The best places to see in the New Year in Edinburgh

If you want your night to go off with a bang, you’ll be in need of some great views this Hogmanay to catch the iconic annual fireworks. Cue the Cannonball Restaurant and Bar. The team will be hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration dinner comprising six courses and showcasing Scottish ingredients with its tasting menu, accompanied by homemade bread and petit fours. It’ll be served from 9pm through to 1am with enviable views of the illuminated Edinburgh Castle and those awe-inspiring fireworks at midnight. Cannonball has its own courtyard from which you can watch the display — so you won’t have to jostle for a spot on the street or wait for hours in the cold (and let’s face it, possibly rain) to gain a prime position. Those who already have street party tickets can pop by for the early bird sitting from 5.30-7.30pm. And if you don’t want a full-on meal, opt to book a place at the bar with a welcome bottle of Prosecco, three mini bowls per person and a celebratory fireworks cocktail alongside a 70% cocoa chocolate truffle. Tables book up quickly, so you’ll need to be quick off the mark to reserve your place.

Another room with a view, DoubleTree Hilton’s top floor SKYbar, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, provides far-reaching vistas for the countdown. Guests will be provided with a welcome drink on arrival and hot rolls, with vegan options available. Tickets to the festivities start at £90 per person, doors will open at 8pm and you can stay till 1am. Or if you’re seeking a family-friendly night out, book a table downstairs in the hotel’s Orchard Suite, where an all-age traditional ceilidh with a four-course meal is served at 8pm. Adults will receive a hot toddy at the bells, with kids getting a toasty hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Celebrate the Scottish way at Ghillie Dhu’s Hogmanay Hoolie. You’ll be welcomed with a glass of bubbles and canapes, followed by a six-course banquet, after which you can start reeling to the sounds of a live ceilidh band. At midnight you have the opportunity to watch the fireworks from the West End of Princes Street, then return to the inviting warmth of this impressive venue, as you dance to the sounds of live bands and DJs until the wee hours. As a former church with a high vaulted arch ceiling, Ghillie Dhu makes for a spectacular NYE backdrop, along with candle lit chandeliers and beautifully dressed tables creating a real sense of occasion. You’ve just got enough time to book a spot and brush up on your Strip the Willow before the countdown begins.

Those living in the ‘burbs might find it an unnecessary hassle to navigate the masses to get home. But with Edinburgh being much like a series of mini villages forming one big city, there’s always a neighbourhood haunt to hit up. If you’ve got kids, it means you’re not leaving the babysitter so long and you can walk home, without standing in a taxi queue or constantly refreshing your Uber app. And as the community is a pretty big thing, you may even get the chance to catch up with some neighbours during your night out. Charwood is a restaurant and bar, found in Buckstone, on the thoroughfare from Comiston to the bypass. And as 2023 slips into 2024, it’s an ideal spot for locals to enjoy a meal and some drinks together without straying too far afield.

Why not see in the New Year in a sassy speakeasy? You’ll need to book a ticket to the bash and find your way into the vintage bar’s underground premises off Queen Street, but if you’re a local you’ll have no doubt figured its mysterious entrance out by now. Previous festivities at Panda and Sons have been accompanied by a barbershop quartet (how apt for a secret bar masquerading as a barber shop) and DJ sets. This is a great option if you want a buzzy atmosphere and a definite party vibe, but one that’s a little bit more low-key and hipster than some of the wilder nights in town. The cocktails are amazing, so arrive thirsty and curious, as many of the mixes will be unprecedented elsewhere. Panda and Sons’ recently created a whole new menu, Transcend, dedicated to freezing techniques (oh so apt for this time of the year). But you certainly won’t be cold in this warming and cosy venue.

Each Hogmanay, The Voodoo Rooms takes on transformation for Vegas! The Grand Hogmanay Ball – an annual institution. Dress in your finery and prepare for some epic razzmatazz, live music, jazz tunes, showgirls, burlesque, cabaret and beats. The night takes over every space in the venue’s many glitzy rooms, for a fully immersive feel that whisks you back to the roaring 20s of the 20th century. It has a gloriously hedonistic feel, with plenty of escapism, which is just the ticket if you’ve had a tough year. Opt for a full dinner and club package, or club entry only — if you think eating’s cheating.

This year the music venue is hosting a Mad Ferret Hogmanay Hoolie. From 11 pm you’ll be immersed in traditional and contemporary folk music via energetic performances. Look forward to frenetic mandolin solos, tight vocal harmonies, Cajon beats and guitar sounds. The band’s tunes are unique, but influenced by the likes of The Corries, The Dubliners, Gordon Duncan and Ross Ainsley (you’ll notice many of their songs are about booze, so be sure to have a drink in hand). The shindig goes on until 5am, so you’ll be avoiding the worst of the post-midnight rush home.

