Edinburgh is a busy and bustling city that is home to so many pubs that it is nearly impossible to choose what ones deserve a visit! However, never fear, for we have compiled together a list of the 10 best pubs in the city that are sure to suit whatever evening you have planned!

1. The Bon Vivant

Opened in 2008 on Thistle Street, this fun and exciting bar offers a range of European snacks that can be served with any of their alcoholic beverages. If you want to take a taste of Bon Vivant home with you, then you should visit the wine shop next door and treat yourself to a selection of their cocktails, wines and gins. The Bon Vivant has 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor, meaning that it really must be worth a visit if you’re in the city!

2. The Wee Pub

The Wee Pub
Source: Yelp!

As the name suggests, this is a very small pub in the heart of the city but the drinks and atmosphere more than makes up for the limited space inside. The interior décor makes it a lovely spot for a wee dram of whisky in the evening with mates. The Wee Pub also has a range of beers and scotches on offer, and you can even take part in their gin masterclasses if you want to refine your knowledge of the drink.

3. The Permit Room

The Permit Room
Source: Design my night

This stylish drinking establishment is more sophisticated than the other bars that you will find in the city. The interior décor is based on Imperial India and will make you feel as though you have been transported back in time. The Permit Room has the perfect drink for everyone, even designated drivers can enjoy their wide selection of non-alcoholic drinks, without even being able to tell that there isn’t any alcohol in them! Everyone will enjoy this choice of menu, and it is the perfect excuse to get all dressed up for a fancy night out.

4. Lucky Liquor Co

Lucky Liquor Co
Source: Facebook, Lucky Liquour Co

This bar is cute and quirky and will transport you back to the 1960s with its 60s inspired décor and music. Their range of different cocktails may sound strange and unusual, but they taste amazing and are well-worth splashing out on. Customers have sung Lucky Liquor’s praises on TripAdvisor, with many saying that their drinks, as well as their service, was fantastic. What’s not to love?

5. Hoot the Redeemer

Marking your entry to this bar as different from the moment you arrive, you will be greeted by a tarot door which will ask you a question before you enter the bar. This gives the bar a carnival vibe which is continued throughout with their Pinch n’ Sip claw machine and popcorn makers. This bar is great for a night out and will leave you craving a trip to the circus!

6. Bennetts Bar

Bennets Bar
Source: Yelp!

This historic pub offers an impressive 150 malt whiskies. It has been described in a review as “one of the few remaining true pubs in the city centre”, and this is definitely true. Bennetts has a familiar pub atmosphere that is very popular with students in the city, with stool seats and bar benches that give you the impression of a cosy venue that is perfect for meeting with friends for a few cheeky drinks. They also serve your traditional pub dinners that are tasty and cheap, perfect for students!

7. Panda & Sons

Panda and Sons
Source: Panda and Sons

This bar is so popular that if you want to guarantee a table, then you need to book in advance, or you might be left disappointed on the night. This pub offered in 2013 and offers so many gins and wines that you will be spoiled for choice.

8. The Bow Bar

The Bow Bar
Source: Trip Advisor

This bar is popular with locals and is well-known for its wide range of tasty beers and single malts. This pub is doing well with sticking to the current COVID-19 rules by using giant teddy bears to ensure that customers cannot sit too close together, adding a cute touch to the practical safety measures that they now have to undertake. This pub is definitely catered more towards lovers of whisky, but they do offer many other drinks too.

9. The Hanging Bat

The Hanging Bat
Source: Trip Advisor

This pub is perfect for lovers of beer with their ever-changing selection of the finest beers and even have an in-house brewery! They even offer experiences for you to have a go at brewing your own beers which sounds like the perfect evening to us!

10. Dragonfly

This bar is a little bit of a walk out of town, but it is worth it, and you can reward yourself with one of their amazing cocktails to reward yourself. You can relax and enjoy one of their great cocktails during one of their weekend DJ sessions which offers a range of different music to listen to on your night out. This bar is so great that it even won Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice 2020!