Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, a compact city of about half a million people built across a chain of extinct volcanic hills. Its Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Edinburgh Castle on its rock at one end of the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other. Visitors come for the medieval closes, the Georgian crescents, free national museums, Arthur's Seat, Scottish seafood and whisky, and the festivals that fill the city every August.
Edinburgh's nightlife is compact and walkable. The Old Town packs historic pubs, folk-music sessions, and whisky bars along the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, and Victoria Street; the Cowgate (the sunken street below George IV Bridge) is the main clubbing strip, with venues built into stone arches; the New Town offers polished cocktail bars on Queen Street and in the Rose Street pub lane; and Leith has waterside pubs along The Shore. A traditional ceilidh night or a live folk session in a pub is the most distinctive evening out. August (Fringe season) and Hogmanay change everything: venues stay open later, book up, and add late shows, while queues for clubs and popular bars lengthen.
Edinburgh's licensing rules allow pubs and bars to serve alcohol until around midnight or 1am, and licensed nightclubs until about 3am. Most pubs close between 11pm and 1am Sunday to Thursday and between midnight and 1am on weekends; clubs open at about 10pm or 11pm and close at 3am. Entry to bars is usually free; clubs charge £5 to £20 (~$7 to $27) depending on the night. Food is served in most pubs until 8pm to 10pm. Many of the Old Town's best pubs host live music, particularly traditional folk music, nightly.
At a glance
- Peak hours
- Bars and pubs fill from about 7pm; cocktail bars are busiest from 8pm to 11pm Thursday to Saturday. Clubs reach peak capacity between midnight and 2am. In August (Fringe), late-night venues stay busy until 3am and queues can start at 10pm.
- Average drink
- A pint of beer in a central pub costs about £5.50 to £7.50 (~$7 to $10). A cocktail at a mid-range bar costs about £11 to £15 (~$15 to $20), and at the best cocktail bars about £13 to £16 (~$17 to $21). A dram of single malt whisky starts at about £5 (~$7) and rises past £15 (~$20) for rare bottles. Prices in clubs are a little higher. Bars add no cover charge; club entry is typically £5 to £15 (~$7 to $20) on regular weekend nights, more for big-name DJs. Prices are indicative and can change without notice.
- Dress code
- Edinburgh nightlife is relaxed. Pubs and live-music venues have no dress code; cocktail bars on Queen Street and George Street expect smart-casual (no sports kit). Clubs on the Cowgate are casual, with trainers fine, though door staff may refuse entry for football shirts, work wear, or very muddy footwear. Take a jacket in all seasons, because queueing outdoors is cold.
- Cover charge
- Scotland operates a Challenge 25 policy: bar and club staff routinely ask for photo ID from anyone who looks under 25, and the legal drinking age is 18. Accepted ID is a passport, photo driving licence, or PASS card; a photocopy is not accepted. Door staff may refuse entry to intoxicated guests, and many clubs have a no re-entry policy. Drinking in the street is prohibited under city bylaws.
Nightlife districts
Where the action happens after dark.
Cowgate and Old Town
The Cowgate, running below the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge, is Edinburgh's main late-night strip, with Cabaret Voltaire (Blair Street), The Liquid Room (Victoria Street), Bongo Club, Sneaky Pete's, and The Caves nearby. Pubs on the Royal Mile and Victoria Street (Whistle Binkies, The Jolly Judge) are quieter and earlier. At night the area is busy with students and stag and hen groups; visitors should keep to the lit main streets.
Grassmarket
The broad cobbled Grassmarket below the castle has a ring of historic pubs (The Last Drop, The Beehive Inn) with outdoor seating in summer, and leads to West Bow and Victoria Street where The Bow Bar pours cask ale and a large whisky selection. Busy on Friday and Saturday evenings; closing times are generally 11pm to 1am.
Queen Street and New Town
Queen Street and the lanes off George Street hold the city's cocktail bars, such as Bramble, Panda & Sons, and Lucky Liquor Co. These tend to be intimate and are best booked ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Rose Street
A pedestrianised lane between Princes Street and George Street lined with pubs such as Milne's of Rose Street, The Black Cat, and others. A traditional pub-crawl route; busy on weekends and during sporting events.
Leith and The Shore
Edinburgh's historic port area has waterside pubs and restaurants along The Shore, including Teuchters Landing and The Shore Bar, a relaxed atmosphere with live music some evenings. Reached by Lothian Buses or the tram to Newhaven (alight at Foot of the Walk or Port of Leith).
Lothian Road and West End
Lothian Road near Usher Hall and the Sheraton has big pubs and craft-beer bars such as The Hanging Bat and the Caley Picture House, popular with theatre-goers. Ghillie Dhu (Rutland Place) hosts regular ceilidhs.
