Forever Edinburgh: An Evening in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s incredible architecture comes to life at night, with awesome bars, delicious food and unique experiences to enjoy
Exploring Edinburgh is fascinating, but exploring a compact hilly city can mean a bit of walking. The good news is Edinburgh is full of great places to wind down and spend your evening, from rooftop bars overlooking the city, to one-of-a-kind restaurants in unexpected settings.
Unique restaurants
Edinburgh’s Old Town is a warren of closes and wynds, with truly spectacular locations for an evening meal. The Witchery (352 Castlehill) is a stunningly swanky Edinburgh institution, all 17th century oak panelling, baroque flourishes, and equally exciting food. Roxburgh Court has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, and El Cartel Mexicana are one of the new residents. The Edinburgh-owned Mexican restaurant has a fantastic vibe and excellent options for fans of tacos and margaritas, just off the Royal Mile.
In Leith, The Pitt street food market (125 Pitt St) offers the chance to spend your evening with an alfresco beer in their courtyard and dinner from some of Scotland’s best food trucks. In Tollcross, Timberyard (10 Lady Lawson St) plays host to some inventive cooking in a 19th century props warehouse, with a great view of Edinburgh Castle waiting outside. In the New Town, Noto (47a Thistle St) is tucked away between Rose Street and George Street, but if you can find it, it’s a cool minimalist space serving brilliant small plates.
The Witchery. Photo: Forever Edinburgh
Cosy pubs and cocktails
Edinburgh is home to some of the very best cocktail bars in the UK, and a group of them are clumped together in the New Town. There’s Bramble (16a Queen St), an underground speakeasy with moody lighting and brilliant cocktails; Lucky Liquor Co (39a Queen St) is bright and breezy upstairs with a pool room downstairs; Panda and Sons (79 Queen St) is hidden behind the pretence of being a barber’s shop, but inside it's a warren-like bar with excellent drinks.
Elsewhere, Paradise Palms (41 Lothian St) is an all-action dive bar in the Southside with incredible neon decor and a charming outdoor patio. The Raging Bull (161 Lothian Rd) has an outrageously bright yellow exterior and no fewer than six variations of the espresso martini. If you want a taste of Italian aperitivo, head to Hey Palu (49 Bread St); the wine list is fantastic and the negronis are exceptional.
For a relaxing pint, Cloisters (26 Brougham St) serves up delicious ales in a building designed by Robert Rowand Anderson, the architect responsible for Bristo Square and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Teuchters (26 William St) is a rustic nook in the middle of the West End, ideal for a whisky by the fire. Down by the Shore, Carriers Quarters (42 Bernard St) is thought to be the neighbourhood’s oldest pub, while Nobles (44a Constitution St) is a classy and elegant slice of Victoriana with expertly-restored stained glass windows to let in that golden hour light.
Beer gardens and rooftop bars
When the weather cooperates, Edinburgh has a great mix of street-side beer gardens and rooftop bars to check out. The Beehive in Grassmarket has a spacious and secluded beer garden beneath the castle, while Cold Town House offers a unique rooftop view complete with repurposed ski lifts for seating. Elsewhere in the Old Town, the Nor’ Loft bar in the new Market Street Hotel (6 Market St) has a great city view and a champagne selection to go with it.
Down at The Shore, Teuchters Landing (1c Dock Pl) is truly unique – how many bars have their own pontoon? Grab a pint or a single malt, and hover gently over the water. Over in the New Town, the beer garden at the Cumberland Bar is always lively with students and locals enjoying the sun in the shade of a frankly enormous willow tree. Rooftop 51 at the Moxy hotel on Fountainbridge offers a different vantage point, and the Royal Dick bar at Summerhall is a sprawling suntrap alive with buzz from the arts venue. At the border of Leith and the New Town, the Glass House Hotel’s rooftop area is vast, tranquil, and gives a great view down Leith Walk.
Teuchters Landing. Photo: Forever Edinburgh
Things to see and do
Edinburgh is packed with well-programmed and characterful cinemas – take your pick from the art deco, family-run Dominion in Morningside, the century-old Cameo Cinema in Tollcross, or the brand-new Everyman Cinema at the St James Quarter with its cocktail bar and at-seat service. Filmhouse on Lothian Road is also excellent, bringing together films from around the world under one roof.
If you’re feeling more active, a private karaoke booth at Supercube in the New Town and Cowgate or the retro arcade games and drinks at NQ64 on Lothian Road, might be up your street. Ghillie Dhu runs regular ceilidh nights if you really want to burn off your dinner, or if you’re feeling more cerebral, take a trip to the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill for some stargazing.
As well as those options, one of the best ways to spend an Edinburgh evening is being out and about among the city’s incredible history and architecture. Edinburgh is incredibly photogenic no matter the weather (be sure to tag #ForeverEdinburgh in your snaps). Head up the Royal Mile to the Castle Esplanade and look down on the city at dusk; walk through Holyrood Park and see Arthur’s Seat and the Crags catching the last of the light; or journey up Calton Hill for the sunset.
The Royal Mile. Photo: Forever Edinburgh
Discover more places to go and things to do in Edinburgh at edinburgh.org/blog/an-evening-in-edinburgh/