Athletic Arms

The pub stands on Angle Park Terrace between two graveyards, and the nickname comes from the gravediggers who used to prop their spades against the bar at the end of a long day. Today it's one of the great whisky pubs in Scotland, with more than 700 whiskies on the list, from easy everyday drams to rare bottlings from distilleries that closed long ago, and in 2025 it was named Whisky Bar of the Year at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards. There are 22 taps as well, with a good run of cask ales. The food is simple and good: pies from a local award-winning butcher, homemade soup and toasties. Tynecastle and Murrayfield are both close by, so it's packed on match days, there's a quiz every Sunday, and dogs are welcome, muddy boots and all.