Two Scottish bars appear on the new European Bar Guide for 2026.
Two pubs in Scotland have been named among the best in Europe, with one bar in both Edinburgh and Glasgow featured on the roundup. One was described as a “genuine destination pub”, while the other was praised as “luxuriously cosy, clandestine, and intimate”.
On Monday, August 31, The European Bar Guide unveiled its list of the top 100 bars in Europe for 2026. The annual list highlights the best drinking venues of any style all across Europe, based on factors such as atmosphere, local culture, and the quality and variety of drinks on offer.
The two pubs in Scotland that are featured on The European Bar Guide’s list of the top 100 bars in Europe for 2026 are The Laurieston in Glasgow and Kay’s Bar in Edinburgh. The former appears at number 29 on the roundup, while Kay’s Bar was named the 78th best pub in Europe.
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The Laurieston is a historic bar situated on Bridge Street in the heart of Scotland’s largest city. Dating back to the 1830s, the pub is known for its vintage interiors. It features Formica-topped tables, a horseshoe-shaped bar, and a retro McGee’s hot pie heater that is still used to this day.
The European Bar Guide praised the pub for its friendly atmosphere and throwback décor, singling out its comfortable cushioned lounge and curtains. The bar was also noted for its historical significance, being described as a “living, breathing democratic social space”.
The experts wrote: “The legend of the Laurieston has grown over the years to the extent it can be considered a genuine destination pub. Certainly its exterior and interior are time warps, worth a look as curios alone. The harsh 1960s flat roof exterior and the ‘murder pub’ connotations those have earned over the decades makes you double take in its bracing hideousness.
“Perhaps the fact it’s Glasgow, with a reputation for tough boozers (admittedly much outdated) adds an extra sense of threat. This could not be dispelled anymore firmly by walking inside. Warm, cosy, social and friendly, every spot in the pub looks worth sitting in, from the upholstered corners in the bar, to the cushioned lounge, to the bar stools around a stylish horseshoe shaped bar, that can be viewed through at either side.
“Formica tables screwed into the floor, matching curtains, reinforced glass and a pie heater add further to the sense of throwback, but the customers—those you can see, hear and sense around you lend it a vibrancy and relevance to match and beat any of the most cutting edge destinations in Scotland—this is no museum but a living, breathing democratic social space.”
Elsewhere, Kay’s Bar placed at number 78 on The European Bar Guide’s roundup. The traditional Victorian pub, which is tucked away on Jamaica Street in the Scottish capital, began its life as a wine merchants in the 19th century before becoming a public house in the 1970s.
Kay’s Bar has a comfortable interior with features such as wooden barrels, cast-iron pillars, and a fireplace that keeps patrons warm on chilly evenings. It serves up a selection of guest ales and various spirits, while its food offerings include baked potatoes, steak pies, and a range of snacks.
The European Bar Guide states: “A small, cosy venue which fills up to standing room only within an hour of opening on busy match days, but that is luxuriously cosy, clandestine and intimate at quieter times among fire light, old wood and rich red hues. Attracting a range of ages, but there is an affluence on show due to its location in one of the wealthier parts of town, and that accents the vibe and atmosphere just a touch, without making it feel particularly discriminating.
“Whether you’re sat opposite the bar by the barrels or in the reading room (snug) at the back, grab a newspaper or a dusty old book and settle in for the day, where you’ll be seduced by its timeless charm. Or, if you prefer things a little livelier, join the throng in the build up to a Scottish rugby game.”
The full list of the top pubs and bars in Europe can be found on The European Bar Guide website.



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