The Pear Tree lives a scizophrenic life; during the winter it’s a fairly homely yet hip bar to go to, frequented by students and Edinburghians chasing students. By summer,it’s a beehive of activity with a seriiously massive and impressive cobbled beer garden fit with barbeque. During the Edinburgh Festival, one of the best pubs to go to.

While its cobbled beer garden is perfect for sunny afternoons and football match screenings, the twinkling fairy lights and flags give it a certain charm even on cold dreary evenings of february. Always busy and yet never too loud ( how do they manage that?!), indoors are welcoming for the relaxed ambience and polite staff. Prices are competitive and drinks are a regular fare. All in all a place to hang out at with a large, goofy group.

This large bar on West Nicholson Street is a great place to visit on nice sunny day as it has a large cobbled beer garden.It is however a climb up some very steep steps to access the bar which is a central bar inside the building, so watch your footing when trekking up and down the steps, especially after a few!!
The beer garden is often used as a venue during the fringe festival.
They do not sell food, but sometimes you can find a bbq on the go during sunny times.
It is also in the student quarter, close to the university so also expect a lot of students.
All in all a very nice place to visit and enjoy a pint or two with some friends and enjoy the beer garden as it is a great we suntrap, the staff are also friendly and the service is pretty good, even during the busy times.

I'll be be direct here, because others have written good reviews about this place and there's not much else to say.

My mates and me went to the quiz on Monday,and not too impressed to be honest! The quiz master was reclusive and plodding, the questions were a bit 'esoteric' to put it lightly - you have to have be a regular to stand any chance - questions on spoonerisms and Discworld anyone?

Or am I missing the point? This is a lovely pub. The main room is dead ambient, with tasteful lighting, characterful old sofas relax on, a good choice in whiskies & snacks and always a pleasant studenty crowd. The courtyard outside is great for watching sport or just gathering on summer evenings. And at Christmas they light up the eponymous tree beautifully.

Ok, so I wasn't short. Still, give the Pear Tree a bash. Just not Quiz Day Monday!

The ultimate beer garden on those sunny Sunday afternoons to which half the Edinburgh population appears to flock to. Located next to Edinburgh, it attracts hordes of students which makes for an upbeat, good time atmosphere. Fairy lights and heaters add warmth and ambience to the outside area while inside is a traditional, carpeted bar with well worn leather couches and complimentary lighting which is always welcome after a pint or five! A comfortable, easy going spot in which to kill an hour before your next tutorial, enjoy a magners in the sun or get giddy on pre-club drinks on a Friday night.

Self-proclaimed biggest and best beer garden in Edinburgh, and easy to see why. Its a beautiful little cobbled courtyard with plenty of plenty of tables. When its hot, you'll be beating off the crowds to get there, when its not, well, at least you can smoke outside.
It is rather expensive though, even if they do have the occasional 342 deal on (£3.50 for a kopparberg cider for instance).

There's another thing about the garden too, which i only recently discovered, but can't go there without picturing now. If you happen to be sitting facing the lovely trellessed building, it appears to be a face grimacing back at you, with the door as its mouth...
I'm assured that others have seen this too, so its not just too many alcohol-induced afternoons in the sun with a free-flowing imagination...!
inside its not too great, but as everyone agrees, the garden can't be beat on a sunny day.

The Pear Tree is a wonderful pub when the weather is nice. During winter, however, its pretty average. The huge beer garden just seems to catch the sun all day long if it is out, and images of the 'keep my pint in the shade' fosters advert come to mind. If you are especially lucky they sometimes do a BBQ outside - the burgers are well worth trying. Inside, this pub has nothing special; the drinks are reasonably priced and it has a fairly central location.

This popular tradition pub in the heart of Edinburgh is a great place to go for a quiet drinks. I love this pub in the summer sun. With its huge beer garden its a great place for afternoon summer pints in the sun. It gets very busy though and if your not out the door as soon as that sunshine peeks through you probally won't get a table. If you do get a table in those summer months however stick with it and enjoy a lovely edinburgh afternoon in the pub. The staff are friendly and drinks are not too expensive.