The West End runs from the end of Princes Street through Georgian terraces to Haymarket. Locals come here for after-work drinks, and visitors find it handy before a show at the Usher Hall or a match at Murrayfield. Its pubs and lounges are spread across a few walkable streets, so you can easily try three or four in one evening.
This guide lists 32 bars and pubs by street. You will find a speakeasy behind a secret door, cellar wine bars, whisky pubs, a brewery taproom, a ceilidh venue in a converted church and clubs open until 3am. Each listing has its address and opening hours as published by the venue itself.
Updated 2 November 2026. Addresses and hours were checked on each bar’s own website or official social page, and on CAMRA’s pub guide. Hours change, so confirm before you go.
All 32 at a Glance
| # | Venue | Style | Area | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teuchters Bar & Bunker | Whisky and cask ale | William Street | EH3 7NH |
| 2 | Voyage of Buck | Cocktails | William Street | EH3 7NG |
| 3 | The Green Room | Organic wine | William Street | EH3 7NG |
| 4 | The West Room | Cicchetti and cocktails | Melville Place | EH3 7PR |
| 5 | Le Di-Vin | Wine | Randolph Place | EH3 7TE |
| 6 | Indigo Yard | Food and drinks | Charlotte Lane | EH2 4QZ |
| 7 | The Garden at Kimpton Charlotte Square | Courtyard | Charlotte Square | EH2 4HQ |
| 8 | Ryan’s of Edinburgh | Pub | Hope Street | EH2 4DB |
| 9 | Encore | Hidden cocktail lounge | Hope Street | EH2 4DB |
| 10 | Whighams Wine Cellars | Wine cellar | Hope Street | EH2 4EL |
| 11 | Angels Share | Hotel, whisky | Hope Street | EH2 4EL |
| 12 | Mathers West End | Traditional pub | Queensferry Street | EH2 4PA |
| 13 | Ghillie Dhu | Ceilidh venue | Rutland Place | EH1 2AD |
| 14 | The Huxley | Breakfast to 1am | Rutland Street | EH1 2AE |
| 15 | Understory | Cocktail vaults | Rutland Street | EH1 2AE |
| 16 | The Caley Bar | Vinyl and cocktails | The Caledonian | EH1 2AB |
| 17 | NQ64 | Retro arcade | Lothian Road | EH1 2DJ |
| 18 | Red Squirrel | Beers and brunch | Lothian Road | EH1 2DJ |
| 19 | Club Tropicana | 70s and 80s club | Lothian Road | EH1 2DJ |
| 20 | BrewDog Lothian Road | Brewery taps | Lothian Road | EH3 9BY |
| 21 | The Hanging Bat | Northern Monk taproom | Lothian Road | EH3 9AB |
| 22 | Lochrin Rooftop Bar | Rooftop | Fountainbridge | EH3 9FR |
| 23 | Fox and Faun | Food and drinks | Shandwick Place | EH2 4SD |
| 24 | The Shaker | Party, DJs | Shandwick Place | EH2 4RG |
| 25 | The Grosvenor | Historic pub | Shandwick Place | EH2 4RT |
| 26 | The Haymarket | Nicholson’s pub | West Maitland Street | EH12 5DS |
| 27 | Ryrie’s | Listed pub | Haymarket Terrace | EH12 5EY |
| 28 | Platform 5 | Station pub | Clifton Terrace | EH12 5DR |
| 29 | Malones | Irish pub, sport | Morrison Street | EH3 8DT |
| 30 | The Jolly Botanist | Gin | Morrison Street | EH3 8DT |
| 31 | Thomson’s Bar | Real ale pub | Morrison Street | EH3 8EB |
| 32 | The Mad Hatter | Pub and kitchen | Torphichen Place | EH3 8DU |
Postcodes are for maps. Opening hours are in each listing below.
Best Bars by Type
- Cocktails: Voyage of Buck, Understory, The Caley Bar and Encore.
- Whisky: Teuchters (140 single malts) and Angels Share.
- Craft beer and cask ale: The Hanging Bat, BrewDog, Teuchters and Thomson’s Bar.
- Wine: Le Di-Vin, Whighams Wine Cellars and The Green Room.
- Live music and ceilidhs: Ghillie Dhu, Fox and Faun and Malones.
- Watching sport: Malones, Ryan’s and Ghillie Dhu.
- Open until 3am: NQ64, The Shaker, Club Tropicana and, at weekends, Understory.
