Found this place on December 23 after dinner in the neighborhood and looking for a nightcap…read more Followed the music down the stairs and discovered a jam packed bar with a (guessing) 20-piece jazz band and dressed-to-the-nines patrons. We worked our way through the crowd to the back of the bar and found some very cool sunken booths with couches and tables. Took ages to order our drinks at the bar, but the atmosphere and music was awesome. Haven't been to a jazz club this cool since Georgetown (D.C.) in the 80's.

Okay so if you are a music lover and love being in an intimate place with live music...this place…read moreis for you! During my October 2014 birthday trip, we were looking for a place to dance and drink and while we were out at dinner someone at the next table suggested we try this place. We weren't far from it (or really anything in City Center which is one of the many awesome things about Edinburgh) so we walked over to it. The venue is tiny (can't imagine how they're doing during all of the pandemic social distancing and all) so there was a small line outside. We chatted it up with the other people waiting and smoking and the hostess. Once inside it was totally 1960s beatnik dive bar cool and quaint. It was dark with original old wood bar and banquettes, small round tables and mismatched chairs and cushions. There was a small raised stage at the back of the room and there was a four piece band onstage when we got inside. I should also mention that this place at least when I went is an after hours club. They were open until 4 am. Awesome right? YUP! We made friends with everyone around us and not around us because we are those extroverted people. We drank a lot like I don't even remember all the booze. Danced and had multiple nights of good clean fun. What could be better?!

The JAM HOUSE is local music house that normally gathers to the local jazz crowd. On select…read moreevenings, however, they present a "Scottish Experience" - an evening devoted to Scottish music and food. We were on a CIE tour of Scotland and Ireland and the Scottish evening was part of our tour package -- along with about 6-8 other tour buses full of tourists. This is something that truly caters to the tour crowds and tour buses. The food was pretty good - nothing exceptional - and included a small taste of haggis (you can;t go to Scotland without at least tasting haggis). I thought the haggis was good and my wife offered that if there's enough seasoning and salt on it -- most anything will taste OK. The room housing this event was large and it was packed. The staff serving the food and wine was stretched pretty thin and it was a challenge to just get another pitcher of water for the table. In short, you don't go here for the food or service -- you go here for the Scottish experience.' After dinner, the Scottish "experience" got rolling. We had a great evening of Scottish music, dancing and bag-pipes. The musicians and the dancers were excellent and the "experience" was quite enjoyable. Again - go for the Scottish "experience" but don't expect great food or service. The food and service are adequate but the "experience" was great.

I was dragged here once by my 57 year old auntie who was looking to pull. I think that sums it up!…read moreJools Holland owns it- which gives it some credit I suppose, and it's nicely decorated inside but it's not my cup of tea. It seemed to be a playground for the over 50s looking to re-live their youth. It reminded me of dad dancing at a wedding - you know the sort. On several occasions, sweaty old men made their move towards me, at which point I hastily circled the room. Food-wise, it wasn't anything special either. I had pan-fried chicken without realizing it doesn't come with anything else, should have ordered sides. Yeah it was ok, and the price wasn't too bad, but nothing worth going out my way for.

We decided to stay and have a cocktail at the VooDoo Rooms after exploring the Midnight Lunar…read moreMarket. What a vibe this place has going on! We were lucky enough to just show up and grab a semi-circle shaped booth by the bar without any wait. We LOVED that a) the cocktail menu clearly stated "All drinks vegan, please inform staff of any allergens before ordering" and b) that they had the shape of the glassware next to the drink name. The bartender even took some time to make recommendations based on both what was most popular with customers and what the house/staff favorites were. We ended up going with the Porty Licks (gin, pineapple liquor, passionfruit, toasted almond topped with edible flowers) and Green Room (bourbon, peach liquor, lemon, peach, basil yuzu). Both were really well balanced drinks! Next time I'd get the King Khan (spiced rum and a mango oat lassi) or the Hare Krishna (mango, oat milk, chilli, coconut cream, and cardamom - sounds like a lovely non-alcoholic beverage and dessert)!

