Edinburgh, like many popular cities in the UK, is full of awesome bars, live music, and great…read morepeople. You could walk around drunk and blindfolded and manage to stumble in a place that checks all these boxes. Panda & Sons is different. Everything about Panda & Sons is intentional. You walk through a hidden door into a low lit room where everyone is cooler than you if you're me. The tables look thrifted, the chairs are mismatched, there's a random broken telephone booth in one corner, and yet it all just flows. And then there's the menu. This is a cocktail bar for a cocktail connoisseur. Despite many of the brands being retail (think Absolute vodka) the actual drinks sing. There's also a number of infographics on their process as well as certified local recommendations, but our bartender told us this was all back-patting and to just order what we liked. The result: Best drink I've had in Europe in a long time. I ordered a coconut Daiquiri served with white chocolate and I'm still thinking about it a month later. If you're in Edinburgh this place is an incredible stop. My only regret is not ordering more.

To be fair 3 stars isn't a real reflection of the actual experience. A "speakeasy"? We tried to get…read morein but first of all it was hot and stuffy (heatwave in Edinburgh) even though it was like in the basement. Secondly there were a bunch of little tables inside, almost like a restaurant instead of a bar. We can't speak to the service since they couldn't seat us.

We loved this place, quirky and cool, the owner/manager was super friendly and really engaging, a…read morereal character. Great atmosphere, a wonderfully eclectic music selection, nice cocktails and beers. Recommended!!!

The coolest bar ever! Very kind staff and funky eclectic interiors and specialty drinks. It's so…read morecozy and a good time !

What a great find in central Edinburgh. Right by the Royal Mile, the outside of the hotel is…read morenondescript and the lounge is located within. We only found it on a recommendation from a local. This lounge is gorgeously decorated and upscale. You can come for bar bites or a drink. It took a long while to get our food and drinks and they were all on the pricier side. Definitely come in for the vibes and when you have enough time to sit and relax.

Apparently you never get something for nothing, that's probably true but if you are happy to spend…read morethe 15 minutes opening an account with Virgin Money then you get unlimited lounge access, hot and cold drinks, snacks and biscuits and free wi-fi. There are two sides to the lounge, on the left where the coffee machine is, there is table and chair seating similar to a company canteen and then on the right is a rather lavish sitting room style seating. In between the two there's a reception area with a grand piano available if you feel like having a tinkle on the ivories. There are similar lounges in Glasgow, London, Manchester and Norwich that you also gain access to by becoming a member of the Lounge. I can't praise this place enough, if only it weren't as busy but that's a great sign of its success.

Our second time here while visiting Edinburgh and the drinks are always great. The waitress…read moreremembered us from our visit months before. The vibes are great.

I wish I could give this place a 10/10. The pie was phenomenal I will definitely be going back to…read moreget Another before I leave. We ended up getting 2 chicken keels, a beef & ale, and a curry cauliflower, all of which were to die for. This place is right out of the touristy area which was perfect because they were able to give us the best service and our waiter was super helpful. I got the Irn Burns drink which was very strong and very good. It supposed to be a chilli vodka and I hate hot spicy but it was more of a ginger spice 10/10!! They also have a free comedy show (pay what you want) which was hilarious and very interactive with all the guests. It was very small, probably fits around 15 people so make sure you're ready around 9:30 when they call for the show!

Came for the views, stayed for the food and cocktails! The Dome is a must have on your list for…read moreEdinburgh! We had lunch in the Grill Room and were lucky to snag a table without a reservation! We ordered off the al a carte menu and had great service! I would definitely come back for the afternoon tea service! Deanston malt 12 year Dragon Fruit & Hibiscus Soda Parma Ham Free Range Egg Salad Truffle Parmesan Fries

Absolutely beautiful and the service is wonderful. It was the perfect place to have my last meal in…read moreScotland. I had half shell oysters, the cheese plate, and french fries. I hope to visit again some day

I stopped by for a final couple of drama on my last evening on Scotland (09/09/25). There were…read moregreat scotch offerings at all price points, the atmosphere felt upscale, but still comfortable, and the staff were all pleasant and very helpful. I'd definitely return.

