Pubs in Aberdeen
Discover the best pubs and bars in Aberdeen. Browse opening hours, menus, events, and more.
Found 88 pubs in Aberdeen — Page 1 of 8
Archibald Simpson
5 Castle Street, Aberdeen AB11 5BQ
This Wetherspoon is in one of many monumental granite buildings in central Aberdeen designed by local architect Archibald Simpson and is the former local headquarters of Clydesdale Bank. It has a pillared entrance and retains many original architectural features, the main room being a high-ceilinged central hall with additional seating areas to the side of the main room. The long bar features up to 12 handpumps offering a variety of beers, frequently from Scottish breweries. There is a narrow outside drinking area on the pavement on Union Street corner. Beer festivals are held several times a year (Scottish and International). Alcohol from 10am. I scheduled for conversion of upstairs into hotel accommodation sometime in 2021.
Wig Bar & Kitchen
55-56 Castle Street, Aberdeen AB11 5BA
Located on the city's historic Castlegate, the name comes from the pub's proximity to the local Sheriff Court. This long, narrow venue was originally known as the Lang or Saloon bar, and in the 70s, the Welly Boot and was one of the first pubs in Aberdeen to stock ale, selling Belhaven 80/- in the late 70s. Unfortunately as of early March 2017 has ceased to stock any real ale. Also boasts 100 different rums.
Queen Vic
126 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen AB25 2YU
Locals, one roomed, cosy lounge bar slightly off the beaten track in a converted former opticians/ baker’s shop in the highly populated, tenement flatted area of Rosemount. Sporting events shown from time to time so may be extremely busy and noisy and a popular quiz is held on Monday nights at 8.30pm culminating in a 'Play Your Cards Right' jackpot session. As well as four cask ales, also sells an extensive range of bottled beers from Fierce, Burnside, Brewdog, Windswept and Innes & Gunn. Has in the past held 'Meet The Brewer' nights featuring Deeside, Windswept, Speyside and Fierce breweries plus matching cheeses from a local cheese shop. Occasional bands / solo singers may play at weekends. Now only selling a limited food menu of sandwiches and wraps supplied from So Cafe on Union Street, owned by the same company as the pub. Also has an arrangement with Big Manny's Pizza to get a delivery to your table (order via their App). CAMRA City Pub Of The Year 2020 and overall branch winner.
Grill
213 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11 6BA
The pub is now part of the McGintys Group since spring 2019 after 48 years in the ownership of the Watson family lately with Graham and previously his father Eddie. No major changes were planned to the bar of this Aberdeen institute, with existing staff being retained. In early 2020 during a spruce up of the paint-work, variable brightness roof lighting was installed, the shelves and cupboards behind the bar were illuminated, enhancing the ambience of this historic pub. Also all five handpumps are now located in the centre of the bar when they had previously been in three separate positions. With an exquisite interior redesigned in 1926 and remaining largely unchanged since, this is the only pub listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors in the area. Check out the clear rectangles on the two main front windows. These were for Guinness advertising signs, which were hung by chains to be visible from outside via these clear pieces of glass. The pub was for men only until 1975 and several ladies invaded the pub prior to legislation being introduced to make this illegal, but police were called and the said 'ladies' were asked to leave! The event has been turned into a film: 'NO LADIES PLEASE'. A ladies toilet was eventually provided in 1998 when the Gent's urinal was relocated to a downstairs toilet and a new seat installed in the old Gent's cubicle. The gents downstairs toilet was refurbished and reopened early October 2019 and the ladies single toilet had a makeover soon after that. Situated across from the Music Hall, musicians often visit during concert breaks. The pub has a large selection of whiskies and has won numerous awards from lovers of the malt. Guest ales are frequently from breweries such as Fierce, Fyne Ales, Windswept, Orkney. Bar snacks such as pies, stovies etc. are available. CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2016.
Prince of Wales
7 St Nicholas Lane, Aberdeen AB10 1HF
One of the oldest bars in Aberdeen, the Prince of Wales has possibly the longest bar counter in the city, a friendly atmosphere and a large following of regulars. It was refurbished in late 2016 and is listed in Scotland's True Heritage Pubs. It offers up to eight ales - a varied selection of ales from mostly Scottish breweries plus occasional English ales and usually at least two from the Greene King/Belhaven stable. It also has four 'craft' beer pumps for BrewDog, Belhaven, Amstel and Aspall's Cider. Tasters are offered if you are not sure what to chose. A good pub, only noisy with conversations, but has an unnecessary TV screen which, thankfully, is seldom used. Good value food is served daily till 9pm with filled rolls also available. Folk music plays every Sunday evening.
Aitchies Ale House
10 Trinity Street, Aberdeen AB11 5LY
Changed ownership in October 2018 and no changes are planned at the moment. Real ale will continue to be sold as well as Williams Joker IPA on keg. This small corner bar is the closest real ale outlet to the city rail/bus stations and the Union Square shopping complex. Family owned, it retains the flavour of an old-fashioned Scottish pub with service second to none with bar staff all wearing traditional white aprons. Bar food is best described as basic Scottish pub grub, including roast beef stovies. Now only selling one beer, Dark Island, which it has sold on a regular basis for many years.
Atholl Hotel
54 Kings Gate, Aberdeen AB15 4YN
Five minutes walk up from BBC Scotland and original site of the Beechgrove Garden, this medium sized hotel has a comfortable, modern lounge in an imposing Victorian, granite building has a well deserved reputation for excellent bar food (last orders for food 9.30 and 8.30 Sun). No longer serving beers from local Deeside Brewery, as supplies were not consistent. Still undecided about what may go on to the spare pump.
