Top 5 Neighborhoods for Nightlife
Nightlife in Edinburgh
The Grassmarket and Cowgate in the Old Town form the traditional going-out strip. The Cowgate's basement bars -- Sneaky Pete's for live music and DJ sets, Cabaret Voltaire for electronic music in stone vaults, and The Bongo Club for eclectic programming -- are packed on weekends. The Caves, a venue in actual Edinburgh vaults beneath the South Bridge, hosts concerts and club nights in one of the most atmospheric settings in the UK.
For cocktails, the New Town delivers. Bramble on Queen Street is a basement bar that has won international awards for its drinks and its no-nonsense atmosphere. Panda and Sons on Queen Street hides behind a barber shop facade. The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street serves cocktails alongside charcuterie in a candlelit space.
Leith has a completely different energy -- port-town pubs where conversations flow easily and pretension is nonexistent. The Lioness of Leith and Teuchter's Landing on the Shore are atmospheric and welcoming. Leith Depot on Leith Walk programs live music from local bands.
Live music is an Edinburgh strength. Sandy Bell's on Forrest Road is a tiny folk music pub with live sessions most nights -- squeeze in, buy a pint, and listen to fiddle and accordion music that has been playing here for decades. The Queen's Hall on Clerk Street books jazz, folk, and classical in a converted church. Summerhall, a former veterinary school in Newington, programs experimental music, theatre, and art.
The Festival in August transforms everything. The Fringe alone puts on thousands of shows across hundreds of venues, and even locals discover new bars and spaces that only open for the month. Book accommodation months ahead and embrace the chaos.