Quick info
About Jolly Judge
Jolly Judge is a basement pub in Edinburgh, reached down a flight of stairs in a close off the Royal Mile at 493 James' Ct. A log fire and a low ceiling give the small room its character, and seating is limited. Drinks are ordered and collected at the counter, and the staff offer tastes of cask ales before you buy. The list covers real ales alongside local beers, ciders and whiskies, with flights of 1/3 pint ciders also available. The room has no music and no large televisions. The pub is open daily.
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention cask real ales, whisky drams, free ale samples and flight of ciders.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention cask real ales, whisky drams, free ale samples and flight of ciders.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the real ales, with cask ales and a Thomas Hardy ale on cask named as highlights, alongside a Gueuze selection. Close behind is the welcome at the counter, where bartenders hand out samples before anyone commits, and one reviewer got a flight of 1/3 pint ciders poured after a special request. Whiskies come up too, with staff guiding choices and sharing the stories behind each dram. Many describe a small, dark, cozy cellar bar just off the Royal Mile, a quiet escape from the tourist crowd, with good conversation among locals and no music or big televisions. Several call the pricing reasonable. The trade-offs are practical: seating is limited, so one reviewer says patience is needed to get a seat, drinks are ordered and collected at the counter, and the entrance is down stairs with no elevator. One reviewer notes the pub does not serve food. Another says it is not for everyone because it is busy and there is no music, so talking to people is the point. Samples before buying recur as the detail reviewers mention most.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the real ales, with cask ales and a Thomas Hardy ale on cask named as highlights, alongside a Gueuze selection. Close behind is the welcome at the counter, where bartenders hand out samples before anyone commits, and one reviewer got a flight of 1/3 pint ciders poured after a special request. Whiskies come up too, with staff guiding choices and sharing the stories behind each dram. Many describe a small, dark, cozy cellar bar just off the Royal Mile, a quiet escape from the tourist crowd, with good conversation among locals and no music or big televisions. Several call the pricing reasonable. The trade-offs are practical: seating is limited, so one reviewer says patience is needed to get a seat, drinks are ordered and collected at the counter, and the entrance is down stairs with no elevator. One reviewer notes the pub does not serve food. Another says it is not for everyone because it is busy and there is no music, so talking to people is the point. Samples before buying recur as the detail reviewers mention most.
Featured reviews
- Tim Lash
“Great pub on the Royal Mile! Shockingly not too crowded and noisey. Enjoyed a flight of 1/3 pint ciders. Poured after a special request to a very accommodating bar tender. Super friendly staff willing and capable of recommending beers, cider or whiskey. Escape the throng of Royal Mile tourists for a quick nip in this ancient pub”
- Liana Burke
“My favorite of the pubs I visited in Edinburgh. In a close off the Royal Mile. Garden basement level=stairs / no elevator. Small, cozy, classic. Attentive bartenders, indoor and outdoor seating under trees, sog friendly, nice selection of local beers. Does not serve food. No enormous televisions. Just good energy.”
- Alice Price
“This is a cute little quiet place to get away from the “tourist” crowd. It’s small, dark and cozy. Great for a 1 and done drink.”
- Raj Kapoor
“Beautiful small pub with great atmosphere and vibes. One has to order and pickup drinks at the counter. The guy at the counter was very friendly and as we were new to the Cask Aels, he gave some samples to try so that we could select that appeals to us. The Cask Aels were really smooth, tasty and had a character. Pricing is very reasonable. Small seating capacity so should have some patience to get a seat. Whole atmosphere was great had some great conversations with locals. Recommended ! 🍻”
- John Martin
“Cellar bar just off the Royal Mile. Lovely service and quality Scottish real ales. Well worth a visit when you're in Edinburgh”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Real ales, malts and pub-grub in convivial basement pub with log fire, plus decorative low ceiling.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Bars near Jolly Judge
- The Cow Shed4.3270.1 mi
live music, whiskey, casual vibe
- Malt Shovel Inn4.32,5660.1 miReservationsOutdoor seatingGood for kids
fish and chips, haggis, mac and cheese
- Dropkick Murphys4.39970.2 miWheelchair accessible
guinness, live music, dj and dance floor
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly Judge | 4.62,816 | — | cask real ales, whisky drams, free ale samples |
| The Cow Shed | 4.327 | 0.1 mi | live music, whiskey, casual vibe |
| Malt Shovel InnReservations · Outdoor seating · Good for kids | 4.32,566 | 0.1 mi | fish and chips, haggis, mac and cheese |
| Dropkick MurphysWheelchair accessible | 4.3997 | 0.2 mi | guinness, live music, dj and dance floor |
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