A Place where Edinburgh's History comes Alive...
The Last Drop is a traditional Scottish pub in the very centre of Edinburgh's historical Old Town, to be found at 74/78, The Grassmarket. It is a place of wooden beams, a friendly atmosphere, fine ales and quality food.
The Last Drop is a pub I have been visiting regularly for what is now more than twenty years and as a consequence of which, you may rest assured that what follows comes very much from personal experience. Regular updates will be posted, as and when required. This is by no means a bland, standard recommendation from someone writing ten pub guides a day via the dubious benefits of internet research and vague word of mouth - this is the real deal. Why not put me to the test and try it out for yourself? Visit The Last Drop and meet real Scots, in a real Scottish pub - I honestly don't believe you will be disappointed!
Site Contents
A brief guide as to what you will find on this site about The Last Drop
This site was last updated on Wednesday 17th September 2008.
Click on any of the options below to go straight to the required and relevnat section, or better still, browse the entire site for a greater idea of what is going on at The Last Drop.
- Where is The Last Drop?
- Thirsty?
- Are You An Exorcist?
- Hungry?
- Get to know your way around Edinburgh
- Why is "The Last Drop" so called?
- See more of Edinburgh here on Squidoo
- Greyfriars Bobby
- Edinburgh on flickr.com - a city of beauty, culture, heritage...
- Maybe you can get to meet Maria, The Last Drop's very own Ghost!
- The Smoking Ban in Scotland (2006)
- Want to know more about the history of Edinburgh and the Grassmarket?
- What's the Weather like in Edinburgh Today?
- What's Happening in Edinburgh Today?
- Quality Scottish Merchandise at Affordable Prices
- World Famous Edinburghers
- Visit Edinburgh soon!
- Tourist Information in Edinburgh
- What did you think?
Thirsty?
Come in, sit down and have a drink...
From the very moment that you first set foot in The Last Drop, you cannot help but get a feel for its historical significance and associations. Whether that be due to the "Old Worldly" wooden beams aplenty, the deliberately and carefully subdued lighting, the memorial sites in the street you have just left or a complex blend of all three and more, you will have to judge for yourself. This sense of tradition and heritage is very important to the proprietors and something they are always looking to maintain.
So what is your favourite tipple? You certainly won't be short of choices from this well-stocked bar. Is a traditional pint the order of the day? Select an ale from a choice of Belhaven Best, Caledonian 80 shilling or perhaps that favourite of Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus, Deuchars IPA. Lager drinkers also have the option of partaking of Scotland's favourite lager, Tennent's.Wines and spirits drinkers too have a great selection to choose from but being in Scotland, surely you have to try a "wee dram" of the world's finest malt whisky? The owners of The Last Drop have actually supplied a tasting guide to help you make an informed choice from thirteen of the very best. Browse the guide, or ask for advice - there will almost certainly be at least one there to suit your taste!
Soft drinks and coffee are of course available for any drivers or teetotallers. I can also strongly recommend a "Gaelic" or "Irish" style coffee, laced with fine whisky and topped with cream. This is particularly enjoyable after a fine meal, which we shall look at in more detail a little later on...
Are You An Exorcist?
Do you perhaps know someone who this t-shirt would be perfect for?
There are of course a great many of us who love our whisky and other spirits - but equally, it can be possible to take this fact a little too far! Are you one of those people whose friends lock their drinks' cabinets when you pay them a visit? Do you perhaps have to lock your own drinks' cabinet when particular friends pay you a visit?The t-shirt pictured is but one example of dozens of products available to buy online at fantastic prices, summing up just such people. Click here to visit the store and snap up a hilarious bargain today.
Hungry?
Grab a menu and prepare yourself for a treat!
I vividly recall the occasion of my first visit to The Last Drop. I did not live in Edinburgh at that time and was visiting the city with an uncle to attend an international Rugby Union match and we went there on his personal recommendation.I was immediately impressed.
I liked the layout of the pub, the beer was great, and as it was around lunchtime, we decided to order some food. Being the carnivore that I am, I went for the Steak and Guinness Pie and I was not disappointed. It was absolutely delicious and I am delighted to say that it is still made in The Last Drop, by the same, secret recipe, and served up right to this very day. I have since partaken of it on a great many more occasions.
The food in The Last Drop is served from noon until nine pm, seven days a week, and is prepared fresh on the premises wherever possible and practical. This is something which very much comes across in the eating experience. It is also cooked in a healthy fashion, with not a deep fat fryer to be found in this kitchen. The other big seller on the menu (apart from the Steak and Guinness Pie) is the haggis, turnip and potato - or haggis, neeps and tatties as you are perhaps more likely to hear it referred. The haggis is bought in fresh from a trusted local butcher and is not of the "chemically enhanced," tinned variety!
