Oz Bar

All my bar reviews get an extra star if I can walk home from them after I am a bit drunk. And its easy to get more than a bit drunk at Oz bar. They have super cheap drinks, nice seats, pool and wifi. The bar is a bit male orientated, but its fine if your in a large group. I certainly would not go by myself or with a couple of girlfriends.
It gets loud and rambunctious on a weekend, so its only a place to go to if your in a party mood.

Bar australien coincé entre un cimetière et une auberge de jeunesse, né vous fiez pas au voisinage peu engageant! Ici se réunissent les touristes et étudiants du campus voisin. On y vient pour savourer une pinte tout en jouant au billard.
Bön spot pour rencontrer du monde lorsque vous voyagez à Édimbourg.

I went on a Saturday night around 9 and it was just alright. The atmosphere was definitely Australian, almost to the point of tired cliché. The bar staff was really young too which, no big deal I guess but she couldn’t have been over 21. Maybe it’s just me being American but I like the people pouring my drinks to know what they’re doing.

Another cheap gaff. SOLD.
Free pool and wifi is a sell of sorts, but the £3 double rum and mixer was the big draw for me.
A decent size bar with ample seating, this is a decent place for a quick few before heading onto nicer places. The photos behind the bar (check them out for yourself) and amusing ‘Loves the cock’ sign (makes for a great photo) sells who the intended audience is in this place: men.
If you are a man, and fancy a few cheap drinks, then why not I say?

Nice little bar with good music playing at a reasonable level. You will love the sign on the side of the bar meant to catch people not paying attention (trust me, you will know it when you see it).

Mutha-f**kin’ BUCK HUNTER.
Don’t care about nothin’ else in this place.
It has my favorite (yea I spelled it like an American cause I am from the US of A where we fake hunt while being vegetarians) video game of all time… BUCK HUNTER.
It has lots of cool stuff, but I can’t get past BUCK HUNTER.
Oh and the candy machines… big fan of candy machines.

I’ll start off with the quick tip to end all quick tips: Order either a ‘Kryptonite’ or a ‘Pink Dick’. They’re not really on the drinks menu and they cost around £4-£5 but man, two of those and you’ll wet your little knickers. So deliciously, untaste-​ably potent. They’re night-​enders. (or night-​beginners, if your alcohol dependency is as far progressed as mine)
As a borderline self-​loathing Australian living in Edinburgh, I avoided this place for almost a year before I dropped in. The thought of drunken bogans shoulder grabbing and blethering about utes and Bundaberg Rum sounded like everything I ran away from in Australia. I’ve since given it a chance, and I’m definitely glad I did. They have my favourite Australian beer (Coopers Pale Ale), they have pool tables (free from Monday to Thursday) and the owner knows more dirty jokes than my uncle and five nudie magazines combined. Awesome!
Now, if they REALLY wanted to be an Australian pub, they’d need at least 10 pokies, a delicious chicken parma on the menu, a TAB section, Khe Sanh on the radio at all times (or at least once ever 10 minutes) AND not a single Fosters as far as the eye can see. But if they really were an Australian bar and not just an Australian-​themed bar, they’d never see this antipodean convict-​colony escapee EVER again. The balance is completely acceptable for my sways between patriotism and oz-​culture shun.

Friendly staff, good atmosphere, free wifi and pool, and enough tvs. Plenty to like.

Still a solid three stars from me, which again needs to be put into context of what I enjoy from a bar and a night out. It’s a proper pub-​bar with a cheeky Australian theme. Postcards of boobs and bums above the bar, a sign saying «dickhead» pointing to an empty space where an unsuspecting punter will stand, slightly sticky and dusty. Reminds me of a slightly better kept student union.
But the crowd are friendly, the bar staff fare no-​nonsense friendly. There’s one side of the bar that has a big sign saying NO SERVICE do not stand here. If you stand there, they’ll be upset. If you don’t, they’ll be a-​ok.
There’s two pool tables though, and for me that’s a total winner. Just take note of the method of getting a game (adding your name to the chalk board list). The players are friendly and just adding your name up means you’ll probably get chatting to some interesting folk.
Standard drinks (as in, no cocktails) for a bar. Good wee location. Inundated with Australians on Australia Day. Not too shabby.

Seeing as I magically noticed today I am the Duchess of Oz Bar I figured I should probably get round to writing some sort of review for it?! The first time I heard the name of this bar that I was en-​route to I had a mini ‘inside sigh’ — it is just going to be something awful along the lines of Walkabout, and I am going to despise it with a passion. But I was proved wrong, which was a relief!
This wee pub on Candlemaker Row is brilliant. The selection of beer is great, I actually tried an apple and blackberry cider in here for the first time ever… and have never seen it anywhere else since! It can get pretty busy, it is kinda studenty but it makes for a good atmosphere and some great banter.
But the highlight of this bar for me is the guy, who I presume owns it, he is unbelievably welcoming and friendly. The couple of times I have ended up here when it is quiet he is so happy to have a chat with you and I like that. Especially when you rock up at half 12 on Tuesday night looking to play pool, most other people would have shown us the door. This totally swayed me. I was not particularly fussed until this very night where I realised, I like this bar, it’s not a chain, it’s great!