- Views: Lochrin Rooftop Bar, with a terrace looking towards the castle.
What Is New in 2026
- Understory opened in September 2026 in the vaults beneath The Rutland hotel.
- The Shaker opened in September 2026 on Shandwick Place, on the site of the old Rat Pack Piano Bar.
- The Caley Bar reopened in November 2025 as a cocktail and listening bar.
- The Hanging Bat is now run by Northern Monk, and its kitchen has been Wingin’ It since September 2026.
- Added to this guide: Understory, Ryan’s, Le Di-Vin, The West Room, The Grosvenor, The Haymarket, Thomson’s Bar and Platform 5.
- Corrected: opening hours and addresses for many venues, after checking them with each venue.
William Street and Charlotte Square
The quiet streets between Charlotte Square and Melville Street come first. This is the heart of the area’s village quarter and where to start for wine, cocktails and a proper pub.
Teuchters Bar & Bunker
A freehouse with 23 beer taps, three permanent cask beers and a whisky list of around 140 single malts, plus Scottish pub food. Its sister pub, Teuchters Landing, is in Leith.
Where & when: 26 William Street, EH3 7NH. Sunday to Wednesday 12pm–midnight; Thursday to Saturday 12pm–1am. Tel 0131 225 2973.
Voyage of Buck
An independent cocktail bar and restaurant. Its drinks list is spread across five key cities, inspired by the travels of Buck, the bar’s namesake.
Where & when: 29–31 William Street, EH3 7NG. Open seven days from noon. Tel 0131 225 5748.
The Green Room
A wine-led eatery with organic, hand-crafted bottles from small independent winemakers, and small plates by chef Azim.
Where & when: 19–25 William Street, EH3 7NG. Monday to Wednesday 2–11pm; Thursday to Saturday 12pm–midnight; no Sunday hours are listed. Tel 0131 225 1358.
The West Room
It bills itself as Edinburgh’s first cicchetti bar, pairing Venetian-style small bites with wine and cocktails.
Where & when: 3 Melville Place, EH3 7PR. Monday to Thursday 12–11pm; Friday and Saturday 12pm–midnight; Sunday 12–10pm. Tel 0131 629 9868.
Le Di-Vin
A wine bar featured in The Sunday Times list of the top 25 wine bars in the UK. Food is cheese and charcuterie platters, and the French restaurant La P’tite Folie is upstairs.
Where & when: 9 Randolph Place, EH3 7TE. Monday to Saturday from noon until late; closed Sundays.
Indigo Yard
Open since 1996 on a lane behind Charlotte Square. The kitchen serves until 10pm, there is breakfast at weekends, and the quiz runs every Wednesday at 7.30pm with free entry.
Where & when: 7 Charlotte Lane, EH2 4QZ. Daily 10am–1am. Tel 0131 220 5603.
The Garden at Kimpton Charlotte Square
The hotel’s inner courtyard is a coffee house by day and a courtyard bar by night. Kimpton Social Hour runs from 5pm to 6pm, and DJs play on Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm.
Where & when: 38 Charlotte Square, EH2 4HQ. Daily 10am–8pm.
Hope Street, Rutland Street and Queensferry Street
This is the busy corner where Princes Street ends. Hotel bars, a speakeasy and two historic pubs sit within a few minutes of the West End – Princes Street tram stop.
Ryan’s of Edinburgh
On the corner of Hope Street since 1989, in a Category B listed building from around 1790. Expect pints, a Sunday roast and live sport.
Where & when: 2–4 Hope Street, EH2 4DB. Sunday to Thursday 9am–midnight; Friday and Saturday 9am–1am.
Encore
A speakeasy cocktail lounge in the same building as Ryan’s. Find the secret door and press the red button to get in. Seven snugs seat groups of four to ten, and there is a dress code: no sportswear.
Where & when: 2 Hope Street, EH2 4DB. Wednesday to Friday and Sunday 5pm–1am; Saturday 12pm–1am; closed Monday and Tuesday. Tel 0131 226 6669.
Whighams Wine Cellars
A cellar wine bar and restaurant, open since August 1983. The kitchen focuses on seafood, and wine tastings run on Tuesdays.
Where & when: 13 Hope Street, EH2 4EL. Sunday 12–10pm; Monday to Wednesday 12–11pm; Thursday to Saturday 12pm–midnight. Kitchen until 9pm. Tel 0131 225 8674.
