Went as a solo female and had a blast great edm music everyone was polite no creeps a few friendly…read moremen but nothing uncomfortable or weird dance floor opens at 11z

Cab Vol is great if you're into less mainstream music than you'll hear in a 'normal' club. And if…read moreyou don't mind sweat dripping off the low ceilings onto you at least once a minute, or drinking out of plastic cups. I have to honest, it's not my thing. I've been dragged along on a handful of occasions by friends, and each time I go i'm determined that this will be the time I have a great night there and leave at 3am completely converted. It's been four years, and it hasn't happened yet. That has a lot to do with the people that go though, as opposed to the club itself. On tuesdays this place pulls in a lot of "rahs" from Edinburgh Uni, thinking that wearing weird coloured skinny jeans suddenly makes them alternative. It doesn't, and their huge back-combed blonde hair dos look even more ridiculous than normal.

Was there to watch a friend preform 7pm till 10 for a rap night (that's what I call it) was a great…read morenight good to see some faces and meet new ones

I much prefer this place to Cab Vol. Hands down. You can't help but automatically compare the two…read moreclubs, what with the low ceilings and slightly more alternative crowd. But The Hive hasn't been overrun with annoying rahs who think that going to dub step or drum & bass nights all of a sudden makes them cool and 'scene'. Last time I was here was for their 90s Chav Night - it was when 'Rythmn is a Dancer' was being re-released and the producers wanted footage of it being played in clubs for the video. So, an entire bottle of fake tan and Lambrini (when in rome, and all that) later, my friends and I donned are tracksuit bottoms - tucked into our sports socks, obviously - scraped our hair up into Croydon Facelift ponytail and headed out the front door. And then realised how ridiculous we looked. Then we all had that horrible panic that we were going to be the only ones there who'd dressed up. But it actually turned out to be a really fun night. Yes, it's a little bit on the scummy side, and yes, the drinks are served in plastic cups, but the drinks impossibly cheap (£1 on weekdays, £1.50 at weekends). And after a few of those, the décor isn't really that important.

I've been to the Liquid Rooms more times than I could count, for all sorts of gigs over the years…read more And I still love it. Sure, your feet will always stick to the floor, but that's just part of the charm of this place. It's quite an intimate space, great for smaller acoustic gigs, but also works really well for electronica etc. There's also a balcony, with its own bar, if you fancy a higher view. For anyone from Glasgow, it's like a cross between Oran Mor and the Fruitmarket. And gets just as hot and sweaty as they do!

Here to see the mighty Brendon Burns during the Fringe, so review based on that, may not be the set…read moreup all year round, buyer beware, etc. etc. Head down Victoria Street, before you get to The Bow Bar (I navigate by pubs, btw) and turn left down an alley, into a courtyard. There's the Liquid Rooms Annexe experience for you! The courtyard part is quite nice, all covered and open air so you can feel continental and drink outside, even with Edinburgh weather attempting to drop every bit of water in the country on you in one go. The bar? I've had way better to be honest. Just cans, bottles and spirits - again, I'm not sure if that's just part of the Fringe set up or not, so it may just be a temporary thing. In any case, at least it's not a shockingly high price to be handed a can, but it is a bit more than you would maybe expect. Venue wise, I liked the Annexe for atmosphere. For a smaller show, this would be ideal - close to the stage (perhaps a little too close to Brendon in some case for the poor folk in the front and second row!) and great sound. It is warm down there though, really warm, so be careful with your hydration in case you take a turn, but other than that, it's fine. It doesn't blow me away, but it does have a little bit of something that not every place does - and that's soul.

It's not a bar. It's not a club. It's a time machine!…read more No, but... this is true. If I'd actually gone to look in a mirror in this place I'd have expected to see a blunt fringe, pink streaks in my daftly long hair and a Hello Kitty shirt. On the ten year anniversary of my entry into college, a period during which I had a love affair with a bar called Aqualenium, I visited Opium with one of those same college friends and weirdly, spookily, crazily enough the jukebox seemed to consist solely of what was playing on MTV2 between 2000 and 2002. Did it know we were coming?!? Like its namesake, this place has the effect of being somewhat addictive. It's loud, it's fun and it doesn't take itself too seriously. Plus there's nothing remotely scary about it (unless you count the sticky floor and the strange black substance which ended up on my shoes - Chris explained to me that this is what happens in Opium) and it's actually rather welcoming. The cheaps as chips prices appeal to everyone, never mind the students, the night we were there the music was more mass appeal than terrifying, and although it's small there are plenty of corners in which to hang out and people-watch. Anytime I need to feel seventeen again, I'll hotfoot it over here. Just remind me not to look in a mirror for the duration - it's one thing feeling ten years younger, but looking it would involve some major life choices and a bank balance of infinity! Or a stint on a Channel 4 reality show. Neither of which I'm quite ready for yet.

You get what you pay for, simple as…read more Free entry and cheap drinks, a funny mixture of interesting people, two areas with different types of music. It is a no frills, cheap and fun venue for a few drinks or dance.

Departure Lounge is a clubnight based at the gorgeous Caves venue, and not a venue itself…read more I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend!!

THE best club night in Edinburgh. Firstly, it's in The Caves, the very best venue in Edinburgh as…read morethey're amazing c.17 vaults! A UNESCO world heritage site, The Caves have to been seen to be believed. One of the ladies toilet cubicles even has a giant fireplace. What a breath-taking place! Secondly, there's the music: it's this amazing mix of global beats, world music, funk, soul, jazz, house, drum n' bass, latin... You just can't help dancing! Thirdly, there's the crowd it draws, who may or may not usually be drugged up to the eyeballs, but incredibly friendly with it, and you don't feel at all out of place if you're not into that sort of thing. The bouncers are a good, friendly lot, too. There are only two difficulties with this night: for one thing, it's pretty expensive. This is most likely because of the second problem: it's only on a maximum of once a month, if not less, and you have to check the website or the posters all around Edinburgh to find out when. Once you're over those hurdles, however, there is no better fun to be had!

