A 2016 debutante in the heart of the Old Town, Salt Horse is dual-purpose beer shop and bar with the business very much on message in terms of artisan food and drink. The bar space is not the biggest but it has the maximum number of small tables squeezed in, simple décor, lots of beer in bottles and cans, and a dozen rotating keg lines featuring breweries like Pilot of Leith, Kernel of London, Moor of Bristol, Thornbridge from Derbyshire and more. These are served in schooners (two-thirds of a pint) as is customary these days but with some beers reaching 7% abv and above, that’s no bad thing.
Foodwise, the kitchen has been offering great burgers and barbecue lately, courtesy of Jones & Son, like buttermilk chicken burgers, traditional cheeseburgers or panko-crusted mushroom with halloumi and chilli mayo for veggies.
There is no avoiding the H word when it comes to Salt Horse – what with its sipping glasses of strong craft beer, handmade burgers and ‘slaw – but as hipster venues go this is a good one. It’s seconds from the tourist noise of the Royal Mile and the staff actually care about the quality of the product.