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Bramble
A long-running basement cocktail bar on Queen Street with a bar team known for seasonal cocktails. Bookings are recommended for Friday and Saturday; walk-ins are accommodated when there is space. Smart-casual is the norm.
Known for: Basement cocktail bar with a seasonal, inventive menu; popular for date nights
16a Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE
Panda & Sons
A speakeasy-style bar entered through a fake barbershop on Queen Street. The cocktail menu is inventive and theatrical. Reservations are the safest way to secure a table; there is no formal dress code.
Known for: Speakeasy hidden behind a barbershop front with theatrical cocktails
79 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 4NF
Lucky Liquor Co.
A small, colourful cocktail bar on Queen Street famous for its unusual signature number: 13 spirit types, 13 cocktails, and a menu rotated every 13 weeks. Rated 4.5 out of 5 by Difford's Guide. Booking is advisable for weekends.
Known for: Soda-parlour-style cocktail bar; 13 spirits and 13 cocktails on a menu that changes every 13 weeks
39a Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 3NH
The Devil's Advocate
A bar tucked down Advocate's Close off the High Street with a Victorian pump-house setting, a long whisky and cocktail list, and views of the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens from the upper level. Food is available until late evening.
Known for: Cocktails and a large whisky list in a former Victorian pump house, reached by stairs down from the Royal Mile
9 Advocate's Close, Edinburgh EH1 1ND
The Last Drop
A traditional pub on the Grassmarket named for the site of public hangings. Food is served through the day, and outdoor tables fill early on summer weekends. Often busy before and after Tattoo and Fringe shows.
Known for: Traditional Grassmarket pub named after the nearby gallows, with outdoor seating in summer
74-78 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU
Sandy Bell's
A small traditional pub that has hosted free folk-music sessions since the 1940s. Musicians gather around a corner table and play fiddle, accordion, guitar, and pipes. Arrive early on weekends to get a seat; it is a drinking pub, so food is limited.
Known for: Free traditional folk sessions in a small, wood-panelled pub
25 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QH
The Jolly Judge
A tiny, low-ceilinged pub in James' Court, off the Lawnmarket, with an open fire in winter and a painted beam ceiling. Real ales and whiskies are served alongside simple food. It is small, so peak hours can mean a short wait.
Known for: Cosy 17th-century pub with a painted ceiling, reached through a close off the Lawnmarket
7a James' Court, Edinburgh EH1 2PB
The Bow Bar
A traditional Victorian-style bar with a back wall lined with several hundred single-malt whiskies and a rotating selection of cask ales and craft beers. No music or television, so conversation dominates.
Known for: Cask-ale and malt whisky specialist on the curve of West Bow
80 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH
Café Royal Circle Bar
A famous Victorian pub with a central island bar, high ceiling, and tiled portraits of inventors. A short walk from Waverley station, it serves ales, whisky, and pub food. Good for a quiet drink or lunch away from the Royal Mile crowds.
Known for: Victorian island bar with listed ceramic portraits and stained glass, just off Princes Street
19 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
The Oxford Bar
A small unpretentious back-street pub popular with locals and fans of Ian Rankin's Rebus novels. There is no music or food menu beyond bar snacks; it is a conversation pub with cask ale and whisky.
Known for: No-frills New Town local made famous as inspector Rebus's pub in Ian Rankin's novels
8 Young Street, Edinburgh EH2 4JB
Teuchters Landing
A Leith pub in a former waiting room for ferries on The Shore, with a terrace by the Water of Leith in summer, a whisky selection, and pub food. A good start to an evening in Leith, which is reached by Lothian Buses from Princes Street or the Edinburgh tram.
Known for: Waterside pub in a converted harbour building with a large whisky list and outdoor terrace
1c Dock Place, Edinburgh EH6 6LU
The Hanging Bat
A craft-beer pub on Lothian Road near the theatres with rotating taps from UK and international breweries, bottles, and a food menu. Convenient before or after a show at the Usher Hall or the Traverse Theatre.
Known for: Craft beer bar with rotating taps and a food menu
133 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AB
The Voodoo Rooms
A gilded first-floor bar and music room above the Café Royal with cocktails and regular live gigs and club nights. Event nights may carry a ticket or entry fee of about £5 to £15 (~$7 to $20); check the venue's listings.
Known for: Ornate first-floor cocktail bar and live-music room above Café Royal
19a West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
Nightcap
A cocktail bar on York Place near the Playhouse, serving cocktails and food into the early hours, known as a late-night stop after the theatre.
Known for: Cocktails and late-evening food in the east New Town
3 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EB
The Canny Man's
An idiosyncratic Morningside pub cluttered with antiques and old signs,. A world apart from the tourist pubs and a good glimpse of local life. Reached by Lothian Buses 11 or 23 from Princes Street.
