The tiny Infirmary Street pub fits about forty people and has been the heart of the Edinburgh folk scene since the 1960s, traditional song sessions in the upstairs room every night.
Tip: The Sunday night Wee Folk Club is the standout, arrive an hour before the set to get one of the upstairs benches near the singers.
Address: 1 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT
The arts-trust run Bongo Club just off the Cowgate is the long-running heart of Edinburgh underground clubbing, with weekly drum and bass, dub and disco residencies.
Tip: Cash for the cloakroom moves the queue quickly, and the side door on Cowgate is the shorter wait after midnight on a Saturday.
The intimate 100 capacity Cowgate basement is the city's most consistent stage for new touring guitar bands and late-night club residencies, busy every night of the week.
Tip: The room sells out fast for any name booking, buy in advance and arrive by doors to avoid being turned away at 22:00.
The Blair Street basement carved into Edinburgh's old underground vaults is one of Scotland's most iconic electronic venues, with seven-night-a-week programming.
Tip: The vaulted side rooms run different sounds from the main floor, walk the full venue before committing to one bar queue.
The three-floor Cowgate venue accessed via Hastie's Close is a rustic brick and scaffold space running electronic club residencies, ceilidhs and the odd punk gig.
Tip: Easier to find via the Guthrie Street staircase than the Cowgate side, and the upstairs bar is the quietest spot for between-set drinks.
Originally formed in the early 1990s, rebuilt after the 2002 Cowgate fire, La Belle remains one of Edinburgh's most loved live music and club rooms in the Old Town.
Tip: Access is via the steep close stairs from Guthrie Street or the Cowgate, wear sensible shoes if it has been raining.
The basement of an 1860s Chambers Street building has been the city's most reliable seven-nights-a-week jazz, blues and funk room since musician Bill Kyle opened it.
Tip: The late set at 23:30 is when the room loosens up, get there for the early jazz at 20:00 to grab a banquette seat.
The arts-trust run Bongo Club just off the Cowgate is the long-running heart of Edinburgh underground clubbing, with weekly drum and bass, dub and disco residencies.
Tip: Cash for the cloakroom moves the queue quickly, and the side door on Cowgate is the shorter wait after midnight on a Saturday.
The intimate 100 capacity Cowgate basement is the city's most consistent stage for new touring guitar bands and late-night club residencies, busy every night of the week.
Tip: The room sells out fast for any name booking, buy in advance and arrive by doors to avoid being turned away at 22:00.
The Blair Street basement carved into Edinburgh's old underground vaults is one of Scotland's most iconic electronic venues, with seven-night-a-week programming.
Tip: The vaulted side rooms run different sounds from the main floor, walk the full venue before committing to one bar queue.
The three-floor Cowgate venue accessed via Hastie's Close is a rustic brick and scaffold space running electronic club residencies, ceilidhs and the odd punk gig.
Tip: Easier to find via the Guthrie Street staircase than the Cowgate side, and the upstairs bar is the quietest spot for between-set drinks.
Originally formed in the early 1990s, rebuilt after the 2002 Cowgate fire, La Belle remains one of Edinburgh's most loved live music and club rooms in the Old Town.
Tip: Access is via the steep close stairs from Guthrie Street or the Cowgate, wear sensible shoes if it has been raining.
The basement of an 1860s Chambers Street building has been the city's most reliable seven-nights-a-week jazz, blues and funk room since musician Bill Kyle opened it.
Tip: The late set at 23:30 is when the room loosens up, get there for the early jazz at 20:00 to grab a banquette seat.