The Voodoo Rooms

The Voodoo Rooms at 19a West Register Street is an ornate first-floor cocktail bar and live-music venue above the Café Royal, just off St Andrew Square in Edinburgh's New Town, Scotland. The interior is gilded and theatrical, with high ceilings and decorative detail that make it one of the city's more atmospheric rooms. It combines a bar area for cocktails and conversation with a separate music room where gigs and club nights take place, so the experience changes depending on the night.

The crowd is mixed and tends to dress up a little more than at the average Edinburgh pub, though there is no strict dress code. Ages generally run from the mid-twenties to forties. On quiet nights the bar suits couples and small groups after a quieter cocktail; on event nights the music room fills with a gig or club crowd. The atmosphere is ornate and slightly theatrical rather than rowdy.

Music varies by programme: live bands and club nights are held regularly, covering a range of genres, so visitors should check the venue's listings to see what is on. The drinks programme centres on cocktails, typically £11 to £15 (~$15 to $20), with the usual selection of spirits, wine and beer. Event nights may carry a ticket or entry fee of about £5 to £15 (~$7 to $20), while quiet nights are free to enter. Table reservations are possible for groups and are sensible on weekend and event evenings, though bottle service is not a defining feature.

The bar opens evenings, with cocktails and live music typically running until 1am or 3am on event nights. Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights, and queues for the music room can form when a popular act or club night is on; buying tickets in advance for major events avoids waiting. Weeknights are calmer and better for the bar itself. Its central position near St Andrew Square, Princes Street and the bus and tram links makes it easy to reach, and it pairs well with dinner downstairs at the Café Royal or a drink at its Circle Bar before moving upstairs.