Edinburgh has no skyscrapers, so its high-up drinking spots sit on hotels, a department store and even a distillery, and the views are of spires, Calton Hill, the castle and the Firth of Forth rather than glass towers. That makes a good rooftop seat rare, and the best ones fill up fast whenever the sun comes out.
This guide covers the best rooftop bars in the city for 2026, from the 12th-floor W Deck to a pizza-and-beer rooftop right under the castle rock, plus a few bars with a view that are not strictly rooftops. For each one we say what you can see, whether there is an indoor fallback for Scottish weather, and how booking works. Planning a longer night? See our guide to things to do at night in Edinburgh.
Updated 29 October 2026. Floors, addresses, booking rules and published hours were checked on each venue’s own website this month. Hours change with the seasons, so confirm when booking.
Edinburgh Rooftop Bars at a Glance
| # | Venue | Area | Floor | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W Deck | St James Quarter | 12th | Castle and Calton Hill, summer only |
| 2 | W Lounge | St James Quarter | 11th | All-day cocktails |
| 3 | Joao’s Place | St James Quarter | 11th | Speakeasy cocktails |
| 4 | SUSHISAMBA | St James Quarter | 10th | Dinner, sushi and cocktails |
| 5 | Nor’ Loft | Old Town | 7th | Champagne, rainy days |
| 6 | Cold Town House | Grassmarket | Roof | Pizza and the castle |
| 7 | BrewDog Doghouse | Old Town | Upstairs | Craft beer by a firepit |
| 8 | 1820 at Johnnie Walker | West End | Rooftop | Cocktails with a castle view |
| 9 | Harvey Nichols Forth Floor | St Andrew Square | 4th | Skyline and the Forth |
| 10 | Chaophraya | Castle Street | 4th | Thai food and the Forth |
| 11 | Juniper | Princes Street | Hotel Indigo | Cocktails over Princes Street |
| 12 | Lochrin Rooftop Bar | Fountainbridge | 6th | Sunset cocktails |
| 13 | Port of Leith Distillery bar | Leith | Top | Whisky and water views |
| 14 | Cafe Calton | Calton Hill | Hilltop | Brunch with a panorama |
Levels are as stated by each venue. We have not listed drink prices: none of these Edinburgh bars publishes a full price list we could check, so look at the menu online before you go.
What’s New on Edinburgh Rooftops in 2026
- Cold Town House has a retractable roof. The Grassmarket rooftop under the castle reopened in spring 2026 after a £500,000 makeover that added a transparent roof that slides shut and fireplaces (Time Out).
- SKYbar is now SKY Suite. The fifth-floor space at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Bread Street works mainly as a private events venue, with only occasional public nights (details below).
- W Deck changes with the seasons. The venue’s FAQ lists deck service from May to August. The rest of the year it is viewing only, and drinks are served downstairs in W Lounge.
St James Quarter: Best for Height
The W Edinburgh at the St James Quarter has four places to drink with a view, stacked on the 10th, 11th and 12th floors. Between them they cover dinner, cocktails, all-day drinks and the highest rooftop deck in the city centre.
1. W Deck
W Deck is the rooftop bar that most people mean when they ask for the best rooftop bar in Edinburgh. It sits on the 12th floor above W Lounge, and its 360-degree view takes in Calton Hill, Edinburgh Castle and the whole Old Town and New Town skyline.
It is seasonal and entirely open air. According to the venue’s FAQ, service on the deck runs from May to August; outside that season the deck is open for viewing only, weather permitting, and drinks are served in W Lounge below. Check the website for current deck hours. The glass W Deck Pods can be booked for private use all year. Reservations are made through SevenRooms on the W Lounge website.
Where & when: W Edinburgh, 1 St James Square, EH1 3AX · W Deck website
2. W Lounge
One floor down on the 11th, W Lounge is the year-round option: an indoor lounge and cocktail bar, open daily from 11am to midnight. The all-day menu runs from snacks and small plates to large plates and desserts inspired by Scottish Gaelic food, with Mythical Cocktails, a long whisky list, wine and alcohol-free drinks.
It also hosts Champagne Flights and weekly W Sunset Sessions, and the venue recommends reserving for weekend evenings.
Where & when: W Edinburgh, 1 St James Square, EH1 3AX · W Lounge website
3. Joao’s Place
Also on the 11th floor, Joao’s Place is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar laid out like a secret apartment. It was named Cocktail Bar of the Year 2025 at the Scottish Hotel of the Year Awards. There is live acoustic music every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm.
For events, its private terrace has fire pits and views from Calton Hill to the Firth of Forth. Tables can be reserved online.
Where & when: W Edinburgh, St James Square, EH1 3AX · Joao’s Place website
4. SUSHISAMBA
If you want dinner with your view, SUSHISAMBA on the 10th floor mixes Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cooking, from sushi and robata grills to anticuchos. Past the bar’s striking tree sculpture there is an outdoor terrace looking over the city skyline.
