Malt & Hops

This place was a bit unexpected in my little mini pub crawl of Leith, and actually became one of my fast favourites of all the great drinking establishments in the bustling town just outside of Edinburgh.
This review is actually quite difficult to write as the reasons why I love it are actually quite difficult to describe. Sometimes you just get a «feel» about a place, and this place, just has a great feel.
You walk into one room, with a fire, a bar, some tables and chairs and old school public house memorabilia all over the walls and ceiling. It reminds me of an «old man» pub from my hometown, which shouldn’t be a good thing, but it is! They are perfectly authentic, but somehow in a cool way. The mix of clients makes you feel at ease, comfortable and welcome no matter your age, or background. The staff are absolutely lovely, and we’re really helpful in finding my boyfriend a beer that he could drink (he’s slightly picky), offering free samples of all the beers on tap.
I also have to mention the price. I think I’ve got used to the Edinburgh city centre prices a little too much, and a large bottle of cider and a pint of Guinness (I told you he was choosey) came to £7.40?! Which in my eyes is an absolute steal!
If you’re looking for a casual place to lose an afternoon with great company, a «great feel», and great prices… look no further than this wee pub on the waterfront.

happened to live the manager of this bar through airbnb. So I try the beer here and feel interesting to see people standing while drinking. Scottish bars are brilliant.

It’s funny, any modern bar owner would walk in this place and demand a design overhaul, but there’s something charming and inviting about this traditional pub. It’s exactly what you’d expect of a pub that’s been around since the late 18^th century. Great bar staff, and good people in an up-​and-​coming part of town.

Love this little boozer. When all around seem to be tearing out there traditional fixtures and dusting off there cocktail shakers the Malt and Hops is still a proper pub.
The pub over looks the dock area down by the shore and looks like it hasnt changed ever. I love coming here on a blustery afternoon to sit by the fire place with a pint. Nothing fancy but they do everything well. The place is immaculate considering the old man style presentation. Many pubs of this ilk can be a little grubby but they keep their bar tidy and cobweb free.
The staf are always friendly and the booze selection is great. Thumbs up from me.

No idea why it took me until the weekend just past to go for a drink here. Such a pleasant pub in terms of service, atmosphere, ales & music that I’m tempted to make it a regular Friday night pit-​stop.

A fantastic local ale-​pub that has a choice of six different ales at any given time, decent lagers, ciders and plenty of bottled beers. Their selection of Whiskies is quite extensive too. Staff are friendly, mixed bunch of locals and passers-​by, never witnessed any trouble (rare in Leith) and the owner is a decent dude you’d have nae problem having a pint’n’chat with! Warm, friendly, bustling local ale-​hub!

A proper pub, lots of guest ales, a good selection of spirits and great atmosphere. It’s a lived in pub with history, and friendly bar staff.
It can get crowded at the weekends, so get there early.

Another of my favourite traditional pubs. Located on the shore at Leith, surrounded by gastro pubs and Michelin-​starred restaurants, it maintains its traditional pub interior, with brewery mirrors, real ale brand badges and hops decorating the walls. It has a fireplace going in winter, and it serves up to 8 real ales. It’s low key, a bit scruffy (and the toilets are a bit shabby), it’s worn in places, a real pub with character.
I’m thankful that the Malt and Hops hasn’t yet succumbed to the gastropubisation of Leith. Not that I have a problem with gastro pubs, but I don’t want every pub to be one. Walking along the shore and looking at the menus in each pub is a sobering experience these days (or even looking for a place where you can get a seat if you’re not eating a meal). So whether you’re popping in for a quiet pint after a stroll along the shore, or you’re settling in for a session on a Friday night, this is the perfect mix of local bar and welcoming pit stop. And did I mention they have hops on the walls? (ok they’re fake. I think. But still! They’re intertwined with fairy lights!) If you like traditional boozers, this is one of the best.

A decorative set piece of hops intertwined with fairy lights, a hearty selection of hand-​pump ales and an arrangement of copper lanterns and more tavern related paraphernalia ensures the Malt and Hops certainly looks the part.
Great beer and friendly staff back up the idyllic image, though, and smack bang in the middle Leith Docks results in a reliable prospect for a sociable drink. A good place to go with you beer loving dad, as I once did.

Great little pub on The Shore in Leith with a great selection of Real Ales

A small but cosy pub right on The Shore, Malt and Hops has a great range of draught beers and ales. There is a real fire, which is usually roaring on colder nights, although you might struggle to get a seat near it. The window seats are good for watching the world go by and the staff are friendly. If it’s busy there’s not many places to stand but if you go during the week or early on weekends you can usually get a seat, if not a table. The seats could be comfier but all in all a decent wee pub.

Lovely wee bar on the Shore in Leith. Great atmosphere and friendly service. My pal’s into his ales and reports a good and varied selection of guest ales here. The décor is busy with badges, currency from all over the world and lots of breweriana on display.
If the weather’s good you can sit outside and watch the world go by.

A toasty fireplace, an informal atmosphere, non-​trendy and non-​corporate regulars, genuine service… just what The Shore, a fashionable district in Leith, needs so as not to forget its roots and provide drinkers with a genuine choice locally.
The Malt & Hops fits the role of Shore saviour quite well: it offers a simple, old fashioned experience for those who prefer a real ale to a rasperry vodka. This isn’t to say there’s only 3 pints on and a dying dog in the corner though– it’s a neat and attractive pub which caters to all those who enter. There’s a good range of cider and foreign beers which acknowledges modern drinking, but yet doesn’t clash with the emphasis on whisky, painted mirrors and bookshelves.