THE CAVES - Party underneath the city! and other Edinburgh, United Kingdom Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Cowgate

This is by far the most spectacular venue in Edinburgh. And NOBODY should miss out on a clubnight in here! Because going to the Caves is not about what kind of music you're into - it's all about this magical place.

Lit up only by giant flickering candles the atmosphere is nothing you ever experienced. To that add upbeat funkmusic pouring from the speakers and the rumours of ghosts haunting these vaults and there should be no hesitation on going here or not - YOU ARE!!!

2 bars - one on each floor.
Dancefloor on the groundfloor.
Seating area on both floors - in all 5 vaults. Do you dare to enter!?

Watch out for the boogieman! ;)

Age: Depends on whats on. 18-30... some nights there's a younger crowd but DON'T let that stop you. The Caves is well worth a visit anyway... get a table in a secluded vault and you won't even see the youngsters ;)

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Casual.

(Do remember the 100s of candles in there - watch out with scarfs, long skirts and your hair!)
Address: Niddry Street South
Directions: The venue is accessed from Niddry St South, a narrow close leading from the Cowgate, south towards The University of Edinburgh.

This is definately one of the favourite hang outs in Edinburgh! And has been since I first went there in 1997! It still works! :)

Pear Tree House has been an Edinburgh institution since it opened as a bar in 1982. Situated close to Edinburgh University, it attracts a mixture of students and local customers, which creates a laid back, cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Draught and bottled beers, a wide range of spirits, liquers and single malt whiskys, cocktails, wine, filled rolls, coffees... The Peartree House has a large beer garden sorrounded by a high stone wall, perfect for summer days and summer nights! Enjoy a cold Hoegaarden in the sun. Order a burger right from the outdoor grill! Watch the BMX'ers swoosh in on their bikes straight to a table..
Pear Tree is always great fun!

Mon - Thu: 11am - 12 midnight
Fri - Sat: 11am - 1am
Sun: 12:30am - 12 midnight

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: No football colours!!!
Phone: +44 131 667 7533
Address: 38 West Nicolson Street

Nightlife Spot: Royal Mile (Miscellaneous)

Empires is a turkish restaurant in Edinburgh Old Town which offers a fantastic experience. This restaurant/café is not all about the food but the ambience and charm of this little place in amazing and to me rather unique. Walls are covered with pottery which are for sale and rugs and pillows give a true bohemian feel.

Food is turkish and spanish tapas. I recommend doing the Meze manu to sample different kinds of food and flavours. Also the vegetarian Moussaka is amazing!

The owner of the place also lives for music and likes to support local musicians. He often invites bands or singers to come play at Empires. On Saturdays it is often 'the Sound of Flamenco'. Eat and drink and enjoy a good show of Spanish sounds, songs and breathtaking dance!

Empires doesnt have an alcohol license - it is BYOB - 'Bring your own bottle'.
Corkage about £3.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Relaxed!!
Phone: +44 131 466 0100
Address: 24 St Mary's Street
Directions: Starting at the crossroad High St/ Royal Mile - wander down towards Holyrood Palace. St Mary's Street is on the right maybe 2min walk.
Website: http://www.empirescafe.co.uk/

Nightlife Spot: Grassmarket

Without a doubt one of the best bars in Edinburgh. Relaxed, cosy and very cool.
It occupies the premises formerly held by The Old Fire Station pub and the owners won Scottish Style Awards 2005 for the interior design - Scotland’s Most Stylish Bar!! Kungfu walls, Adidas shoes, crystal chandaliers, an open fire, huge plants and trendy staff makes every visit fun and games.

Dragon Fly is THE place for good cocktails! In April 2006 Dragonfly’s bar manager did represent the UK at the Calvados Cocktail competition, so they know their stuff!

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: None - although the place is full of trendy fashion victims!!
Address: Grassmarket/West Port
Directions: West Port is just off the Grassmarket. Away from Victoria St.

Nightlife Spot: Royal Mile (Miscellaneous)

Ecco Vino is a cosy wine bar just off the Royal Mile, on the lively Cockburn Street. It's lovely Neo-italian decor provides a refreshing relaxed atmosphere. Here you can choose from over 50 wines from an extensive wine list featuring New World wines, as well as Old. Ecco Vino is also the place to enjoy a traditional Italian feast. A visit here without having anti pasti is unheard of!

Menu Sample
Vegetable Antipasti, A selection of char-grilled and marinated vegetables - £6.95 Mixed Antipasti, A selection of cured meats, baked mozzarella and marinated vegetables - £8.95
Warm salad of rosemary and sea salt potato, chorizo and smoked duck on a bed of mixed leaves - £7.50
Pasta with sun blushed tomato, talegio cheese and rocket - £6.95
A selection of warm breads served with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil served with an accompaniment of homemade dips - £2.95/£3.50

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Casual...
Phone: +44 (0)131 225 1441
Address: 19 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1BP
Directions: Just off the Royal Mile - Fleshmarkets close leads to Cockburn St.

Nightlife Spot: Grassmarket/Victoria Street

The Last Drop takes its' name from the fact that the last public hanging in Scotland was conducted outside. It’s said that the executioner took the condemned man here for a drink just before hanging him.
It’s a traditional bar that attracts a lot of tourists and the result is the large range of real and spoof banknotes adorning the walls, many donated and signed by visitors.
In summer, many like to sit outside in the sun and enjoy the Grassmarket atmosphere.
Amongst the Last Drop's residents are at least one ghost, in the cellars and among the staff several had heard him calling them when they’re all alone in there…

Typical bar food - students and backpackers get great deals!!!

