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    The Black Cat

    4.2 (45 reviews)
    ModerateBars
    Closed 10:30 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

    The Black Cat Bars Photos

    THE BLACK CAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Classy
    Quiet
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Black Cat

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    A sample of some of the more unique bottles  you'll find.
    Andrew R.

    An absolute must stop if you are a true lover of whiskey! The selection of bottles on this bar is not only wide, but also regularly changing as new product comes and and old bottles are enjoyed to the end. The location for the bar couldn't be better, it doesn't get too overly crowded, beyond what you would expect of a well stocked pub in Edinburgh. Occasionally you'll find live music which really adds to the atmosphere of the whole place. Aside from a constant selection of great whiskey, you will also always find a friendly staff that is happy to share their knowledge and love of a good dram. Do yourself a favor and get here as soon as you can.

    Aberlour A'Bunadh
    Tim S.

    Is it a proper whiskey bar? For sure! We were just walking along and looking for a good bar, when along came a boisterous place, the Black Cat. We had just come from another spot that wasn't much to brag about, and we were hoping the next would have a nice variety of scotch and wines, and some local flavor. Jackpot. We wandered in, and the place was full. with a moment of luck, 2 bar stools cleared up as a couple paid there check. We swooped in. My gal wanted and wine, and unlike most bars in the area there was actually a few options. Me, I was hoping to find one a rare scotch or 2. I actually saw a few hard to find ones on the menu. I settled on one though, the Aberlour A'Bunadh. A favorite as its good priced, fun to say, and wow it tastes so good. We were on a mission to hit a few different places, so we didn't stay more than an hour. But we have had friends going to Edinburgh soon and one place we recommended to them for sure, "The Black Cat".

    Emily F.

    I spent my honeymoon in Edinburgh in September. The Black Cat became our home away from home as everything about it, minus the Scottish accents, reminds us of our home in Austin, TX. We found ourselves wandering into this bar at least once a day for the entire week we were there. Top 10 Reasons I Love(d) The Black Cat 10. Austin-chic vibe 9. Fried haggis balls and other tasty delights 8. Free wi-fi 7. Great mix of music, sattelite and live 6. We were given a personalized whisky tasting and history lesson 5. Clean and spacious womens toilet 4. Convenient - one block off Prince's St. 3. Near lots of eateries and other bars 2. Friendly, engaged bartenders 1. Made us feel at home P.S. Shout out to Rob and Chris for making our last night in Edinburgh so special!!

    Birds & Bees ale
    Claire P.

    Behind the bar there's a wall covered in multiple currencies from all over the world, clearly showing that it's a big hit with many tourists. I can see why - they have an outstanding selection of ales and whiskeys and even offer different types of whiskey tasters for those who are beginners or can't make their mind up what to order because of the large selection. This is quite a small bar, however there's plenty of outside seating so there should be room for everyone, plus there's away visitors from around the world so it's a great place to meet new people or meet up with friends. All staff members I encountered on my multiple visits here have been friendly and extremely knowledgeable so don't be afraid to ask if you have any questions. Upon my visits I ordered a few different types of ale, all were delicious and a few of them I'd never even heard of so it was nice to learn about other ales and try something new. The only thing wrong with this establishment is that they have a metal bar and some of the tables match. As soon as a pint is put on the clean table it looks dirty again and if it's wiped down in a rush it does look a bit of a water smeared disaster, this means that the bar never looks clean, but it probably is!

    Meaghan J.

    A great local spot. The bartenders were very knowledgeable and friendly. She walked us through six different whiskeys and took her time with us. We also noticed she stayed at the bar even after her shift was over - great sign! In addition to the two flights we also got fries and Mac and cheese bites. They were okay but this isn't a great place because of the food.

    From the outside
    Tanya L.

    This is a great find on Rose Street! It is small but what a selection of whisky they have, and what great prices they have! They have about 200 whiskies and are one of twelve official whisky bars in central Edinburgh. The whisky of the month is a stunning price of £2.50 and of good quality. I also tried a great Glenmorangie that is usually £5 or £6 elsewhere, but here it was £2.50. They also have a good beer/ale selection and great cider selection. They have amazing wine deals and it is only £6.50 for a bottle of house wine, and they weren't bad at all (last time I was here we had a bottle of red wine). The Black Cat is a great, non-touristy spot on Rose Street that is tiny but has an amazing selection and packs a punch well above its weight. The prices are great, too. The only thing I didn't like was that the music is a bit too loud for my taste and it was hard to carry on a conversation over the music. Otherwise, it's a great place!

    Aye, I'll have me a pint and sit outside.
    Louis R.

