The Scots have a certain reputation for knowing how to have a good time, and their capital city does not come up short. From classy cocktail bars overlooking the iconic castle to cheesy clubs blasting Taylor Swift until 3 am, no trip to Edinburgh would be complete without at least a few drunken adventures. In my two years as a student, I have become closely acquainted with the city’s nightlife scene. So without further ado, here is a guide to my 10 favorite nights out in Edinburgh:
Subway
Ah Subway… the crèm de la crèm… the gold standard of nightclubs in Edinburgh. Enter its lit-up doorway on Cowgate and you will be greeted by the sweet sound of Abba pouring out of the loudspeakers and the sight of overexcited first-year uni students crowding in the center of the dance floor. Despite its status as a glorified sweatbox, it remains one of the most popular clubs in Edinburgh and you’d be lucky if you didn’t end up waiting in a huge line to enter. Besides- with enough mango venoms you will surely get through the night unscathed.
Entry Cost: Free during the week, £7 on the weekend
Best Day to Go: Tuesday
Stramash
Another Cowgate staple, Stramash features live music every day of the week. With two stories, a dance floor, and multiple bars, it’s a great place to grab a pint and listen to good music. If you’re not keen on tackling the club scene but still wanna boogie all night, here is your perfect compromise. It’s completely free to enter and you may end up discovering some lesser-known bands. They also have a free ceilidh on Wednesdays!
Entry Cost: Free
Best Day to Go: Wednesday
Boteco Do Brasil
A Latin haven in the heart of Edinburgh, Boteco will suit any lover of reggaeton. When the clock strikes 10, this Brazilian restaurant turns into a lively club, playing as much J. Balvin and Bad Bunny as you could possibly dream of. They even have themed club events with free dance classes on select nights. The club is often populated by native Spaniards and Latin Americans, which gives me an excuse to go out under the guise of ‘practicing my Spanish’. It’s something a little different and I’ve never had a bad night here!
Entry Cost: Free before 10 or 11 depending on the night, £10 standard entry
Best Day to Go: Saturday
Ballie Ballerson
Ballie Ballerson is new to the Edinburgh bar scene. It’s a strange combination of a tacky nightclub, a cocktail bar and a playground for drunk people. They have a big slide and its claim to fame: a ball pit on the upper level. The pit itself is kind of gross when you think about it for too long, but a fun sentiment nonetheless. Grab a fun drink (some menu items include ‘Snap, Bubble ‘n’ Pop’, ‘Ice Lollypalooza’ and ‘Hubba Hubba Bubba’) go down the slide a few times, roll around in the ball pit and you’ll have had the full Ballie Ballerson experience. It’s not a place you need to go more than once, but it’s a must-do in Edinburgh and a great opportunity to pretend you’re a kid again.
Entry Cost: Free to enter, £4.50 Sun-Thurs, £7 Fri and £10 Sat to access the ball pit
Best Day to Go: Weekends
The Bongo Club
This one’s for the techno and Dnb enthusiasts among you. I can’t say the music is really my style, but it’s a cool venue that brings in impressive DJs and hosts tons of charity club nights. Bongo is a bit of Berlin right in Edinburgh, with two stories and an acclaimed smoking area for the cool kids. They have a couple of regular events with some special guests scattered throughout the week. They also rival Subway for the best Tuesday club night in Edinburgh, and every loyal Edi clubber must make an important decision: are you a Subway person, or a Bongo person?
Entry Cost: Ranges from £3 – £10
Best Day to Go: Tuesday
Brass Monkey
Brass Monkey is a quaint pub with a few of different locations in Edinburgh. Not only do they have cheap drinks and quiz nights, but they also have a separate room with sofas, a screen for films, and board games you can play for free. You can rent out the room to watch a film of your choosing or come to one of the screenings they’ve got on for the public. Almost all activities in Scotland can be done with a pint in hand, so why should the cinema be any different?
Entry Cost: Free
Best Day to Go: Monday
Spoons
If you’re not familiar with the Wetherspoons chain, a friend once described them to me as the “McDonald’s of pubs”. In Edinburgh, they are housed in old historical buildings, which gives them a deceptive exterior of refinement. But don’t worry- Spoons is anything but classy. Everyone has their own opinion on the best Spoons in the city, but I’m partial to the Booking Office on Waverly. Come here for cheap (albeit watered-down) drinks before a big night out or simply when you have nothing better to do. The bartenders are friendly and cocktail pitchers go for £8.33.
Entry Cost: Free
Best Day to Go: Always!
Elios
Moving into more sophisticated territory, Elios is an elegant cocktail bar located in Edinburgh’s New Town. Within its dimly-lit interior, you’ll often find men in business suits singing to nostalgic tunes and sipping espresso martinis. Come here for nice drinks, live music, and a bit of an older crowd. Elios is more of a late-night bar, typically getting livelier as the evening goes on. It’s the perfect place to end a night of clubbing on George Street or to make the final destination of a New Town bar crawl.
Entry Cost: Free
Best Day to Go: Weekends
Finnegan’s Wake
No guide to nightlife in Edinburgh would be complete without at least one Irish pub. You can find Finnegans if you walk– or more likely stumble– down beautiful Victoria Street, J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. The live bands often take requests from the audience (although they will NOT play Party in the U.S.A, I’ve learned) and their weekday student deals give them the award for the cheapest pint in Edinburgh. Their live sports, cozy decor, sticky floors and friendly atmosphere give Finnegans all the markers of a model Irish pub. Come here to down Irish flag shots and sing to Wagon Wheel until the wee hours of the morning.
Entry Cost: Free
Best Day to Go: Thursday
Hive
Last (and certainly least) is Hive, an infamous club near the Royal Mile. Hive is not so much a destination but a place that you regretfully end up at the end of the night when you’re a little too drunk and have nowhere else to go. It’s way too hot and smells horrific, but the drinks are cheap and it stays open super late. Besides, you can’t call yourself an Edinburgh local until you’ve braved a night here.
Entry Cost: Free
Best Day to Go: Never?
Happy clubbing!!