Blue Lamp
121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BU
Time has virtually stood still in the public bar here, where not a lot has changed since the 60s! This bar was usually staffed single-handedly by the owner, Sandy Brown. It is with great regret that we announced that Sandy had died, aged 74, on Tuesday 21st April, leaving the future of this popular pub and music venue unknown. However, Sandy's Grandson, Lewis, has taken over the reins and the pub did re-open (lounge only) when allowed on a limited basis on Friday to Sunday. Occasional live concerts (socially distanced) have been recorded for broadcast on YouTube. The small upstairs lounge is dimly lit and is available for private functions and occasional music performances. Next door, the cavernous, converted warehouse is a popular music venue and hosts the Aberdeen Jazz Festival each March and several other jazz Thursdays in the Autumn. The local folk club meet here on a Wednesday night and there are usually bands (rock, blues, folk-rock) playing on Friday & Saturday nights at which there may be a charge for admission. One beer (same one) is available in both public bar and large lounge and the single handpump in the lounge is in occasional use. Beer is usually from the Cromarty Brewery but occasional beers are sometimes seen from Orkney and Swannay. Opening times may vary with earlier opening from Friday to Sunday and the big lounge is open till 2am Friday and Saturday nights.
Ma Cameron's
6 - 8 Little Belmont Street, Aberdeen AB10 1JG
Known simply as Ma's, this is one of Aberdeen's oldest pubs. It has a re-furbished snug bar (October 2015) with serving hatch which does not seem to be listed. There is a modern, expansive lounge where meals are served until 9pm every day. Children are permitted, if dining, until 8pm. There are four handpumps in the back lounge and three in the snug offering an Inveralmond beer plus others usually from the Greene King/Belhaven range. A quiz is held on Monday, live music one Friday a month, and sport is screened on the TV in the lounge. Roof terrace beer garden open in the summer months. Re-opened after refurbishment on 29th October 2015. The snug was going to have some structural alterations done which it was felt would destroy a historic part of the pub. However, after several complaints about this, the structural changes were cancelled and the structure remains intact. The snug bar has been painted grey whilst the snug itself has been re-varnished, new tables installed and a new flame effect stove replacing the soulless convector heater. It is proposed to improve the range of real ales and increase the variety of whiskies. The snug bar (now called the Whisky Bar) has limited opening hours although you can still sit in the snug itself when the bar part is closed and you will need to go through to the main back bar to get drinks. Snug bar is open 3 - 10pm Friday, 12 to midnight Saturday and 12 to 5pm Sunday and is closed Monday to Thursday inclusive.
Globe Inn
13 - 15 North Silver Street, Aberdeen AB10 1RJ
This convivial open plan reverted to private ownership in November 2018 after being run by Belhaven for several years. Three new Angram pumps were installed and now serve beers from a variety of Scottish breweries. Possibly the nicest gents toilets in the city (allegedly) features a prominent fireplace. Convenient for both the nearby entertainment venues, HM Theatre and Music Hall. Meals are served all day. The reasonably priced en-suite rooms offer a high standard of accommodation from £40 per night. A variety of musical events are usually featured on Friday & Saturday from 9.30pm with pop/rock covers to acoustic blues. A quiz is featured every Monday evening. Alcohol served from 11am.
Krakatoa
2 Trinity Quay, Aberdeen AB11 5AA
*** NB - Pub has decided to close during the current Coronavirus situation. See https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/aberdeen-bar-close-for-duration-of-coronavirus-pandemic/ Please also check Facebook and Twitter *** Historic harbour-side bar, in recent years re-branded as Krakatoa, but will always be the Moorings to its many regulars. It changes character from friendly laid-back local to raucous rock bar on weekend evenings, when there may be a cover charge after 8.45. The eclectic jukebox is in regular use by the varied clientele. A wide selection of Scottish ales are served on 12 American style fonts (not all used simultaneously) situated to the far left of the bar. There are also two other similar banks dispensing various craft/keg and Belgian beers and one of the largest draught cider selections in the city. Each of the three banks of pumps has an electronic display clearly showing what type of tipple they serve. Canned Craft and German/Belgian bottles are also available Multiple local CAMRA City Pub of the Year winner, overall branch winner in 2015 & 2018 and current City Pub of the Year 2019. A discount of 10% is offered on pints of real ale on production of a CAMRA membership card and a regulars discount scheme is also in place. Live music every Friday and Saturday evenings, often hosting local band competitions, and there may be a cover charge. A rock karaoke session is held on Wednesday evenings alternating with Jam sessions.
Old Blackfriars
52 Castle Street, Aberdeen AB11 5BB
On the cobbled Castlegate, in the historic centre of the city, this historic pub is situated in a pedestrian area which used to hold public executions. Opposite the Tollbooth, Old Blackfriars is an atmospheric pub having old pews and stained glass and was refurbished in Autumn 2012. From the split-level upper area food and ales may be ordered from the lower section bar. Three rotating guest beers, often include Cairngorm Trade Winds and Inveralmond Ossian supplement the Belhaven/Greene King range and a house ale at 3.9% (believed to be Hardy & Hansons Bitter). Serves third pints as well as usual half and full pints. The pub has a reputation for good pub food with an extensive menu served all day until 9pm. Quiz night is Tuesday, with acoustic music on Thursdays and Saturdays. Unobtrusive background music plays throughout. Opened after latest refurbishment on 17th May 2018. The 5 handpumps are now in the centre of the bar as opposed to split up. New seating has been installed (see photos) and the door on Marischal Street can also be used as entrance/exit.