Edinburgh’s West End bars are usually enjoyed when grabbing ‘one more’ before getting a train at Haymarket or by the suited and booted workers clocking off at 5pm. But the area has more to offer from cocktails to ceilidh dancing, craft beer to pub grub. So let’s take a look at the best pubs in the West End Village and surrounding streets.
Updated September 2026
| Bar | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimpton Charlotte Square – The Garden | Charlotte Square | Hotel bar & courtyard | EH2 4HQ |
| Teuchters | William Street | Traditional pub & restaurant | EH3 7NH |
| The Voyage of Buck | William Street | Cocktail bar | EH3 7NG |
| The Green Room | William Street | Wine bar & kitchen | EH3 7NG |
| Indigo Yard | Charlotte Lane | Beer garden & bar | EH2 4QZ |
| Ghillie Dhu | Rutland Place | Scottish pub & ceilidh venue | EH1 2AD |
| The Huxley | Rutland Street | Cocktail bar & restaurant | EH1 2AE |
| Mathers Bar | Queensferry Street | Traditional pub | EH2 4PA |
| Angel’s Share | Hope Street | Whisky bar & live music | EH2 4EL |
| Whighams Wine Cellars | Hope Street | Wine bar & seafood | EH2 4EL |
| Encore Edinburgh | Hope Street | Cocktail lounge | EH2 4EL |
| NQ64 | Lothian Road | Arcade bar | EH1 2DJ |
| BrewDog | Lothian Road | Craft beer bar | EH3 9BY |
| The Hanging Bat | Lothian Road | Craft beer specialist | EH3 9AB |
| Red Squirrel | Lothian Road | Gastropub | EH1 2DJ |
| Club Tropicana | Lothian Road | Retro nightclub & daytime disco | EH1 2DJ |
| Lochrin Rooftop Bar | Fountainbridge | Rooftop cocktail bar | EH3 9FR |
| The Fox and Faun | Shandwick Place | Gastro-pub & live music | EH2 4SD |
| The Shaker | Shandwick Place | Cocktail bar & DJs | EH2 4SD |
| Malone’s Irish Bar | Morrison Street | Irish pub & live music | EH2 4QR |
| The Mad Hatter | Torphichen Place | Cocktail bar | EH2 4QY |
| The Jolly Botanist | Morrison Street | Cocktail bar | EH2 4QR |
| Ryrie’s Bar | Haymarket | Traditional Scottish bar | EH12 5EZ |
| The Caley Bar | Princes Street | Whisky & cocktail bar | EH1 2AB |
You may also like our guide to West End restaurants!
West End Village & William Street
- Kimpton 38 Charlotte Square – The Garden (38 Charlotte Square, EH2 4HQ) – A lovely bright bar set in a leafy glass-roofed courtyard at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel. Serves fresh seasonal cocktails, Champagne and Scottish-inspired snacks. Open daily 10am–8pm; live jazz some evenings.
- Teuchters (26 William Street, EH3 7NH) – A long-running West End freehouse with ales, wine and a solid food menu. Scottish cask and keg beer, malt whisky, and a buzzy atmosphere. Open daily noon–midnight (Fri–Sat until 1am).
- The Voyage of Buck (29–31 William Street, EH3 7NG) – Superb cocktails in a low-lit, Montmartre-inspired setting. Award-winning cocktail menu organised by city (Paris, Taipei, Cairo, Havana). Small plates available. Open daily noon–midnight (Wed–Sat until 1am).
- The Green Room (19–25 William Street, EH3 7NG) – Lovely decor, an award-winning wine cellar with organic and hand-crafted varieties from independent winemakers. Also serves small plates. Tue–Wed 2pm–11pm, Thu–Sat 12pm–12am. Closed Sun–Mon.
- Indigo Yard (7 Charlotte Lane, EH2 4QZ) – Popular industrial-chic beer garden serving craft beer, serious cocktails and food all day. Open daily 10am–1am. Weekend breakfast 10am–12pm.
- Ghillie Dhu (2 Rutland Place, EH1 2AD) – A grand Georgian hall bar with weekly ceilidh dancing, live traditional music and Burns Night suppers. Scottish pub grub, craft ales and malt whisky. The Burly Ceilidh Club runs select Fridays. Open daily noon–11pm (Fri until 2am, Sat until 3am).
- The Huxley (1–3 Rutland Street, EH1 2AE) – Stylish cocktail bar and restaurant in the former Rutland Hotel. Pub grub with live sport, small plates and a dog-friendly terrace. Open Mon–Thu and Sun 8am–11pm, Fri–Sat 8am–midnight.
- Mathers Bar (1 Queensferry Street, EH2 4PA) – An Edinburgh institution since the 19th century. Historic interior, real ales, and a proper old-school pub atmosphere. CAMRA-listed with a heritage score. Open Mon–Sat 11am–midnight, Sun 11am–11pm.
- Angel’s Share (7–11 Hope Street, EH2 4EL) – A warm whisky bar and restaurant with an extensive selection of malts, cocktails and craft beers. Live music Thu–Sun. The downstairs venue The Devil’s Cut is available for private hire. Open daily 8am–1am (Sun–Tue until 11pm).
- Whighams Wine Cellars (13 Hope Street, EH2 4EL) – Edinburgh’s oldest independent wine bar, pouring from a Georgian cellar on Hope Street since 1983. Oysters, seafood and a four-wine tasting flight (£19). Glasses from £5.15. Sun 12–10pm, Mon–Wed 12–11pm, Thu–Sat 12–midnight.
