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A pub or bar in New Towna calmer, more unhurried feel and return visits

Bars & pubs · New Town

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

The strongest review pattern for this New Town pub or bar is a calmer, more unhurried feel and return visits, over 71 written reviews (averaging about 4.8/5). Treat it as a starting point, then check the practical details before you go.

The atmosphere at smws is generally very cozy and goes very well with a quiet evening of a few drams and some food.
Quiet / calm · Google review · 5★

What it is

A pub or bar in New Town Bars & pubs

Why it may suit

a calmer, more unhurried feel and return visits 71 written reviews (averaging about 4.8/5) helped shape the notes lower down.

Check first

noise level Make sure the detail still fits today.

Next step

Open map Check route and current listing

Best for

  • a calmer stop
  • repeat-visit energy
  • warm-service stops
  • later-day usefulness

Good to know

  • warm, attentive service
  • a calmer, more unhurried atmosphere
  • usefulness later in the day
  • a strong repeat-visit following

From the reviews — worth a quick confirm.

Check before you go

  • noise level
  • booking needs

Why open this page

Use this page to get the feel of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, spot the useful caveats, and decide whether it belongs in today's plan.

Nearby context

More in New Town

Useful if this place is busy, closed, too far from the route, or simply not the right fit today.

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Strong review evidence · 85 written reviews read

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Never Really Here

Never Really Here is another pub or bar in New Town, with strong review evidence from 81 written reviews. Review notes point to warm service and a calmer, more unhurried feel.

Strong review evidence · 81 written reviews read

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Panda & Sons

Panda & Sons is another pub or bar in New Town, with strong review evidence from 84 written reviews. Review notes point to warm service and a calmer, more unhurried feel.

Strong review evidence · 84 written reviews read

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Veeno

Veeno is another pub or bar in New Town, with strong review evidence from 85 written reviews. Review notes point to warm service and return visits.

Strong review evidence · 85 written reviews read

Continue your route

Keep going

Compare nearby: All Bar One George St EdinburghAnother pub or bar in New Town.Open the guideLow-pressure date places in EdinburghTry the momentA rainy day placeSearch New TownFind more nearby options.

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Most useful details to confirm

  • Access details such as step-free entry, toilets, seating, or anything readers should confirm first.
  • Dietary/allergen policy, menu notes, or the best official page to check.
  • Current dog policy and any practical limits.

Useful routes

A calm evening I want an evening place that feels low-stress rather than loud or performative.

Moments this may suit

A rainy day place I want somewhere that can hold a slow, damp Edinburgh afternoon. A low-pressure first date I want somewhere that gives people something to do besides perform. Still feels local I want places whose reviews suggest local attachment rather than pure visitor churn. Cosy winter places I want somewhere warm, low-friction, and useful when the day is dark or cold. Summer wandering I want a loose Edinburgh day with places to browse, pause, eat, or reset. Friends visiting I want to show people Edinburgh without defaulting to the obvious list. Low-effort date I want something easy, warm, and not over-engineered. A proper pub hour I want one good pub stop, not a whole night out.

Appears in collections

Low-pressure date places in Edinburgh Places with a third thing in the room: books, records, coffee, pastries, film, or enough atmosphere to carry a pause. Calm evening places in Edinburgh Lower-stress evening places with warmth, ritual, calm, or useful later hours. Still-local places in Edinburgh Places with signs of attachment: regulars, return visits, named staff, and neighbourhood feeling. Dog-friendly stops in Edinburgh Places where dog or pet-friendly signals appear in the current source material. Late afternoon and early evening places in Edinburgh Places for the in-between hours: after work, before dinner, before a film, or when the day needs a softer landing. Whisky pubs and dram-friendly places in Edinburgh Whisky and dram-friendly places where malts, Scotch, staff recommendations, or drinks-led visits show up.

Works in small plans

A proper pub hour with a backup A low-friction pub plan: one traditional or whisky-friendly anchor, one nearby fallback, and a practical check before you go.

Practical details

Address
28 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1JX
Postcode
EH2 1JX
Website or profile
Open official link
Phone
+44 131 220 2044
Listed opening hours
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 12 to 11 PM
  • Wednesday: 12 to 11 PM
  • Thursday: 12 PM to 12 AM
  • Friday: 12 PM to 12 AM
  • Saturday: 12 PM to 12 AM
  • Sunday: 12 to 10 PM

From public listing data. Confirm directly before travelling.

Price
£20–60
Map listing
Open map listing

Detail coverage

Reviews checked

Google rating
4.7 from 1,025 Google reviews
Review notes
71 written reviews in a 100-review check , latest seen 11 Jun 2026

Why it might suit

Use this as a pub or bar option when the room, timing, and noise level matter as much as the drinks. The review pattern points to warm service and a calmer, more unhurried feel.

  • Staff warmth: 15 review mentions
  • Quiet / calm: 9 review mentions
  • Late / evening: 8 review mentions
  • Return / ritual: 6 review mentions

What we checked

This page is shaped by 71 written reviews from a 100-review set, plus public links where available.

Current depth: Useful review evidence

Caution: Evidence signals are a first-pass reading of the review set. Current opening, accessibility, menu, dietary, and booking details still need direct confirmation.

In reviewers' words

Verbatim quotes from public Google reviews, chosen to show the patterns above. Always confirm current details directly with the venue.

Awesome experience with an amazing service ; personnel extremely welcoming and helpful !
Staff warmth · Google review · 5★ · 2 May 2026

Patterns people mention

Staff warmth 15
Quiet / calm 9
Late / evening 8
Return / ritual 6

These patterns help route the page into guides. They are a reading aid, not a ranking.