Dropkick Murphy's

Dropkick Murphy's is a cavernous pseudo-Irish pub in the Grassmarket vicinity, which plays just enough on its theme without verging on the tacky.

With multiple sports screens, big cubey booths and a bar that stretches practically the length of the building, surrender any aversion to serene sobriety at the door; a winner with big groups on the prowl for a party, Dropkick's is without question the place to get it started.

The fact its situated on the Grassmarket is handy if you're bar-crawling. That said, it's likely that once you get stuck into Dropkick's, you're not going to be in the mood to leave any time soon.

On top of all that, when the fringe fest grabs Edinburgh by the throat in August, this pleasing cowgate nook becomes a darned good comedy venue too. And it's with Laughing Horse, meaning you'll get a night of wiced comedy for £0. Unless you're a nice fellow who pops a copper in the donation hat, of course.