A pub on the Royal Mile crossroads
Hunter Square is right in the middle of the Old Town. It’s the small paved square tucked behind the Tron Kirk, where the High Street meets North Bridge and South Bridge. The Piper’s Rest sits at number 3, so you’re a few steps from Royal Mile foot traffic without standing on it.
Inside, the room is lined with exposed brick and wood. Expect a pub, not a formal restaurant. The draws are pub plates, Scottish craft beers and cocktails at mid-range prices. It’s consistently well rated across thousands of reviews, and its location keeps it well known to visitors, so don’t expect a quiet local secret.
Getting to Hunter Square
The walk is short from most places in central Edinburgh:
- Edinburgh Waverley station: leave by the Market Street or Princes Street exits and walk up North Bridge. Allow roughly 10 minutes, all uphill.
- St Giles’ Cathedral: a few minutes east along the High Street.
- Tram: the nearest stops are St Andrew Square and Princes Street, then walk over North Bridge.
- Buses: many Lothian routes run along North Bridge and South Bridge and stop at the square.
It’s a good stop to pair with the Royal Mile, the Tron Kirk or the Old Town closes running down toward the Cowgate.
Timing your visit around the crowds
It opens at 10am and closes at 1am, seven days a week. That covers a late breakfast, a long lunch and last orders after a show. Opening hours stay the same on every day of the week, so weekday and weekend planning only differs by crowd.
The measured quiet spells are 10am to 1pm on weekdays and 10am to 12pm on weekends. Weekend evenings are when you’ll struggle: between 4pm and 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays, finding a table gets hard. In August, the Fringe fills Hunter Square with performers and queues, so arrive earlier than you normally would.
Ordering at the bar, Scottish style
The Piper’s Rest is a pub, so follow pub habits. In most Scottish pubs you walk up to the bar to order drinks. Ask staff when you arrive whether food is ordered at the bar or brought to your table. Contactless card payment is standard across UK pubs, and plenty of places no longer take much cash.
- Beer: ask for a pint or a half. Bar staff will usually name the Scottish craft taps on request or let you taste one.
- Tipping: you don’t tip on drinks bought at the bar. For food served at the table, a tip for good service is customary but optional. Check the bill first, because some places add a service charge.
- Rounds: groups usually take turns buying everyone’s drinks, not paying separately.
- Prices: these are on the menu and posted at the bar, so check there.
If you’re with a group on a weekend afternoon, come before 4pm. Once the evening peak builds, the brick-walled room fills up quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is The Piper's Rest?
It's at 3 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW. That's the small square behind the Tron Kirk, where the Royal Mile (High Street) meets North Bridge and South Bridge in the Old Town.
When is the quietest time to visit?
Weekdays are calmest from 10am to 1pm, and weekends from 10am to 12pm. Try to avoid weekends between 4pm and 11pm, which is the busiest stretch.
What are the opening hours?
It's open from 10am to 1am every day, Monday to Sunday.
How do I get there from Waverley station?
Walk up North Bridge toward the Royal Mile. Hunter Square is on your left just before the High Street junction, about 10 minutes uphill from the station.
What does it serve?
Pub plates, Scottish craft beers and cocktails, at mid-range prices, in a room lined with brick and wood. Current prices are on the menu at the bar.
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