The Royal Mile
Probably the most famous street name in the country that isnβt actually a street name, the Royal Mile refers to a succession of different streets that form a thoroughfare between two of Scottish historyβs most significant locations; Edinburgh Castle and the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, Holyrood Palace. During the famous Fringe Festival in August, the Royal Mile is awash with buskers, entertainers and flyer-distributing actors and comedians desperate for you to come along to their show.
On this celebrated street, the pubs are tucked away but not hard to find. Just down the hill from the prominent, 12th century St Gilesβ Cathedral, The Royal McGregor has a huge whisky menu and offers the friendly service and welcoming atmosphere that youβd expect of a family-run establishment. Ominously named, The World's End is a small, traditional cask ale pub where the walls and ceiling, adorned with foreign bank notes and flags, point to its popularity with visitors from all corners of the globe. Hundreds of years ago the city walls ended just outside the pub, meaning as far as the regulars were concerned the world really ended there. The beer lovers in your group will revel in the choice of malted barley available at The Kilderkin, located at the bottom of the hill near the Queenβs digs, and will want to settle in for a long session at The Canon's Gait, an open plan craft beer bar.
Grassmarket, Cowgate & George IV Bridge
Making up much of the rest of the βOld Townβ that isnβt encompassed in the Royal Mile, these three could easily be nightlife areas in their own right, but run into each other perfectly. They combine to provide the most varied provision of bars, clubs and restaurants in the city.
Originally a marketplace for horses, cattle and other animals, the Grassmarket lies in a hollow well below nearby ground levels. The view of these low-lying terraces with Edinburgh Castle looming over them is one of the iconic views of the city and has been a favourite with photographers and artists for years. Real ale powerhouses The Last Drop and Beehive Inn are always busy, and Biddy Mulligans, affectionately known as βBiddyβsβ, is an Irish bar where the craic flows almost as smoothly as the Guinness.
As it continues east away from the castle, the Grassmarket becomes Cowgate. With its name recorded from 1428, this is one of the cityβs oldest roads and is central to the part of Edinburgh that was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1995. Lying below the elevated streets of South Bridge and George IV Bridge and lined with tall buildings, Cowgate feels hidden and sheltered rather than dark and gloomy, and compact, intimate venues like Sneaky Peteβs - a live music venue and dance club - match this vibe perfectly. Set back from the street behind a vast courtyard, The Three Sisters is another popular haunt for locals and tourists alike. Cowgateβs highlight, however, is Brewdog β the second βcraft beer oasisβ opened by the now hugely-popular Scottish brewery offers knowledgeable staff and homemade pizzas, on top of a plethora of their own craft beers and regular guest brews.
Running over Cowgate and just round a twisting, cobbled corner from Grassmarket lies George IV Bridge, where a legendary concentration of venues includes the raucous Frankenstein, a notorious themed pub with three bars set over three floors. Youβll be forgiven for thinking youβre in a theme park with the incredible artwork and props covering every wall, booth and bar. Nearby youβll find Divino Enoteca, an effortlessly cool Italian wine bar and restaurant.
The West End
With the Old Town representing Edinburghβs historic capital and the New Town its economic one, the βWest Endβ can lay claim to being the cityβs cultural centre. Many of the cityβs arts venues are here; including the famous Royal Lyceum and Traverse theatres and the large Usher Hall concert venue. Sports culture is ingrained into Scottish heritage, and Murrayfield - the large stadium that is home to the Scottish rugby union team - is visible out past Haymarket railway station.
One Square is an ultra-stylish bar within the impressive 5-star Sheraton Grand Hotel. Boasting over 70 gins, including one of their own, this is an essential visit for anyone who takes great care over what makes up the G half of their G and T. A true beer loverβs venue; the Hanging Bat βbeer cafeβ also specialises in ribs and hot dogs, and more traditional Scottish watering holes are available, namely Ryries and Haymarket. Well known to rugby fans making the pilgrimage to Murrayfield, Teuchters on William Street is a hidden gem with cosy alcoves and a massive whisky menu.
Leith
As well as the Royal Yacht Britannia and panoramic views of the Firth of Forth, groups venturing out to the district of Leith in the very north-east of Edinburgh will find a modern, regenerated dockside area not dissimilar to Liverpoolβs Albert Dock. This charming suburb has been revitalised in recent decades and is now filled with stylish apartments, modern bars and award-winning restaurants.
The The Kingβs Wark is a low-ceilinged, dark-wooded waterfront pub that dates back to the 15th century and boasts a very high standard of traditional Scottish cooking. If youβre going to be in town in the winter months, look no further than the roaring fire of Malt and Hops, a traditional one-room free house. Nobles, on Leithβs central Constitution Street, is a Victorian cafe-bar with stained glass windows set inside a handsome old building.
George Street
Probably the biggest name in Edinburgh nightlife is George Street in the heart of the New Town. Offering a great selection of sophisticated nightlife, even if youβre visiting Edinburghβs other areas for sessions long and short, itβs still likely youβll end up seeing in the small hours on George Street. During the day itβs teeming with tourists and locals perusing the shops, but after dark it takes a step towards the decadent.
If it's cocktails youβre after then youβll find classics and reliable staples to get you into the swing of things at the large Slug and Lettuce before you upgrade to slightly more adventurous mixology marvels at the fantastic All Bar One and Candy Bar and Kitchen. For the long-haul, George Street boasts the swanky Shanghai, underneath the trendy boutique Le Monde Hotel, and Opal Lounge, both of which are open until 3am and are favoured haunts of the in-town celebrities.
βAuld Reekieβ, as itβs affectionately known, is a fantastic option to host a stag weekend with its amazing nightlife. Speaking of nightlife, you want to make sure you snap up our brilliant Edinburgh Nightlife Wristbands, that will get you into the hottest Edinburgh nightlife venues, saving you a whopping Β£40, compared to 'on the night' prices. If you fancy checking out some of our recommendations and our large portfolio of accommodation and activities, then head over to our Edinburgh stag weekends page and place an enquiry now.