The Tap, Lauriston, Edinburgh

Not a pub in the traditional sense, but a bar that is part of the adjacent Novatel hotel, it does nonetheless have it’s own identity and entrance and is open to non-residents. You might infer from it’s name that it is some sort of tap room with perhaps an on-site brewery or at least a focus on a selection of craft ales, but if that’s the case you’ll be disappointed and it was unclear as to what the tap in the name actually refers to. Décor wise it has something of a retro American theme to it, and as it also describes itself as a music bar there was a guitar in a cabinet above the bar and various large turntable and cassette motifs emblazoned on the bar front, cushions and so on. It’s quite light and airy with large windows on two sides, plain wooden flooring and fake brick wallpaper behind the bar and underneath the windows. Seating was an eclectic mix of funky chairs, including some sculptured metal stools at the bar. Various pot plants and other foliage was in the windows. Unfortunately there were no real ales on tap, or indeed much in the way of keg beers either from what I could see. On the plus side though, they did have the excellent Orchard Pig Reveller, which is an excellent cider and the first time that I have come across it in Edinburgh. Service at the bar was rather slow with the solitary barman spending some time making a cocktail before serving me.

Official site of The Tap - www.accorhotels.com

Official site of The Tap - www.accorhotels.com