Nightcap is an intimate-style basement cocktail bar that’s been in the business since 2016. It’s located at the heart of Edinburgh, and is the perfect place to head for – you guessed it, a nightcap.

This establishment is where many bartenders head after their shifts at other bars. Despite their schedule on paper, you’ll sometimes find the place open until 3 am, sometimes even 4 am!

Nightcap is also hailed as a ‘hidden gem’ by both tourists and locals. You’ll find that their staff provides excellent service, as most truly have a passion for mixology. 

They offer a wide assortment of cocktails, wine, sparklings, champagne, beer, and cider. If you’re looking to get a filling meal to go along with your drinks, however, you won’t be offered as extensive of a menu as their drinks.

The prices are also on the more expensive side, but if you’re someone who’s willing to pay a little bit more than usual for proper cocktails, then it’s not much of an issue.

As for the venue and ambiance, it’s a small place that’s well-suited for more intimate settings, especially on weekdays. It’s livelier on weekends, but it’s not as rowdy as other bars on our list.

Overall, Nightcap is a fantastic walk-in place that will satisfy your cocktail cravings. Its location also makes it a suitable end to a night of bar hopping with friends, making a must-visit especially if you’re already in the area.

If you’re a massive beer fan, then you might’ve heard about Innis & Gunn Brewery and their taprooms across the UK. Their Edinburgh branch is reportedly one of the best, offering an unmatched and unique experience.

There’s an industrial yet warm vibe to this bar, and the staff are more than happy to get you started on your night. It also has a large capacity for people, so you’ll often see big groups coming in for multiple rounds of beer.

They offer a fine selection of over 26 taps of craft beers, with their tanks regularly filled with their signature unpasteurised Innis & Gunn Lager Beer delivered straight from their brewery.

If you’re not much of a beer person or if you’re looking for more options, they also have other wines, spirits, and cocktails to choose from. They also offer some decent bar bites to go along with your drinks.

Management encourages you to download their app, which you can use to make a booking and order from them once you arrived. However, booking and ordering mishaps are reported quite often, so it might be best to call or email for orders and reservations.

Customer service can also be hit or miss on busier nights, especially since they have a smaller staff. This might also be the reason why they close early even on weekends.

For those of you going in pairs or smaller groups, be aware that the bar has a long bench-type setup, so you might be seated together with other smaller groups. But this won’t be a problem if you don’t mind sharing – who knows, you might make new mates.

In terms of prices, Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom is still in the mid- to high-range, but they do pride themselves in the quality of the drinks they serve. It’s definitely the place to go if you want a taste of locally brewed and specialty beers.

Angel’s Share is a centrally-located, boutique-style hotel, bar, and restaurant that’s certainly a sight to see. It’s perfect for tourists who want a more high-end drinking and dining experience.

To match their gorgeous interior, they have a beautifully-curated whisky and cocktail menu, as well as wines and Scottish craft beers. They also have a breakfast and a la carte menu, as well as afternoon tea.

They also have daytime joint screening for major sporting events. For music lovers, you can enjoy live performances every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from some of the best local musicians.

Another unique service they offer is their Classic Cocktail Masterclasses, a tutorial package that includes a Bellini, two cocktails, and a shot of your choice. It’s a fun idea to celebrate any occasion.

Although Angel’s Share claims that pre-bookings aren’t essential, we highly recommend doing so because they put hotel residents first. They also have few staff members to serve you, which also makes reservations a bit of a hassle.

Additionally, the food and drink prices at this bar are quite high, so make sure you’ve got a pretty penny to spend. If you are able to book successfully, however, you’ll be given fantastic service and beautiful, spacious booths to stay in.

Overall, Angel’s Share screams luxury through and through. If you’re into the whole posh aesthetic, you’re sure to enjoy your night here.

Located on the very busy Chambers street, Revolution Bar has become something of a  hotspot, especially among the local youth scene. If you want a night to remember, then look no further than this hip bar.

Set over two floors, it’s got plenty of room for comfy lounging, bar seating, and even a dance floor to show off some moves when there’s a DJ – and more often than not, there is a DJ around.

If you regularly check their website, you’ll see that they have discounts and events scheduled almost every day of the week, such as lunch deals, happy days, or bottomless brunch specials.

What we love most about Revolution is its affordable selection of fun drinks and food. They also offer a 25% discount for students, which is also why the crowd here is often so young.

The interior’s overall vibe is fresh and fun although a little bit run down, it’s mostly because lively crowds often flock here to dance and socialise. Still, we have to shave off a few points from cleanliness and orderliness.

Similar to Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom, you’ll also need to order through the app and use cashless payments, which can be inconvenient for some people. Lastly, keep in mind that this place isn’t ideal for intimate conversations, as it can get quite loud.

Overall, Revolution is a quintessential youth bar where you can enjoy affordable food, potent drinks, and great company.

Last but not the least, we have Tonic Cocktail Bar. This place might not be much of a looker from the outside, but they’re known for some of the best-tasting cocktails in Edinburgh.

Like Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom, it’s a must-visit especially if you’re a cocktail connoisseur. They have an award-winning cocktail menu that has everything you’d want – from classics, movies and pop culture-inspired cocktails, to unique specials.

They have highly skilled baristas who can even make cocktail requests that aren’t part of the menu. If you enjoy live music, they also have live DJ sets from Thursdays to Sundays.

Staff are quick on their feet even on busy days, but the space inside is quite small, so it can get cramped easily. Moreover, plenty of locals also frequent the place to get cocktails, so weeknights can be busy as well.

You also shouldn’t visit Tonic with an empty stomach, because although they have pages and pages worth of drinks, they can only offer you crisps and nuts to go alongside your drinks.

Like most specialty bars, their drinks are quite pricey because they are made skillfully and with quality spirits. It’s worth noting that they’re also highly rated on Google Reviews, Facebook, and TripAdvisor.

With a wide selection of great-tasting drinks, there’s a reason why even locals keep coming back to Tonic. Make sure to come in early so you can snag a table and order their specials.