Opening hours: 11.00am to 1.00am
Opening hours, Sunday: 12.30pm to 1.00am

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: None...
Phone: 0131 225 4851
Address: 74-78 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JR
Directions: Right on the Grassmarket.

Nightlife Spot: Royal Mile (Miscellaneous)

Whistlebinkie’s is a basement pub that has live entertainment every night of the week right up until they close the doors at 3am. There is a main seating area with sofas and old barrels as tables, but there are also “hidden” cave-like snug booths.
It’s a popular hangout when pubs and bars closes at 1am which makes it real crowded most of the times.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: None
Phone: 0131 357 5114
Address: 4-6 South Bridge,OLD TOWN
Directions: Across the street from Hunter Square

Nightlife Spot: George IV Bridge

The essence of Villager

This without doubt the funkiest bar in Edinburgh (together w the sister-bar Dragon Fly, see tip.) Interiors are a cool mix between crystal chandeliers, leather sofas, huge plants, Adidas-sneakers and a porcelain tiger (which every now and then gets stolen by the staff at the Outsider across the street…:)

The Menu - sample
Baked salmon rolled with teriyaki soft noodles on stir-fried asian greens £4.85
Coconut beer battered haddock fillet deep fried until golden, straw fries and tangy tartare sauce £7.95
Scotch ribeye steak cooked to your liking, with a red wine and roast garlic sauce, served with straw fries and roasted baby tomatoes £10.95
Roasted vegetable flourette, served with sauteed pak choi and mustard vinaigrette V £5.95

The Drinks - sample
Monkey on coke - monkey shoulder blended malt layered on cola
Hendrick's and tonic - hendrick's, a scottish cucumber infused gin with tonic and cucumber
Berry flirtini - absolut raspberi, cointreau, raspberries, pineapple, topped with pommery brut champers, served straight up
Pear and raspberry mojito - mount gay eclipse rum, xante pear cognac, mint, raspberries, lime, sugar, soda, served long over crushed ice

I quote some reviews:

“killer cocktails, musical mysteries, and décor blimey – and all of them
coming together just perfectly”
sunday herald bar-spy – march 11th 2004

“so adventurous with it’s flavours and ingredients that the journey is
well worth it”
sunday times - december 28th 2003

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: None - although the place is full of trendy fashion victims!
Phone: 0131 226 2781
Address: 50 George IV Bridge
Directions: 2min walk off Royal Mile

Nightlife Spot: Cowgate

This is a very pleasant wee bar - when its not tourist season!!! June - August it is that packed that the best thing is to turn in the door and go somewhere else. So it got the name of the famous dog but that's no reason to be crushed to death!

When not as crowded GB Bar is terrific. It's the traditional scottish pub with dark wooden interiors and good ale on tap. Music in here is always surprisingly "rocky" which suits me well! But volume is kept low which makes this a great pub for a good chat with your mates!

So the story goes...
The heart-warming story of Greyfriars Bobby is probably one of Edinburgh's best-known local tales. One of the things that makes it so appealing to tourists and locals alike is that it is true.
Bobby was a small Skye Terrier who belonged to one John Gray, an out of work gardener. Unable to make a living in his chosen trade, Gray became a policeman. He bought Bobby to accompany him on his rounds as a watch dog - hence the dog's name.

Gray came down with tuberculosis and eventually died of the illness in 1858. He was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The faithful Bobby was so loyal to its master that he stayed constantly by the grave, refusing to budge in any weather. Some stories say that the only time he left was to get food when the one o'clock gun fired. Then he would go to a local coffee house that Gray had frequented and they would feed him.

So popular was Bobby with the people of Edinburgh that when a new law was passed requiring all dogs to be licenced and collared, the Lord Provost Sir William Chambers paid for Bobby's licence himself.
Bobby kept up his faithful watch until his own death fourteen years later.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: 34 Candlemaker Row, OLD TOWN
Directions: At the end of George IV Bridge..

Nightlife Spot: High Street

History
At the Battle of Flodden in 1513 King James IV and most of the Scottish nobility of the day were killed by the English. Scotland lay defenceless and the citizens of Edinburgh rapidly built a stone wall around the city to protect it, the Flodden Wall. The wall proved pretty useless when Henry VIII's forces invaded in 1544, but it did very clearly mark the outer limit of what was considered to be Edinburgh at the time. This, then, was the point at which the world ended and Edinburgh began. Parts of the wall can still be seen, and its course ran along the west side of St Mary's Street underneath where the World's End is now built (the pub reuses the foundations of the wall).

The Pub
The World’s End is a traditional Scottish pub with nice food and best of all – they serve Belhaven’s Best on tap! It’s divided in a dining area and a bar area, both of them quite small so to get a table can be tricky. Specially during tourist seasons when everybody comes to have a pint and a meal at this Edinburgh institution!

Opening hours: 11am – 1am daily

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: None
Phone: +44 (0)131 556 3628
Address: 4 High Street
Directions: 2/3 down Royal Mile - towards Hollyrood Palace.