Top 5 bars in… Edinburgh
Equal parts finesse, innovation and dry Scottish wit – there’s no doubt that Edinburgh’s cocktail scene is Scotland’s best gift to the world since battered Mars bars.
If you’re searching for class in a glass, Scotland’s capital ranks among some of the most sophisticated cocktail destinations in the world.
Named as one of the UK’s most creative cities in a recent study by the UK Trade and Investment body, Edinburgh’s cocktail scene is up there in the lengthy list of Scotland’s most appealing attractions, and a million miles from the tired clichés of battered Mars bars, haggis and Irn-Bru.
Some of the world’s biggest bar talents honed their skills in the city, including Mr Lyan, aka Ryan Chetiyawardana, International Bartender of the Year 2015, to name just one.
Iain Griffiths, business development manager of Mr Lyan Ltd, knows the city well: “It’s hospitality like nowhere else I’ve seen. When you earn sod all and don’t have the big city hype about you, there’s nothing to distract you from making your venue the best you can, night after night. It sounds simple enough and yet so many in the big smoke fall short on such a primary function. It really is the service
that makes venues like Bramble and the Bon Vivant some of the best in the world.”
Where service lies, finesse usually follows, and the forward-thinking cocktail bars in Edinburgh pipe this out in abundance, along with a slice of Scottish humour.
“Bartenders and customers alike have a very adventurous mind and palate, always up for trying something new or different. I’ll always say Edinburgh bars have served me more then a few of the best drinks I’ve ever had,” adds Griffiths. “The standard of banter also
means most bars are way more fun to sit at then your average bar elsewhere.”
Erika Duffy works on creativity and innovation with Mike Aikman and Jason Scott at their bars Bramble, Lucky Liquor, and Last Word Saloon, and believes Edinburgh’s charm is largely attributable to the tight-knit nature of the bartending community.
“Bartenders really look out for each other and take inspiration from each other,” she says. “You’ll see this at Garibaldi’s any weeknight – when bartenders converge after their shifts at their respective bars and have a few drinks, take in a bit of Mexican wrestling on the telly, and have a good dance around the dance floor.”
Downtime aside, Duffy predicts the New Year will prompt a return to more modest serves. “I think the next big trend will be going back to basics. A lot of the molecular tricks be seen as passé, and drinkers and bartenders will be getting back into simple combinations. Simple is harder because there’s nothing to hide behind.”
Click through the next few pages to discover our pick of the top 5 best bars in Edinburgh.
Bon Vivant
Found on Thistle Street, home to some of Edinburgh’s best restaurants, the highly acclaimed Bon Vivant is a hidden treasure for anyone serious about cocktails. The ever-changing list is innovative and experimental, yet supremely well-thought out, with such inventive ingredients as blackberry and Pinot Noir syrup, vanilla salt, and strawberry and mint-infused Green Chartreuse adorning the menu.
Bramble
It wouldn’t be a top five without Bramble. Hard to find but definitely worth the legwork, here cocktail creation is considered an art form and the menu reflects this, showcasing the perfect mix of enterprise and whimsy. Its surroundings are sophisticated with soft lighting, white brick walls, and leather armchairs; the drink menus arrive bound within the covers of old books. Arrive early – it may be hidden from plain sight, but the bar has cemented its reputation as one of Edinburgh’s finest.
Panda & Sons
As well as classic cocktails, in this vintage barber shop-themed speakeasy you’ll find “Tipples” for the “adventurous imbiber”; “Concoctions” for the “traveller in everyone”; and a “Selection” menu to let your taste buds “run free”. Start your night with the Birdcage Cocktail – a smoky sensation that dissipates once the glass “cage” has been removed.
Devil’s Advocate
Devil’s Advocate, by the team from the Bon Vivant, is one of the newest arrivals to Edinburgh’s dynamic scene. All exposed beams and stone – the building is a former Victorian pump house – this stylish industrially elegant bar boasts an extensive list of single malts, craft beers, well-sourced wines and, of course, an imaginative cocktail list.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
If hundreds upon hundreds of unique single cask whiskies are not enough to tempt you, the view from the Queen Street building certainly will. Perfectly positioned in a restored Georgian townhouse looking over the waters of the Firth of Forth, this branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (the other in the city is open to members only) provides the perfect backdrop to kick back and enjoy a dram in peace.
