Edinburgh Nightlife

Edinburgh's nightlife comes alive during its many festivals but the rest of the year a more subdued, trendy night scene fills in the empty spaces. There is no central nightlife district in Edinburgh and instead a few different neighbourhoods offer slightly different night atmospheres.

Despite Old Town's name, the district has new and trendy areas such as Cowgate and Grassmarket. Both of these are popular bar-hopping destinations. Great live bands and folk music is best heard in both these areas and surrounding small alleys and walkways.

The seafront area of Leith shares a trendy and upmarket feel although, like many areas, it competes with traditional bars and old pubs. After work watering holes dot the Edinburgh streets of most neighbourhoods as they have done for centuries. These are still popular local haunts, a great place to begin an evening or end a day.

Edinburgh enjoys a relaxed nightlife atmosphere which is shared in lax rules and drinking hours. Most bars stay open until one to three in the morning, and much later for festivals.