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    Cabaret Voltaire

    3.8 (48 reviews)
    Wed 5:00 pm - 3:00 am (Next day)
    Thu 5:00 pm - 3:00 am (Next day)

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    Rezzi I.

    It's a little shameful that I still haven't been to this Edinburgh club on a night out, but I finally made it there to see a comedy show. The most bizarre show I have ever seen, but this review is about Cab Vol (as it's popularly known) so I'll stick to that. It's extremely central, being just a few minutes walk from the Royal Mile. I was surprised by the sheer size of the place; normally this may create an almost impersonal atmosphere, but Cab Vol is quite cosy and cave like, spread across two levels and wonderfully lacking in day light of any kind. As I said, I haven't been when the whole place is vibrating with music, and packed with people, so I've got more Cab Vol experiencing to do! However, it's worth heading there on a Tuesday night, when entry is free and music is dubstep, house, and techno. It's definitely going to be the first night I head there anyway.

    Emma C.

    Cabaret Voltaire is easily my favourite club in Edinburgh. It offers different club nights each day of the week with resident DJs and special guests, in the past these have included big names like Annie Mac, Steve Aoki, Krafty Kuts, Justice and Plump DJs. The music is mostly electronic (d'n'b / house / electro / techno), however there are sometimes gigs on earlier in the evening before the club nights start and these tend to feature up and coming indie bands, I saw Florence and The Machine & Little Boots here before they hit the big time. The club is situated in some vaults underneath South Bridge, and when you're inside it really does feel like you're in the bowels of the city. Admittedly the place does get pretty crowded and sweaty, but that's an intrinsic feature of its underground charm. This is not the place to go if you just want to pose and observe the world from a seat, dancing is obligatory! There is no dress code and you could feel equally comfortable here in a pretty dress or your scummiest jeans. Drinks are relatively cheap, prices do vary depending on what night of the week you're there though. If you're into music or the club scene, Cab Vol is definitely somewhere you should visit.

    the stage at a gig in CabVol
    Anna F.

    This is an underground club with a great mainstream music sound system and some of the most fun nights out in Edinburgh. At the beginning every month they have a 60s night which is grand, but Tuesdays and Thursdays they have electro and drum and bass with no entrance fee! As a music venue, I can say I have been very pleased, I came here a couple of weeks ago to see the ever so lovely Angus and Julia Stone, and I was impressed with the effort put into the show. It was only in one room, and packed, but somehow the underground atmosphere just brought so much to the show. The bar tenders were lovely and even the door men are not as aggressive (as seen in other well-established clubs). Why do people always get cramped in the back at gigs? There was plenty of space at the front where the stage was, and luckily the stage was higher up so everyone could see. The sound was superb as well, and even when Julia Stone was confused with her amp, the sound man was superb and efficient. The only think I can really hold against this place as far as gigs are concerned is that after the concert the lights are crudely turned on and cleaning starts immediately whilst we are all still there, in order to be ready for the next event.

    Cab Vol Main Bar Courtesy of Cabaret Voltaire Website
    Amy G.

    I am not a huge fan of Cabaret Voltaire- or Cab Vol as we locals call it. Its a very popular club with the trendy, indie, scene crew in Edinburgh. But its just not my type of place. I can appreciate why others may enjoy it, but not me. Firstly its very cramped inside and there is not a lot of seating. Yes I like to have a seat, so shoot me. I'm generally not intoxicated enough to be throwing myself around the dance floor like everybody else. The drinks are fairly cheap which is a plus side, but it does mean that attendees are usually pretty drunk so there is that kind of atmosphere in the club. The music is commonly indie/electro/drum and base which I personally don't enjoy. But if that is what you like, then you will probably like Cab Vol. I have been to see a few bands play here and it does make for an intimate gig which can be quite good. However the night club side of it is just not for me.