    Packed with cool peeps, drinking. The outside faces Rose St, and its proper people-watching territory. Lots of cask ales. Friendly bartenders. Small interior but comfy. I'd hit it again.

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    8 years ago

    Chill, relaxed bar with a great selection and perfect location. Music is on point as well

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    13 years ago

    Great place for whiskey or a pint. They serve cheap pub grub and has a nice pub feel. Staff is helpful and nice

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    Awesome pub! Plenty of drinks to choose from, and the night I was there, very good live music. Enough said!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Review Highlights - The Black Cat

    Shoutout to Robbie for being so knowledgable in his whiskeys.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Beer & Skittles - Opening night for Beer and Skittles! Great sports bar, cocktails and garden

    Beer & Skittles

    4.3(3 reviews)
    0.8 miNew Town
    ££

    Great new bar in the basement of Steak at Picardy place, a huge refurb has resulted in an…read moreamazeballs bar to enjoy a few drinks! I'd even be tempted to come and watch the sport here. They do beer cocktails yay. We tried a tequila based sangria style one and a beery take on a Moscow mule. Both were really tasty. They have a huge range of draft and craft beers and do bottles with chaser shots a personal fav was the Aussie bundy rum with my beer! Bar snacks are on to keep you going but not full meals yet, though you could always head up to Steak if you're peckish.

    Interesting sports bar under Steak on Picardy Place. I was a bit unsure as a previous reviewer said…read moreit was a bit of a lads' place. Anyhow the OH persuaded me to give it a shot for a quick drink to shelter from the rain whilst we deliberated on a venue for dinner. I'm glad he did. In addition to a decent selection of craft beers, there's a hefty cocktail menu. I tried the Ginger Tom Collins & it hit the spot. Just the right amount of ginger to pack a punch but not enough to be overpowering. The OH had a pint of draft beer & seemed happy enough. The low ceiling means it gets noisy even if it's not packed. There was a stag do, 2 birthday parties and hen group as well as some other folks. It was only just possible to hold a convo at normal volume & be heard. There's a decent sized courtyard out the back too but it was too wet & cold to try it out. I'd definitely visit again but maybe on a week night when it might be a little less noisy.

    The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

    The Devil's Advocate

    4.3(632 reviews)
    0.5 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    Just an awesome, rockin' final meal in Edinburgh - fantastic food, good service and energized local…read morevibe! Absolute must to get reservations! We tried on our first week in Edinburgh and failed, but were able to make reservations 3 weeks out for our last night in Scotland, and we are glad we did. Pork cracklins were a bit hard and crunchy, but everything else was perfect. We had fresh bread and langostinis for starters, along with a smokey whiskey cocktail, the Smoked Indiscretion! For mains we enjoyed the poached Cod, and the Pork with Barley. Service was very good, and wine selection was extensive. Atmosphere was loud with music and locals' chatter in the bar below, but dark tables and heavy wood panels made it a perfect place for a couple celebrating 3 weeks of travel. Highly recommend a visit to the Devil's Advocate, if you can book a table in advance.

    The Devil's Advocate is undoubtedly a treasure to find in Old Town Edinburgh, especially if you…read moreaccidentally take the News Steps to get there, only to realize you should have simply taken the steps up Advocate's Close from Cockburn Street. But they call these lessons, "character building," apparently. No matter, the Devil's Advocate is worth the search. Located in an old Victorian pump house halfway up (or down) Advocate's Close, the Devil's Advocate is known for a killer whisky shelf of more than 300 different bottles from various distilleries across the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbelltown, the Islands, and Islay. I finally sipped on a 15-year Tamdu that has convinced me to keep a bottle at home. Then there's the Clydeside 2024 Limited Edition Cask Strength that was wicked impressive. The bartenders are class at making and serving seasonal and regular cocktails that have their spin and character. My wife enjoyed gin-based cocktails such as the Clean Slate (with St-Germain, citrus, and sugar), Rose Garden (with Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Rosa, apple, lemon, and mint), and Bee's Knees (honey and lemon). I went full speed ahead with the scotch cocktails, which are essentially classics with a scotch-substituted twist. The Double Shot is an Espresso Martini with Dalmore 12 in addition to Kahlua, espresso, and demerara -- quite smooth without being too sweet. The Scotzia is a Negroni with Fettercairn 12, while the Boxcar is a Sidecar only with Aberfeldy 12. We enjoyed the bar for a few hours, watching the bartenders make magic while sipping on cocktails, while listening to 80s pop tunes. A great evening indeed.

