Joseph Pearce is a real surprise of a pub. It is absolutely delightful from the inside and out, eminently welcoming and altogether amenable. It is one of the best bars in Edinburgh and stands out for its unique charm.

The Venue
One of the first things which strikes you about Joseph Pearce’s technicoloured dream bar is the vibrancy of its interior. Floral, oriental-looking pillars support the bar’s framework, a striking feature of wackiness which is echoed throughout the bar at large. Glance at the bright coloured cushions and sofas, the bronze pipes cascading down the walls with ornate glass balls and the inexplicable railings running throughout the bar, and you instantly recognise that Joseph Pearce is a bar packed with character.

Colossal white walls with a wooden border help bring light into the vast bar. It is high-roofed and has alcoves running off into every corner. On one wall a spectacular modernist picture of a faceless child with heart-shaped balloons rising in the distance seems to watch over the bar like a guardian angel.

By day the pub becomes something of a makeshift kindergarten, with a family and child area located on a raised platform to the left of the bar, which is filled with child’s toys and scribbled paintings. This is truly unique and reveals the wide-ranging appeal of Joseph Pearce.

The People
A very bohemian and trendy crowd gather here, though it is not especially pretentious. By day families and children rub shoulders with students and locals, and a cordial and pleasant atmosphere of drinking and dining comes to the fore. The bar staff are chatty and friendly. Relaxing music sets a really friendly tone and the bar seems to inexplicably lighten the darkest of moods.

The Food
The brunch menu is served from 11am-5pm every day and the Joseph Pearce Brunch (£5.90) sees a duo of poached eggs on a toasted ciabatta with rocket, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms in garlic butter. Absolutely delicious, you can even add salmon or bacon for an extra £1.50.

Scrambled eggs and crepe style pancakes are also present. Sandwiches, served on ciabatta loaf are £5, and the Cajun chicken with bacon is thoroughly enjoyable.

Starters include lovely grilled red peppers with sage and mushroom stuffing drizzled relentlessly in balsamic sauce at £5.90, and the dips/tasting platter, which includes bread and meatballs (£8.90), will feed the gluttons amongst us. Freshly rolled potato gnocchi with a variety of stuffings (£5.90) is the pick of the mains. There is also a specials daily menu.

The Drink
An outstanding provision of drink offering sees Joseph Pearce combine imagination, dexterity, variety and class, all at reasonable prices. On draught there is, amongst many prestigious others, San Miguel (£3.40), Kronenbourg Blanc (£3.50) and Bulmer’s Cider, IPA £3, Sagres and Iduns Swedish pear cider (£3).

Bottled beers are comprehensively offered with some unusual surprises, including the underated Moretti. Spirits rarely break the £3 mark and most are between £2.30-£2.50, with honourable exceptions including the magnificent malts of Bunnahabhain (10 years) at £3.40 and Dalwhinnie (15 yrs) £4. An impressive selection of rum (mostly around £2.50) is matched by exquisite wine and cocktails offerings.

The house white and red are £3.30/175ml, £4.20/ 250ml and £12 a bottle. Thoroughly recommended is the Oveja Negro Shiraz (£15 per bottle).

The Last Word
Part of the Swedish-owned quartet of bars in Leith (Sofi’s, Boda, Victoria), Joseph Pearce not only sustains those high standards but actually excels as its shining star.

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