It also serves a Champagne afternoon tea and cocktails, plus a golden-hour deal called SAMBA Before Dark. It can also be reached from the Level 4 Galleria entrance at the St James Quarter.
Where & when: W Edinburgh, 1 St James Square, EH1 3AX · SUSHISAMBA website
Old Town and Grassmarket: Best for the Castle
Rooftops in the Old Town are lower, but they sit closer to the castle and the medieval skyline. These three are a few minutes’ walk from Waverley Station or the Royal Mile.
5. Nor’ Loft
Nor’ Loft is a rooftop Champagne lounge on the 7th floor of the Market Street Hotel, a minute’s walk from Waverley. It looks across the New Town of Edinburgh, with the Scott Monument, Princes Street Gardens and Calton Hill all in sight. Champagne comes from independent growers and big houses, much of it by the glass, with cocktails and sharing plates.
Unlike the terraces elsewhere, it is a lounge, so it is a good choice on a wet day. It has step-free entry, a lift up and an accessible toilet. Walk-ins are welcome when there is space, but the venue strongly recommends booking. Afternoon tea and its other set experiences must be booked at least 48 hours ahead.
Where & when: Market Street Hotel, 6 Market Street, EH1 1DE · Sun–Thu 12pm–11pm, Fri–Sat 12pm–12am · Nor’ Loft website
6. Cold Town House
Cold Town House has one of the best castle views of any rooftop bar in the city, right below Edinburgh Castle on the Grassmarket. Below the roof bar there is a microbrewery making Cold Town beer, and the kitchen serves Neapolitan pizza.
The new retractable roof means the terrace can be used whatever the weather, which the venue sums up as ‘rain or shine’. Walk-ins are welcome, but the venue strongly recommends booking the roof terrace (select ‘rooftop’ on the reservations site). The rooftop closes at 10pm, last food bookings are at 8.45pm, and dogs are welcome. See our beer gardens guide for more outdoor drinking.
Where & when: 4 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU · Cold Town House website
7. BrewDog Doghouse
Above the BrewDog bar at the Doghouse hotel, a short walk from Edinburgh Waverley and the Royal Mile, there is an upstairs terrace bar with firepits. It is a relaxed bar for craft beer rather than cocktails, in a former Victorian infant school (Michelin Guide).
The bar opens early for breakfast and runs into the evening, so check BrewDog’s website for today’s hours.
Where & when: Doghouse Edinburgh, 5 New Street, EH8 8BH · BrewDog website
New Town, West End and Fountainbridge: Best for Long Views
The New Town’s Georgian streets are low and even, so a seat four storeys up gives you long views over the roofs to the castle in one direction and the Forth in the other.
8. 1820 at Johnnie Walker Princes Street
At the top of the Johnnie Walker Princes Street whisky experience, 1820 is a rooftop bar and restaurant with views over Princes Street towards the castle and Calton Hill. You can book the bar on its own, without a tour. Mr Lyan Studio shaped the cocktail menu, called Walk Around the World, and chef Scott Smith of Blank Plate Creative runs a seasonal menu of small and large plates.
It is open seven days a week, but hours vary, so check the listing before you go. You can book up to three months ahead with a £5 per person deposit, which comes off the bill. Turning up unannounced is fine when there is space, and terrace tables are first come, first served and weather dependent. Fancy dress is not allowed. Our whisky tours guide covers the tours downstairs.
Where & when: 145 Princes Street, EH2 4BL · 1820 website
9. Harvey Nichols Forth Floor Brasserie and Bar
The name is a pun: the brasserie and bar is at the top of Harvey Nichols Edinburgh on St Andrew Square, and its terrace looks over the city skyline to the Firth of Forth. With an indoor brasserie as well as outdoor seats, it is a good choice for a rooftop view on a grey day.
Published opening hours differ between listing sites, so check them on the Harvey Nichols website before you go. It works well for lunch, afternoon tea or an early drink after shopping.
Where & when: 30–34 St Andrew Square, EH2 2AD · Harvey Nichols website
10. Chaophraya
Chaophraya is a Thai restaurant in central Edinburgh, on the 4th floor of 33 Castle Street, between Princes Street and George Street. Its rooftop views look towards Edinburgh Castle and the Firth of Forth, and the Thai menu includes vegan and gluten-free options.
It is a restaurant rather than a bar, so reserve a table if you want to eat. It is open daily from 12pm until late. Read our full Chaophraya review and the wider Thai restaurants guide.
Where & when: 33 Castle Street, EH2 3DN · Chaophraya website
11. Juniper
Juniper is not a rooftop, but it is one of the best bars with a view in Edinburgh. It sits inside Hotel Indigo, next to the Twenty Princes Street restaurant, and looks out over Princes Street. The cocktail list is known for craft gin and Scottish whisky. It is handy before dinner in the West End or a walk in Princes Street Gardens.