    I love Caberet Voltaire. In fact, I only have one complaint - so lets start with that. Cheap coke. Simple and not very much of a problem, especially when it has a double something or other in it. The trouble is when your are just gasping for it by itself and it tastes a bit 'bleugh'. Anyway, my one complaint over, I can get on with how good this place is. Firstly, Cab-Vol is underground - in the vaults of Edinburgh meaning the sound system in here rocks. Its amazing. Secondly the music they play varies night to night, so one time you might be listening to drum 'n' bass, and the next night somethng far more indie. Pretty cool, and although some nights may not be everybodies cup of tea, I love all of it. There are also some live music evenings, which are usually followed by an after party - which I thoroughly recommend. Thirdly, the layout of the club - it doesnt sound like something great, but one room can have the atmosphere of a quiet pub lounge while next door (albeit through 3 foot of heavy stone wall) there is a rave going on with the volume turned up to 11. Drinks are cheap (so the nasty coke isnt too bad...) and generally Cab-Vol is consistantly one of the best nights out in the city.

    Cab Vol (cringe at the abbreviation) is popular amongst students and locals alike as a place to find alternative music within the confines of an interesting environment. By the latter I refer to the burrow like low ceiling, hidden hallways and moody lighting. By the former I refer to the surprisingly good drum & bass events, and alternative house sets. Drinks and entry fee are pretty standard in terms of price and in general it's a reliable and fun club to spend the night. Expect excruciatingly long queues at the weekend.

    Cabaret Voltaire

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    18 years ago

    Nice place saw a cracking wee band there. cosy place I loved it.

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    The Jazz Bar - Live Jazz on a Saturday night!

    The Jazz Bar

    4.2(81 reviews)
    0.1 miOld Town, Newington
    ££

    Found this place on December 23 after dinner in the neighborhood and looking for a nightcap…read more Followed the music down the stairs and discovered a jam packed bar with a (guessing) 20-piece jazz band and dressed-to-the-nines patrons. We worked our way through the crowd to the back of the bar and found some very cool sunken booths with couches and tables. Took ages to order our drinks at the bar, but the atmosphere and music was awesome. Haven't been to a jazz club this cool since Georgetown (D.C.) in the 80's.

    Okay so if you are a music lover and love being in an intimate place with live music...this place…read moreis for you! During my October 2014 birthday trip, we were looking for a place to dance and drink and while we were out at dinner someone at the next table suggested we try this place. We weren't far from it (or really anything in City Center which is one of the many awesome things about Edinburgh) so we walked over to it. The venue is tiny (can't imagine how they're doing during all of the pandemic social distancing and all) so there was a small line outside. We chatted it up with the other people waiting and smoking and the hostess. Once inside it was totally 1960s beatnik dive bar cool and quaint. It was dark with original old wood bar and banquettes, small round tables and mismatched chairs and cushions. There was a small raised stage at the back of the room and there was a four piece band onstage when we got inside. I should also mention that this place at least when I went is an after hours club. They were open until 4 am. Awesome right? YUP! We made friends with everyone around us and not around us because we are those extroverted people. We drank a lot like I don't even remember all the booze. Danced and had multiple nights of good clean fun. What could be better?!

    Photos
    The Jazz Bar - Inside

    Inside

    The Jazz Bar - Great music, cool vibe

    Great music, cool vibe

    The Jazz Bar - A busy night!

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    A busy night!

    The Voodoo Rooms - Mushroom stroganoff

    The Voodoo Rooms

    3.9(78 reviews)
    0.4 miNew Town
    ££

    We decided to stay and have a cocktail at the VooDoo Rooms after exploring the Midnight Lunar…read moreMarket. What a vibe this place has going on! We were lucky enough to just show up and grab a semi-circle shaped booth by the bar without any wait. We LOVED that a) the cocktail menu clearly stated "All drinks vegan, please inform staff of any allergens before ordering" and b) that they had the shape of the glassware next to the drink name. The bartender even took some time to make recommendations based on both what was most popular with customers and what the house/staff favorites were. We ended up going with the Porty Licks (gin, pineapple liquor, passionfruit, toasted almond topped with edible flowers) and Green Room (bourbon, peach liquor, lemon, peach, basil yuzu). Both were really well balanced drinks! Next time I'd get the King Khan (spiced rum and a mango oat lassi) or the Hare Krishna (mango, oat milk, chilli, coconut cream, and cardamom - sounds like a lovely non-alcoholic beverage and dessert)!

