The Royal Oak is a great place to experience live folk music in a small pub space. Its not fancy, its not touristy, its just wonderful music by people who have stories to tell. The bartender is friendly, always making sure you have a drink, and if you offer to buy a round for the singers he knows what they like. It is small, and when a "Whiskey Tour" or "Pub Crawl" stops by it can get crowded for a few minutes. Just sit back, listen to the tales, and enjoy. read more

Royal Oak - Royal Oak - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Great vibes and musicians playing. It's a small spot, so plan to stand at some point. Limited beer options and not the best of options, though they do serve cask ale. read more

Small space. Lovely local musicians talent sing-along a perfect first night in Edinburgh. I'm still humming songs from that night.

Had a great time there in late May 2022. Randomly sat in there for an open mic/karaoke style thing and got the courage to sing. The bartenders are awesome and there's a cozy atmosphere read more

I wish it wasn't, but this place is definitely an old man pub. By day there are men and women on the dole smoking outisde. By night the place is full of, mostly, older clientele. It's one saving grace is that it plays live folk music from mainly local artists. It's not really my thing, but I can understand the appeal and a lot of it is actually excellent music. On big nights when popular singers are playing it attracts large crowds and so the queue for the bar can get pretty hectic. The staff are quick, friendly and seem to get on well with the locals. The drinks are what you would expect with most pints costing no more than £3. It's not a bad place to go at all for a drink and some folk music. read more

Royal Oak - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This bar is amazing! It is tucked away on a side street and a bit off the beaten path but well worth the trek! My fiance and I were in Edinburgh and really just winging it. Through a subtle conversation with our cab driver, he said if we like live music we MUST check out the Royal Oak. After settling into our AirBnb and grabbing some dinner we ventured out for drinks and good times. Fast forward to sitting down at the bar in the Royal Oak, this place is quite small but in a good way! We bellied up to the bar and grabbed a few drams of whiskey that the bartender talked us into, something she said all the locals drink. After a few sips, a man in the corner of this bar pulls out a guitar and starts playing! This is great and suddenly a circle breaks out and the guitar is getting passed song after song to the next person and the next, a few harmonicas break out as well as hand drums and a banjo. I even picked up the guitar and played a tune as well. What a fun time in general, complete strangers enjoying each other company through whiskey and music. There was a French family there signing in French and everyone was clapping along. All in all one of the most fun experiences I have ever had in a bar ever. read more

If you are in the mood to listen to Folk music, The Royal Oak is the place to go. Situated just off of the busy an bustling South Clerk Street, The Royal Oak is just a short walk from the city centre and it is really close to the main University campus, George Square, too so it is a convenient place to reach. I have been into this pub several times, but it took me ages to actually go in as I always thought it was an old man pub and that there was nothing really that special about it. How wrong I was. I have only ever been to this pub when live folk music was playing and the atmosphere was amazing. Most of the clientele when I have been in has mostly been locals and the Royal Oak is not that popular with students which is a shame as it is definitely worth a visit. During the festival, this pub gets really super busy and it can feel quite crowed and cramped inside. The staff are friendly, the drinks are cheap and there is traditional pub food available - ideal! read more

Royal Oak - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Royal Oak is not your typical "old man" pub. Though its clientele tends to be of the older variety the Royal Oak is not just another pub, but sells itself as an "authentic Scottish" pub. I'm not entirely sure what authentic Scottish is, but this is not your "authentic" Scotland in the usual touristy haggis and bagpipes sense. Instead expect a cosy pub, with two bars, with live music every night. The Royal Oak is probably best known for its live music, of a mostly folk variety, which you can often catch as you squeeze into this sometimes crowded pub late at night on, a cold winter's ee (Sunday night is "wee folk club" night). The Royal Oak is certainly warm, friendly, if not a touch cliquey at times . I'm not sure authentic Scottish equals folk music and ale but The Royal Oak still does a good job at what it sells itself as doing. Also note the Royal Oak is the starting point for the popular "Rebus tours" based on the books by Ian Rankin. The pub is easy to locate, near the National museum on Chamber Street and a couple of minutes from the Royal Mile. read more

Royal Oak - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Lovely pub, the tiny upstairs lounge is very cosy and good craic with live musicians. Haven't quite checked out the downstairs area.