Angels Share
The hotel serves a premium whisky range, with live music on Thursday (6.30–9.30pm), Friday (7.30–11pm), Saturday (7–11pm) and Sunday (2–6pm). The Devils Cut, in the basement, is for private hire.
Where & when: 7–11 Hope Street, EH2 4EL. Confirm daily hours with the hotel.
Mathers West End
A traditional single-room pub where Queensferry Street meets the end of Princes Street, listed in CAMRA’s guide.
Where & when: 1 Queensferry Street, EH2 4PA. Opens 11am; closing times vary. Tel 0131 225 3549.
Ghillie Dhu
A converted church that is now a Scottish bar and restaurant. There are live bands every evening, sport on the screens, a whisky garden, and ceilidhs in the Auditorium with the Burly Ceilidh Club.
Where & when: 2 Rutland Place, EH1 2AD. Sunday to Thursday 12–11pm; Friday and Saturday 12pm–late. Kitchen closes 9.30pm. Tel 0131 222 9930.
The Huxley
Part of The Rutland hotel, with a retro Americana and Art Deco look. Breakfast starts at 8am, and wine and cocktails are served until 1am.
Where & when: 1–3 Rutland Street, EH1 2AE. Daily 8am–1am. Tel 0131 229 3402.
Understory
A cocktail bar and kitchen in the old vaults beneath The Rutland, where its “lab” makes the ingredients for the drinks. It opened in September 2026.
Where & when: 1–3 Rutland Street, EH1 2AE. Sunday to Thursday 5pm–1am; Friday and Saturday 5pm–3am.
The Caley Bar
It reopened in November 2025 as a cocktail and listening bar, with vinyl and DJ sets.
Where & when: The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton, Princes Street, EH1 2AB. Daily from 5pm. Tel 0131 222 8832.
Lothian Road and Fountainbridge
Lothian Road runs south past the Usher Hall and the Traverse Theatre. It is the area’s busiest strip after dark, with brewery taps, retro gaming and a club.
NQ64
A retro arcade bar with arcade machines, consoles and game-themed cocktails. It is for over-18s, except on Shorty Sundays, when under-18s are welcome from 11am to 3pm.
Where & when: 25 Lothian Road, EH1 2DJ. Monday to Friday 4pm–3am; Saturday 12pm–3am; Sunday 11am–3am.
Red Squirrel
Beers, a bite to eat and a brunch menu, from the Fuller Thomson group.
Where & when: 21 Lothian Road, EH1 2DJ. Sunday to Wednesday 10am–11pm; Thursday to Saturday 10am–midnight. Tel 0131 229 9933.
Club Tropicana
A 70s and 80s discotheque that also hosts ticketed daytime discos.
Where & when: 23 Lothian Road, EH1 2DJ. Club nights Friday and Saturday 10pm–3am.
BrewDog Lothian Road
BrewDog’s own beer and guest taps, with burgers and Wings Wednesday.
Where & when: 50 Lothian Road, EH3 9BY. Monday and Tuesday 12–11pm; Wednesday and Thursday 12pm–midnight; Friday and Saturday 12pm–1am; Sunday 12–11pm.
The Hanging Bat
Now run by Northern Monk, with 17 keg and six cask lines pouring its own beer and Scottish guests. Wingin’ It runs the kitchen, the quiz is on Thursdays, it is cashless, and dogs are welcome. More in our craft beer guide.
Where & when: 133 Lothian Road, EH3 9AB. Sunday to Thursday 12pm–midnight; Friday and Saturday 12pm–1am. Kitchen Wednesday 4–9pm, Thursday to Sunday 12–9pm.
Lochrin Rooftop Bar
On top of the Moxy hotel, with drinks on a terrace looking towards the castle. It was named Hotel Bar of the Year at the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards. See our rooftop bars guide for more views.
Where & when: Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge, 2 Freer Gait, EH3 9FR. Sunday to Thursday 5–11pm; Friday and Saturday 4pm–midnight.
Shandwick Place and Haymarket
Shandwick Place leads to the station, where trains, trams and buses meet. There is a pub here for every taste, from a party bar to a station local.
Fox and Faun
Craft beers, whisky, gin and wine, with food made in-house. The quiz is on Wednesdays at 7.30pm, and bands play on Thursday and Friday from 9pm to midnight.
Where & when: 101 Shandwick Place, EH2 4SD. Daily 12pm–1am. Tel 0131 258 9384.
