Carters Bar

Small and intimate Scottish pub. Numerous beers on tap — instant friends standing about. The music play-​list was everything a 40-​something could love. :-)

Hunners. That’s how many times I’ve walked by here and never even thought once about nipping in for a drink.
Oh how WRONG was I? Answer: VERY!
My friend pointed out that he knew a wee bar that was a «secret» and not many people knew about it. Well, call me shallow, but I hear that, and I’m all in for a drink there. So off we toddled.
And it’s SUPERB. It’s a dive bar in the diviest diveishness that ever did dive. There’s Get Carter posters all over the place; there’s mismatched lights, chairs, tables… you name it. It’s random. My mum would describe it as higgledypiggledy then wonder why she was in a pub after hours of darkness fell.
They have a great selection of beers and lagers on tap — I had a Haggis Hunter! TWICE! — and there’s tons of nooks, crannys and even a small upstairs mezzanine area to investigate.
We were lucky enough to get the two high backed, leather, wing arm chairs next to the bar, with the side table and mosaic lamp in between, and man, if I’d sat there earlier in the night, I would never, ever have moved again.
Plus, there was a pretty lady in leather trousers stood right next to the chair, so there was a nice bum at eye level. That might not happen every time you’re in, buyer beware.
Nice staff — with a barman sporting a quality olde time curled moustache — and talkative punters, and a relaxed atmosphere for what could be a Local Bar For Local People, if you know what I mean.
Totally, definitely and utterly on my list for my next visit through to That Edinburgh, as it’s only minutes from Haymarket Station, and on the way to Lothian Road, home of many fine food emporiums and posh bars. Well worth stopping in and trying to get that chair with the fine view…

I went there on a Saturday night with two friends and experienced a drunk football fan seating at our table and calling us «a**holes» all night. The bouncer spotted him but was probably too busy doing nothing and didn’t lift a finger.
Otherwise we had a nice chat with a few other local customers, but this «event» kinda ruined our evening there.

I like Carters… but it doesn’t seem to want me to like it!
It seems every time I go here an old man is snooty to me. Most recently I was knocked (ever so slightly) by a man because I was standing beside his empty bar stool. I tried to laugh it off and said that I was standing not sitting so he had nothing to worry about and he harumphed at me and asked me what my point was.
Apart from the slightly odd older crowd the place seems to draw, it’s a nice, cosy bar. There’s comfortable alcoves with candles for ambience, Sky News is always on the telly, and there’s an upstairs area that overlooks the main bar. It’s one of these ‘very edi’ places where you have to go outside to find the toilets though!
It has a decent drinks selections, limited on the cider, and the bar staff are very nice, especially the blonde lady who seems to be a total sweetheart. They do cheap toastie and food deals (toasties of course being above ‘food’ in all respects!)
Overall a quiet enough bar that is good for a midweek pint, just stay away from the old men!

I visited Carters for the first time last night with one of my fellow ‘tweeps’. I have to say that was pleasantly surprised. I did not expect such a nice wee pub on that part on Morrison st. The bar is quite small but there is a mezzanine upstairs with plenty of seating and you can ‘lurk’ at the customers downstairs. I did not check the ales selection as we opted straight away for the Japanese lager, which is very drinkable!
The locals are quite friendly and there are 2 big tellies for the football fans. Nice atmosphere overall. A good discovery.

Carters Bar offers a range of excellent home made food and drinks at very reasonable prices. Personally, I would recommend visiting Carters Bar to sample their Soup and Toastie deals, which you can get for just 3 pounds. When I was last there I had a bowl of Vegetarian Chilli with a Toastie for this amazing price and couldn’t even manage the whole lot as the portions are so generous.
Situated conveniently next to Haymarket Station, it always has a pleasant atmosphere with friendly regulars and barstaff. Although the pub is quite small it has two levels and outside there is a solitary table where you can enjoy a cigarette with a drink if you so choose.
There are also weekly live music nights, pub quizzes etc. Even if slightly out of the way for those who live more centrally, Carters Bar is definitely well worth the trip.