Ask ten Bathonians for the best pub in Bath and you'll get eleven answers. The Star Inn wins on heritage — a CAMRA-listed interior pouring Abbey Ales from the cask. The Raven is the one for pies and a buzzy two-floor crowd. The Coeur de Lion is the smallest and, on a winter evening, the cosiest. Below: all 15, with this week's opening hours, real ale, food and dog-friendly details — so you can pick your own.
15
Central pubs
14
CAMRA-recommended
15
Dog-friendly
12
Historic interiors
Every great pub in central Bath
The Raven
The Raven
7 Queen St, Bath, BA1 1HE
££
Food
Dog-friendly
Historic
CAMRA
A famous, highly popular traditional pub split over two floors in a charming Georgian building. Renowned for its exceptional selection of real ales and award-winning homemade pies, it offers a warm, cozy atmosphere complete with classic timber framing and excellent customer reviews.
Steeped in local history, this remarkable establishment is Bath's longest continuously licensed pub, operating since 1760. Its multi-room layout features original wood paneling, roaring open fires, and built-in settles, serving outstanding real ales from standard casks in an authentic, untamed atmosphere.
A delightfully snug and vibrant city-centre pub owned by Bath's local Abbey Ales brewery. It features a welcoming ground-floor bar and an intimate upstairs dining area, providing great comfort alongside an excellent range of craft beers, regional real ales, and hearty pub classics.
Housed in a magnificent Grade II listed Jacobean building, this award-winning destination seamlessly blends historical importance with a lively modern pub vibe. It offers a curated craft beer lineup, regular traditional live music sessions, a hidden upper terrace, and a famously detailed plaster ceiling.
A beautiful, historic Fuller's pub perfectly situated in the cobblestoned Abbey Green. It boasts a striking Victorian facade and sits atop fascinating Roman remnants. Guests can enjoy premium drinks, refined British pub food, and a large, heated courtyard garden open all year round.
An elegant, historic pub and dining room attached to the Theatre Royal, once serving as the stately home of Beau Nash. It features grand interiors, an expansive terrace popular for pre-theatre drinks, an outstanding menu of fresh seafood, and an extensive list of fine wines and ales.
A dynamic, iconic central pub managed by Butcombe Brewery, celebrated for its vibrant sports culture and musical heritage. It features walls packed with eccentric memorabilia, a massive sun-drenched outdoor terrace, multiple screens for major games, and an exceptional range of local craft beers and modern pub food.
A true haven for real ale enthusiasts located just on the edge of the city centre. This highly regarded CAMRA-approved pub offers an ever-rotating selection of unique microbrewery ales, a spacious beer garden, regular live community events, and creative food pop-ups in a welcoming environment.
An expansive and highly energetic pub layout featuring two separate bars, custom private karaoke pods, and a massive outdoor seating area perfect for socializing. It provides an extensive and inventive menu of craft cocktails, slushies, local beers, and casual street-food style bites.
Occupying the spectacular ground floor of Bath's landmark historic Empire Hotel, this elegant Brunning & Price venue matches stately neoclassical architecture with premium comfort. It offers an extensive collection of malt whiskies, local real ales, and a highly polished menu of British and international cuisine.
A lively, spacious brewpub featuring its own visible on-site microbrewery producing fantastic signature craft ales. It features a huge, vibrant beer garden with an outdoor bar, a rotating schedule of live music, pub quizzes, and a rustic open kitchen serving superb smoked meats and comfort food.
Perfectly situated directly next to the famous Pulteney Bridge, this historic Fuller's establishment boasts Bath's largest and most scenic riverside beer garden. With four distinct indoor bars, hidden cellar rooms, and an elevated dining space, it delivers top-tier cask ales and excellent contemporary pub dining.
Famous as Bath's smallest commercial pub, this historical gem is tucked away in a pedestrianized corridor. It boasts a beautiful, iconic stained-glass storefront, an incredibly intimate interior layout, a friendly community environment, and a fine lineup of local ales from the Abbey Ales brewery.
A legendary, community-owned cooperative pub celebrated as a major bastion of alternative local culture and live music. It features a wonderful, expansive rear garden terrace, a classic pub games room, open mic nights, and a highly diverse, independent draft selection in a uniquely inclusive environment.
A historic, subterranean-style central pub situated mere moments from the historic Bath Assembly Rooms. Managed by Abbey Ales, it is highly favored by locals for its relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, multiple screens broadcasting premier sports leagues, and an authentic, traditional choice of real cask ales.
Bath's pubs sit close together — a self-guided crawl of the centre takes in The Raven, The Salamander, The Garrick's Head and the Coeur de Lion within ten minutes' walk. Stay central and you can walk to all of them.
Picked from the live feed. One email a week, no filler.
Bath pubs — frequently asked
What is the best traditional pub in Bath?
It depends what you're after, but a few names come up again and again. The Star Inn on Vineyard (BA1 5NA) is on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors — rooms barely changed in a century, Abbey Ales served straight from the cask. The Raven on Queen Street is the central favourite for pies and a lively two-floor crowd. The Coeur de Lion on Northumberland Place is the city's smallest pub and one of its most atmospheric. All three are CAMRA-recommended — visit a couple and pick your own.
Which Bath pubs are CAMRA-recommended for real ale?
CAMRA-recommended real ale pubs in central Bath include The Raven, The Star Inn, The Salamander, The Grapes, The Crystal Palace, The Garrick’s Head, The Pig & Fiddle, The Royal Oak, The Architect, The Bath Brew House, The Boater, Coeur de Lion, The Bell, The Assembly Inn. The Star Inn is the spiritual home of Abbey Ales; The Salamander serves the Bath Ales range; The Royal Oak in Twerton is a dedicated free house with rotating guest ales.
Which pubs in Bath are dog-friendly?
Dog-friendly pubs in Bath include The Raven, The Star Inn, The Salamander, The Grapes, The Crystal Palace, The Garrick’s Head, The Pig & Fiddle, The Royal Oak and more. Most traditional Bath pubs welcome dogs in the bar areas; call ahead if you want a dog in a dining area during food service.
Do Bath pubs have beer gardens?
Pubs with beer gardens or outdoor space in Bath include The Star Inn, The Crystal Palace, The Garrick’s Head, The Pig & Fiddle, The Royal Oak, The Cork, The Architect, The Bath Brew House, The Boater, The Bell. The Bath Brew House has the largest beer garden in the city centre. The Boater sits right on the River Avon with riverside seating. Garden space is limited in the Georgian centre, so these fill quickly on warm afternoons.
What are the opening hours for pubs in Bath?
Most central Bath pubs open 11:00–23:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:00–22:30 on Sunday, with some staying open later on Friday and Saturday. Each pub's exact hours for this week are listed on its card above. Kitchens typically close earlier than the bar — usually around 21:00.
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