The Shaker
A party bar from the team behind Encore, opened in September 2026. Expect drinks under a ceiling of disco balls, shots served on vinyl records and resident DJs at weekends.
Where & when: 9 Shandwick Place, EH2 4RG. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 7pm–3am; Friday 5pm–3am; Saturday 3pm–3am; closed Monday and Tuesday.
The Grosvenor
A Belhaven pub. CAMRA notes its listed Gothic gantry, the shelving behind the bar.
Where & when: 26–28 Shandwick Place, EH2 4RT. Monday to Thursday 12–11pm; Friday 12pm–midnight; confirm weekend hours. Tel 0131 226 4579.
The Haymarket
A Nicholson’s pub in a corner building from the late Georgian to early Victorian era, beside the Haymarket Clock.
Where & when: 11–14a West Maitland Street, EH12 5DS. Tel 0131 228 2537. Hours differ between listings, so confirm before you go.
Ryrie’s
A historic pub by Haymarket station, restored with a teak exterior, an oak bar, a panelled interior and stained glass. It is family owned.
Where & when: 1 Haymarket Terrace, EH12 5EY. Sunday to Thursday 11am–11pm; Friday and Saturday 11am–midnight. Kitchen 12–9pm.
Platform 5
A Belhaven pub opposite Haymarket station that opens at 7am, useful before an early train.
Where & when: 8 Clifton Terrace, EH12 5DR. Daily 7am–11pm.
Morrison Street and Torphichen Place
Just south of the station, these quiet streets have an Irish sports pub, a specialist for gin lovers and a classic pub with a hand-made gantry and real ales.
Malones
An Irish pub with sport on 4K screens and live music from Thursday to Sunday. It won Best Venue to Watch the Match at the SLTN Awards in November 2025 and is in the Guinness Harp Guide 2026. Dogs are welcome, and under-18s until 8pm.
Where & when: 242 Morrison Street, EH3 8DT. Confirm hours before you go.
The Jolly Botanist
A specialist gin bar with a Victorian-style interior, where food is served until 9pm daily. The bar says it was voted Best New Pub in 2015.
Where & when: 256–260 Morrison Street, EH3 8DT. Tel 0131 228 5596. Confirm hours before you go.
Thomson’s Bar
CAMRA describes a single-roomed bar in the style of the architect Alexander “Greek” Thomson, with a hand-made gantry. Expect real ales and whisky.
Where & when: 182–184 Morrison Street, EH3 8EB. Confirm hours on its Facebook page.
The Mad Hatter
A pub with food menus, a quiz night, rooms for functions and Six Nations rugby on screen.
Where & when: 8 Torphichen Place, EH3 8DU. Monday and Sunday 5–11pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 5pm–midnight; Thursday 5pm–1am; Friday and Saturday 4pm–1am. Tel 0131 228 6852.
Tips for a Night Out
- Book on busy nights. Concerts at the Usher Hall and rugby at Murrayfield fill the area fast.
- Check the day. Encore and The Shaker close on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Le Di-Vin closes on Sundays.
- Bring a card. The Hanging Bat is cashless, and many places prefer cards.
- Bring ID. Most venues here are over-18s at night, and you may be asked to prove your age.
- Eat first? See our guide to West End restaurants, or find outdoor drinks in our beer gardens guide.
- Stay nearby: see where to stay in the West End.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Edinburgh’s West End?
It runs west from the end of Princes Street and Lothian Road to Haymarket, taking in Charlotte Square, William Street and Shandwick Place.
Which bars are open latest?
NQ64 and The Shaker open until 3am, Club Tropicana until 3am on Friday and Saturday, and Understory until 3am at weekends.
Where can I hear live music?
Ghillie Dhu has bands every evening, Fox and Faun on Thursday and Friday, and Malones from Thursday to Sunday. Angels Share hosts performers four days a week.
Where is the best whisky bar?
Teuchters has a whisky list of around 140 single malts. Angels Share has a premium whisky range, and Ghillie Dhu has a whisky garden.
Is there a speakeasy?
Yes. Encore on Hope Street hides behind a secret door with a red button. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Where can I watch football or rugby?
Malones won an award for watching the match. Ryan’s and Ghillie Dhu also show live sport.
Which bars are near Haymarket station?
Ryrie’s, Platform 5 and The Haymarket sit by the station, and each is a pub. Malones and The Jolly Botanist are on Morrison Street, a few minutes away.
Any questions or comments?
Let us know below.