When it opened in summer 2006, this central cocktail bar introduced a new aesthetic to Edinburgh (designer stools, white leather banquettes, a pop-erotic mural) and brought a...

If you're in an upbeat mood, with company, and looking for nachos and lager or wine, Assembly is a good option. Hit it on the wrong day or come on your own, though, and the...

Bar Kohl has provided Edinburgh's vodka connoisseurs with a second home since its launch in 1993. There are innumerable imported varieties of vodka, including many flavoured...

When Sirius arrived in Leith a decade ago, its like had never been seen before. But the original ostentation of its design was calmed down a little, and in spring 2006 a refurb...

An island bar dominates this attractive and elegant Victorian pub, where the walls are decorated with Royal Doulton tiles of famous inventors. It gets very busy after work, and...

A haven for travellers killing time before catching a train from Haymarket station next door. With a bistro upstairs, the bar food is a cut above the usual standard; the ground...

It's been around since 1871. It looks as if it was decorated by a mad maiden aunt from the Victorian era. It has a good wine list, an excellent bar menu (the open sandwiches...

Ah, CC's, where great romances start and end, often in the same evening. The capital's only full-time gay venue may be offensive to both eye and ear (disastrous pop galore!),...

A homo mecca for those with a fetish: various Saturdays throughout the month are turned over to bears, kilt-wearers, transvestites and glamorous goth types. During the rest of...

Sparse and traditional, this old howf opened in 1899 and hasn't changed in years; the decor still features red leather seats, shiny brass table tops and a dark red ceiling....

The Cumberland is perhaps the most user-friendly of the city's acclaimed cask ale bars. It feels light and spacious during the day, and the leafy beer garden is an absolute joy...

This address has hosted many a venue over the years, but perhaps plush cocktail bar Dragonfly will stick. Some might see hints of a Graham Norton stage set in the decor, but...

Coming across more like a local pub in a Highland village than a bar in the Scottish capital, Frenchies is the oldest gay hangout in Edinburgh. Despite its central location the...

The distinguishing feature of this Calton Hill favourite is the balcony that overlooks the hubbub of the colourful, energetic and sociable bar. Look down on proceedings, and...