Children are, of course, accepted in restaurants in Scotland.
However, you can only take children into pubs in Scotland if the pub does food. After a long day of exploring Edinburgh, if you would like to combine having a drink with food, here are some pubs that do food (and that accept children). If not just type in “child friendly pubs”. Here is the Yelp list:
https://www.yelp.co.uk/search?find_desc=Child+Friendly+Pub&find_loc=Edinburgh&start=10
Generally speaking children cannot enter a pub (even if it does food) after 8 at night (sometimes later … see below).
If you arrive late in the evening, the main takeaway outlets (here) close to the house are open until fairly late. Salvatore’s Fish and Chips is recommended.
Bottom line if you want to eat out with children (in a pub) in the evening and do not want to walk too far: opt for The Abbey or the Salisbury Arms.
If you have a car, The Forester’s Guild is down by the beach in Portobello and has heated beach huts in which a whole family can sit around a table for standard/ good pub menu whilst enjoying the fresh air.
If you are in the centre already and are looking for a child friendly pub, all the Wetherspoons pubs have cheap, standard pub food, cheap coffee and beer and plenty of space. The Standing Order in the centre is an experience in itself on account of the architecture.
Walking Distance from the House
The Abbey (4.6 on Tripadvisor) 9 mins walk
65 S Clerk St, Edinburgh EH8 9PP
9.30 to 22.00 (serves food until 9.30)
abbeybar.co.uk
Cheep and cheerful pub that does food, including breakfast (from 9.30). Nothing pretentious about it and does all the pub standards, including Haggis, mashed potato and turnips. Why not give the Haggis, the Scottish national dish, a try. It is not as bad as it sounds. Really!
Salisbury Arms 15 mins walk
58, Dalkeith Rd, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 5AD 15 mins walk
Can host adults and children for a meal (with drinks) until 10 p.m and can also host adults with children for drinks alone until 8 p.m. Serves food until 23.00 on weekdays and Midnight on Friday and Saturday!
Reasonably priced food, very good hours for adults with children and an upmarket decor.
The Pear Tree (3 on Tripadvisor) 12 mins walk
38 W Nicolson Street
Website does not say but will most probably serve adults with children until 8 in the evening. Serves food until 12 at night!
https://www.peartreeedinburgh.co.uk/menu
One of the oldest pubs in Edinburgh. Used to be a pub that was favoured by academic types. It now evidently caters for a younger public and has a more corporate, commercial feel to it. Possible to eat inside and out (in the huge beer garden) and the food is reasonably priced.
Bennet’s Bar (18 mins walk) (4.1 on Tripadvisor)
An impressive, local bar now open until 1 in the morning. There is a restaurant area at the back but no menu on the minimalist website or indication of when they sell food until. Have a feeling that they have changed their business model and aim now for students.
Grassmarket (15 to 20 mins walk)
The Grassmarket is a lively centre for going out at the weekends (as is Causewayside with its bars and clubs open until the early morning). It has great views of the castle and is interesting in itself as a late Medieval market place.
Beehive Inn (3.7 on Tripadvisor)
18-20, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2J
Busy pub in a picturesque location.
The Black Bull (3.9 on Tripadvisor)
12, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU
blackbulledinburgh.co.uk
Sports bar, burgers, open until late ….
High Street and Centre
Evidently, there are hundreds of bars in the centre and on the High Street. I have only picked out two (basically because I like them)
Guildford Arms (4.1 on Tripadvisor)
1 West Register Street
https://guildfordarms.com/children
Children are allowed into the upstairs restaurant. Website does not say but most probably only until 8 at night. Worth it for the spectacular late nineteenth century decor? A real trip back to another era.
Wetherspoons Pubs
Weatherspoon’s is a popular, cheap bar and food chain. There are 6 in Edinburgh and you will be able to feed a family and have a drink at a really quite reasonable price. Children are also able to eat in until 21.00. No need to book. If ever you feel like having a beer at 10 in the morning … Wetherspoons is reputed the place to go! Still a good option for a cheap meal and a favourite with families.
The Standing Order (3.8 on Tripadvisor) is recommended. It is right in the centre of the New Town shopping area.
Others that You Might Want to Use Transport For
The Forrester’s Guild (4.3 on Tripadvisor) (20 minutes by car)
40 Portobello High Street
https://www.forestersguild.co.uk
This pub has outdoor seating in heated beach huts at the back. It makes for an enjoyably experience in itself. Probably best to book.
Sheep Heid Inn, (3.8 on Tripadvisor) (14 mins in a car)
43-45 The Causeway, Edinburgh, Lothian, EH15 3QA
Despite this being the oldest pub in Edinburgh (and so a beautiful old building) the relatively low Tripadvisor score is not a surprise. Basically, the pub has been commercialised by a large chain. However, plenty of space outside, Duddingston is a good base for a walk around the loch. Proabably best to book.
Cannymans (3.8 on Tripadvisor) 7 mins in a car.
237 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH10 4QU
A bar that markets itself as upmarket, this is a well established family run business with seating arrangements for eating. Probably best to book.