With my current social circle consisting mainly of foreign travellers, my weekends tend to gravitate to the same cluster of social venues… only difference is ye venues are not that of which I would frequent of olde…
Gone are the days of regular bar-​hopping the likes of Hawke & Hunter, Le Monde and Tigerlily. Enter Whistle Binkies, Dropkicks, Opium and, yep, Oz Bar.
Now I’m a sucker for some live music so Binkies I can accept; Dropkicks? You’re gonna need to force feed me (yeah, right!) a few Jaegerbombs beforehand, and Opium… well it does in times of thrift. However Oz Bar has fast become a wee treasure in my eyes, which I am more than happy to spend an hour or so throughout the evening.
Two decent pool tables, regulated by house rules (next name on the board plays next, winner stays on) that everyone abides by; a surprising amount of non-​backpackers (as well as travellers) given the proximity to the Grass Market hostels; an impressive variety of drinks given the size of the bar; and last but not least, some great friendly staff from every corner of the globe.
All add up to a highly sociable atmosphere where meeting new people and making new buddies is made easy.
Only downside is it’s far too close to Dropkick Murphy’s!!!
Give it a try.

Oz bar is a bar of my student drink-​drenched lifestyle. It was always a great bar to visit based on the fact it was less busy than the main Grassmarket bars, especially if you want to queue for less than 10 mins for a drink.
I returned to an old stamping ground to catch up with some of the UK Unilocaling scene on Australia Day. In hindsight, we all realized that the choice of location was closer to insanity, with lots of happy Australians and students partying like it was, well, Australia Day. Once the latecomers arrived (i.e. me and the boy), we had a beer (as the boy found out to his chagrin, the Ozzie beers on display were really just on display, and the actual choice a bit more limited), chowed down on a few Ozzie pizza snacks and got out of Dodge to find somewhere less rambunctious to have a beer and a wee chat with folks.
Oz bar — still a good choice for hitting up at the start of your night (although some of your paraphenalia would make my mother blush) but this old fart, a little bit too loud for her old man pub likings these days.

The Oz bar is a really cool bar just on the way down to Grassmarket, and because it is a little removed from the actual square manages to avoid the scuminess that takes over at night. It doesn’t seem like much from outside but is surprisingly roomy inside, with a good mix of seats and standing space. It is decked out in an Aussie style (surprisingly) with a map of Australia and New Zealand on the wall with tacks in it showing where previous backpackers have been. This is who the bar is designed for (backpackers) and during the evening is full of antipodeans getting ‘off tap’. They’re all great fun to drink with, and you definitely get a different atmosphere than with the regulars of the other pubs on the Grassmarket.
During the day though, it is a very different place. With the tourists off doing touristy things the bar is much quieter, and is a good place for an afternoon few. Because it is close to the Grassmarket the prices aren’t too cheap but the beers are ok. They have huge pool tables as well, and at 50p each, are a lot cheaper than most others around. The manager is great as well; he’s always up for a chat and has changed the music a few times to accommodate our tastes or to show off a new band he’s just discovered.
Overall, both night and day there is a friendly atmosphere, good beer and it’s a good laugh

I wasn’t sure what to make of the Oz Bar when we ended up in here one evening — I thought it was going to be more like a chain pub than anything else. Which is fine of course, just not too original!
What i found out about the Oz Bar is that it’s the real deal. Serving up Aussie snacks such as Aussie’s own brands of crisps, Aussie beers and some New Zealand numbers, it’s a great place if you’re looking to grab an alternative to Tennants.
The bar has a vibrant student feel to it, and I appreciate that it’s a bit ramshackle. The floorboards are nice and creaky, the décor is at times tongue in cheek and the tables have chessboards drawn onto them. They show some rugby matches which will obviously appeal to many, but eve though this place attracts a nicer crowd I would rather visit when rugby is off the menu since I don’t follow it! They play some cool tunes, but what I appreciate most about the bar is how friendly the staff are. Without their open, friendly approach to service the fun, laid back feel of the pub would be lost. It is after all the staff who can make an experience so much better. So even though it’s a good bar with great amenities, the staff are what make it superb! A nice chatty bunch and full of customers wanting to chill out, you’re sure to have a good night in here.

