Edinburgh Pub Guide: The Beehive Inn

The Beehive Inn

The Beehive is one of the collection of attractive pubs that line the north side of Edinburgh's Grassmarket. It operates on two floors, with an upstairs restaurant and ground floor bar.

Dining Room In the Beehive's Green Period The Sitooterie

If the sun is out you can make use of the beer garden at the rear of the pub, which has a raised decked area and can seat up to 200 people. The garden offers dramatic views up to Edinburgh Castle. Alternatively you can watch the world go by from the "sitooterie": the pavement tables out on Grassmarket.

Internally the decor is wood panels and screens. As you enter the main bar is off to your right, while a seating/dining area is off to the left. Rafters Restaurant, upstairs, is home to the door from the condemned cell that one formed part of Edinburgh's old Tolbooth. The restaurant also supplies the bar food downstairs.

Pub Sign

The Beehive serves well kept real ales and a range of malt whiskies is always available. There is also a function room capable of accommodating events of up to 90 people.

The Beehive's cellars are said to be the home of a number of ghosts and this certainly adds to the atmosphere and gives a nice sense of history. The Beehive can be busy at times, especially at weekends, but the resident ghosts may appreciate the relative peace and quiet that comes from the pub's policy of not encouraging the stag and hen parties who often tour the Grassmarket pubs at weekends.

The Bar