Discover 10 haunted pubs in Edinburgh where creepy history and ghostly legends come to life over a pint
Looking for haunted pubs in Edinburgh?
The Scottish capital is famous for its ghost walks, underground vaults and chilling history — but some of the best paranormal encounters can happen over a pint.
From the Grassmarket to the Royal Mile, Edinburgh pubs are steeped in centuries of executions, murderers and eerie legends.
Here are 10 haunted Edinburgh pubs where spirits of the past hang around well after last call.
Haunted pubs in Edinburgh
The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LG
Known as Scotland’s most haunted pub, the Banshee Labyrinth is part of the city’s infamous South Bridge vaults.
Strange music, ghostly screams and terrifying apparitions are regularly reported here.
Regulars speak of Rosie, a child spirit, and “Six Finger Bill,” a sinister figure who appears in the shadows.
Mitre Bar, 131–132 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SG
This Royal Mile pub is built on the site of Archbishop John Spottiswoode’s former residence.
His restless ghost is said to wander the bar, making this a must-visit for fans of Edinburgh’s haunted drinking spots.
Hunter’s Tryst, 97 Oxgangs Road, Edinburgh EH13 9NG
A 14th-century coaching inn, the Hunter’s Tryst is said to be haunted by a white lady who drifts silently across the old rooms.
Its long history makes it one of the oldest haunted pubs in Edinburgh.
The Last Drop, 74–78 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JR
Named after the executions that once took place in the Grassmarket, the Last Drop is a popular stop on ghost tours.
Visitors report seeing the spirit of a young girl in the cellar and around the bar.
Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN
Housed in the old Canongate Tolbooth, this pub once held prisoners in its early days.
Customers still hear children’s laughter, footsteps in empty rooms and glasses smashing by unseen hands.
Whistle Binkies, 4–6 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1LL
Another bar within the South Bridge vaults, Whistle Binkies is haunted by two well-known spirits.
“The Imp” is known for mischievous pranks, while “The Watcher” is a tall man in 17th-century dress who looms silently in the dark corners of the venue.
Deacon Brodie’s Tavern, 435 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2NT
Named after William Brodie, the criminal who inspired The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, this Royal Mile pub is said to be haunted by Brodie himself.
Locals claim to have seen him carrying a lantern, his neck marked with rope burns.
The Beehive Inn, 18–20 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU
One of the Grassmarket’s most historic coaching inns, the Beehive Inn has connections to the infamous Burke and Hare murders.
A door from their prison cell remains inside the pub, contributing to its unsettling atmosphere.
Bannermans, 212 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1NQ
This Cowgate music venue is rumoured to host more than just bands.
Patrons report sudden icy chills and shadowy figures brushing past in the vaulted cellar rooms.
The Star Bar, 1 Northumberland Place, Edinburgh EH3 6LW
The Star bar’s haunting centres on a human skull kept in the basement.
Folklore warns that if it is ever removed, misfortune follows — a chilling relic that has earned the bar its eerie reputation. Read more about Starbar on Spooky Edinburgh.
Have you seen a ghost in an Edinburgh pub? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
