Our History
For over a CENTURY (yes, you read that right!), Scotsman's Lounge has stood as a beloved pub in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.
Drenched in Edinburgh's history and known for its no frills, working man's atmosphere, this homely pub draws both locals and tourists alike.
With its distinctive decor, featuring walls adorned in historical pipers' photos and a full ceiling of hand signed bank notes from its visitors all over the world, you'll soon feel at home in this cosy pub!
The building is Category B listed (Historic Scotland / Scottish planning authority) under the reference “179 High Street and 73 Cockburn Street”.
Being on Cockburn Street places it on a thoroughfare built in the mid-19th century (1850s–1860s) to improve access between the High Street (Royal Mile area) and Waverley Station. Cockburn Street was designed to be less steep and more accommodating than some of the older closes.
Cockburn Street was constructed under the High Street & Railway Station Access Company, partly under the Railway Station Acts of 1853 and 1860. Its design involved slicing through medieval closes and redesigning façades of many older streets. Many of the buildings on Cockburn Street, especially in its earlier phase, were designed by the architectural firm Peddie & Kinnear in a Scots Baronial style (crow-stepped gables, turrets, etc.).
The Scotsman’s Lounge operates as a traditional pub, known for live music and welcoming environment. It has a reputation among locals and visitors alike for its character. It has been trading as a pub since around 1860.