Best Places For Drinks In Edinburgh

Let’s be real for a sec: Edinburgh is not short on places to wet your whistle. But between the tourist-trap pubs with sad, lukewarm ale and the actual hidden gems, you need a guide. So grab your coat (it’s Edinburgh, so obviously you’ll need it) and your most sensible shoes—because we’re about to do a little pub crawl, metaphorically speaking. I promise no hangovers, just excellent recommendations.

First up: The Scarf & Bar on the Royal Mile. Yes, I know, I know—the Royal Mile is a tourist circus. But this place is a secret. It’s tiny, almost claustrophobically so, and it feels like a cozy library exploded into a bar. Their Old Fashioned is a work of art, and they serve it with a single, perfect ice cube. You’ll feel very sophisticated. Or at least you’ll look sophisticated while tripping over a 17th-century chair leg. Win-win.

If you want a view that makes your Instagram followers weep with envy, book a table at Bramble Bar. It’s underground, which is already cool, but their cocktail menu reads like a fantasy novel. Try the “Wee Smoky” – it’s peaty, sweet, and completely dangerous. Pro tip: go during golden hour. The sun hits the cobblestones outside just right, and you’ll suddenly understand why people write poetry about this city. (Also, they have cheese straws on the bar. Free. I am not kidding.)

Now, for the beer lovers: The Hanging Bat. It’s a craft beer bar that feels like a Viking longhouse designed by a hipster. Over 30 taps, a menu that changes weekly, and staff who actually enjoy explaining the difference between a hazy IPA and a New England one. You can sit on mismatched furniture, eat a punny hot dog (the “Bratwurst Bowie”? Yes, please.), and feel like you’ve found your people. Even if your people are just you and a very good pint.

The 10 Best Places to Drink in Edinburgh

But the true magic? It’s Panda & Sons. This is a speakeasy disguised as a barber shop. You walk past a shop window with mannequin heads, push a secret door, and descend into a dim, mahogany wonderland. The cocktails are named after books, the lighting is moody enough to make you look mysterious, and the whole experience feels like a very classy heist movie. Order the “For Whom the Sloe Tolls” and try not to feel like the coolest person in the room. (You are.)

So, whether you’re sipping a smoky, peaty whisky in a hidden basement or laughing over a pint with a friend on a quiet Royal Mile side street, remember: Edinburgh’s best drinks aren’t just about the liquid. They’re about the story you’re already writing. The clinking glass, the laughter, the slight stumble home past the castle—it’s all part of the gorgeous, chaotic, beautiful script. Now go, raise a glass to the rain, and slàinte—to you, to Scotland, and to the glorious, tipsy joy of being alive.