Edinburgh Rugby - Eating,Drinking and Sleeping
Edinburgh : The City and Bars
Introduction
Like Rome, Edinburgh is built on seven hills. Unlike Rome, however, the weather fronts often blow in from Siberia, so wrap up warm. Known as the Athens of the North, this is a reference to the great thinkers of the 18th century enlightenment and thus has more to do with David Hume and Adam Smith than the weather.
Edinburgh has in recent years made huge leaps as a destination. It is now brimming with seriously good restaurants and vibey bars. Long gone is its dour image (well deserved though it was) of the past. Every summer it hosts the world’s finest arts festival, when the city’s population swells like a well fed python to double its normal size. But this elegant and ancient metropolis, with its beautifully crafted Georgian New Town and its gnarled yet grandiose Old Town, accommodates them effortlessly.
Getting around Edinburgh
The Lothian bus network runs Edinburgh’s transport system ( there is no tube/metro) Day passes cost £2.30 for unlimited travel, Ridacard costs £13 for one week or you can purchase a single ticket from the driver as you board the bus
Lothian Buses: 0131 554 4494
Tourist Office
3 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2QP
0845 22 55 121
09.00-19.00: Mon-Sat; 10.00-19.00
Rugby Bars near Murrayfield
Around the stadium there are plenty of fast food places, and no shortage of bars that cater to sports fans.
These are some of the best….
The Murrayfield Bar
57-59 Roseburn Terrace
0131 337 1574
11.00-24.00/01.00 daily
Not to be confused with the bar at the Murrayfield Hotel, the Murrayfield has seven TV screens and two pull-down big sports screens.
It’s a nice wood-panelled bar and does food with a basic menu of such things as fish and chips and bangers and mash.
Murrayfield Hotel
18 Corstorphine Road
0131 337 1844
9.00-01.00 daily; food served 9.00-21.00
The Murrayfield has a large modern bar, quite different from the other sports bars in the area. There are two big sports screens right behind the bar itself, so you don’t miss any of the action while ordering.
The Roseburn
1 Roseburn Terrace
0131 337 1067
Also known as The Fly-Half, the Roseburn has six screens and a small lounge bar whose walls are covered in sports photos, autographs and jerseys.
There’s a bigger bar on the corner, with wood panelling and red leather seats, and yet another bar off that-and they are all full on match days.
Sports Bars in the Centre.
The Three Sisters
139 Cowgate
0131 622 6801
One of Edinburgh’s most popular pubs with the sporting crowd, The Three Sisters is noisy, usually full, and has a great atmosphere on match days.
Kay’s Bar
39 Jamaica Street West
0131 225 1858
A hidden gem with strong rugby connections, this cosy pub attracts visiting internationals for a drink. And the fans love it too.
The World Bar
55 Thistle Street
0131 225 3275
Small local pub showing rugby matches; the All Blacks memorabilia on the walls shows the landlord’s allegiance.
Sportsters Sports Bar & Diner
1a Market Street
0131 226 9560
Opposite Waverley station, this bar has a good atmosphere, big screens, big portions and great prices.
The Oxford Bar
8 Young Street
0131 539 7119
With slices from ancient rugby posts framed on its walls and a famous Pie Machine at one end of the bar, this is a grubby and lovable pub which attracts an eccentric and interesting clientele.
And not a big screen in sight…
The Cambridge Bar
20 Young Street
0131 226 2120
Just along from the Oxford, and also popular with rugby fans-probably because it serves good beer, good food-and shows live rugby on a big screen.
Updatd August 2013
Copyright Miles & Miles Publishing 2013
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