There are of course many more items on The Last Drop's menu at extremely reasonable prices, including everything from snacks and wraps to salads and baked potatoes. Perhaps you may fancy something with an international flavour, such as pasta, curry or enchiladas? Whatever your choice, I very much hope you have the chance to experience it soon and know that regardless of what it may be, you are in for a treat.
Get to know your way around Edinburgh
See the sites, visit the pubs, sample Scotland's finest malts!
Click on the image or link below for further details. This will automatically take you to Amazon.com and offer anyone not in the USA the option to divert to their national Amazon page for local currency information.
Pocket Map and Guide Edinburgh (EYEWITNESS POCKET MAP & GUIDE)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $6.99
Why is "The Last Drop" so called?
A brief look at the history of Edinburgh's Grassmarket
The Grassmarket is situated in the shadow of the city's most famous landmark, Edinburgh Castle, and is currently in the process of receiving a multi-million pound redevelopment. It first appeared in the 15th century as a marketplace but has a rich, often dark, cultural history far beyond the boundaries of the purpose for which it was created. Historical figures such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and the infamous Burke and Hare have all graced this place at one time or another and many of the properties on the Grassmarket were at one time in fact owned by the Knight's Templar, the secret society so recently brought back to prominence by Dan Brown's book, "The Da Vinci Code."
But it is the Grassmarket's function as the place of public hangings which leads to the name, "The Last Drop." Many a wicked criminal, innocent soul and religious martyr alike met their end at this location. The exact spot where the gallows once stood is marked by a St Andrew's cross in the cobblestones bearing the inscription, "For the Protestant faith, on this spot many martyrs and covenanters died." The Last Drop offers t-shirts for sale to those seeking a souvenir of their visit with the solemn monogram of a public gallows emblazoned prominently on the front. See more of Edinburgh here on Squidoo
It truly is a cosmpolitan, cultural and historic city
The City of Edinburgh has a special feel to it - an atmosphere all of its own. The below sites afford some further idea of just what wonders you can see and experience within its confines.-
Discovering Edinburgh: The Scott Monument
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"The Scott Monument. Erected 1840-44 to the memory of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832.) Born in Edinburgh, lawyer and ardent patriot. He won enduring fame as a romantic poet and the author of the Waverley novels. This monument was designed by George Meik...
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Discovering Edinburgh: The Royal Mile
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The Royal Mile is the impressive thoroughfare which connects Edinburgh Castle at the top of the hill with the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. There can surely be no other street in the world which affords the visitor such a diverse blend of hi...
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Discovering Edinburgh: Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags
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Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags are twin rock formations to the north-east of Edinburgh City Centre, in the grounds of the Royal Holyroodhouse Park. There are numerous walks over and around these features, of varying degrees of length and difficult...
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Discovering Edinburgh: Princes Street Gardens
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Princes Street Gardens actually form part of what used to be the bed of a man made loch, called the Nor Loch. Drainage of the loch began in 1760 with the developing Gardens first being leased by the Crown Estate in 1818 for public use and recreation....
Greyfriars Bobby
A touching and absolutely true Edinburgh story
- Greyfriars Bobby Scotlands Legendary Dog
- John Grey his wife Jess and their son moved to Edinburgh where he joined the Police force as a night watchman. as he patroled the streets at night alone he decided to get a dog to walk with him and he got...
Edinburgh on flickr.com - a city of beauty, culture, heritage...
The list is endless
For but a tiny sample of some of the most magnificent places Edinburgh can offer to the visitor or resident alike, click on any or even all of the photos in turn to see them full size.
Calton Hill
Princes Street Gardens
Edinburgh Castle
Observatory House
Below the Castle
Princes Street
Victoria Street
The Castle in the half-light
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh View
Edinburgh View
Edinburgh View
Edinburgh at Dusk
Dean Gallery, Edinburgh
St John's Church, Edinburgh
Edinburgh from Calton Hill
Lothian Road, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Skyline from Arthur's Seat
Maybe you can get to meet Maria, The Last Drop's very own Ghost!
A spooky tale of times long gone and a mischievous spirit not yet at rest
Many a visitor to The Last Drop over the years has felt a gentle tug to their shirt or jacket from a seemingly unknown source. Some have even caught ill-defined sight of a young girl standing forlornly in the corner. Have you had, or could you yet have, such an experience?Legend has it that Maria was a young Irish girl, murdered by a Scotsman and that she still frequents The Last Drop with mischief on her mind. Do you believe in such tales...?
The Smoking Ban in Scotland (2006)
How has it affected our pubs?
There can be little doubt that pubs were right at the forefront of businesses affected by the introduction of the Smoking Ban which came into effect in Scotland in March 2006. Two years on, where do we stand...?-
Smokers Are People, Too!
