The Oldest Pub in Aberdeen: Historic Bars Worth a Pint

What people mean by 'the oldest pub in Aberdeen'

The question splits in two, and the split matters when you are deciding where to drink. One claim is about the business: a pub that has traded for a very long time, however often it has been refurbished. The other is about the building: a site with centuries of history behind it, even if the current pub is a recent arrival in that space. Neither is dishonest, but they are not the same thing, and lists that swap one for the other end up disagreeing.

It is also worth knowing that Aberdeen's pub stock shifts. A long-standing city pub on The Green has been reported as closing permanently, which is a reminder that an old name on a map is not proof the doors are open. Check a pub's own channels before you build a trip around it, especially out of season or on a Sunday. If you want a wider shortlist beyond the historic names, our guide to the best pubs in Aberdeen sorts the city by what you are actually after.

Prince of Wales on Union Street

CAMRA's Aberdeen branch describes the Prince of Wales as one of the oldest bars in the city, and notes that it may have the longest bar counter in Aberdeen. That is the careful version of the claim, and it is the one to quote: one of the oldest, not the oldest, with the counter as its talking point. The branch also records a refurbishment in late 2016, so expect a bar that has been smartened up rather than a room frozen in time.

Practically, this is the history-led stop. You come for the sense of a bar that has served the city for a long stretch, a very long counter to lean on, and a city-centre position that makes it easy to fold into a day in the middle of town. It suits a pint and a look round rather than a long sit-down meal, and it is the natural first call if the age of the business is what interests you.

If beer is your main reason for choosing a pub, the city has plenty more to offer beyond the historic names, and our breweries in Aberdeen guide covers the city's brewing and where to drink it.

Old Blackfriars on Castlegate

Old Blackfriars sits at 52 Castlegate, close to where Aberdeen Castle once stood, and the pub tells its own story of the site: Dominican monks, public executions on the cobblestones outside, and the castle's end in the 14th century. Treat that as the house account rather than a heritage survey, but it gives the place a genuine sense of occasion that a modern bar cannot manufacture.

Inside, the pub spreads over two floors with low ceiling beams, stained glass and church pews used as seating, which makes it the more atmospheric of the two for a slow lunch. It is run by Belhaven, so the beer leans on Scottish brewing, and the kitchen covers steaks, pies and puddings rather than small plates. It is dog-friendly and has disabled facilities, and there is paid street parking nearby.

This is the food-led choice of the pair, and the one to book if you want a table at a sensible hour rather than chancing it. The pub takes bookings, and given the size of the rooms on a weekend it is the safer way to plan an evening.

How to choose between them

Pick by area first. Old Blackfriars on Castlegate puts you at the historic heart of the city, handy if your day is built around the old streets; the Prince of Wales sits in the city centre, better for a pint between other stops. If you are staying centrally, both are walkable, so the decision comes down to what you want from the visit.

Then pick by purpose. For atmosphere and a proper sit-down main, Old Blackfriars wins on room alone. For a slice of bar history and a swift pint at a long counter, the Prince of Wales is the more interesting stop. To compare the named places one by one, browse Aberdeen pubs and food landmarks.

If good pub food is the deciding factor rather than history, our pub food Aberdeen guide widens the field well beyond these two.

What to order

At Old Blackfriars, start with the beer: Belhaven is Scotland's oldest working brewery, established in 1719 in Dunbar, and the pub serves its range on draught. From there, the menu runs to steaks, hearty pies and puddings, which is exactly the sort of cooking a beamed, pew-seated room calls for. CAMRA members are offered a discount on cask ale at participating Belhaven pubs during National Cask Ale Week, so ask at the bar what is running.

There is a weekday lunch deal with a dish and a drink, which makes a midday visit the cheapest way to see the room. Prices and the hours it runs change, so check the pub's site or ask at the bar before you count on it.

At the Prince of Wales, keep it simple: a cask pint at the counter is the point of the visit. If you want a dram instead, our whisky Aberdeen guide covers where to find one worth savouring.

Practicalities: hours, dogs and access

Old Blackfriars opens at lunchtime and runs late, with food service finishing earlier in the evening than the bar, and Sunday hours are shorter than Friday or Saturday. Those times shift with the season, so check the pub's own page before you travel. If you want a Sunday roast Aberdeen rather than a pub main, our Sunday Roast in Aberdeen guide names the places to book, including Amuse by Kevin Dalgleish.

Dogs are welcome at Old Blackfriars, and the building has disabled access along with high chairs and free Wi-Fi. The Prince of Wales is a city-centre bar, so if you need step-free access or are bringing a pushchair, ring ahead rather than guess.

In summer, a beer garden Aberdeen search will pull up options with outdoor space, and our guide to the city's beer gardens saves you the guesswork.

Which old Aberdeen pub should you pick?

Choose Old Blackfriars if you want the room, the beams and a proper main, and book a table rather than turn up. Choose the Prince of Wales if the idea of a bar that has served Aberdeen for generations, with one of the city's longest counters, is the draw. Neither is the wrong answer, and both fit an afternoon in the centre.

Whichever you pick, confirm the day's hours before setting out. Old pubs are old buildings with changing kitchens, and a quick check is the difference between a planned pint and a locked door.