Edinburgh's rooftop scene is small but punchy — the castle and Arthur's Seat give every elevated bar an exceptional view. The 10 below cover the Old Town and New Town. Most are summer-only or have heated indoor sections for the rest of the year.
Part of our 50 Best Rooftop 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 rooftop bars in Edinburgh
01 · Edinburgh
Grassmarket
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Brewery rooftop · Castle view
On top of a Grassmarket brewery. Direct view of Edinburgh Castle from the rooftop terrace.
Order: A craft beer + the castle view
02 · Edinburgh
George Street
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Hotel rooftop · New Town
On top of Le Monde hotel. Polished rooftop with Princes Street Gardens view.
Order: A signature cocktail at sunset
03 · Edinburgh
Calton Hill
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Hilltop · Restaurant + bar
On Calton Hill. Floor-to-ceiling windows facing the city below. The most architecturally impressive Edinburgh elevated room.
Order: A modernist Scottish-spirit cocktail
04 · Edinburgh
West End
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Hotel rooftop · Castle view
On top of The Rutland Hotel. Direct view of Edinburgh Castle from the indoor-outdoor rooftop.
Order: A whisky highball with the castle view
05 · Edinburgh
Apex Hotel
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Hotel rooftop · Castle view
On top of the Apex Hotel. Polished rooftop with castle and Princes Street views.
Order: A Scottish gin and tonic
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06 · Edinburgh
Old Town
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Boutique hotel rooftop
On top of a boutique Old Town hotel. Smaller, more intimate than the New Town rooftops.
Order: A house cocktail at sunset
07 · Edinburgh
New Town
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Steakhouse rooftop
At Hawksmoor Edinburgh. Roof garden for cocktails before or after the steakhouse meal.
Order: A martini in the garden
08 · Edinburgh
Greenside
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Hotel rooftop · Garden
On top of The Glasshouse hotel. Two-acre rooftop garden — the largest hotel rooftop garden in the UK.
Order: A garden-side cocktail
09 · Edinburgh
Old Town
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Casual rooftop · Castle view
Casual Old Town rooftop with direct castle view. The casual face of Edinburgh rooftop drinking.
Order: A pint with the castle view
10 · Edinburgh
Princes Street
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Whisky brand rooftop
On top of the Johnnie Walker experience on Princes Street. Whisky-led cocktail program with castle views.
Order: A whisky highball at sunset
More Edinburgh rooftopsThe full Edinburgh rooftop-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Edinburgh rooftops use the castle view
Cold Town House and Lookout are the essentials. Most peak between 6 and 9 PM in summer. Festival fortnight in August transforms the rooftop scene completely.
