We think that Nor’ Loft is one of the top rooftop bars in Edinburgh. Located atop the Market Street Hotel, this bar offers stunning views of the bustling city.

They are actually well-known as a premier rooftop champagne lounge in the area. In fact, they have the city’s widest champagne list– 20 different labels to choose from–  which is great for people who love sipping this bubbly drink.

Everybody knows that champagne and oysters are a perfect match, and it seems this bar knows it, too. That’s why they offer an Oyster Happy Hour every Tuesday, where one can enjoy oysters for only £2 each– perfect for fans of this classic pairing.

We like the bar’s spacious, well-lit interiors. It has a modern and practical aesthetic that not all bars have.

For those planning a night out, you can actually book a lounge table in advance, which is quite convenient.

However, do note that they do not accept outdoor and window-seat bookings. These tables are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan your visit accordingly.

They also apply a discretionary 10% service charge on the bill, which not all bars do. This might not be agreeable to those who did not have a good customer service experience.

Lastly, they have a smart, casual dress code, which other bars do not enforce. Those who just want to dress in comfy, casual clothing might need to go elsewhere.

Cask is another good choice if you are set on visiting a rooftop bar in Edinburgh. Known as the everyman’s cocktail bar, it is situated on Edinburgh New Town’s busiest street and has a gorgeous view of the city.

They are actually famous for their unique, out-of-this-world cocktail menu that is based on moon orbits around the earth. 

For instance, they offer Venus, a tropical drink with apple-aged holy grass, vodka, mango, pineapple, and coconut. They also have Solar Flare, made of Rock Rose gin, Cava wine, and Irn Bru sorbet.

Aside from this selection, they also offer non-alcoholic cocktails that not all bars offer. Their bestsellers are Baby Bramble, Pornstar Spritz, and Peach and Basil Spritz.

Their most popular feature that other bars do not have is their rooftop ‘Secret Domes.’ These private dining pods can be booked for 2-hours, and they provide customers with their own party space for intimate gatherings.

For dog lovers, you’d be happy to know that dogs are allowed in this venue.

The downside is they do not have their own toilets. Customers would need to walk for a few minutes if they want to use a restroom.

Also, a booking charge will be added to the bill if minimum spend is not met. This means if you are going alone or as a couple, you might need to adjust your orders.

We were quite disappointed with reports of rude staff in this otherwise picturesque setting. Apparently, customers were appalled by how the staff kept talking to them in an unprofessional manner and kept muttering insults under their breath.

Another go-to rooftop bar for a night out is SKYbar Edinburgh. We love the great panoramic views that this rooftop bar offers, which cannot be seen in other bars. 

We recommend that you go there at night time because you’d have a view of a wonderfully-lit Edinburgh Castle and the glittering Fife coast.

These views are probably a huge reason why this bar is continuously being booked for events. In fact, this venue was booked by the Love Island show finale in 2019!

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that this venue allows small, well-behaved dogs. This is great news for fur parents or for those who have emotional support animals.

Another thing we liked in this bar is their competitively-priced drinks. Some cocktails with the same ingredients are being sold at higher price points elsewhere.

In contrast to these low prices, they actually have pricey window seat bookings and a minimum spend per table. For example, it would cost £95 to book a window-table and Perrier Jouet Champagne Package for two people. 

For normal bookings, a £15 minimum spending per table is required, which might not seem much. However, for those who are going there alone just for a single drink, they might not reach this minimum spend, but they’ll be charged for it anyway.

Also, they are closed from Mondays to Thursdays. 

For the remaining three days, you might find it difficult to secure a booking. In fact, the bar actually advises customers to book at least 3 months in advance!

Fun fact: for the environmentally-conscious, you’d be happy to know that they are committed to be carbon-neutral by 2025.

We also think Cold Town House is another brilliant rooftop bar in Edinburgh. Since it is only a 3-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, you know this bar would have an amazing view of it.

We are impressed by the awards that this rooftop bar has received. For instance, they were the 2021 Scottish Beer Awards winner of ‘Best Beer Bar’ and Opentable’s ‘Diners’ Choice’ of 2022.

As their award suggests, this bar is famous for their craft beers and beer-forward menu. Unlike other bars, they have their own microbrewery where they make their entire range of Cold Town Beer.

Another unique product they offer is their tabletop beer towers, which are competitively priced. A 4-pint tower only costs £24 while a 6-pint one would set you back £36.

For sports lovers, you’d be glad to know that they show all rugby games on their huge bar TV, so plan your bookings accordingly.

Also, this venue welcomes dogs, so that’s great news for dog lovers.

Sadly, since this venue is hugely popular, it would be hard to get a rooftop booking. You’d need to create a booking well in advance to enjoy their beautiful views.

Also, a 10% optional gratuity is automatically applied on the bill. Customers would need to request for it to be taken off if they did not like the service.

Lastly, we were sad to hear about their staff with belligerent attitudes. Customers mentioned how the staff members ruined the otherwise perfect ambiance.

Rooftop 51 is another rooftop bar that we think would be an awesome addition to your list of regular bar rotations.

What makes it special is their unique, handcrafted cocktails that are all priced at only £9, which is lower than what other bars charge for specialty drinks.

Some of their bestsellers are their Chocolate Velvetier which consists of vanilla vodka, kahlua, warm milk, and cocoa powder. Another unique drink is their This Shouldn’t Work but It Does, which is made up of Campari, Martini Rosso, and pale ale.

Unlike other bars, they also offer a Whiskey Tasting Board and a Cocktail Tree. The board is made up of three types of whiskeys, while for the cocktail tree, you can choose from four types of drinks, and they will serve six drinks in a tree-shaped vertical holder.

We like their beautiful wood-decked terrace, complete with twinkling string lights. For maximum viewing pleasure, we recommend going there at sunset.

Another thing we appreciate about this bar is that they hold special events and promos from time to time. For instance, they take part in Edinburgh Cocktail Week, hold Pub Quiz Nights in the bar, or offer promos on their Instagram page.

Compared to other bars, however, they have a very limited drinks selection. For those who love champagne, tequila, or rum, this might not be the best option for you.

Also, we hear reports of their long wait times wherein customers had to wait for almost an hour for their cocktails. On top of this, they mentioned some members of staff who were quite rude and talked down to them.