Edinburgh - World's Best Bars

Best Bars in

Edinburgh

From New Town’s stylish bars, bistros and restaurants - which can easily stand alongside the best in the world - to the historic pubs of Old Town, beautiful and mysterious with its dark cobbled streets and narrow closes, Edinburgh’s drinking scene is incredibly rich and diverse.

Dubbed the “Athens of the North” for its rich culture and history, scholarly reputation and many neo-classical buildings, Edinburgh is an enchanting city that amounts to much more than the eye can see. Both spookily intriguing and charmingly eccentric, the Scottish capital has surprises on every corner.

Stroll into Edinburgh’s delightful Old Town and familiarise yourself with its centuries-old buildings and narrow alleyways. Its famous Royal Mile extends from Edinburgh Castle, which stands at the heart of the city on an extinct volcano, to the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish residence of the Queen. Considered a national treasure, this steep stretch of road has been marked by stories and legends of all kinds. The historic neighborhood takes on a whole new dimension at night, going from tourist must-see, with its quaint shops and beautiful museums, to night owls’ den. Roam its cobbled streets and embark on an inebriating quest to uncover the city’s darkest secrets.The alleys are dark and cold, and the mysterious atmosphere lends itself to warming up in the area’s many casual eateries, traditional pubs and cosy bars.

Then switch things up by heading to elegant New Town, where chic Georgian houses border wide avenues and leafy squares. Built in the mid-18th century to accommodate the city’s growing population, it is widely regarded as a masterpiece of urban planning, and most of its neo-classical and Georgian period architecture has been carefully preserved. The artistic center of the capital, it is home to the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, and the neo-gothic National Portrait Gallery. Check out an exhibition or two before going on a shopping spree on Princes Street and at the posh boutiques around George Street. Then finish the day in style by mingling with affluent locals and hip young professionals at one of the area’s swanky hotel bars and sleek cocktail lounges.

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