All I can say is what a joke The Caves bar management was last night. Waited a year and 8/9 months…read moreand traveled just under 2 for a gig only to be kicked out 5 minutes in for trying to help a miss understanding of speech, guy behind me at the bar shouted over "dae use take caird" and I heard the guy behind the bar say did he just ask if we sell gear, and I approched the bar and said with my card in my hand in front of them "he's asking do you accept card" and then I got a yes we do off one guy then no more than 1 minute later bouncers came and took the guys behind me in the line away then come back and took me away, was thinking what have I done I've not even been in there enough time to even slip up, and the bouncer explained to me and these 3 other guys who I had never met in my life that we weren't allowed back in because bar management had kicked us out for apparently asking the bar if they "sold gear", so I asked can I at least speak to the bar management who kicked us out and was refused, aye these guys were going off there heads but I was trying to be civil about it obviously I'm going to be angry about it but I'll still try and keep my head about me, and then they 3 guys left and then asked again can I speak to the management yet, and yet again was refused and was told I would need to wait till the end of the night after the gig was finished to speak to a manager, and we'll I was waiting on my friend coming out anyways at the end to get the bus home but I still tried asking, can a manager speak to me yet I've been kicked out unfairly for trying to resolve a misunderstanding, and kept being denied, then it comes to the end of the night and asked the bouncers, so now can I speak to a manager, and then was yet again told no you can't after waiting 3 hours in the cold because I don't know people from edinburgh so I couldn't meet up with anyone and I didn't want to sit in a pub myself so I just stayed outside and waited on my mate coming out, and the hope I'd get back into this gig, all I can say I'm sorely disappointed about not getting to see that gig and how poorly executed the situation was, totally unprofessional If the guy who kicked me out gave me an explanation as to why I was kicked out so early into a gig that I'd paid to see, I maybe wouldn't have such a strong bad opinion about this place, all it would've took was no more than 2 minutes of time to explain what actually happened to see if it could be solved. People had seen it happen and heard what I said and tried complaining to the bar management and they weren't interested to hear anything, basically seemed like a case of if your face doesn't fit your not welcome.

If you are ever invited to go to the Caves- DO IT!…read more It usually is open for particular events, rather than everyday club nights and can host a variety of music tastes. What makes this place so amazing is the fact that it's in actual caves, with many secret corridors and rooms- all of which are open during the Fringe. The upstairs bar and balcony is great to have a drink and chill and watch the people downstairs. The atmosphere is further enhanced by the cool lighting and the dark and heavy furniture and decoration, which anywhere else would look tacky but here it somehow works brilliantly. It certainly has a lead as far as ambiance is concerned and it basically represents one of those clubs that totally sums up the city you are in- it represents what you expect to find from a secret Edinburgh. If only it was open more often! Oh and keep you eyes peeled for the Cow backside on the corner, as theire are no big signs for the entrance of the Caves.

You would not notice it from the outside, but behind these massive doors, hidden away from the main…read moreroad, there lies a gem of a spacious Hall that can be used for all sorts of events. The one I went to was a Celeidh. The hall can easily hold about 200-300 people. I believe, we were about 70 -90 people and of which there was still plenty of space left for all the Celeidh dancers in the middle and plenty of tables on both sides. At either end of the room you could find the bar and the stage with the band playing the rhythms of traditional folk music. This Hall can be used for plenty of purposes, like weddings or parties or galas or......Upstairs are the toilets that are in ok conditions. Overall the place is clean and was nicely presented. Nothing fancy when I was there, but I can imagine it can be dressed up for special occasions. Personally I don't know the room rate or other costs, but I'm sure if you inquiry you will find out. The location is very central and only a 5-10 min walk from Grassmarket. Buses 2 and 35 pass by as well as plenty others.

