# Grassmarket, Old Town & the Canongate > Edinburgh craft beer crawl: Cold Town House, The Bow Bar, Salt Horse, The Holyrood 9A, BrewDog DogHouse Edinburgh. About 1.6 km, allow 4–5 hours. Source: https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/edinburgh/routes/old-town-grassmarket-canongate/ (The Craft Beer Crawl, 2026-10-21) Route 1 · "The Old Town Crawl" - 5 stops - About 1.6 km - Walking: About 20 min - Allow 4–5 hours **Best time:** Any day from noon; Thursday to Saturday from about 1pm is ideal (Salt Horse opens at 4pm Monday to Wednesday). Start early on Friday and Saturday, when the Grassmarket fills up with groups after 9pm. Opening hours change, so check each venue before you set off. ## The stops 1. ### [Cold Town House](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/edinburgh/venues/edinburgh-cold-town-house/) 4 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU Three-floor Grassmarket bar with Cold Town Beer brewed on site, Neapolitan pizza and a rooftop terrace looking straight up at the Castle. The terrace reopened in April 2026 after a £500,000 refit with a retractable glass roof, so it works in the rain. Open daily from noon (to 11pm Sunday to Tuesday, midnight Wednesday and Thursday, 1am Friday and Saturday). [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Cold%20Town%20House%2C%204%20Grassmarket%2C%20Edinburgh%20EH1%202JU) 2. ### [The Bow Bar](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/edinburgh/venues/edinburgh-bow-bar/) 80 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH One-room Scottish alehouse with eight cask lines on traditional tall founts, guest kegs and 400+ malt whiskies. No music, no TV. Pies at lunchtime. Open noon to midnight daily. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The%20Bow%20Bar%2C%2080%20West%20Bow%2C%20Edinburgh%20EH1%202HH) 3. ### [Salt Horse](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/edinburgh/venues/edinburgh-salt-horse/) 57–61 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh EH1 1NB The Old Town's specialist craft beer bar and bottle shop: 14 rotating draught lines, around 200 cans and bottles (strong on Belgian lambic) and burgers. Opens 4pm Monday to Wednesday, noon Thursday to Saturday, 12.30pm Sunday. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Salt%20Horse%2C%2057%E2%80%9361%20Blackfriars%20Street%2C%20Edinburgh%20EH1%201NB) 4. ### [The Holyrood 9A](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/edinburgh/venues/edinburgh-holyrood-9a/) 9a Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AE Wood-panelled craft beer pub with 20-plus taps of Scottish and international beer and big 'two-hander' burgers. Open from 10am daily until midnight (1am Friday and Saturday). [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The%20Holyrood%209A%2C%209a%20Holyrood%20Road%2C%20Edinburgh%20EH8%208AE) 5. ### [BrewDog DogHouse Edinburgh](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/edinburgh/venues/edinburgh-brewdog-doghouse/) 5 New Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BH BrewDog's beer hotel off the Canongate: a ground-floor bar with about 30 taps (roughly a third guest beers) and a second-floor roof terrace with fire pits. Open daily from 7am until 11pm (midnight Wednesday to Saturday). [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=BrewDog%20DogHouse%20Edinburgh%2C%205%20New%20Street%2C%20Edinburgh%20EH8%208BH) Getting there: start in the Grassmarket, about a 12–15 minute walk from Waverley station or 10 minutes from the Princes Street tram stop. The route finishes at New Street, about 5 minutes from Waverley's Market Street exit. Bow Bar to Salt Horse (about 700 m) is the longest leg. Go up Victoria Street, along George IV Bridge and down the Royal Mile to Blackfriars Street. The Old Town is hilly and the cobbles are slippery when wet. Optional detours a few minutes off the route: The Halfway