5 lgbtq+ in Edinburgh, editor-picked by TableJourney. All Edinburgh nightlife.
CC Blooms ★ 4.3
New Town · 23-24 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA
Open since 1994 next to the Edinburgh Playhouse, CC Blooms is Scotland's longest-running gay bar and club, drag cabaret and dance floor under one roof in the Pink Triangle.
Tip: Pre-theatre cocktails upstairs are quiet, the downstairs dance floor only really fills up after midnight on a Friday or Saturday.
Planet Bar and Kitchen ★ 4.2
New Town · 6 Baxter's Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AF
Edinburgh's longest-running gay bar sits next door to CC Blooms in the Pink Triangle, reasonably priced drinks, a snooker table, an arcade and nightly drag and DJ sets.
Tip: The Tuesday drag bingo regularly outdraws the Saturday DJ for laughs, arrive by 21:00 to get a booth in the back room.
The Street Bar ★ 4.3
New Town · 2b Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT
The glass-fronted independent on the corner of Picardy Place is the daytime cafe end of the Pink Triangle, with outdoor seating, that turns into a busy bar and dance floor.
Tip: Sunday brunch with bottomless mimosas pulls a queue, the downstairs club opens around 22:00 if upstairs feels too bright.
The Regent Bar ★ 4.4
New Town · 2 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5DL
Edinburgh's gay real ale pub at the top of Abbeymount runs a rotating Cask Marque cellar and CAMRA Good Beer Guide listing in a quiet local pub well away from the Pink Triangle.
Tip: The walk up from the Playhouse is steep, the rotating five cask lines and friendly regulars are the reward at the top.
The Dog House ★ 4.2
Newington · 18-24 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9HX
The Clerk Street bar in Newington runs a queer-friendly alternative programme with eclectic decor, regular drag nights and a quieter dance floor than the Pink Triangle clubs.
Tip: The Saturday alt-rock DJ is the standout, arrive by 22:00 to grab one of the upholstered booths near the bar.