Description: Directly behind, and far, far below Edinburgh Castle, lies the Grassmarket - a small open space that has played an important role in Edinburgh's history.
As the name implies, the Grassmarket used to be where local farmers brought their hay and other produce for sale. But in times past it was also the location of one of the main gallows in the city and crowds would flock in huge numbers to see the public executions.

Pubs in the Grassmarket are not an uncommon sight, they literally line the streets, jostling for position, side-by-side, one after another.

Two pubs that are not only next door to each other, but share a common theme, are MAGGIE DICKSON'S and THE LAST DROP TAVERN. Immediately outside their doors was the scene of public hangings back in the 18th century.
Maggie Dickson was one of the victims of the gallows, but when tossed on the burial cart after her 'execution', she could be heard still moaning. After some attention, she survived and lived out her remaining days down in Portobello where she was known as 'Hauf Hingit Maggie!'

Nowadays, on summer afternoons the scene here resembles the very best of French cafe life (as opposed to life during the French Revolution!), with almost as many customers outside as when executions were public entertainment. (Conversely, in winter it is more reminiscent of Siberian cafe life!)

THE LAST DROP is the older of the two pubs and is so named in commemoration of the last ever hanging in the Grassmarket. It is only a few steps from the very spot on which the original gallows stood - although you're not very likely to witness a public hanging these days. There's speculation at the origins of the name with some suggesting that the condemned were given their last drop to drink before getting their neck stretched, but it's more likely that the name derives from the fact that so many people literally took their last drop there.

The pub is housed in one of the few buildings in the Grassmarket to have retained its original form and design from that time. You can't miss it, the exterior of the pub is painted bright red. The interior is relatively large for a pub in the Old Town - some of them can be crowded when the number of patrons goes into double figures.

There's lots of hidden little corners and the low ceiling - supported by pillars, intimate tables and low-level lighting, make for a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. It's decorated with many interesting and some quite unusual pictures of the Grassmarket - as well as curiosities from the local area - with a large array of banknotes from around the world adorning the wooden, ceiling beams.

There is a decent, if less than inspired, selection of draught beer - the usual suspects are represented - such as: Tennents, Carlsberg, Calders, Tetleys, Guinness and there are guest ales; there's also the usual range of wines and spirits, with a good selection of malt whiskies. Prices are average for central Edinburgh - extortionate.
This wouldn't be my first choice of pub in the area, there are better alternatives as regards choices of ale, but when shopping with the wife, the thought of taking a lunch-break in ANY pub is a welcome diversion.

They serve food until 7.30pm, mostly traditional Scottish pub fare but with a few offerings from further afield.
The menu is good with quite a large choice of meals, or for anyone just looking for a snack, more simple options like baked potatoes and sandwiches etc. Meals range from steak pie to bangers 'n' mash; pizza to moussaka; chicken tikka to burgers; various salads, and a wide choice of starters and desserts. They even do a vegetarian (and regular) haggis with neeps and tatties.

I was tempted to have the cured ham salad but as they didn't state what it had been cured of, I thought better of it and decided instead on the lasagne, which was very good. It was a large portion - stuffed with mince and lots of creamy cheese sauce - with a lovely, fresh and crisp, side salad and garlic bread.
The wife opted for an impressive bowl of steaming pea & ham soup with crusty bread. The soup was a meal in itself and was so thick you could stand your spoon in it.

Outside of summer, it isn't too busy at lunchtime and you can usually always get a table. When it comes round to the height of the tourist season though...forget it.
I can't really say what it's like of an evening as I haven't been there at night for years but it's generally a very busy area, especially at the weekend, so I wouldn't expect this pub to be any different.

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