Where & when: Hotel Indigo, Princes Street · Juniper website
12. Lochrin Rooftop Bar
Above the Moxy hotel in Fountainbridge, within walking distance of the Edinburgh city centre, Lochrin Rooftop Bar has an indoor bar and an outdoor rooftop terrace with clear views of Edinburgh Castle and the skyline. It is popular for sunset drinks in Edinburgh. Expect cocktails and small plates. The bar asks guests to avoid sportswear and very casual clothes in the evening.
Booking is recommended, especially at weekends and around sunset, but you can drop in if there is space. The space is also available for private hire.
Where & when: 2 Freer Gait, EH3 9FR · Sun–Thu 5pm–11pm, Fri–Sat 4pm–midnight · Lochrin website
Leith and Calton Hill: Best Views Beyond the Centre
Two places away from the main shopping streets give you some of the widest views in Edinburgh.
13. The Port of Leith Distillery Bar
The Port of Leith Distillery stands on the Leith waterfront, and its bar is on the top floor. Take the lift up for cocktails, a food menu and new-wave whiskies, with panoramic views over the city and the water. You do not have to take the tour to visit.
Some tables are kept for walk-ins, but the venue recommends reserving ahead; groups of nine or more should email. It is open Wednesday to Sunday: 12pm–9pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 12pm–11pm Friday and Saturday.
Where & when: 11 Whisky Quay, Leith, EH6 6FH · distillery bar website
14. Cafe Calton
Cafe Calton is not on a roof, but it sits on top of Calton Hill, one of the classic viewpoints in Edinburgh. It serves breakfast, brunch, small plates and drinks from the first coffee of the day until sunset, and it runs seven days a week. Tables can be reserved online, then walk the hill before or after; our parks guide has more on the area.
Where & when: Calton Hill, EH7 5AA · Cafe Calton website
Rooftops You Can’t Just Walk Into
SKY Suite (formerly SKYbar), DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, 34 Bread Street, EH3 9AF. This 5th-floor space has a private bar, an outdoor terrace and views of the castle, the skyline and the Firth of Forth. Today it is mainly used for weddings, parties and other private events. It opens to the public only on a few advertised dates (two nights in September 2026, for example), so follow its social channels if you want to go.
Lamplighters, Gleneagles Townhouse, St Andrew Square. The rooftop bar at the Gleneagles Townhouse is for members and hotel guests only, so only plan an evening around it if you are staying there.
Tips for Visiting Edinburgh Rooftop Bars
- Book the best seats for sunny weekends. Most rooftops take both bookings and drop-ins, but drop-ins get whatever tables are left. In August, during the festivals, plan well ahead.
- Have a plan B for Edinburgh weather. Terraces close in wind and rain. Cold Town House can now close its roof, and Nor’ Loft, W Lounge, Harvey Nichols and the Port of Leith Distillery bar all have indoor seats looking out.
- Check the season. W Deck serves drinks only in summer, and terrace seats elsewhere depend on the forecast.
- Watch for deposits and dress codes. 1820 takes a £5 per person deposit and does not allow fancy dress, which matters for a hen party. Lochrin asks guests not to wear sportswear in the evening.
- Time it for sunset. In summer the sun sets late in Edinburgh, so evening drinks are in daylight. In winter a 4pm drink gives you sunset and city lights in one visit; see our winter guide for festive ideas.
- Free alternatives. Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat cost nothing and give you a wider panorama over the city. Pair them with a drink on a rooftop afterwards.
Edinburgh Rooftop Bars: FAQs
What is the best rooftop bar in Edinburgh?
For sheer height, W Deck on the 12th floor of the W Edinburgh, with 360 degrees over the castle, Calton Hill and the skyline. It only serves in summer, so out of season choose W Lounge, Nor’ Loft or Cold Town House.
Which rooftop bar has the best view of Edinburgh Castle?
Cold Town House in the Grassmarket sits right below the castle. Lochrin Rooftop Bar, 1820 at Johnnie Walker Princes Street and Chaophraya also look towards the castle.
Is W Deck open all year?
You can visit the deck all year, conditions permitting, but it only serves in summer. The venue’s FAQ lists drinks on the deck from May to August; the rest of the year it is viewing only, and W Lounge below serves instead.
Do I need to book a rooftop bar in Edinburgh?
It is strongly advised at weekends and in summer. Nor’ Loft, Lochrin, Cold Town House, 1820 and the Port of Leith Distillery bar all take guests who just turn up, but only when there is space.
Where can I get a rooftop view in Edinburgh when it rains?
Cold Town House has a retractable roof, and Nor’ Loft, W Lounge, Harvey Nichols Forth Floor, Chaophraya and the Port of Leith Distillery bar all have indoor seating with views.
Can I bring a dog to a rooftop in Edinburgh?
Cold Town House welcomes dogs. Other venues set their own rules, so ask the venue first.
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Final Words
The city’s rooftop seats are few, which is why they matter: on a clear Edinburgh evening, a seat with the castle in front of you is hard to beat. Book ahead in summer, keep an indoor option in mind, and save the free views from Calton Hill for the next day. For more evening ideas, see our romantic things to do in Edinburgh and gardens guide.