Joseph Pearce's holds the corner of Elm Row at the top of Leith Walk, a split-level Swedish bar and kitchen run by the Boda group.
The building has been a landmark since 1898, when it opened as a grocer and later a wine merchant. Anna and Mike Christopherson, the Swedish couple behind Boda Bars, took it over in 2008 and kept the high windows and the corner footprint. Forever Edinburgh lists it among the city's Scandinavian-leaning bars, and the formula is simple: comfortable sofas, food until 9pm, and a room that works as a cafe by day and a packed bar by night. The Scotsman named it Pub of the Week for that easy shift.
The room
White walls, big windows and a split level keep the space light and open, which is rare for an Edinburgh corner bar. Sofas and armchairs fill the lower floor, with tables set up for long lunches and board games. Boda built its name on family-friendly afternoons, so prams and kids are normal here before evening. After dark the same room tightens and fills, and the windows over Elm Row make it one of the better spots to watch Leith Walk go by.
The drinks
The beer list leans craft, with rotating Scottish and Scandinavian taps alongside the house lagers. The Swedish streak runs through the rest of the bar, from aquavit to glogg in the colder months. Reviewers on Tripadvisor single out the Bloody Marys, with one calling them the best in the city. Order a craft pint and a plate of meatballs, or a Bloody Mary at brunch. Skip the idea of a long cocktail menu; this is a beer and easy-drinking bar, not a mixology room.
The crowd and the vibe
Daytime brings families, freelancers and locals from Leith and the New Town edge, drawn by the cafe feel and the food. The mood turns on Friday and Saturday nights, when Joseph Pearce's becomes one of the top of the Walk's reliable hotspots. Square Meal describes it as relaxed and welcoming rather than scene-driven, and that holds true. The crowd stays mixed in age and easy in temper, which is the point of a Boda bar.
Best time to go
Come midweek afternoon for the quiet cafe version, with a window seat and a coffee or a slow pint. Come Friday or Saturday evening for the busy one. Sunday afternoons are the family slot, with board games out and a calmer pace. The kitchen runs until 9pm daily, so plan food before then.
What regulars say
Regulars praise the friendly staff, the bright room and the value, and rate it 4.0 across 219 Tripadvisor reviews. The Swedish food and the Bloody Marys come up again and again as the things to try. The common complaint is that weekend nights get loud and busy, so the early evening is the better window for a quiet drink. Several reviewers note it is one of the more welcoming corners at the top of Leith Walk.
Who it is for
Joseph Pearce's suits a relaxed brunch, a family Sunday, or a casual start to a Leith Walk night. It fits anyone who wants craft beer and Swedish plates without fuss. Skip it if you came for a dark cocktail den or a quiet late-night drink on a Saturday.
The verdict
This is the friendliest of the Boda bars and an easy anchor at the top of Leith Walk. The light room, the Swedish kitchen and the craft taps make it work across the day, from morning coffee to a weekend pint. Time it to the afternoon for calm or the evening for the buzz, and keep the order to beer and meatballs.
Stay in the city with our craft beer bars in Edinburgh roundup, the Leith bar guide, and the best bars in Edinburgh edit. Pair Joseph Pearce's with Lioness of Leith in Edinburgh, Nauticus in Edinburgh, and Leith Depot in Edinburgh.
Sources: Joseph Pearce's official site (bodabar.com, 2026); The Scotsman Pub of the Week; Forever Edinburgh; Square Meal; Tripadvisor reviews (n=219).