On our first night in Edinburgh, some friends wanted to kick off the trip with a whisky tasting, so…read morewe booked a whisky-and-cheese pairing at SMWS. I don't drink alcohol, but their online mocktail menu looked great, and when my friends made the reservation, the staff confirmed they'd be happy to accommodate me and that I could order a drink at the bar. I was genuinely excited given the variety of mocktails listed. The space is gorgeous, and even without drinking, the whisky selection is fun to explore - the names alone are worth a chuckle. The staff were warm, and our whisky-tasting guide was both knowledgeable and entertaining. After we settled in, I headed to the bar to order a mocktail, and I probably should have stopped while things were still going smoothly. The bartender ended up calling over an off-duty staff member because they were "between menus." He was extremely friendly, asked thoughtful questions about what I liked, and said he'd come up with something based on what ingredients they had. The drink was delivered to me later in the tasting room, and it was... fine. Interesting, with a smoky note - perhaps an attempt to give me a peaty, Scottish experience - but not quite to my taste. When I paid, I'll admit the price surprised me, as my mocktail cost more than a friend's dram of whisky. My friend later mentioned that it also felt like a miss that I wasn't given a cheese tasting tray alongside everyone else, especially since our group nearly bought out the tasting. My place setting was empty until my drink arrived. I didn't think of it at the time or feel entitled to anything, but offering a "no-alcohol" tasting option - a mocktail or NA beverage plus the cheese pairing - would be an exceptionally thoughtful addition for guests who accompany drinkers. As the sober friend tagging along, the experience was perfectly okay and largely in line with what I expected - but with a couple of small tweaks, it could have felt much more inclusive.

My favorite place to see shows during the fringe. Music, magic, cabaret and burlesque plus music…read moreperformances. Everyone that works here, including the bartenders and those that help make shows run smoothly are fantastic. There is a restaurant that serves food and a few bars that serve alcohol of all types.

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)!

Heads & Tales is a great bar in Edinburgh. The drinks, service, and atmosphere are great. I got a…read moreHugo Spritz and it was delicious. Next time I'm in Edinburgh, I'll definitely be back!

WOW!!! Great service. The bartender from Bulgaria was one of the best we have had in the world…read more Unreal. He loved his job and did an amazing job on educating us on Gin and Scotland. A caddy in St. Andrews told me about this place and it did not disappoint. Had a Gin old fashioned made up by bartender and it was unreal. Wife had a gin flight and it was awesome. Creative and could. The vibe was awesome. Wish my old friend Cabo was there with us. He would down 3 old fashioned and had 2 flights of gin all while going over the electrical system of his Gulstream...I digress. It was simply amazing. What was the best part was the enthusiasm and the love of their job that made this place so cool. Loved the Gunpowder Gin too. If we did not have a Military tattoo to attend later, we might have closed this place down. Do your self and go here (hard to fin=d the door). Lots of cool rooms and caves etc. to chill out in. Thanks so much for the greatest bar experience on our 10 day trip!!

Excellent cocktails - a must try bar for wonderful service and drinks. Super fun and unique menu…read morewith very fresh ingredients. Come here on a date, with some friends or even solo - you'll definitely have great conversation.

If you blink, you might miss The Bramble--but you'd be making a huge mistake. Tucked away down a…read morenondescript staircase off Queen Street, this speakeasy-style cocktail bar is exactly the kind of spot you hope to stumble into in Edinburgh. My family and I came here on a whim and ended up getting far more than great drinks. One of the bartenders, a local with the friendliness of a lifelong pub regular and the insight of a Michelin concierge offered up genuinely helpful food recommendations. He had a perfect mix of laid back charm, genuine enthusiasm, and a sharp wit. That kind of service is rare, and it stuck with us. Now, the drinks. Phenomenal. Not just "good for Scotland" or "pretty decent for a bar that doesn't scream look at me" these cocktails were creative, expertly made, and well presented. You can tell these folks care about their craft. Each drink was layered and complex without being fussy. If you're into spirits, this is your place. Yes, the bathrooms are a bit of a squeeze. Definitely built for function, not luxury, but they were absolutely spotless. Like, hospital-pristine. Whoever maintains them deserves a raise and maybe a trophy. Bottom line: Bramble nails it. Great atmosphere, unforgettable drinks, and service that actually makes you feel like you're in the right place at the right time. Skip the tourist traps and find your way down those stairs.

Wow - nearly 100 different types of vodka including straight, flavored, and direct from Poland…read more Dinner menu that includes appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Got "haggis balls". Had great fish and chips. Up a flight of stairs and not really advertised.... Well worth it. Only about 7-8 tables and a few bar seats though.

We came late on a weeknight and it was mostly empty. Bar is located above the restaurant…read more There were many different types of flavored vodka here, mostly from Poland. I opted for the blackcurrant and elderflower flavored vodkas. The blackcurrant was very good and the different flavors are just very unique. Definitely worth trying it out! 5 shots for 14 pounds. Decent deal.