Edinburgh has the deepest concentration of serious cocktail 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 show how Scotch whisky and modern cocktailing combine in the city's bar rooms.
Part of our 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
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The 10 best cocktail 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.
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.
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.
Order: A Last Word
04 · Edinburgh
Queen Street
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13 bottles · 13 cocktails
Thirteen bottles, thirteen cocktails. The constraint forces the program to be exceptional.
Order: Whichever cocktail features the most unusual spirit
05 · 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.
Order: A flight of Highland malts
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06 · 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.
Order: Their Shaky Pete's Ginger Brew
07 · Edinburgh
Grassmarket
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Tropical · Late-night
In the Grassmarket. Tropical-leaning cocktail bar, late-night programming.
Order: A tiki-style spec
08 · Edinburgh
New Town
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Wine + cocktails · Bistro
Wine-and-cocktail bistro. The cocktail program is more serious than the casual format suggests.
Order: A whisky-led signature
09 · Edinburgh
Leith
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Whisky · Leith
Leith canal-side whisky and cocktail bar. 100+ Scotch whiskies, classic cocktails done seriously.
Order: A flight of Speyside malts
10 · Edinburgh
New Town
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Old-school pub · Rebus
Operating since 1811. Where Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus drinks. Pub atmosphere, simple drinks, the historical Edinburgh.
Order: A pint + a malt whisky
More Edinburgh cocktail barsThe full Edinburgh cocktail-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Scottish bartending sets its own standard
Iain McPherson's Panda & Sons has spawned a whole generation of Edinburgh bartenders. The Bramble lineage (Mike Aikman, Jason Scott) shaped Britain's cocktail scene more than people realise. The 10 above represent both. The Festival fortnight in August transforms the drinking culture; off-season the bars are easier and the locals more accessible.
