The Southsider sits at 3-7 West Richmond Street, a ground-floor tenement pub in Edinburgh's Southside, just over North Bridge from the Old Town.
This is a value-first local rather than a destination cocktail room. DesignMyNight describes it as a cosy Old Town-edge pub built around craft and cask beer, friendly staff and a simple menu. The space splits into two areas around the bar counter, with cosy booths and a back room that books out for groups. Live music lands on Saturday nights, and the sports screens fill the place on match days. The result is a steady neighbourhood bar that keeps prices honest.
The room
Two main areas sit either side of the bar, one for drinkers and one set up for food and groups. The booths are the seats to claim, and the Richmond Room at the back takes bookings for parties. It reads as a working tenement pub, low-key and warm rather than styled. The size keeps it intimate, which works on a quiet weeknight and turns lively when the screens are on or a band sets up.
The drinks
Beer is the point. The Southsider runs a rotating range of craft and cask ales alongside the usual lagers, plus wines and spirits for the table. One Tripadvisor reviewer flagged it for the cheapest pint they found in the city centre, which sums up the value pitch. Order whatever Scottish craft is freshest on the board and a burger or a plate of beer bites. There is no long cocktail list to work through, so keep it to beer and food.
The crowd and the vibe
The crowd mixes Southside locals, students from the nearby university quarter, and theatre-goers before and after shows at the Festival Theatre. The mood lifts on match days and around performance times, and the Saturday live music brings a fuller room. The People's Pub group runs it as a friendly value local, and that holds in the reviews: easy, unpretentious and well-priced.
Best time to go
Weekday lunchtimes and early evenings are the quiet window, good for a cheap pint and a seat in a booth. Saturday nights bring the live music, and the room fills before and after Festival Theatre performances. Match days run loud, so come for the sport or avoid them if you want calm.
What regulars say
Reviewers rate it 4.2 across 206 Tripadvisor reviews and praise the value, the beer choice, the food portions and the friendly staff. The cheap pints and the burgers come up most. The common note is that it gets busy and loud during sport and theatre rushes, which is the trade-off for a small, popular local. Several call it one of the best-value pubs near the Old Town.
Who it is for
The Southsider suits a pre-theatre pint, a match-day session, or a cheap night of craft beer and burgers in the Southside. It fits students, locals and anyone who wants value over polish. Skip it if you came for cocktails or a quiet room on a busy match day.
The verdict
For honest beer and food at fair prices a step from the Old Town, The Southsider earns its regulars. The booths, the rotating taps and the Saturday music make it a reliable Southside local rather than a one-off visit. Time it to a quiet weeknight or a theatre evening, and keep the order to a craft pint and a burger.
Stay in the city with our craft beer bars in Edinburgh roundup, the Edinburgh pubs guide, and the best bars in Edinburgh edit. Pair The Southsider with Salt Horse in Edinburgh, The Hanging Bat in Edinburgh, and Summerhall Bar in Edinburgh.
Sources: The People's Pub official listing (2026); DesignMyNight; WhatPub / CAMRA; Tripadvisor reviews (n=206); Google Maps reviews.