For picking a random pub to listen to some of the music which was being put on as part of the Leith…read moreGala, I couldn't have picked a better place than The Village. Thank you bar staff for not hating the cheapest table ever with one non-drinker on tap water, and 2 on fresh orange, although some more smiles would have been nice - some seemed to be quite bitter with their lot! Otherwise, the music (the music of folk that is, and it seems from the ole interwebs that this is seems to be a folk-music driven pub) was excellent - we did pay our fiver to listen and watch from the back area, but found it much more amenable to sit and chill in the front bar to catch up with an old friend. Definitely the kinda pub I would frequent if I lived in the area. Not sure if it does food. Definitely recommended!

Great bar, fantastic atmos and beers. Thanks so much for holding onto my phone when I left it…read morebehind - you saved me a huge amount of hassle, and expense. Top drawer work! Goto 'The Village now' ... Cheers Mark

Event: drinks, dinner and dancing for 60 people…read more I cannot recommend this venue highly enough. The venue itself is beautiful, the food was excellent and the staff were all friendly and helpful. We organized a drinks reception, followed by a sit-down dinner and then dancing to a live band. The venue has two levels with the bar area downstairs and dinner served upstairs. This worked really well for our event. We had an entirely vegetarian menu which we felt was going to be a challenge but they pulled it off with flair - even the meat eaters were chuffed. From beginning to end all the staff at Unusual Events were responsive and friendly. The verdict: trying to find an excuse for another party! Top drawer.

They have zubrowka vodka! A wide selection of other spirits and coffee. Good music, bartenders are…read morefunny and cute. In a great area for the fringe or any other time of year. If you can't have a good time here, it's your own fault!!

Love this place! Everyones very welcoming and it seems to do everything! Cafe, artists studios,…read moreperformances, classes/workshops, occasional club nights, gigs, book sales, flea markets, veg' markets, DIY workshops, vintage sales and even wiff waff Wednesday (highly competitive - in a fun way) table tennis! There's probably more on offer but I've just not managed to see it all yet! I've had the fortunate experience to perform here with a dance group (Code Butterfly) a few years ago and we danced all around the space and the audience followed us. There is an amazing network of old tunnels that surround the main hall and maze of staircases that the normal Joe Blogs wouldn't be able to explore unless they came to the show! Blessed! That aside, the cafe is cheap and they serve a lovely brunch at the weekends. There is plenty of local information for groups and community happenings. The perfect place to go to find activities to do or groups to join if you are new to the city. It's a beautiful, quirky venue in an original Drill Hall. Staff are very helpful and friendly. There is a homely, nourishing, homemade, community feel about the place. Child friendly venue, although at the same time it's not over-run with noisy screaming kids. Out Of The Blue's sister venue is Bongo Club, which explains some of OOTBs ethos. The only downside I'd say about OOTB is it's a bit chilly, they do try to heat the space with heat lamps etc, but it must be hard to heat such a vast space. Just wrap up warm and grab a hot chocolate and you'll soon heat up! :)

Out of the Blue is an old TA drill hall just off Leith Walk, now converted into a local community…read morecentre. There's a big central area that usually houses some sort of art exhibition, there's a little dance studio, and there are lots of small offices around the sides let to local businesses. And there's a small cafe that does reasonable coffee and is quite popular at lunchtimes. It's an interesting space and worth remembering about if you're down this way. The cafe service could perhaps be faster when they're busy, but they do a good veggieburger and there are some nice comfy sofas to sit on. A few years ago they first used it as a Fringe venue and it's a great space for that. They often have concerts and other small events on at other times. But it's always worth popping into if you're in the area to see what's happening as there's always something going on, and if you're lucky (and it's quiet) it's a great refuge from the bustle of the city in which to unwind for a while.

Came for the views, stayed for the food and cocktails! The Dome is a must have on your list for…read moreEdinburgh! We had lunch in the Grill Room and were lucky to snag a table without a reservation! We ordered off the al a carte menu and had great service! I would definitely come back for the afternoon tea service! Deanston malt 12 year Dragon Fruit & Hibiscus Soda Parma Ham Free Range Egg Salad Truffle Parmesan Fries