This is a great music venue, it's small, it's dark and it's kind of hidden away on Guthrie street,…read moreI wasn't even sure if I was at the correct entrance when I showed up because it looked more like a side door with nothing making it stand out apart from a small sign and we waited outside queuing on some steps waiting for entry so this was confusing to me but it's great for small intimate gigs like the one I seen last night of PG Ciarletta, Racheal white and the main man himself Cameron Barnes. the music was pounding and a great night was had by all.

Had a great night last night seeing Stephen Kellogg and The Humour play. Such a beautiful set, and…read moregreat musicians. The venue was small, but perfect for a really intimate gig. We danced our socks off and even learnt a wee tune or two!

"What's that?" "Not sure, looks like..."…read more"Surely not..." Yeah you totally called it. A man, in a thong, make-up-gunned, dancing on stage to '80s pop. A guilty pleasure? Maybe for him. Alas, not one of mine. But then, when you're half cut who cares? I had a whale of time here. They play the all the music you really love to listen to but you're not allowed because it's cheesy and not cool. I'm talking synth-pop, glam-rock, disco, Toto (yes Toto), eye-poppin', jaw-droppin' unadulterated fun. All that stuff plus so much more, emancipated every night from 11.30pm-2.30am. They say it's free from irony and cynicism, which is isn't. It's also £10, which is a lot of money to spend on listening to music in an ironic way. However, they put on a good show. Each night has a different theme to the last. There are dancers, Djs, fun and games. Oh, and men in thongs....

I had one of the worst experiences of my life at Sneaky Peaks. I was kicked out of the bar solely…read morebecause of my ethnicity. No disrespectful behavior, no disturbance, nothing--just pure discrimination. The staff made me feel unwelcome from the start, and the way they treated me was humiliating and completely unacceptable. In 2025, it's shocking that a business still thinks it's okay to act this way. If you care about respect, equality, and basic human decency, do not support this place. No one should ever be treated the way I was. There are plenty of better bars that actually value their customers.

My only reason for ever going to Sneaky Pete's is to see a gig, apparently they do club nights too…read morebut I have never been tempted. It's a bit dingy for that. As a venue, it is tiny! Surprisingly small and surprisingly able to fit a lot of people in. It gets very hot, sweaty and loud in here depending on the band. If you have a more metal/rock band playing then you will probably get bashed around a lot and pretty wet with some blokes sweat dripping all over you. Some pretty good up and coming bands play here, as well as the usual drivel which fill up the slots. It's hit or miss whether it will be good or not. It's cheap enough for drinks too, but I think there is better live music venues in and around Edinburgh.

CC Blooms is a must while traveling thru Edinburgh. I'm a fan of the deconstructed meat pies as…read moreit's a modern take on a traditional dish. Nightime here is entirely different than daytime so consider CC's your spot to return to. It's a fun atmosphere and great wait staff to welcome you to the CcBloom community!

A nice center of gay life in Edinburgh. Serving tasty pub food until the evening, whenever it gets…read morebusy. The ambiance is a lot of fun too. Highland Soup: Brilliant presentation served in a cute mason jar. Loved all the Highland vegetables and herbs. Served with the bread and butter, it really felt like a tavern offering weary travelers a hearty meal after a long day on the road. Haggis Bons Bons: The deep fried shell around the haggis along with the chili dipping sauce really upped the game. Helps mitigate issues like a mushy texture and mild spices. Though quite honestly, it could have been deep fried anything at that point. Steak Pie: Lots of pie dough to go against the tender meat and saucy filling. There was extra gravy for good measure. Unfortunately, they were out of mash, so had to get curly fries. But the fries were good when dipped the gravy. Mushy peas on the side were as expected, nothing fancy. Aberdeen Angus Lasagne: Saucy and cheesy, just the way I like it. This is not an Italian restaurant, so isn't a fancy lasagne, but tastes kind homemade. Very comforting.

Standing at the East End of Princes Street is the imposing building known today as The Balmoral…read moreHotel. Owned by Sir Rocco Forte since 1997, the building has been completely refurbished and now enjoys a worldwide reputation as a luxury hotel. The hotel is a well-loved landmark which has graced Edinburgh's skyline since 1902 when it began its life as a grand railway hotel. Of course the building has undergone many changes since then but even to this day it still holds a certain magic that has luckily been harnessed and maintained. The famous Balmoral hotel is an iconic feature in the Edinburgh city skyline. With its impressive architecture, famous clocktower, and Scottish flag flying patriotically - it's like a siren that makes you want to see what's inside its walls.

Bar Prince in the Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh is the perfect combination of luxury, quality and…read morecomfort. The Balmoral has been hosting royalty, celebrities, and cultural icons for 120 years, but the staff makes everyone feel special regardless who you are. We went back two days in a row because it is such a beautiful space with quality food and cocktails. The design is stylish modern classic with some of the most beautiful glassware I've seen. The cocktail menu hosts a nice variety of wonderful signature and classic recipes. I had the Nutty Professor (photo #2) which was a tasty blend of Bourbon, spiced rum, Cocchi Torino (sweet vermouth), Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur), and black walnut bitters with an orange garnish. It was so good I didn't change it up for my second. The cocktail menu is fun because of its local focus. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, reflecting a commitment to quality and a connection to the surrounding Scottish landscape. We loved everything about the experience for our first time visiting Scotland. The Balmoral Hotel and Bar Prince are a must when you visit beautiful Edinburgh. Go there!!! Salute