Edinburgh nightspots

Head to Edinburgh’s iconic Irish pub, Biddy Mulligans, for authentic Irish craic and a lively atmosphere. There’s a decent selection of craft beers, cask ales, whiskey and, of course, Guinness. For food, try Irish classics and pub favourites, including their famous Irish stew and huge Irish breakfast. Watch your favourite sports live or stick around for live music every night at 10pm. Step next door to experience Scotland’s smallest pub.

Frankenstein is a uniquely Gothic pub set inside a 19th-century church. Based on Mary Shelley’s classic, get immersed in the horror-themed decor with monster shows, flashing lights, bubbling liquids and old Frankenstein films played on screens. There are three bars across three floors, with an authentic German bierkeller in the basement. Relax in the comfy booths, watch the latest live sport or dig into a traditional German food menu.

Marcos Pool Hall celebrates pool, pizza and gaming, all in one place, for the perfect combination of entertainment. Experience the vibes of an American-style pool hall with 19 professional 9ft tables in a modern yet classic setting where you can watch live sport on the TV as you play. Tuck into delicious stone baked pizzas, cocktails and ice-cold pints. There’s even retro arcade games and an Xbox One.

The Newsroom is a contemporary bar, restaurant and club with black and white, news-themed decor. The fresh and urban style makes it a popular spot for pre-club drinking with their seasonal selection of cocktails, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays when DJs hit the decks. At The Newsroom, they host everything from quiz nights and gastropub dinners to boozy brunches and afternoon cocktails.

Known for its steaks, grills, craft beer and whisky, Ox 184 is a lively party bar and restaurant. With industrial-chic interiors, winding metal staircase and an old warehouse-feel, it’s a relaxed place to grab a few drinks. Tuck into indulgent comfort food dishes from the wood-fired grill, or explore some of the most interesting craft beer creations and single malt whiskies in and beyond the city.

Late-night party bar chain, Revolution, bring their carefully-crafted cocktails to Edinburgh. Enter inside for plush leather seating, caged light bulbs, fluorescent signs, a dance floor and a proper party atmosphere. Known for their vodka and happy hours, you’ll find plenty of classic and quirky cocktails to try, plus a tasty food menu of classic comfort food dishes like pizza and burgers to line your stomach with.

Hidden down a little lane in the Old Town, above Arcade Haggis and Whiskey Bar, Secret Arcade is a vodka drinker’s paradise. This Polish vodka bar features intimate tables, candlelight and modern artwork. Try over 100+ vodkas including unique flavours and infusions, with speciality molecular cocktails to sample. There’s a dedicated DJ area, TV screen to watch the big matches and the perfect atmosphere to get together and chat.

Experience Edinburgh’s most haunted pub: The Banshee Labyrinth. Half of the club was once a part of the infamous underground vaults, where criminals frequented, while the other half was home to one of the richest men in Scotland, and a suspected torturer. It's pretty different now, transformed into an alternative entertainment venue that features jukeboxes, DJ nights, alternative music and even a 50 seater cinema, so no two nights are the same.

The Three Sisters Irish-themed bar is designed as a place to socialise and bring people together. With comfy booths, long tables, perfect for groups, a Man v Food Plank Challenge, pub quizzes and karaoke pods, there really is something for everyone. Head outside to the courtyard for a huge screen and containers filled with street food and drinks stalls with delicious treats including wood-fired pizzas and tequila-infused tacos.

The Tron is a laid-back pub, perfectly designed for groups to socialise. Specialising in American whiskeys, enjoy signature cocktails and amazing hardshakes or choose from a selection of craft beer and cask ales. The pub shows all your favourite live sporting action on the screens from football and rugby to boxing, tennis and more, including all the big sporting events. There’s also a menu of burgers, steak, pizza and a variety of tapas dishes.

For a friendly, unpretentious pub, check out Wash Bar. Split across two floors, it’s a cafe by day and relaxed bar at night. Head downstairs for a contemporary bar and large booths where you can enjoy pre-club nights and listen to a mix of funk and house. Try reasonably priced cocktails and food as you socialise in this chilled out atmosphere. Upstairs there’s a cosy function area for hire for a more intimate night.

For live music, head over to Whistlebinkies where you can experience quality talent until the early hours of the morning. Bands play every night, showcasing local and visiting talent with an eclectic lineup ranging from acoustic to punk to tribute acts and plenty more. There are over 100 varieties of whisky and tons of beer and ales to wet your whistle in this cavernous late night bar.

Previously called Cav, ATIK is a modern nightclub with three differently themed rooms and six bars spread throughout, each with state of the art sound and lighting systems. There’s also a VIP only Luxe Lounge for private hire.

For 80s nostalgia, spend your night at Club Tropicana, a colourful retro paradise designed to be all about fun. Dance the night away to all your favourite 80s hits like Spandau Ballet, Madonna and Duran Duran on the huge dancefloor. There’s all kinds of sweet and fruity cocktails and shooters, as well as pop culture-inspired packages.

With the fun spread over five floors, Espionage is a labyrinth of bars, private booths, secret spaces and dancefloors playing a wide selection of mainstream music for every mood. Home to some of Edinburgh’s best DJs, Espionage hosts a range of club nights including Saturday’s KOKO for Urban, R&B and Hip Hop tunes.

Fans of all kinds of music flock to Sneaky Pete’s every day of the week. As an intimate Cowgate nightclub with a capacity of just 100 people, it’s a top place to discover up-and-coming DJs and talented musicians, with some surprisingly big acts having performed here. There are tons of club nights drawing in crowds of music lovers looking for anything from funk and soul to indie and much, much more.

The Hive is known for being an unpretentious party hotspot. The famous club is spread across four rooms, with each night dedicated to a different genre of music. With commercial charts, hip-hop, R&B, pop, rock, indie and retro, every night at The Hive is unique and unforgettable. During Fringe, there’s Hive till Five, where it’s practically a rite of passage to dance until 5am.

Housed inside a 19th century church, The Liquid Rooms is one of Edinburgh’s best live music and club night venues. Split across two floors, with a balcony overlooking the dance floor and a bespoke, state of the art sound and lighting system, the atmosphere is more often than not electric. The stage has seen all kinds of big names from local DJs and bands to touring artists.