As far as I'm concerned, the Royal Oak is probably the best place in Edinburgh to indulge in a well-earned pint . Yes, it is big statement, but I just believe this pub incorporates many of the wonderful aspects of the city: the music, history, top banter and buzzing atmosphere always reminds me why I love living here and on a busy night, the place just comes alive! It's one of those Scottish pubs where you'll start to recognise the locals and where people actually know each other and come together for a wee sing-song, a giggle and some drinks. It may be small, but being crammed inside to enjoy the folk music adds to the whole experience. The regular performers are great, as is the open mic night, where you can either get involved in a jamming session or just enjoy the talented musicians who seem to pass through all the time. Since my boyfriend introduced me to this place over a year ago, I've met a bunch of interesting people from Scotland and from all over the world. I really can't sing the praises of this place enough! read more

Located just off South Bridge in central Edinburgh, the Royal Oak is all about folk music. The pub itself is extremely small and consequently suffers from a tendency towards overcrowding and overheating. Having said that, the cosy atmosphere and the folk music combine to create a very intimate ambience. There are also a good range of whiskies available. Worth a visit if you are looking for somewhere slightly different. read more

You haven't been to Edinburgh until you have been to the Royal Oak. A place to find Scottish pub culture at its best. The Royal Oak is tiny but with great history of which it is extremely proud - rightly so. One of those places where you run into and find locals sitting (rather standing) together and singing along to whatever is vein played by someone who sat down with their fiddle, guitar or washboard and started to play. Live folk music every night. And a spectacle every other (depending on who decided to come along) often folks move over from the Captain's Bar when it closed for a last order at the Royal Oak. A bit messy, a bit warm, a bit too many people in there but somehow it falls int place wihitn minutes after you have ordered your Whiskey/Pint and positioned yourself in some spot among the strangers who will very quickly feel like friends to you (might be the alcohol) read more

I like this place - its really a mini music venue rather than a bar or pub. It has a reputation for its folk music acts, and generally they are usually very good. The bar itself isnt that big, but it can hold a lot of people when it needs to - even though it can feel a bit cramped. The decor is 'old man traditional pub', but this suits the pubs atmosphere, so its no bad thing. There are plenty of drinks available, and the staff are friendly and quick. However, this place often gets a bit rowdey later on in the evenings, but not exactly riot scale. A generally great place, with its reputation for good music still intact. read more

Royal Oak - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The first time I entered the famous Royal Oak was on a dreary, drizzly Scottish evening. Inside, the place was a buzz of activity, with men chatting at the side quietly, while a number of young and old musician's played away. The upstairs part of the Royal Oak, can, and has been on my visits very busy, but with the folk music on offer, it adds to its warm atmosphere. The bar is limited in its offering, but prices for ales and lagers are average. Perhaps not as famous as Sandy Bells, but the Royal Oak is still a must for any fan of folk music. Indeed, above certain seats there are plaques dedicated to past locals and musicians who have played in the Royal Oak and it is hard not feel some of the history of the place. By the end of the night, you will either be lost in the music or chatting to some local, whatever the outcome, the Royal Oak does offer a unique atmosphere in Edinburgh. read more

I don't really understand what people have against old man pubs. I'm personally sick of being around people my own age, and the best stories you'll ever get are from older men. At Sandy Bell's, a man once told me loads of interesting facts about the Freemasons, and about how they'd changed to accommodate people from other faiths or no faith at all. The Royal Oak, apart from being a plain good pub, is interesting in the stories you'll hear. The stories you'll hear aren't particularly told, as such, but sung. I went there for a friend's friend's birthday once upon a time, and apart from the banjo and guitar playing that filled the room with great folk songs, you'd also get the occasional older man, who would stand up from his stool in the pub and start crooning an old tune, on his own. I mean, I couldn't understand half of what was sung, what with my speaking North American English, but you're kind of transported (in the least spiritual sense of the word) to a different time. So yes, this old man's pub is much more than just that. It's a whole experience. read more

I first went to the Royal Oak last night with high expectations for a fun pub with great folk music. While I did enjoy the fact that this pub is all about music, it was hard that it is so tiny with so many people squished inside it. I was standing with my boyfriend next to his parents who were lucky enough to get seats, but I kept being jostled around as people kept trying to push by en route between the door and the bar. The beer selection was ok and the whisky selection was much larger. Overall I was a tad disappointed because of the old man pub atmosphere that others have mentioned as well. read more

