quiet pint kind of place, and it can feel packed during festival season. But if you want a proper old Edinburgh pub experience with music, history, and a decent pint, this is the one. Go early if you want a seat — it fills up fast, especially on weekends.