Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and such a fun city to visit! My first trip to Edinburgh was on a very tight budget, and my second trip to Edinburgh was right after I moved to the UK (when again, I didn’t have much money to throw around). I visited for a weekend in June and had so much fun—and I especially liked visiting some of the city’s cool bars! If you’re looking for a quirky bar for a fun night out, here you go: unusual bars to visit in Edinburgh!

Paradise Palms

While yes, Paradise Palms has a good food selection, it’s really their cocktails that stand out! With a funky interior (it made me feel like I was at an arcade or a fair!) and drinks that come served on fire, this is a great place for a drink. They also serve some drinks in teapots if you’re looking to share!

41 Lothian St // Website

Hoot the Redeemer

Where else can you get ice cream for your drink from an arcade game?? Only at Hoot the Redeemer! This is a great cocktail bar with speakeasy vibes, it’s located downstairs from an unassuming small door. They have a really inventive range of drinks and cocktails, ingredients of which can be purchased by playing one of the games. This is a really unique bar and definitely one you can’t miss in Edinburgh!

7 Hanover St // Website

Usquabae

While Usquabae isn’t really an unusual bar, it is an exceptional bar and that all comes down to one reason: whisky. This is by far the best whisky bar I’ve been to (and I’ve been to quite a few!) and I was blown away at their huge selection. Not only that, but the staff are amazing—their knowledge is insane and their recommendations were brilliant! While you can stop by for a casual drink like we did, you can also book a whisky tasting with them. A proper whisky tasting here is definitely on my list for the next trip to Edinburgh!

2-4 Hope St // Website

The Wee Pub

The Wee Pub is the smallest pub in Edinburgh (and possibly even in Scotland?!). Located right on the Grassmarket, chances are you’ll be coming to the area for a drink anyway. It’s a bit of a novelty, to have a drink in a pub that can only hold about 20 people! It’s connected to a much larger pub next door—just be aware the Wee Pub itself can sometimes get booked out for private parties!

94-96 Grassmarket // Website

If you’re looking for more of a club vibe, I read that Please Don’t Tell (or PDT) is pretty unique. Apparently you can play arcade games like Pinball and Pacman! I also had Panda and Sons recommended as a speakeasy decked out completely vintage (including a gramophone).

I’ve stayed in two different hostels in Edinburgh: Budget Backpackers and Edinburgh Backpackers. I’d recommend either if you’re visiting—both of them have a great central location. You can look for hostels on Hostelworld, or hotels on Booking.com! You can also sign up to and search accommodation on Airbnb here.

If you’re planning to fly to Edinburgh, I’d recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights. If you’re traveling in the UK by train, you should always book your train tickets in advance if possible. I use Trainline to book trains. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Edinburgh is such a beautiful and historic city. But if you look beyond the immediate pubs and the places lining the Royal Miles, there are lots of fun bars to visit! I would definitely recommend visiting some unusual and quirky bars on your next visit to Edinburgh!

Have you visited Edinburgh before? Did you check out any quirky or unusual bars?!

You might like my other posts:

15 Tips For A Weekend Trip To Edinburgh

5 Harry Potter Places To Visit In Edinburgh

All my Scotland posts!

Like this post? Pin it for later!