This place is a gem! I greatly appreciate a vegan option, an actual tasty one at that! The mushroom…read morestroganoff was perfect! It was so flavorful! My non vegan friend even picked into my plate. Great drinks! The staff were friendly and attentive! The decor of this place was amazing; looked like something out of a movie. I'll definitely slide by on my next trip!

As the Mattmeister has pointed out, Edinburgh hasn't always been a city on the radar for music…read morelovers, but in the past few years things have improved somewhat. In terms of The Jazz and Blues Festival however, the people of the East Coast who still have their hearing intact have ended up with a festival they can perhaps do without. On some levels Jazz seems to serve little purpose other than as a vehicle to allow old men in rollneck sweaters something to feel clever about, but this event saves face for the Big Band shows, which offer a brilliant throwback to the 1950s dancehall bands that soundtracked your Grandparents' courtship. There will usually be a silver haired, sharp suited lothario belting out old Rat Pack numbers, and if you're exceptionally lucky they may play an old standard from the 30s called 2 O'Clock Jump. It's a belter.

Commonly, it is believed that Glasgow has the best music scene in Scotland, with worldwide known…read morevenues and many festivals. However, in recent years Edinburgh has certainly gained a reputation as city with a great music scene. One, festival which has improved Edinburgh's musical reputation is the Jazz and Blues Festival! The festival, which takes place in August, provides an alternative programme of music compared to the more main stream Edge festival. With over a hundred acts, this festival offers a wide variety of jazz and blues artists. Ranging from new upcoming artists to more established artists like Melba Joyce! Indeed the festival also provides an opportunity to bands that mix musical influences like the Salsa Celtica Big Band - an experience not to be missed! The festival takes place in venues ranging from the HMV Picturehouse, Queen's hall and various small venues. If you want to escape mainstream music, and listen instead to something different, then this festival could be for you!

I went to hear Novo Amor sing live at this small music venue. I will say it was unclear where to…read morecue to get in which left a lot of us confused. The first thing that stood out to me inside the venue were all the pews downstairs and upstairs in the gallery. There is a small space for standing and close to the stage and as I was at the front, I was happy. There is a bar at this venue, toilets and merchandise available to buy in the hall afterwards. All in all I enjoyed my time at The Queens Hall and recommend it as a small intimate venue and a great opportunity to get up close and personal with some of your favourite artists!

The Queen's Hall is the venue that makes me proudest of Edinburgh. It's just so totally in love…read morewith live music - "We *heart* it live" is even written above the door - in a way that so many venues around the country don't seem to be, regardless of their programming. The Queen's Hall just exudes passion for music of all genres and it's a venue that loves to share its enthusiasm. They're hot on the social media too, sharing music from forthcoming events, video clips from past concerts, and just generally stuff that makes them happy. The bar area is spacious so it doesn't feel cramped or crowded before the show. The loose-chair seating in the stalls means that a range of different setups are possible to suit the occasion, from straight rows to cabaret tables. And finally, the floor is made of wonderful stone flags, the stage is low, and the whole space feels remarkably intimate despite the venue's solid capacity of 900. Pretty much every time a musician I love and admire comes to Edinburgh, I know before I even have to check the listings that they'll be performing at the Queen's Hall. If the treatment they get is anything like what the audience gets from the front of house, bar and box office staff, then it must be one of the most enjoyable dates on the tour. Everything combined makes me genuinely emotional at the thought of the Queen's Hall. I feel like I'm getting a big warm musical hug every time I so much as walk past. Oh, I love you, Queen's Hall. I love you dearly. Stay forever.

This is a friendly little pub that definitely has an authentic feel…read more Very vibrant and energetic, drop in for a quick sip

Great spot to grab a drink. The Guinness was expertly poured and the music was sound.read more

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.