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I feel it is imperative that I begin by pointing out that this is by no means a site dedicated to encouraging people to start smoking, discouraging smokers from stopping smoking, or in any way creating the impression that smoking is an acceptable soc...
Want to know more about the history of Edinburgh and the Grassmarket?
Here are but a few suggestions...
The following publications - some offering great discounts - on Amazon.com give but a taste of what has gone before...
(Remember...if you're not in the USA, you will be given the opportunity to quickly switch to your own country's Amazon site.)
Note that Edinburgh's Grassmarket is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment work. The Last Drop and other businesses remain open for business, however, and the work is due for completion in July 2008.
Edinburgh Castle: Scotland's Haunted Fortress (Castles, Palaces & Tombs)
Amazon Price: $25.27 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $25.27
R. D. Laing (Edinburgh Review: Introductions to Scottish Culture)
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $18.00
Capital of the Mind: How Edinburgh Changed the World
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $41.35
Edinburgh: The Making of a Capital City
Amazon Price: $44.00 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $44.00
Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History (Cities of the Imagination Series)
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $15.00
What's the Weather like in Edinburgh Today?
Current weather conditions in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Local Pollen Reports
12°C (Feels like 12°C)
Last update: 10/10/08 9:50 PM Local Time
Humidity: 82%Visibility: 10.0 km
Dew Point: 9°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1015.9mm steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 16km/h From: Airport Conditions
Tonight
Low
Low: 11°C
Sunrise: 7:35 AM
Sunset: 6:24 PM
Saturday
Oct 11
N/A
High: 13°C
Low: 8°C
Sunrise: 7:37 AM
Sunset: 6:21 PM
Sunday
Oct 12
Partly Cloudy
High: 13°C
Low: 8°C
Sunrise: 7:39 AM
Sunset: 6:19 PM
Monday
Oct 13
Cloudy
High: 12°C
Low: 12°C
Sunrise: 7:41 AM
Sunset: 6:16 PM
What's Happening in Edinburgh Today?
Find out with the Edinburgh Evening News - updated here daily!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byQuality Scottish Merchandise at Affordable Prices
All prices quoted are in US Dollars
World Famous Edinburghers
Did you know that's what a native of Edinburgh is called?
There have been a great many people native to Edinburgh who have excelled on the world stage in their chosen field of expertise. Below are links to sites featuring just three of them.-
Prominent Scots: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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There can be little doubt that the name of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will forever be synonymous with the resident of 221B Baker Street, a certain Mr Sherlock Holmes. This, while understandable given the popularity of the character and his adventures, is...
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Prominent Scots: Alexander Graham Bell
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The telephone is unquestionably one of the most significant and radical inventions and human developments of all time. It changed the field of global communications forever and of course the Internet we are presently using could never have existed wi...
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Prominent Scots: Robert Louis Stevenson
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I vividly recall reading two of Robert Louis Stevenson's most famous novels as a young schoolboy but cannot remember whether I read "Kidnapped" or "Treasure Island" first. I cannot deny that I found them both somewhat disturbing at the tender age of...
Visit Edinburgh soon!
Flights available from across the globe to Scotland's cultural centre
Tourist Information in Edinburgh
Find out what you need to know before you go!
- Official Tourist Board - accommodation, attractions and events around Edinburgh.
- Accommodation, attractions and events in Edinburgh - Official Tourist Board
- Visit Scotland
- Visit Scotland's guide to Edinburgh and surrounding areas
- Auld Edinburgh - History, Tourist Information, Accommodation, and much more
- A site focusing on Edinburgh and its rich cultural history.
What did you think?
Have your say here...
This is the place where you can give your own feedback, either upon this work or the pub itself. If you liked the site, why not e-mail a link to it to your friends? Perhaps they would enjoy it, too!
Thank you for reading, and hopefully, your visit to The Last Drop.
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papawu
Even though I don't drink,I enjoyed your lens in which you virtually brought this pub to life. I have always wanted to visit Edinburgh Castle, or Scotland for that matter. Vivid nice work. Posted October 05, 2008 |
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Gail47
I love this lens. Always wanted to visit Edinburgh and the Last Drop sounds like a perfect pub hangout. Posted October 02, 2008 |
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CrypticFragments
Hiya, I love Edinburgh altho my stay wasn't nearly long enough. We went to a great pub in The Grassmarket that had an interesting history/haunted theme...don't thik it was the one you mention but not sure anymore... Posted September 22, 2008 |
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bigqin
The Last Drop is great! I also enjoy Finnegan's Wake, they have live music most nights and good craic always ;-) Posted September 19, 2008 |
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surfchicky23
All we did in Edinburgh was drink and visiting this place was no exception. Posted September 18, 2008 |