Royal Oak - Great whisky selection to go with the folk music - Pubs Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I've been here a few times and every time my experience was very different. The first time we went late on a Friday night as a friend knew that local musicians get together in the bottom bar to have a jamming session after they have finished playing at other pubs and venues. This was a great night and I'd give it 5 stars. SO much fun and we even got to have a wee shot on the guitars!!! The second time I went in for a quick drink in the top bar which is not the most classy of venues. Rammed in there at 7pm on a Friday night beside older locals was not a nice experience. If I could give zero stars then that would even be too much!!! I still couldn't get the memory of that first night out of my head so on the third occassion I had visitors over from foreign lands. I wanted to give them a taste of Scotland so decided to take them along in the hope that the musicians would be back. There were musicians but in the bar upstairs. They played their own local songs with lots of slang words so of course my friends didn't have a clue what they were on about. When I requested that they play 'Caledonia' I got laughed at and if looks could kill then I'd have been lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the floor!!! I've now come to the conclusion that every night is different and you have to just appreciate the memories. I doubt I'll be giving this place another chance. read more

Another haunt for Edinburgh Folkies. Great Music Sessions held on various nights, my personal favourite is the Sunday afternoon session that is normally hosted by amazing musicians such as Sarah McFayden, Sandy Wright, Kris Drever or some other great musician residing in the city. Great little room down stairs that is used for the Wee folk Club who host regular folk gigs on Sunday nights. It is also used for sessions and on busier nights. It is the guaranteed late night drink in that part of town. Decent range of beers, spirits and plenty of character's to keep you amused while you enjoy your pint. read more

The Royal Oak is a pub that specialises in folk music, and if that's your thing (or even if it isn't) then you will probably love this pub. There is also a rather good independently released CD available of seminal performances from the Royal Oak, so if you're interested, check it out. Great atmosphere, great music, great pub. read more

One old man in a pub does not 'an old mans' pub' make! There WAS an old man there that looked like he was just out of the old folks home for the night, and he was being given mugs of tea to drink. I didn't see any other old men there though, unless 'over-thirty' counts as old these days. The ages of the other customers ranged from about 20 up to about 40. The pub got progressively busier as the night went on. It got to about 40 people and felt full. (not bad for a Tuesday night, but I have a feeling that the 2 am licence 7 days a week, might have something to do with it). It is a great wee pub though. Live entertainment livens up any pub. Tonight it was Bobby Nicholson and various other musicians entertaining everyone 'til well after 1 am. It didn't seem like the place where married couples come to, unless they're tourists. I'd visit this pub a lot, if I lived in Edinburgh, because it is a friendly place to be in. Cosy and welcoming. It has a full bar, with 50ml Malt of the month for £3.50. It has a full range of snacks, including pork scratchings and pickled eggs. What more could a punter ask for? read more

An Edinburgh Institution. I first popped in here about 12 years ago to meet my (dearly departed) uncle, who lived around the corner. It hasnt changed much since then. Still able to chat upstairs with locals and tourists alike before heading downstairs for more chat, music, ale. Many relaxing fun nights have been had in the R.O. Iain read more

This is definitely a great place to find locals and chat. We sidled up right to the bar and sipped on whiskey while we made friends with the bartender and other locals spending their Thursday night. Really cool quotes on the walls and you get the feel of being part of a community. Loved this place. Definitely crowded, we were lucky to find a spot at the bar. read more

Old mans pub replete with folk music and reams of salt of the earth guys. Upstairs can feel a little bit like you are drinking in a rugby scrum as when it gets busy you know all about it. However, it's the music that this place has a reputation for, a real live music venue. In saying that 'venue' seems a bit too strong, it's more like a group of pals all playing and to each other and having a blether in between, all for the love of the music. I'm not a massive folk music fan, but there's something about the guys that were playing that is just so engaging. It's the kind of pub that makes you want to order a real beer from a pump and likely to wind up listening to a man that you can't decide how old he is telling you stories in a thick slurred east coast accent. Definitely an experience. read more

A small but lively little pub down the street from the hive ( don't go there it constantly smells like vomit) and near the royal mile. The upstairs is quite crowded and noisy as it is a small pub, but the downstairs area has a pool table that you can play on if you pay 1 pound per game and put down a 5 pound deposit for the pool cue and chalk. Scottish pool is different from American pool as the balls and table are both smaller, the balls are not numbered, and penalty rules are different. keep this in mind if you plan on playing locals.A strange crowd at times but is a lively place every day of the week. read more

Well its small and cosy a little frayed at the edges . You go here for the music at least a third of the space is taken up by musicians who on this occasion were pretty awful . Choice of three ales reasonably well kept . read more

The Royal Oak is a lovely little pub for a quiet drink and chat. When I say little, I mean little, they have very limited seating upstairs, (more downstairs but again quite small). This leads to the cozy atmosphere that only a proper old pub can afford. It will, however, be overcrowded at times, be warned. The defining feature of this pub is the folk music. This is real folk music, in it's most traditional form- a session in the pub. This means it's not a live band, I don't know if they're payed to play there, but essentially it's just a group of musicians who come together to play their music and have a few pints in true traditional fashion. If you want to hear some genuine Scottish folk music, this is your place. The downside is that it's rude to talk over the music, and it's so small that they will notice even if you are quiet about it. This can hinder your night, especially if you're with a group or on a date- not ideal. If you'd like to sample a some real Scottish folk music, then you should definitely drop in here at least once. Being packed in and having to be quiet is a small price to pay for such a genuine experience. read more

