12 bars in Edinburgh, editor-picked for bars open late. Bars serving past 23:00. All bars in Edinburgh.
Panda and Sons ★ 4.7
new-town · 79 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 4NF
Hours: Sun to Thu 17:00-01:00, Fri to Sat 17:00-02:00
Iain McPherson's Panda and Sons on Queen Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2013, a speakeasy cocktail bar in a basement disguised as a barber-shop.
Tip: Enter through the barber-shop door at street level. Bookings open 30 days ahead; cocktail menu changes seasonally.
Bramble Bar and Lounge ★ 4.7
new-town · 16a Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE
Hours: Daily 16:00-01:00, walk-ins only
Bramble on Queen Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2006 by Mike Aikman and Jas Scott, a basement cocktail bar credited with launching the city's modern.
Tip: Walk-ins only and the room fills fast after 9pm; ask the bartender for a dealer's-choice rather than the menu.
The Bow Bar ★ 4.6
old-town · 80 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH
Hours: Mon to Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:30-23:30
The Bow Bar on West Bow in Edinburgh Old Town, opened in the 1860s and refurbished in the 1990s as a classic Scottish pub, with 250 single malt whiskies.
Tip: No cocktails, no music, no kids. Cask ale list rotates daily; ask the bar what is on tonight.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society ★ 4.6
leith · The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-23:00, closed Sun
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in The Vaults on Giles Street in Leith, opened 1983, the world reference for single-cask whisky with a members bar and tasting.
Tip: Non-members can buy a day pass for £15 and bring a guest; ask at the door. The Queen Street branch is the New Town sibling.
Never Really Here ★ 4.6
new-town · 89 Rose Street North Lane, Edinburgh EH2 3DX
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 17:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00, closed Tue
Never Really Here on Rose Street North Lane in Edinburgh New Town, a tucked-away speakeasy behind a graffiti-covered black door with seven tables.
Tip: Cash-only, walk-ins only by knock on the door; arrive before 9pm for a chance of a table on Fridays.
The Devil's Advocate ★ 4.5
old-town · 9 Advocate's Close, Edinburgh EH1 1ND
Hours: Sun to Thu 12:00-00:00, Fri to Sat 12:00-01:00
The Devil's Advocate in Advocate's Close off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened 2013 in a former Victorian pump house, a stone-walled whisky and cocktail.
Tip: Find the bar by going down the steep close from the High Street; the street-level entrance is unmarked.
Hawksmoor Bar ★ 4.5
new-town · 23 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Hawksmoor's bar on West Register Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2019 inside the former National Bank of Scotland Hall, a 30-seat cocktail bar.
Tip: Express menu before 18:30 runs three courses at £28 from the bar; the cocktails are the same as the restaurant.
The Last Word Saloon ★ 4.4
stockbridge · 44 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh EH3 5AL
Hours: Tue-Sun 17:00-01:00, closed Mon
The Last Word Saloon on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge Edinburgh, opened 2014, a wood-panelled cocktail bar named after the Prohibition-era drink.
Tip: Sister bars on the same street include The Bon Vivant's Companion; the basement seats fill from 21:00 on Friday.
Civerinos Cocktail Counter ★ 4.3
old-town · 5 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW
Hours: Daily 12:00-02:00
Civerinos pizza counter and bar on Hunter Square in Edinburgh Old Town, opened 2016, an all-Italian cocktail and amaro programme beside the slice counter.
Tip: Slice plus a negroni at the counter is the local move after midnight; the cocktail menu changes monthly.
The Witchery Bar ★ 4.3
old-town · Boswell's Court, 352 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF
Hours: Daily 12:00-23:00
The Witchery bar in Boswell's Court at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened 1979, a heritage candlelit room pouring cocktails and an extensive wine.
Tip: Ask for The Secret Garden, the second dining room down the stairs; the candle-lit version of the experience.
The Dome Cocktail Bar ★ 4.2
new-town · 14 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PF
Hours: Daily 11:00-00:00
The Dome cocktail bar on George Street in Edinburgh New Town, opened 1996 inside the former Commercial Bank building, a glass-domed grand-room space pouring.
Tip: The Christmas decoration installation in November to January is famously over-the-top; book a window seat ahead.
The Caley Picture House ★ 3.2
tollcross-west-end · 31 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2DJ
Hours: Daily 08:00-01:00
The Caley Picture House on Lothian Road in Edinburgh, a JD Wetherspoon pub in the grade-B listed 1923 Caley cinema building, serving budget cask ales.
Tip: The listed art-deco interior is worth seeing regardless of the Wetherspoon context; look up at the original plasterwork.