House (24 Fleshmarket Close) for cask ale, or Sandy Bell's (25 Forrest Road) for its nightly folk sessions. **Alcohol-free and pacing:** ask at the bar for alcohol-free beers and soft drinks, and remember a half is always fine. Eat along the way, drink water between stops, and skip a stop whenever you like. [More tips](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/responsible-drinking/). [Walking directions (Google Maps)](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=Cold+Town+House%2C+4+Grassmarket%2C+Edinburgh+EH1+2JU&destination=BrewDog+DogHouse+Edinburgh%2C+5+New+Street%2C+Edinburgh+EH8+8BH&travelmode=walking&waypoints=The+Bow+Bar%2C+80+West+Bow%2C+Edinburgh+EH1+2HH%7CSalt+Horse%2C+57%E2%80%9361+Blackfriars+Street%2C+Edinburgh+EH1+1NB%7CThe+Holyrood+9A%2C+9a+Holyrood+Road%2C+Edinburgh+EH8+8AE) [Print the free passport](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/passport/edinburgh/old-town-grassmarket-canongate/) ## Prefer a guide? - [Edinburgh: Pub History Tour with Beer & Cider Tasting](https://www.getyourguide.com/edinburgh-l44/edinburgh-old-town-guided-walking-tour-and-beer-tasting-t120247/?partner_id=8AVPI3Q&cmp=old-town-grassmarket-canongate): GetYourGuide · From US$58 · check dates - [Edinburgh Beer Tour](https://www.tiqets.com/en/edinburgh-attractions-c21/tickets-for-edinburgh-beer-tour-p1062322/?partner=thecraftbeercrawl): Tiqets · From €54.60 · check dates Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Tasting quantities and inclusions are set by each tour operator and can change. Check the listing before you book. ## Places to stay nearby Well-rated places to stay near Old Town, measured from Cold Town House, the first stop. Distances are as the crow flies. ### Point A Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket ★★★ 152 Morrison Street · about 800 m from the first stop Guest rating 10/10 (7,369 reviews) [Prices on Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Point%20A%20Hotel%20Edinburgh%20Haymarket%2C%20Edinburgh) or [Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?destination=Point%20A%20Hotel%20Edinburgh%20Haymarket%2C%20Edinburgh) · [Agoda](https://www.agoda.com/search?textToSearch=Point%20A%20Hotel%20Edinburgh%20Haymarket%2C%20Edinburgh) ### Wilde Aparthotels Edinburgh Grassmarket ★★★★ 26 King's Stables Road · about 100 m from the first stop Guest rating 9.4/10 (6,616 reviews) [Prices on Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Wilde%20Aparthotels%20Edinburgh%20Grassmarket%2C%20Edinburgh) or [Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?destination=Wilde%20Aparthotels%20Edinburgh%20Grassmarket%2C%20Edinburgh) · [Agoda](https://www.agoda.com/search?textToSearch=Wilde%20Aparthotels%20Edinburgh%20Grassmarket%2C%20Edinburgh) ### The Knight Residence by Mansley ★★★★ 12 Lauriston Street · about 300 m from the first stop Guest rating 9.6/10 (2,811 reviews) [Prices on Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=The%20Knight%20Residence%20by%20Mansley%2C%20Edinburgh) or [Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?destination=The%20Knight%20Residence%20by%20Mansley%2C%20Edinburgh) · [Agoda](https://www.agoda.com/search?textToSearch=The%20Knight%20Residence%20by%20Mansley%2C%20Edinburgh) Prefer an apartment? [Search holiday rentals around Old Town on Vrbo](https://www.vrbo.com/search?destination=Old%20Town%2C%20Edinburgh). We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Ratings and star classes are from our hotel data provider and can change; check them on the booking site. --- ## Responsible drinking Please drink responsibly. You must be 18 or over to use this site. Know your limits, eat, drink water and never drink and drive. Free, confidential advice: [drinkaware.co.uk](https://www.drinkaware.co.uk). © 2026 The Craft Beer Crawl. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Venue listings are editorial and nobody pays to appear on a route.