From what I gather, the Royal Oak is a bit of an institution. This traditional 'old man' pub is small but its reputation for good folk music is big. I ended up here in the wee hours on Saturday night and the place was absolutely heaving (we were physically wedged in at one point) so we didn't stay very long. I'll definitely be back though, I'll try and catch some tunes on a much quieter mid-week evening. read more

Three words: old man pub. But somehow, it's not a bad thing. This tiny venue plays host to live traditional music, and the barmen can pull a variety of lovely real ales. For an authentically Scottish pub, far from the Fresher crowds, the Oak Tree will welcome you, and send you home feeling cozier. read more

This small, rather quaint, atmospheric pub is home to the well known Wee Folk Club held every Sunday from 8:30pm. Acting as one of Edinburgh's top notch live folk and blues venues, The Royal Oak attracts a diverse and interesting crowd for it's quality music and good banter accompanied by a decent pint. Known to play host to traditional music playing musicians who regularly stroll in after playing gigs elsewhere in the city, there's never a dull moment to be had. And with it being located just a short walk from the Royal Mile it's surely worth checking out for the random music sessions. Feel free to pull up a pew and belt out a tune on the old piano in the upstairs bar! read more

The Royal Oak is one of Edinburgh's foremost folky pubs. Nearly every night you will experience some kind of musical mayhem, whether it be a fiddle session or solo singer pounding out some old favourites with a battered yet trusty guitar. Great ales are also on offer, along with a downstairs bar with comfy couches and an often more subdued and respectful concert environment, often showcasing some of Edinburgh's freshest music talent. This pub is also home to the Wee Folk Club, the little brother of the Edinburgh Folk Club. A good night out is always guaranteed at the Royal Oak. read more

A tiny little pub at the top of Infirmary Street with a good range of malts,and beers for most palates.The IPA and guest ales are well kept,and they do a very refreshing 60/-.Traditional Scottish/Folk music every evening,and Calum on guitar on Saturday afternoons.Try May's homemade stovies or soup! Great cross-section of customers,regulars and visitors. read more

A brilliant folk pub. Upstairs is quite small - often good folk session there if you can get a seat or don't mind standing. In the downstairs bar there is great music, too, and you're more likely to sit down. read more

Best Place in Scotland for traditional, non-touristy, authentic music! Friendly locals, and Guinness :D

This is the premier folk music bar in Edinburgh and regularly has some great acts performing. (Alan Hunter, Martin Boland, Andy Chung spring to mind) The place also acts as a magnet for performers from all over. Acts who have just finished a gig elsewhere will regularly turn up here to relax and play the stuff they want to play instead the stuff they have to play to entertain a more general audience. But it's not all good. There is a widespread 'folkier-than-thou' attitude and a general reluctance to play anything anyone else might have heard of. Although this does mean that you get to hear a lot of good new music. The bar staff are generally good natured although one or two of them can be a bit dour. I was with my brother when he was warned about 'smiling too much'. I myself got into trouble for buying drinks for a couple of musicians - "They're here to play not to drink." I have been there hundreds of times over the last twenty years, so it would be unreasonable not to expect at least one or two bad experiences in that time. The choice of beer is limited but the quality of it is always good. And if you go in the afternoon then it's a good place if you just want a quiet pint. read more

MUSIC PUB !! Great music!! slightly expensive :O but MUSIC PUB :D Good for a pint after everywhere else closes 2am license :) read more

Last night in Edinburgh was really great. Looking for some love music in a cozy pub. There wasn't a cover charge the night I went and they weren't doing super traditional music that night but the singers were talented and I enjoyed a good pint listening Great fun not touristy environment! Would def come back. read more

Open later than most pubs in Edinburgh during the week, but I'd not suggest it if there was an option... tends to be full of old dodgy smelly drunks. read more

My favorite Edinburgh pub, no doubt. Regular visitor many years ago and returned to the city last year for a short while, but it's still the same old pub with fantastic music. read more

it smells like a dirty old folks home I dont think its been cleaned in the last 100 years,

Couldn't have asked for more. Amazing atmosphere, wonderful music, merry folk and nice selection of beer. True Scottish experience. Recommend to any one who is looking to do more than the touristy stuff. read more