A HISTORIC 154-year-old pub in Edinburgh has been named amongst some of Europe’s best bars by a prestigious international guide.
The Canny Man’s, located on Morningside Road in the Scottish capital, has earned a place on The European Bar Guide’s Top 100 Bars in Europe 2025 list.
Established in 1871, the family run pub is reportedly famed for its notoriously strict rules and is regarded as a local institution, and was awarded a 8.7 out of 10 for its overall rating.
The popular establishment was judged based on a variety of categories including the quality and choice of drinks, its decor, atmosphere, events and value for money.
The European Bar Guide described the pub as a “love-or-hate” place where “unless you’re a regular, service is only tolerant at best”.
The Canny Man made the top 100 list, just, as it was ranked 100th overall. The description from the guide read: “The pub has a long history, transformed from the Volunteer Arms by the Kerr family who were local whisky blenders, operating in the cellar of the pub for a time on their ‘The Golden Drop’.
“James Kerr was a very particular fellow, and the pub was always run to a set of rules both according to customers and even his staff, which is why some people truly take against the place.”
The description went on to say that visitors will need to “visit with an open mind”, as it said there is an “exquisite pub to be enjoyed for those who are patient”.
The pub's decor was one of the main reasons it scored so highly with its rating as the space boasts an eclectic mix of heritage artefacts from the business's long history to taxidermy animals and model ships.