I alway make an effort to stop here for a meal or even for a drink. Especially during the holidays,…read moreit's all decked out with lights and the massive tree that covers the main bar inside the dining room. Outside is on full display with the columns decked out with Christmas lights. It's beautiful which needs to be seen. You won't miss it when you're in Edinburgh. Even the family tried to get a reservation during the holiday for dinner which wasn't available. People usually book way in advance when it's the holidays. And that's not just for the main dining room. They couldn't even get it for the bar area. Well, it was after the holidays when we walked in asking if there was anything available for a drink. Our luck, the lounge was available. Dining room was still all booked out. It was fine, lounge when you walked in gives you that gentleman smoking lounge vibes. The dark wood, tufted seats and the library wall. Faux I believe which maybe alcohol behind it. Even the bar area was quite nice. As it was the holidays or after, the place was still well into all the decoration. The detail they put into this place is magnificent. The whole aesthetic and atmosphere was amazing. Regardless if you in the main room or one of the lounge, it still worth it. There were loads of people just coming in to take pictures. All the staff were well dressed and presentable. The Dome, an institution of Edinburgh that is worth checking out. For a meal or drinks or even a wander through.

Essentially a big open warehouse space!…read more It has played host to rootmap launch night, lululemon yoga classes and various exhibitions since its opening only a few months ago. Not sure what facilities it has as I was only there for a short time for an art exhibition. Aside from its distance from town, this is a great facility for functions. Edinburgh Gin is due to move in, so will be interesting to see how the space changes afterwards.

Love the Biscuit Factory, great festivals and great nights! They had the Edinburgh Craft Beer…read moreFestival, Black Madonna, Gerry Cinnamon, Gomez, ESAF, ECFS and Mike Skinner to name a few things! www.facebook.com/biscuitfactoryed

Wow! Pleasance really rocks during the Festival! I've been here a couple of times out of season,…read morebut that doesn't prepare you for the madness that takes over the place for the Fringe. There are awnings, tents, stalls and even a couple of small venues jostling for position in the courtyard like a medieval carnival or something. Take a deep breath before plunging in, otherwise you'll be completely overwhelmed by the noise and spectacle. I found it a little hard to find what venue my show was actually being performed in as the ticket simply said 'Pleasance courtyard', but as the performance time grew closer some helpful ushers appeared with big signs and started organising queues for the various shows, so it all worked out well. I loved the bar area towards the rear with it's comfy armchairs; a nice place to relax between shows and fairly close to the loos as well, which was nice. One of the better-organised Fringe venues, this ranks alongside Assembly and Gilded Balloon at the top of the Fringe pile.

I love coming here during the Fringe, it's a fine selection of venues all in one big area…read more I've been to 4 shows in this courtyard and I don't think I've been in the same place twice. The larger theatre "Pleasance One" up the stairs is very old school, with the raised stage and cushioned bench seating angled to the back; the middle sized "Below" venue is a more modern style - with stage area at the front and the seating rising up to the back of the room. Then, there was the "That" - it was a shipping container with a sound system, bench seats and the comic stood in the corner. It sounds awful but it really worked well. The comic even worked it into his opening comments, so it's also useful. The staff here wherever you go are all cheerful and helpful beyond belief, managing huge queues with ease and a smile. Also, in between shows or before and after, there's several drink and food stalls and seating in the main courtyard, superb for those odd days when the sun shines on the Fringe. One of the nicer venues to visit, pop along and take in a couple of shows!

I had a brilliant service with Stems florist. They had a large variety of beautiful flowers and…read moreadvised me on the best look for the venue. I was very impressed by their professionalism and attention.

Can I give 10 stars?!!! Stems of Edinburgh definitely deserves the BEST rating possible!! I found…read moreout about a funeral of a family friend on very short notice ... just the evening before. Being in Chicago I had to google in the middle of the night to try to find a florist who might be able to send flowers from us for that same day in Edinburgh, and Valentine's Day too no less! Google said "Open 24 hours" with a 5-star rating. Well, true to their word, Katrina answered the phone at 4:30 in the morning, half asleep and guaranteed that she would not disappoint us. Within just hours, on the busiest day of the florist business, Katrina delivered!!! Wow, I've never experienced customer service like that before!!! The flowers were perfect and stunning.