Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Mathers Bar, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH2 4PA
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about Mathers Bar
A good solid pub with a polished bar, along with the handpumps and shining brass glass trays along the bar counter. The landlady was very friendly and was passionate about her pub. Two ales from Stewart Brewing Pentland IPA and Citra Blonde, plus one from Bellfield Lawless Village IPA.
On 15th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Mathers Bar
Interesting pub with a Camra national inventory heritage that - slightly surprisingly - was initially built as a bank. Just one room, with a high moulded ceiling, very traditional furniture and decoration, and a very impressive bar-back. Four of the six handpumps were in use, including a 'house' pale ale, Deuchars IPA, and Boughton Wee Jock 80/- (£4.30).
On 30th December 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Mathers Bar
Another very tasty CAMRA-listed (nationally important) interior, a single room with a huge magnificent dark wood and mirrored bar gantry alongside a fabulous cream and maroon ceiling with boxes and circles alongside some intricate Wedgewoodesque frippery and a bit of stained glass. Four cask; Caledonian Deuchars, Haviestoun Bitter & Twisted, a pub-badged brew of unknown provenance and Broughton HOPO (NBSS 2, muted and flabby). Shame about the beer, as the pub itself is worth a visit just to enjoy the interior. Seems like I’m not the only one to have encountered sub-par beer here. 6.5
On 15th November 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Mathers Bar
A typical and very good example of a Scottish high street bar. There were six hand pumps on the bar when I entered, with four beers on, soon to become three when I took my Black Sheep Best Bitter back to change for Sharps Doom Bar. (The others were Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Williams Bros Birds & Bees.) Despite my problem with the beer, I wouldn't mind coming here again.
Date of visit: 11th June 2019
On 1st April 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Mathers Bar
Nice survivor from the golden age of pubs, not untouched but still enough dark wood, stained glass and plasterwork to make it work in spite of all the sports screens. Incidentally not many were watching them. Six pulls with mostly Doombar / GK stuff but a couple of guests as well, in very reasonable condition. Mostly older gents in on a Saturday lunchtime visit.
On 28th January 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Mathers Bar
A good sized and popular pub not far from the west end of Princes Street, it’s quite traditional in appearance with large, arched brick windows and a few troughs of foliage on the sills.
Internally it’s all one large, open plan room with a very high ceiling. This was painted in a deep maroon shade with white cornice work which made something of a feature. Narrow wood strip was on the floor, whilst carved woodwork was around the windows and the back drop to the bar was also ornately carved wood that hosed an extensive spirits selection. A number of large brewery mirrors were on the walls, as well a mirror that had a map of the highlands etched on to it. Seating was rather limited perhaps, as this together with three TV screens showing a sports match made me wonder if it was more designed for vertical drinking, although I wouldn’t really have described it as a sports bar. A curious feature was a large double door towards the top of the wall – perhaps at tone time there was another floor that has since been removed.
Beers on tap were Deuchars IPA and Doom Bar along with Dark Dunter, Hopopotamus and Wee Jock from Broughton. The solitary cider was a rather disappointing Magners. Overall, a solid enough boozer, but the poor cider choice and slight sports emphasis mean that it’s not necessarily somewhere I would rush back to.
On 28th October 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Colin Walker left this review about Mathers Bar
This is a very traditional style pub, plenty of standing room old style with some seating at the far side of this large one room. Only one real ale available at the time of visiting, but I was assured more was on the way. Situated near the start of Princes Street and about equal distance from either Haymarket or Waverley train stations.
On 21st February 2018
- rating: 10
[User has posted 709 recommendations about 704 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Mathers Bar
Traditional pub Located at the west end of princes street. 6 real ales served.
On 29th December 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Mathers Bar
I often used to call in this bar for a last one on my way home to Dean Village. Over the last few years it's improved quite a bit and the clientele have changed as well. It's a square room which is mainly aimed at vertical drinking, but there are leather settles around the walls with tables and chairs as well. There are a couple of large screens showing the football whenever there's a match on, but it's not really a football pub. It's very handy for the last buses as well as many of the stops are outside the pub door. There are usually 3 or 4 cask ales on the bar. Nothing really unusual for Edinburgh but they're usually well kept. They also have a decent range of malts. Old windows and a decent bar back along with brewery mirrors etc add to the ambience. It's a decent pub that's on the way up in my opinion.
On 17th January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]