Known for: Eccentric antiques-filled pub in Morningside
237 Morningside Road, Edinburgh EH10 4QU
Bennets Bar
An Edwardian bar with listed mahogany fittings, stained glass, and a long list of malt whiskies. A good pre-theatre stop for the King's Theatre next door.
Known for: Edwardian pub beside the King's Theatre with original mirrors and etched glass
8 Leven Street, Edinburgh EH3 9LG
Heads & Tales Gin Bar
A small bar at the Edinburgh Gin Distillery on Rutland Place with gin tastings, cocktails, and distillery tours. Convenient for a drink before a ceilidh at Ghillie Dhu next door.
Known for: Gin bar attached to the Edinburgh Gin Distillery, offering tastings and cocktails
1a Rutland Place, Edinburgh EH1 2AD
Clubs
For dancing into the early hours.
Cabaret Voltaire
A vaulted club under the Old Town with a heavy emphasis on electronic music, house, techno, and drum and bass. Friday and Saturday nights are run by promoters; weekend tickets usually cost about £10 to £15 (~$13 to $20). Buy advance tickets online for popular nights.
Cover: Typically £5-£15 (~$7-$20); more for big events
Hours: Typically open from about 11pm Wednesday to Sunday until 3am; check the venue calendar for current nights
The Liquid Room
One of Edinburgh's longest-running venues, on Victoria Street in a converted church. Hosts touring bands in the early evening and club nights late; check the venue calendar for which. Student nights are popular with a young crowd.
Cover: Varies by night
Hours: Gigs from early evening; club nights Thursday to Sunday from about 11pm until 3am
The Bongo Club
A not-for-profit arts venue with a nightclub, gig space, and exhibition space on the Cowgate. Programming ranges from bass music and African funk to experimental nights, with events usually ticketed in advance or on the door.
Cover: Varies by event
Hours: Events typically from late evening to 3am; check the venue calendar
Sneaky Pete's
A very small independent basement venue on the Cowgate that features DJs and touring bands almost every night, usually with cheap entry. A good place to hear emerging acts.
Cover: Free to about £8 (~$11)
Hours: Typically open nightly from the evening until 3am; club nights at weekends
The Caves
A venue in the medieval vaults beneath the Old Town with club nights, gigs, and events. The atmospheric stone arches suit live music and DJ nights.
Cover: Varies by event
Hours: Event nights, typically until 3am; check the venue calendar
The Mash House
A venue close to the Cowgate used for club nights and gigs, with a mix of house, drum and bass, and indie programming. Check the schedule before travelling.
Cover: Varies by event
Hours: Event nights, typically until 3am; check the venue calendar
La Belle Angele
A long-established Cowgate venue off Hastie's Close with live music and club nights. Opening and programming have varied in recent years, so check the current calendar before travelling.
Cover: Varies by event
Hours: Event nights, typically until 3am; check the venue calendar for current programming
Paradise Palms
A retro-styled bar and club on Lothian Street near the university, known for cheap drinks and party nights. Strong student crowd; ID is routinely checked.
Cover: Varies by night
Hours: Typically open evenings until 3am on weekends; check hours
The Banshee Labyrinth
A multi-room venue in vaults off the Cowgate with a bar, a small cinema, and live music or club nights, sometimes billed as Scotland's most haunted pub. Late-night opening makes it a good after-midnight stop.
Cover: Mostly free
Hours: Open daily from late afternoon until about 3am
Live entertainment
Music, theatre, and performance venues.
Items
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
Book cocktail bars such as Bramble, Panda & Sons, and Lucky Liquor Co. at least one to two days ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings; during August and Hogmanay book several days ahead.
For live folk music, arrive at Sandy Bell's before 8:30pm on weekends to secure a seat; sessions are free, and the drinks are the only cost.
Carry photo ID (passport or photo driving licence) at all times: Challenge 25 applies in bars and clubs, and photocopies are not accepted.
The Cowgate is steep, dark, and busy late at night. Keep to the main lit streets, avoid walking alone through quiet closes after midnight, and use the taxi ranks at Waverley station or on Princes Street for the journey home.
Last orders are typically called 15 to 30 minutes before closing; clubs stop admitting people one hour before closing and most have no re-entry.
Never drink in the street or the Meadows after dark; bylaw fines apply, and park paths are not lit.
Edinburgh's weather is cold and wet even in summer. A coat is useful in club queues, and most clubs have a cloakroom for about £2 to £3 (~$3 to $4).
During the Fringe (August) many venues add late-night shows and stay open later; check edfringe.com for late-night listings and The Stand and Monkey Barrel for comedy.