How many bars and pubs are there within 1 km of Old Town?
148 bars and pubs within 1 km of Old Town, 47.1 per km². Only go in with a clear point of difference; places here already average 4.4★.
Old Town, Edinburgh · scanned 13 October 2026 · the most crowded of 8 areas mapped in Edinburgh
Within 1 km
148
bars and pubs
Per km²
47.1
intense competition
With 10+ reviews
141
enough to judge a rating
Established
127
100 or more reviews
Average rating
4.4★
places with 10+ reviews
Median reviews
978
per bar
Every bar in the circle
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
Rating spread
How the 148 bars and pubs here are rated. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up65 (44%)
- 4.0 to 4.470 (47%)
- 3.5 to 3.95 (3%)
- Below 3.51 (1%)
- Under 10 reviews7 (5%)
Top rated
Highest rating among places with at least 50 reviews.
| Name | Rating | Reviews | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nectar | 5.0★ | 352 | 900 m |
| Sköll & Hati | 4.9★ | 381 | 380 m |
| Vessel | 4.9★ | 263 | 720 m |
| Tipsy Midgie Whisky Bar | 4.9★ | 237 | 960 m |
| Merchants Tavern | 4.9★ | 159 | 70 m |
| Potions And Rations | 4.9★ | 88 | 810 m |
| Whisky Quay Bar | 4.9★ | 54 | 240 m |
| The Cocktail Geeks | 4.8★ | 2,343 | 240 m |
| Boom Battle Bar Edinburgh | 4.8★ | 1,700 | 690 m |
| Boston Bar Old Town | 4.8★ | 374 | 80 m |
Most reviewed
The places customers here write about most.
| Name | Rating | Reviews | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Standing Order | 4.2★ | 12,952 | 780 m |
| The Booking Office | 4.1★ | 8,223 | 290 m |
| Frankenstein | 4.3★ | 6,663 | 380 m |
| Deacon Brodies Tavern | 4.4★ | 6,580 | 310 m |
| The Three Sisters | 4.2★ | 6,201 | 250 m |
Chains
- SUPERCUBE · 2 outlets
Check competition at your exact address — free
These numbers are for the centre of Old Town. Drop a pin on your street instead and see every competitor around it on a map, with ratings and review counts. The scan is free with an account.
Questions
How many bars and pubs are there in Old Town?
148 within 1 km of the centre of Old Town, Edinburgh, counted on 13 October 2026. That is 47.1 per km², which we rate intense competition. It is the most crowded of the 8 Edinburgh areas we mapped.
Is Old Town a good place to open a bar?
INTENSE competition: 148 bars and pubs within 1 km of Old Town, 47.1 per km². Only go in with a clear point of difference; places here already average 4.4★. The numbers here are for the area centre; a free scan shows every competitor on a map around your exact address.
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in Old Town?
4.4 out of 5, across the 141 with at least 10 reviews. 65 are rated 4.5 or higher. The typical bar here has 978 reviews.
Which bars and pubs in Old Town are rated highest?
Among places with at least 50 reviews: Nectar (5.0, 352 reviews), Sköll & Hati (4.9, 381 reviews), Vessel (4.9, 263 reviews).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of Old Town on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Average rating only counts places with 10 or more reviews.