35 Best Bars in Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland

Billing itself as "the best real ale gay pub in Edinburgh," this popular drinking hole at the far east end of the New Town is warm, homey, and welcoming, if a tad pricey. As advertised, the real ales selection is great.

With a piano in the corner, this cozy, friendly pub presents excellent live blues and folk music most nights—usually with no cover charge.

This pub is a hive of activity during festival season, when the courtyard transforms into a beer garden with food stalls, and is packed wall-to-wall with revelers until the wee hours. Outside of the summer months, it remains a lively local favorite with DJ sets and live acts such as drag shows. Plus, it's the best place to watch live sports in Edinburgh.

This stylish basement bar has bouncy stools, comfy sofas, and a long list of superb, throwback cocktails. Resident DJs play Thursday through Sunday.

This atmospheric North Bridge bar, with its main entrance on Niddry Street (as it's in the bridge), presents rock, blues, and folk music every night of the week, with as many as six or seven acts on Saturday nights.