Oz Bar is one of my favourite pubs in Einburgh due to its fun, relaxed atmosphere and fairly priced drinks. I’ve been here a few times on nights out and it’s always entertaining with pool tables, fun staff and an interesting Aussia theme which gets you in the mood for having a good night!
They have a great selection of authentic Australian beers, including real ales and, of course, Fosters. There’s also Bundaberg Rum which tastes pretty awful, but is worth a shot to get the full experience.
The staff are friendly, efficient and always have banter with everyone who walks in, giving the place a lively, bustling feel. Whether you’re up for a fun night at the pub or a great place to pre drink, Oz Bar is the place.

For an Australian bar in Edinburgh, the Oz bar is my preferred choice! (Even though there are very few to choose from). This bar is tucked away on Candlemaker Row and is a great find!
The bar is split into two areas, one with two pool tables, whilst the other has seating. The bar sells your typical Australian themed drinks at a reasonable price and you are more often than not actually served by an Australian!
The pool tables are an added bonus as during a busy night groups merge round the tables for banter and competitions! On the other side of the bar, the seating area fills up pretty quickly most nights! On the walls are maps of different parts of Australia where people can mark where they have been too!
Also have to note that the rather small corridor leading to the toilets is full of posters dedicated to gigs and festivals — a feature which I always appreciate!
A great bar and a great place atmosphere… a visit on Australia day awaits!

When my cousin suggested we meet up in Oz Bar on her Edinburgh leg of a round the world trip, I was a bit unsure to be honest.
For all the times I’ve been out pubbing in the Burgh I have never been here. It’s in a rather secluded spot, and every time I have walked past, I’ve always thought it would be like that awful, terribly cliché Australian chain ‘Walkabout’. And the world does not need another one of those.
So I was very, very pleasantly surprised when I walked into Oz Bar, and there was not a whiff of Walkabout about it. There are pool tables and plenty of comfy group seating which makes this place prime for meeting in bigger groups. The rugby was on the TV when we went, and I expect that’s the sport of choice around here. The staff are nice, and will recommend some good booze to you if you ask. I went for a wee bottle of lager called ‘Little Creatures’ which was great. We stayed in there for most of the night chatting to a couple of barstaff for most of it.
Friendly, relaxed and informal!

Putting aside the Australian theme applied to the bar’s interior, the OZ bar is plain and simply a solid place to grab a drink. Pool tables, decent drinks and good grub all compliment any opinion of the place too.
But as we all know the Aussies love their rugby, and if your a fan too, the Oz bar is a top place to view it. Especially during international rugby fixtures the bar is teeming with activity of which the appeal will suck you in, compel you to neck a few pints and strong-​arm you to join in the with the lairy chants.

Well situated for passing trade from revellers wandering into the Grassmarket and Cowgate and back out again, this bar has been on the scene for longer than I can remember, and hasn’t yet gone through any kind of name change as far as I can remember either, which I find quite incredible considering the rate that the other bars around it seem to have shed their names and created new identities.
This is a no nonsense hostelry designed for straightforward drinking, and maybe a game of pool, for which the appropriate facilities are provided. Probably not the ideal joint if you want to get dolled up and pose about in stiletto heels looking amazing, I’d say put your dress away and opt for something more laid back to spend the evening in, then you’ll probably feel a bit more in tune with the vibe here. There are often some thrifty drinks deals to be had, so always worth popping in, whatever your final destination. Nice bar staff too.

Yes, the Grassmarket is a bit touristy and so pubs are usually a bit on the pricey side and slightly devoid of character as a result, but the Oz Bar is definitely the exception to the rule!
The second you walk in, the chilled out and laid-​back atmosphere is reflected in the décor with exposed brick walls and 1950s inspired art on the walls. If that’s not enough, the barman is so friendly and chatty without being in your face, that you pop in for a ‘quick drink’ and end up staying there for at least an hour having a good natter. My friend and I got onto the subject of music with him once, and pretty soon we were listening to our own personal playlist on the sound system.
The pool tables have recently been replaced, and what’s more they only cost 50p a game. Although the drinks prices may be typical of the grassmarket, there are always promos on — when I was there it was a Double Vodka and Energy Drink for only £3.
Perfect either for a spot of quiet afternoon drinking or starting a night out in equal measure. I’d highly recommend it.

This bar is located just off the Grassmarket, so it is in a great location if your out for the night and want to sample a range of bars. It makes a nice change from all the Irish bars which are in and around the Grassmarket.
Obviously it is an Australian bar, and its pretty cool. There is nothing outstanding about the décor, drinks etc but the people who run it are friendly and chatty. There is a wide range of Australian beer and snacks, but as a Scot I wasn’t really fussed about this. Homesick Aussies may like this though. All the bar staff are good banter, so it generally means you will have some fun. They play a range of sport, and if there is Australian sport on then the bar is likely to be busy. Sometimes it gets a little too busy for my liking though.