The opulent first-floor Ballroom above the Cafe Royal off West Register Street is one of the city's most beautiful live rooms, with album launches, cabaret and jazz nightly.
Tip: The Speakeasy side bar is the spot for cocktails before a show, and the Ballroom acoustics reward standing centre rather than the side balconies.
Address: 19a West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
The fourth-floor bar and brasserie above Harvey Nichols on St Andrew Square has an outdoor terrace with the most polished view in the New Town across to the Firth of Forth.
Tip: The terrace shuts when the wind picks up, the indoor cocktail bar keeps the same view through the floor-to-ceiling glass.
The reclaimed South Bridge vaults run live bands every night until 03:00, free before midnight Friday and Saturday, the canonical Cowgate-area late-night gig stop.
Tip: Up to six acts on a Friday or Saturday, the late slot from 01:00 is when the room tightens, arrive after 23:00 to skip the early covers.
The catacomb pub on Cowgate is Edinburgh's home of live rock seven nights a week, vaulted rooms with flagstone floors and flags hung from the stone ceilings.
Tip: Get to the back stone vault for the loudest mix, and the front bar stays open after the gig room closes if you want a slower pint.
The Forrest Road pub has been the headquarters of the Edinburgh folk session for sixty years, nightly informal sessions in a tiny room with no stage and no microphones.
Tip: Stand at the back if you want to sing along, the players take the front banquette and rotate tunes without a setlist.
The 4 Grassmarket rooftop with a retractable glass roof and uninterrupted view of Edinburgh Castle reopened in 2024 after a half-million-pound refurbishment by the team.
Tip: Book the rooftop in advance for a sunset slot, the gondola booths take four guests and are the warmest seat when the roof closes.
The fourth-floor bar and brasserie above Harvey Nichols on St Andrew Square has an outdoor terrace with the most polished view in the New Town across to the Firth of Forth.
Tip: The terrace shuts when the wind picks up, the indoor cocktail bar keeps the same view through the floor-to-ceiling glass.
The fifth-floor restaurant and bar on top of the Apex Grassmarket hotel runs a modern Scottish cocktail menu with a floor-to-ceiling view straight across to Edinburgh Castle.
Tip: Book a window table 90 minutes before sunset for the castle floodlights coming on, the bar drinks are also served at the dining tables.