Edinburgh has the deepest concentration of serious bars in Scotland and arguably in Britain outside London. Bramble birthed the modern Scottish cocktail scene; Panda & Sons turned the speakeasy form into a national export. The 10 below cover Old Town to Stockbridge, whisky-led pubs to tasting-menu cocktail rooms.
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The 10 best bars in Edinburgh
01 · Edinburgh
Queen Street
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Basement · Granite
Below street level. The room that birthed the Bramble cocktail's most famous Edinburgh interpretation. Long-running, never gimmicky.
Order: A Bramble, obviously
02 · Edinburgh
Queen Street
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Speakeasy · Through a barber shop
You enter through a working barber shop. Iain McPherson's Edinburgh flagship that exported the Scottish speakeasy form internationally.
Order: Whatever's the seasonal signature
03 · Edinburgh
Stockbridge
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Whisky-saloon · Stockbridge
In Stockbridge. Scotch whisky depth, classics-led cocktail menu, neighbourhood feel. The bar locals defend.
Order: A Last Word (gin, Chartreuse, maraschino, lime)
04 · Edinburgh
Old Town
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Stone walls · Whisky
In a former pump house off the Royal Mile. Stone walls, low lighting, deep whisky list. The most atmospheric Edinburgh bar.
Order: A flight of Highland malts
05 · Edinburgh
Queen Street
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13 bottles · 13 cocktails
Thirteen bottles, thirteen cocktails. The constraint forces the program to be exceptional. Sister bar to Bramble.
Order: Whichever cocktail features the most unusual spirit on the menu
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06 · Edinburgh
Old Town
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Real ale · Whisky
Tiny pub off the Royal Mile. The cask ale rotation is one of Scotland's most carefully curated, with a serious malt whisky cabinet behind the bar.
Order: A cask ale + a malt whisky
07 · Edinburgh
New Town
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Steakhouse bar · Cocktails
The bar at Hawksmoor steakhouse — a serious cocktail bar that doesn't need the restaurant's reputation. Among the best in town.
Order: Their Shaky Pete's Ginger Brew
08 · Edinburgh
Grassmarket
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Tropical · Late-night
In the Grassmarket. Tropical-leaning cocktail bar, late-night programming, more energetic than the Bramble cluster.
Order: A tiki-style spec
09 · Edinburgh
New Town
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Victorian · Tiled
Operating since 1863. Stunning Victorian-tiled interior, oysters at the bar, classic Edinburgh atmosphere.
Order: A Champagne sherry cobbler at the historic bar
10 · Edinburgh
Old Town
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Live jazz nightly
Live jazz seven nights a week in a basement on Chambers Street. Drinks are simple; the music is the reason.
Order: A whisky neat + the late set
More Edinburgh bars by categoryCocktail, hidden gem, whisky, real ale — the full Edinburgh index.
See the full list
How Edinburgh became Britain's surprise bar capital
The annual Festival fortnight every August transforms Edinburgh into the most concentrated drinking city in Britain. Off-season, the bars are quieter and easier to access. The Old Town addresses (Bow Bar, Devil's Advocate) are essential for the historical drinking architecture; the New Town addresses (Bramble, Lucky Liquor) for the modern cocktail scene. Most bars run until 1 AM; some go later during the Fringe.
