. Beneath Edinburgh’s historic façade lie some of the city’s best-kept secrets: intimate cocktail bars, underground hideaways and speakeasy-style sanctuaries that are easy to miss, but hard to forget.
This is where velvet booths, hushed conversations and liquid alchemy come together in hidden corners of the city.
Panda & Sons – the bar behind the barbers
At first glance, it’s a vintage style barbershop, but inside you’ll find a cocktail wonderland.
Panda & Sons combines a playful disguise with seriously impressive mixology: they use sub-zero freezing techniques to make their unique cocktails. If Willy Wonka opened a bar, this would be it.
Bramble Bar & Lounge – low-key, but high impact
Slip down the unnoticeable stairs on Queen Street, and you’ll find Bramble Bar & Lounge: a softly lit, intimate bolthole where the music hums, cosy armchairs beckon, and the drinks dazzle.
The bartenders treat every cocktail like an art form, so you know you’re in for something special.
The Voodoo Rooms – opulent décor and style
Hiding behind Princes Street, The Voodoo Rooms brings theatrical flair to the secret bar scene.
A cultural melting pot of comedy, cabaret, food, drinks, live music, and art, this award-winning venue with its chandeliers, leather couches and gold décor oozes style. It’s somewhere you’ll want to come back to again and again.
The Cocktail Geeks – geek, but chic
Ever wanted to sip a drink inspired by Star Wars, Stranger Things or Super Mario? This quirky hideout near Edinburgh Waverly Station rotates its theme every 4 months, creating impressive cocktails based on cult classics.
The Cocktail Geeks is nerdy, niche and completely unique. Depending on that month’s theme, your drink might come in a potion bottle, a goblet, or a plant pot.
The Burrow – a quiet escape, with artistic flair
Nestled below a pizzeria on Blackfriars Street lies The Burrow – a hushed, thoughtfully created lounge bar where handcrafted cocktails and rare whiskies are just waiting to be explored.
With subtle lighting, modern design and even an original Banksy artwork, it’s a place to simply unwind and admire your surroundings.
Encore – where Paris meets Edinburgh
Capturing the essence of 1920’s prohibition Paris, but with contemporary flair, the subterranean Encore can be found at Edinburgh’s West End.
Expect plush interiors, low lighting and a cocktail menu that changes every 3 months. Plus, every Friday and Saturday, there’s entertainment from guest DJs on rotation, playing a mix of disco, funk, soul and RnB.
The Lost Close – drinks in the depth of history
Located below the cobbles of Parliament Square, The Lost Close is part bar, part time capsule.
Set in an atmospheric underground vault, it offers curated whisky and gin tastings in a space that feels unchanged for centuries. It’s a must-visit for lovers of spirits and stories.
Joao’s Place – Latin soul in Edinburgh
While several of Edinburgh’s secret bars are hidden below the streets, Joao’s Place is the opposite. Located on the 11th floor of W Edinburgh in St James Quarter, it offers stunning views across the city skyline.
Drink in the views while sipping on one of the quality crafted cocktails on offer at this speakeasy bar, which takes its inspiration from the Liberdade neighbourhood of São Paulo Brazil.
Whether you’re looking for creative vibes, intimate spaces or historic stories, these bars are hidden for a reason. Just follow the whispers, trust your instinct, and remember, in Edinburgh, some of the best nights begin with “are you sure this is the right place?”
This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