- Encore Edinburgh (Hope Street, EH2 4EL) – A Moulin Rouge-inspired cocktail bar and lounge with live music, DJs and Parisian flair. Lavish late-night venue beneath West End Brasserie. Check their website for current opening times.
Lothian Road
- NQ64 (25 Lothian Road, EH1 2DJ) – A neon-splattered retro arcade bar with classic cabinets, free-to-play consoles and video game-themed cocktails. Pizza Geeks serve on-site until 9pm. Strictly 18+ (under-18s Sundays 11am–3pm for Shorty Sundays). Open Mon–Fri 4pm–3am, Sat–Sun 12pm–3am.
- BrewDog (50 Lothian Road, EH3 9BY) – The flagship craft beer pub with rotating taps of their own brews and guest beers. Free birthday drinks for members. Open Mon–Tue noon–11pm, Wed–Thu noon–midnight, Fri–Sat noon–1am, Sun noon–11pm.
- The Hanging Bat (133 Lothian Road, EH3 9AB) – Edinburgh’s original craft beer bar with an on-site brewery producing experimental ales, around 20 rotating taps and a fridge of canned imports. Knowledgeable staff. See our craft beer guide for more. Open Mon–Thu and Sun 12pm–midnight, Fri–Sat 12pm–1am.
- Red Squirrel (21 Lothian Road, EH1 2DJ) – A modern gastropub with a broad menu (breakfast, burgers, brunch), craft beers and a pleasant atmosphere. Dog-friendly. Open Mon–Wed 9am–midnight, Thu–Sat 9am–1am, Sun 9am–midnight.
- Club Tropicana (23 Lothian Road, EH1 2DJ) – The home of Scotland’s favourite daytime discos. Retro 70s and 80s nightclub open Fri–Sat 10pm–3am, plus legendary Disco Days afternoon sessions. Opposite the Usher Hall, minutes from Princes Street.
- Lochrin Rooftop Bar (2 Freer Gait, EH3 9FR) – Voted Bar of the Year 2024, this rooftop terrace above the Moxy Hotel offers whisky and gin cocktails with panoramic views of Edinburgh Castle. Blends the area’s industrial distillery history with modern mixology. Open Mon–Thu and Sun 5pm–11pm, Fri–Sat 4pm–midnight.
Bars Near Haymarket Station
- The Fox and Faun (101 Shandwick Place, EH2 4SD) – A charming independent gastro-pub with live music every Thursday and Saturday, Edinburgh’s top pub quiz on Wednesdays, and open mic nights on Tuesdays. Homemade food, local Scottish whiskies and craft cocktails. Kitchen open until 9pm. Open daily noon–1am.
- The Shaker (9 Shandwick Place, EH2 4SD) – Brand new cocktail bar and DJ venue opened September 2026 on the former site of The Rat Pack Piano Bar. Disco balls, neon interiors and free entry. Open until 3am (Fri–Sat; 7pm midweek, 5pm Fri, 3pm Sat).
- The Jolly Botanist (256–260 Morrison Street, EH2 4QR) – Casual cocktails in a botanical-themed setting near Haymarket. A relaxed spot for after-work drinks.
- The Mad Hatter (8 Torphichen Place, EH2 4QY) – A cheery bar with a private room available to hire. Good for groups and celebrations.
- Malone’s Irish Bar (242 Morrison Street, EH2 4QR) – A popular Irish pub with live music, craft beers and a buzzing atmosphere. One of the go-to spots for sport and socialising in the West End.
- Ryrie’s Bar (1 Haymarket Terrace, EH12 5EZ) – A traditional Scottish bar right by Haymarket Station. Real ales, whisky and the last stop before catching the last train home.
- The Caley Bar (Princes Street, The Caledonian, EH1 2AB) – A sophisticated whisky and cocktail bar inside the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian. Victorian railway heritage meets modern luxury. Expertly crafted Old Fashioneds and an extensive Scotch selection. Open daily 5pm–midnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What area counts as Edinburgh’s West End?
The West End stretches from Princes Street in the east to Haymarket in the west, taking in Charlotte Square, William Street, Rutland Place, Lothian Road and the streets around Shandwick Place. Most of the bars listed above fall within a 10-minute walk of Haymarket Station.
Which West End bars have live music?
The Fox and Faun has live music every Thursday and Saturday. Ghillie Dhu hosts weekly ceilidh nights and live traditional music. Angel’s Share features live performers Thursday through Sunday. Malone’s also books regular live sessions.
Where can I get craft beer in the West End?
The Hanging Bat (133 Lothian Road) is Edinburgh’s specialist craft beer bar with an on-site brewery and around 20 rotating taps. BrewDog on Lothian Road stocks their own brews plus guest beers. Indigo Yard also has a strong craft beer selection alongside cocktails.
Are there good cocktail bars in the West End?
Yes. The Voyage of Buck on William Street is award-winning with a travel-themed cocktail menu. Lochrin Rooftop Bar (voted Bar of the Year 2024) offers skyline views with whisky cocktails. The Shaker is a brand-new late-night cocktail and DJ venue that opened in September 2026.
Which West End bars are best for groups?
The Mad Hatter has a private room for hire. Ghillie Dhu can host large groups with its Georgian halls and event nights. NQ64 is great for a fun group activity with retro arcade games. Indigo Yard’s beer garden is a popular social hub.
Other West End Guides
- Best West End restaurants
- Where to stay in the West End
- Lovely Airbnbs in the City Centre
- West End Village guide
Any questions or comments?
Let us know below.