With midterms and Halloweek out of the way, we are now in that brief period of respite where you can turn your attention away from tutorials, lectures and essays, and put your feet up for a bit. When it comes to setting aside a day—and a little bit of money—for yourself, a trip to a chic cocktail bar can give you the perfect chance to unwind.
Whether you want to know where to bring your parents the next time they come, or you just want to get dressed up and have a night-cap, these are some of the most stylish cocktail bars in Edinburgh.
Devil’s Advocate
Unlike the lawyer and devil of its namesake, this bar doesn’t deceive. The lamplit interior gives the bar a stylish radiance, and the cocktails on the menu are undoubtedly worth the price. If the devil can’t tempt you, the selection of drinks here surely will.
The treacle cocktail, rum, apple juice, and bitters, is the embodiment of the Devil’s Advocate’s warm ambience and smooth elegance, perfect for the autumn weather. So, grab your scarf and push through the windy winding streets; a drink at the Devil’s Advocate is the perfect reward.
Black Ivy
This spot doubles as a hotel, meaning it has all the bougie curated decorations you might expect, as well as a brilliant drinks menu.
The outside seating area features marble tables and offers a great chance to look at the front of the Black Ivy’s lovely, slate-grey Victorian building. Don’t let the cold daunt you, the staff are more than willing to brandish beautiful, furry blankets (which look great wrapped around your shoulders!)
Panda & Sons
Located in an old barbershop on Queen Street, this place is the epitome of eye candy. The exterior is painted a lavish cherry red, and the inside is decorated with photos of pandas that only get more adorable the more you drink.
If the brilliant assortment of cocktails was not enough, the candlelight, wooden furniture, and assorted paintings create an atmosphere which itself is intoxicating.
Photo by David Straight on Unsplash