The Best Pubs in Aberdeen

The Dutch Mill is a family run hotel with a recently refurbished, high luxury standard. Its bar offers a wide choice of beverages and shows sporting events on big screens, while the bar lunches and suppers are highly acclaimed. With an all day menu served until 9pm and excellent accommodation for singles, couples, or families, it is a welcoming spot for great food and drinks.

Step into Aitchie's Ale House, where the staff deliver genuinely warm, old fashioned service that makes every visit feel special. Regulars rave that this spot pours the best pint of T in town, a bold claim that loyal drinkers are happy to back up. The focus here is on simple, honest hospitality and a truly excellent beer, creating a pub that feels like a true local treasure.

Ninety-Nine Bar & Kitchen is a spot where the staff truly knows their stuff, especially when it comes to cocktails. They can make any cocktail you want, with bartenders like Lyall crafting an excellent Bloody Mary. The food is delicious, with unexpected options like falafel, and they offer great value. This bar and kitchen lives up to its name by delivering a solid bar experience that makes you want to come back and try the food.

This pub is the home of Scottish brewing, featuring Belhaven beers brewed with the finest barley and choicest hops for 300 years. You can enjoy Scotland's number one ale, Belhaven Best, and Scotland's number one stout, Belhaven Black, alongside an award-winning range of craft beers and ales. The pub also offers great value weekly deals on delicious dishes, making it a fantastic spot for good times shared over a pint.

The Bobbin is a fantastic, welcoming pub that buzzes with energy from breakfast until late. It’s a top spot to catch the big match, challenge friends to retro gaming or a board game, and enjoy freshly prepared street food influenced dishes. The drinks are famously affordable, with a brilliant meal deal and a braw peach and apricot cider that’s not to be missed.

This pub impresses with its stunning vaulted ceiling and a seriously substantial collection of spirits and wines. It offers great value, with hard to beat pub deals like the lunch club from £8.95, and is known for excellent chicken wings and Pulled Pork Burrito. The Wild Boar is a family friendly spot with comfy booths, a big bar, and hosts a pub quiz every Tuesday. You can skip the queue and order straight to your table using the free app, and even spin to win a free main, drink, or dessert.

This cosy, family run hotel and restaurant is tucked away in a quiet corner, offering traditional and modern classics alongside Italian cuisine like pizza and pastas. The owners appeared on Channel 4's Four in a Bed and won, and the pub features a carvery most Sundays. Guests rave about the Sunday roast, calling it amazing and the best, especially when enjoyed in the conservatory with roast beef and beer. It's perfect for couples, families, and friends, providing an incredible Sunday afternoon experience.

Welcome to Old Blackfriars, a historic pub set across two floors in a quirky spot that feels like a true step back in time. This pub has seen some sights, from Dominican monks to public executions on the cobblestones outside, and you can enjoy delicious pub food and a pint of Belhaven beer from Scotland's oldest working brewery. It is dog friendly and family friendly, with a beer garden, free wifi, and a weekly pub quiz every Tuesday. You can also download the app to skip the queue, order straight to your table, and spin the wheel to win a free main, drink, or dessert.

This locally owned independent gastro bar is a beloved spot for pre show meals and after show cocktails, often frequented by stars of stage and screen. The menu features freshly cooked, locally sourced food like the ever popular handmade ‘rorie pie’ with a daily changing filling, alongside seasonal seafood specials. You can enjoy a wide and innovative drinks menu, including a bloody mary they challenge you to beat, while listening to great music from curated playlists or live blues, jazz, and DJs spinning vinyl. The plant filled space offers cozy corners, and an outside terrace with an alcohol license is perfect for summer breakfast and brunch on weekends.

This hidden gem is tucked away downstairs off Union Street, one of the city's last remaining traditional pubs. First opening in the mid 80's as the Wine Cellar, it was renamed in the 90's and the Howff was born. With friendly and welcoming staff, great pub grub, and a cosy atmosphere, it makes for a perfect city centre spot to relax and unwind. The name itself means a favourite meeting place or haunt, especially a pub.