    Photos
    The Devil's Advocate - Whiskey flight tastings

    Whiskey flight tastings

    The Devil's Advocate - Fish Filet

    Fish Filet

    The Devil's Advocate - Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

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    Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

    Pickles of Broughton Street - Inside front room (there's a back room as well)

    Pickles of Broughton Street

    4.9(20 reviews)
    0.7 miNew Town
    ££

    We were doing our regular research, hoping to find the perfect anniversary restaurant, when we…read morestumbled upon Pickles on a map. A quick Google search later, we decided to add this to our "must visit while in Edinburgh" list. This wasn't our anniversary restaurant, of course, but we knew we needed to dine here at least once. It was a long walk from our hotel, but it was a nice way to see parts of the city that we wouldn't normally have gotten to. The restaurant itself is nestled in the basement (or downstairs) of a cute building. It's small in there, but they're very good at maximizing the space they're given. We settled in at a teeny-tiny table off to the side and swiftly ordered a couple of pints. The menu is very straightforward: you're either getting a meat and cheese plate, just a cheese plate, or pates. We decided to share the Mixed Meat & Cheese platter. We figured that we'd snack and drink some Scottish beer, then head off into the night to find our "real" dinner. Thing is, though, that combo platter filled us the heck up. The waitress came out with the meat and cheese plate and a box of bread, oatcakes and crackers, and my husband and I had a "where is all this going?" moment. But our pro-waitress dropped the plate on the table and popped the bread box into a shelf on the wall next to us - a shelf that neither of us ever even noticed, to be honest. The meat and cheese selections were delicious and paired really well together. Kind of hidden away on that shelf (holding the bread and oatcakes) were a couple chutney jars. That chutney - lots of fruit pieces and complex flavors - brought a lot to the cheeses. We really did love the food, the surroundings, the beer and the staff. I wish we had something like this back home.

    Comforting environment, food and drink. It's like being in your own home, warm with friends. Staff…read moreare helpful and friendly. Enjoy yourselves.

    Photos
    Pickles of Broughton Street - Cheese platter

    Cheese platter

    Pickles of Broughton Street - The cheese board

    The cheese board

    Pickles of Broughton Street - Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

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    Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

    The Voodoo Rooms - Mushroom stroganoff

    The Voodoo Rooms

    3.9(78 reviews)
    0.5 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

    Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - Difficult to find, but well worth it!

    Bryant & Mack Private Detectives

    4.6(17 reviews)
    0.1 miNew Town
    ££

    I was there on 30 October 2025 with a few travel friends, and it turned out to be one of the best…read moresurprises of our trip. The minute we found the door off the little lane on Rose Street, there was an air of mystery... exactly what you hope for from a "detective agency" style speakeasy. Once inside, the vibe was perfect for a chilly Edinburgh evening. Like, moody lighting, vintage-style furnishings, and that cozy, clandestine feel that makes you glad you made the effort to find it. The service was absolutely welcoming. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and even at 9p, mid week (when you might expect things to be winding down), the place was comfortably busy but not packed, but full enough to feel alive. Drinks menus came in little "confidential" envelopes, which instantly added to the fun. We ordered several cocktails that evening, and every drink was carefully crafted and flavorful, smooth and topped off with warm hospitality. I honestly did not have one bad cocktail. If I were to highlight a few things from our night - I came away loving the atmosphere, the attention to detail, and the general ease at which we were treated which is exactly what I wanted out of a night out in Edinburgh. If you're visiting Newcastle, upon, Tyne, Edinburgh, or just wandering through Rose Street and looking for something a little different... don't walk past this place. Bryant & Mack Private Detectives is a fun little secret with classic cocktails, cozy speakeasy vibes, and service that makes you feel like part of the case, lol. It's a fully immersive experience.

    Awesome speakeasy in New Town…read more It really is on the hidden side, it took me a few minutes longer than I thought it would to find the door (look at the posted pictures, it helps). Once inside (you'll have to knock to get in), you'll find a cool little lounge with great cocktails, chill music, and amiable bartenders. We were surprisingly the only ones in there around 9 pm on a Friday night, which we thought was odd (as did the bartenders), but it meant we got to hang out with them and shoot the shit (meeting bartenders from all over the world is one of my favorite hobbies). Besides the fact that both were into motorcycles (and one came to Edinburgh once and immediately backed up his bags and moved over from Italy - props), we found out that they could make a mean cocktail. We, of course, started on menu, but wanted to see if they could do any variations, which they not only did, but nailed: "do you like bitter or sweet" - bitter "Floral or not so much" - surprise me "base?" - gin Dunno what it was called, but it was one of the nicest gin drinks I had in a town that is crazy for gin at the moment. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a good cocktail place, the ambiance is on point and the drinks are superb.

    Photos
    Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - Bowery theater

    Bowery theater

    Bryant & Mack Private Detectives
    Bryant & Mack Private Detectives - September gem

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    September gem

    The Black Cat - bars - Updated May 2026

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