The best cocktails in Edinburgh

Situated on pretty Thistle Street, the Bon Vivant has been attracting locals and tourists alike for several years. The owners have crafted a unique and exciting menu, which features refined fruity numbers like the ‘Post Tropical’ with Tepache (a sweet Mexican drink derived from pineapple rinds). This place is super romantic – all dimmed lighting and moody wooden furniture – making it the perfect spot to grab a cocktail with someone special. Non-alcoholic cocktails are on offer too, and the staff are well-informed and friendly.

On the surface – at street level – this cocktail bar appears to be a vintage barber shop. But at the bottom of the barbershop’s stairs you’ll discover a bookcase doorway, which leads to a cosy, stylish bar. While the prohibition-theme is exciting, the sheer quality of the drinks on offer here makes it well-worth a visit. The cocktails are highly unique but nevertheless tasty – like their Bamboo Drink – and the prices are reasonable too. Charming and welcoming, Panda and Sons is certainly the most exciting destination to enjoy a drink in the capital.

Forget the pre-packed wraps and the Mexican inspired DIY kits, at Topolabamba you’re getting the real deal. This not only applies to the food, but the drinks too. Enjoy one of the finest frozen margaritas in town, or have your margarita shaken with any of the 55 tequilas on the menu. Whatever you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a good night, our head is already spinning at the thought of it.

Cask Smugglers is an open plan cocktail bar in the heart of the city, on top of Waverley Station. Showcasing views of Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat with a vast outside area and new Secret Domes. This is a spacious and laid-back bar, and is the perfect spot to enjoy a meal with friends or unwind over some delicious cocktails. The drinks on the menu champion the very best of Scotland. A celebration of some of the most incredible spirits and liquors crafted in the north, this menu also showcases some of the best independent businesses within Edinburgh.

Satyr is a cosy cocktail bar in the heart of Leith Walk with a wide selection of craft beer, natural wines and whisky. This is one of Edinburgh’s newest bars. A classic cocktail bar from the team that brought you The Wildcat. Despite being relatively new it already serves some of the best cocktails in the city. Many of the ingredients and spirits come from small producers, which we love to see. Make sure to pair your cocktail of choice with the delicious meat and cheese boards available, too.

For cocktails with refined elegance, consider Timberyard. Boasting a Michelin star, this family-run place features an authentic brick warehouse with a south facing yard for sunny days and a wood burning stove for colder nights. The Shed offers private dining for up to 10, which is perfect for a celebration, and the growing patch provides many herbs and edible flowers, which appear in these fancy cocktails. Almost all the ingredients are supplied by small, local, artisan growers, breeders, producers, suppliers and foragers. Not one to miss.

The Tollhouse is the newest addition to the multi award-winning ‘Dine Family’ of restaurants, bringing a relaxed brasserie-style dining experience to Canonmills and Inverleith. Spacious and bright, on the banks of what was once Edinburgh’s most vital waterway, The Tollhouse is situated on the site of one the capital’s historic toll collection points, where levies would be collected from local merchants transporting their wares from the city’s port to the Scottish capital. Inspired by the ever-changing seasons the menus get updated every two weeks to take advantage of seasonal variations. This is perfect option if you’re looking to raise a glass to a special occasion.