Boasting one of the best terraces in the capital, right beneath the castle, this is ideal if you want to be really close to the fireworks. Celebrate the coming of 2024 with one of the best views of the fireworks in the city. Cold Town House will ring in the bells with its exclusive Hogmanay party. Tickets are £55 per person for access to the Roof Terrace party and a chef’s selection of canapes and fizz at midnight. Tables and seating are first come, first served to those with tickets, otherwise you can stand, dance and drink in the panorama before you.

What about the day? For those of you with young kids or a dislike of late nights, you’re likely to be ready for an outing at lunchtime on the last day of the year. Family-owned and found in Stockbridge, Whiskers Wine Bar and Bistro will be serving up a hearty Sunday roast (Hardiesmill beef from the Scottish Borders) on 31st December, in laid-back surroundings well-suited to families, as well as those who want a big meal to line their stomachs ahead of the big night. Expect great farm-to-table cuisine, packed with locally sourced ingredients from the likes of Armstrong’s Of Stockbridge, I.J. Mellis and Fish Brothers seafood.

An option for a New Year’s Day meal is just a little out of the city, on the water’s edge in the historic locale of South Queensferry. Orocco Pier’s huge picture windows over the Firth of Forth will give you a front-seat view on the annual Loony Dook, which takes place right beside it. Stay warm and dry, with a plate of seafood or a gourmet burger, as you and your family watch the dookers race into the North Sea wearing all manner of outlandish costumes. The contemporary restaurant and bar also has a terrace for a closer view and to hear the shrieks from the bathers. Or you might like to pop in for a lunchtime cocktail with friends, or a well-deserved cuppa and a cake after taking part in this invigorating tradition.

Have a joyeux noel at this French restaurant at the East End of town. L’escargot Bleu has a tradition of serving up a three course menu created by resident chef Fred, each and every Hogmanay. You can choose from a range of starters, mains and desserts for £90 per person in the restaurant. Or dine in The Wine bar where there will be a four course set menu to celebrate the last day of the year. It’ll be your last chance to eat here for a couple of weeks, as the restaurant will close up post-new year, re-opening on the 17th January. Now in its 14th year, the Broughton Street venue is a stalwart of the trendy neighbourhood’s dining scene and has an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

Every year this Stockbridge gastropub hosts a fancy knees-up. This Hogmanay you can indulge in the four course menu with a glass of bubbles on arrival in the restaurant, plus there will be live music to keep you going for the night. Tickets start at £70 per person. You also have the option to stay overnight at the 10 bedroom boutique hotel above by booking a deluxe room with Egyptian cotton bed sheets and a rolltop bath. Or if you’re lucky enough to live in the vicinity, you can come back the next day for The Raeburn’s epic New Year’s Day roast. Dating back to Georgian times — this building was once a mansion house inhabited by a family — The Raeburn has a homely, yet fancy feel. Its upper terrace allows you to nip outside and watch the fireworks at midnight, or take in the air and have a look at the stars awhile.

Go all out with a very special meal at Dean Banks’ restaurant, The Pompadour. Like The Raeburn, it’s part of a fancy hotel (in this case the historic Waldorf Astoria at the top of Lothian Road) so gives you the option of staying over to save the queue for an overpriced taxi later in the night. At £295 per person, you’ll be pushing the boat out, but it will be worth every penny to experience this level of finesse in fine dining on the most special night of the year. The Hogmanay tasting menu includes poached oysters, venison tartare, fermented trout and caviar, lobster and winter truffle. Add in a wine pairing to make it even better — there are standard and prestige options available via the sommelier. Each course will be a work of art to be savoured and remembered for many years to come.

It’s your last meal of the year, so make it a good ‘un. The party kicks off at 9pm and goes through to 1am at Contini with live music all night. For £150 per person you’ll be treated to a six course tasting menu of classic Italian dishes, with crostino, pane, antipasto, primi and dolci (both veggie and carne options) to tickle your taste buds. You’ll receive a glass of prosecco to toast the bells and there will be live music playing until late. If that’s a little too much for your budget or too late a night, you can also book an early bird sitting with a three course menu running from 5pm to 7.15pm and costing £60 per person. Set on George Street, you’ll be away from the crush of the street party, yet still bang in the centre of town.

Are you a seasoned cocktail-loving local but want to see in the New Year someone you’ve never ever spent Hogmanay before? Make a reservation for 31st December at the sassy and intimate Satyr. As the bar was brand new in 2023, this is its first time passing from one annum into another. Bring your other half or a bestie and pair a board of cured meats and fine cheese with creative libations such as The Dark Mark (blackberry Makers Mark, Ramazotti, Fernet Branca and Angostura Bitters); the Vieux Cafe (Courvoisier VSOP, Sazerac Rye, coffee bean Vermouth, Del Capo and cherry bitters); and the Bananarac (Angel’s Envy Bourbon, D.O.M Benedictine, Banane du Brésil, walnut and Absinthe). If you’re a Leither you’ll be able to walk home afterwards, too.