Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers is a restaurant in Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Rated 4.7 stars from 1549 Google reviews. Known for craft beer selection and quality burgers & food. Best for beer enthusiasts and groups. Price range: £10–20.
Rankings updated May 2026
Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers
Across 1,538 Google reviews, 95% gave four or five stars.
Quick Verdict
A craft-beer bar with genuine expertise, excellent burgers, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere that feels like a local secret despite its tourist-friendly Grassmarket location.
You want to explore craft beer with knowledgeable guidance and solid food in a cosy, unpretentious setting.
About Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers
Salt Horse is a craft-beer sanctuary in Grassmarket that splits its identity into two distinct zones—a quieter café-bar for contemplation and a livelier shop-and-bar hybrid for mingling. The beer selection is the headline act: reviewers consistently praise the range across draught and bottle lists, with staff who possess genuine expertise and enthusiasm to guide you through sours, hazy IPAs, and Scottish craft without pretension. The burgers land with equal conviction—properly seasoned beef, crispy bacon, and hand-cut chips that justify the care taken. The atmosphere threads cosy and trendy together; chilled music, intimate seating, and a welcoming vibe that draws locals, tourists, and solo drinkers alike. Table service is attentive without hovering. Dogs are welcome, gender-neutral facilities are available, and the venue actively cultivates a transgender-safe, LGBTQ+-inclusive crowd. Free Wi-Fi and water refills anchor it as a genuine third space, not just a transaction.
What Stands Out
Craft beer selection
Multiple 5★ reviews highlight 'amazing choice of craft beers', 'excellent range' with 'something for every palate', and staff expertise guiding customers through diverse styles from sours to hazy IPAs.
Quality burgers & food
Spanish reviewer praised 'Hamburguesas 10/10' with quality meat, crispy bacon, and perfect homemade chips; English reviewers called them 'delicious', 'perfect', and compared the concept to 'grown-up Five Guys'.
Knowledgeable, friendly staff
Reviewers consistently note 'fantastic cheery and welcoming table service', 'super knowledgeable staff', and staff who 'directed me to great tipples' and helped customers discover new beers without pressure.
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google, in the language they were written
“Cosy and relaxing, chilled music, friendly staff, and table service too.”
“Excellent selection of beer and food, great service and nice atmosphere”
“Very small portions for the price paid.”Practical Information
Contact
Common Questions
How consistently good is Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers?
Across 1,538 Google reviews, 95% of visitors gave four or five stars — placing Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers among Grassmarket's most reliably rated venues.
Do you need to book Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended for meals — Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers is a popular choice in Grassmarket and tends to fill quickly, particularly at weekends.
Does Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers have outdoor seating?
Yes — Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers offers outdoor seating. Outdoor tables are popular during warmer months so arriving early or booking ahead helps.
Frequently Asked Questions about Salt Horse Beer Shop, Bar & Burgers
Yes—it's explicitly popular for solo diners. The split layout offers both a quieter café-bar zone and a livelier bar area, and staff are friendly and knowledgeable without being intrusive. Free Wi-Fi and a relaxed vibe make it ideal for a solo visit.
Extensive and curated. Reviewers praise the range of draught and bottle options, from sours to hazy IPAs, with knowledgeable staff who help you discover new styles. The bottle bar menu is worth asking for.
Yes. Reviewers consistently highlight quality beef, crispy bacon, proper hand-cut chips, and generous portions. Spanish and English reviewers both gave them top marks, with one comparing the concept to 'grown-up Five Guys'.
Yes, dogs are allowed. It's a casual, welcoming environment suitable for bringing your pet.
Cosy, chilled, and trendy. The venue has a split design with a quieter café-bar section and a livelier bar-and-shop area. Reviewers describe it as intimate, relaxing, and a welcome escape from the busier Royal Mile.
Yes. Salt Horse is marked as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safespace, with gender-neutral restrooms available.
Also in Grassmarket
View all8 venues changed rank in Grassmarket this week → See full zone ranking
How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews in 90 days), recency (how fresh), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
How our monthly rankings work