Sandy Bell's

Sandy Bell's is a folk-music pub at 25 Forrest Road in Edinburgh's Old Town, Scotland, close to Greyfriars Kirk, the National Museum of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. It has long been associated with Scottish traditional music, and its main draw is the free live folk sessions that take place in the bar, with musicians gathering informally to play fiddles, accordions, guitars and other instruments. The signature experience is a pint enjoyed while a session is under way, as there is no restaurant menu to speak of; the pub is about music, ale and conversation. The room is small, so the sessions tend to be intimate, and the atmosphere is friendly, informal and sometimes crowded, with locals, students and visitors sharing the space. Noise is lively when musicians play, and conversation happens in the quieter corners. There is no dress code. The bar serves ales, lagers and a range of Scottish whiskies, and a pint costs roughly £5-£6 (~$7-$8). The pub does not take reservations and works as a walk-in venue, so arriving early is the best way to claim a seat near the musicians. It opens daily from midday to late, with sessions advertised for most nights, though visitors should verify times locally since sessions depend on the musicians who turn up. Forrest Road is a short walk from Greyfriars Bobby and the Grassmarket, so the pub fits naturally into an Old Town evening, and it is a popular place to hear traditional Scottish music in an informal setting rather than a staged show.