No. 1 High Street

What to look for

Look up as you go in: a figurehead above the door shows a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the monarch's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland, in green uniform with a longbow. Inside it is a cosy, homely bar rather than a polished gastropub, and it fills up quickly when the Royal Mile is busy.

Food and drink

The kitchen mixes traditional Scottish dishes with pub favourites: steak and ale pie, macaroni cheese, burgers and a haggis tower, with a vegetarian haggis available. Regulars also mention the cullen skink and cranachan. At the bar there is a long beer list including cask ales, plus a wide choice of Scotch whisky if you want to try a dram or two.

Where it fits in your day

It sits almost next door to The World's End and The Waverley Bar, so it is easy to compare a few old pubs in one short walk. Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament are downhill, while the Edinburgh Larder on Blackfriars Street is nearby for breakfast or brunch the next morning. It is a sensible place to break up a walk down the Royal Mile, especially on a cold or wet day, when a bowl of soup and a dram by the bar make a welcome pause between sights.

Highlights

• Traditional bar on the Royal Mile
• Cask ales and a wide whisky selection
• Food served all day, including vegetarian haggis
• Royal Company of Archers figurehead above the entrance

Good to know

• The pub's website gives a phone number and email for enquiries rather than an online booking system.
• Vegetarian options are on the menu.

Frequently asked questions