    This place is a gem! I greatly appreciate a vegan option, an actual tasty one at that! The mushroom…read morestroganoff was perfect! It was so flavorful! My non vegan friend even picked into my plate. Great drinks! The staff were friendly and attentive! The decor of this place was amazing; looked like something out of a movie. I'll definitely slide by on my next trip!

    Photos
    The Voodoo Rooms - Cool fixtures

    Cool fixtures

    The Voodoo Rooms - Behind the bar

    Behind the bar

    The Voodoo Rooms - Spice up your life

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    Spice up your life

    Liquid Room

    Liquid Room

    3.4(36 reviews)
    0.3 miGrassmarket, Old Town
    ££

    I've been to the Liquid Rooms more times than I could count, for all sorts of gigs over the years…read more And I still love it. Sure, your feet will always stick to the floor, but that's just part of the charm of this place. It's quite an intimate space, great for smaller acoustic gigs, but also works really well for electronica etc. There's also a balcony, with its own bar, if you fancy a higher view. For anyone from Glasgow, it's like a cross between Oran Mor and the Fruitmarket. And gets just as hot and sweaty as they do!

    Here to see the mighty Brendon Burns during the Fringe, so review based on that, may not be the set…read moreup all year round, buyer beware, etc. etc. Head down Victoria Street, before you get to The Bow Bar (I navigate by pubs, btw) and turn left down an alley, into a courtyard. There's the Liquid Rooms Annexe experience for you! The courtyard part is quite nice, all covered and open air so you can feel continental and drink outside, even with Edinburgh weather attempting to drop every bit of water in the country on you in one go. The bar? I've had way better to be honest. Just cans, bottles and spirits - again, I'm not sure if that's just part of the Fringe set up or not, so it may just be a temporary thing. In any case, at least it's not a shockingly high price to be handed a can, but it is a bit more than you would maybe expect. Venue wise, I liked the Annexe for atmosphere. For a smaller show, this would be ideal - close to the stage (perhaps a little too close to Brendon in some case for the poor folk in the front and second row!) and great sound. It is warm down there though, really warm, so be careful with your hydration in case you take a turn, but other than that, it's fine. It doesn't blow me away, but it does have a little bit of something that not every place does - and that's soul.

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    Liquid Room - Bar right by the door for the shows

    Bar right by the door for the shows

    Liquid Room - Amanda Palmer

    Amanda Palmer

    Liquid Room

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    Stramash - Main floor

    Stramash

    3.8(15 reviews)
    0.0 miOld Town, Newington
    ££

    If you're looking for a spacious pub cool vibes, with live music 7 nights a week and great…read moreperformers, this is your place.

    My daughter J and I went to Stramash with a few of her school friends after watching some World Cup…read morematches and then hitting a pub nearby. J exclaimed this was her favorite place to watch live music in Edinburgh. Once we entered (after paying a small cover) I could see why. It was a great space; the band was awesome; and the place was absolutely rocking! I also really liked how it was laid out. Unlike some cave-like pubs we'd visited, Stramash was a roomy, two-story venue with multiple bars. The second floor was loft-like, wrapping around three sides of the large room for maximum stage view-space. We headed to the less-crowded upstairs bar and got served immediately. The band was "The Scoundrels", a group from Glasgow: With fiddle, accordion, keyboard, guitar and drums, they sounded a bit like Mumford & Sons, but with a more Scottish/Irish inclination. Simply fantastic! I do prefer a band that writes and plays their own songs. Despite the roomer upstairs, my daughter and her friends were drawn to the main floor downstairs, which was filled with dancing patrons. We spent much of the remaining time there dancing, wading through humanity, and sometimes pogo-ing to especially raucous songs. I ended my night after that, sometime after midnight.; tired but happy. My daughter and her friends were discussing going elsewhere. (But they are 22 and I am...not).

    Photos
    Stramash - The Showhawk Duo

    The Showhawk Duo

    Stramash - By night

    By night

    Stramash

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    Cabaret Voltaire - danceclubs - Updated May 2026

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