The Kilderkin

Heading down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood Park and the Scottish Parliament, Kilderkin is near the bottom on the left, opposite a primary school. It had been the popular but slightly dusty boozer, Jenny Ha’s since the 1960s, before changing hands in 2011 and now draws a new crowd of rum lovers, pizza fans and pub quiz regulars, who sit alongside the remaining hardcore punters propping up the bar from its Jenny Ha’s days.

It’s a friendly and unfussy pub, with deep, dark wood booths on one side of the main bar, a handful of sofas and tables in the middle, and a side room with an outside step for smokers to huddle. The spirits selection is good, and thanks to Kilderkin’s neighbours across the road, the independent whisky bottler, Cadenheads, there are regular whisky and rum-tasting nights with guidance from a Cadenhead expert (5 drams for £25). Although midweek can be quiet, Monday nights are very busy because of an exceptionally cheap £1 pizza night - be sure to get there very early though - unsurprisingly peak times can suffer from a backlog in orders, and long waits. Keep an eye on Kilderkin’s Facebook page for £4.95 cocktail nights, Tuesday pub quiz information and occasional open mic nights.