For those looking to enjoy the Fringe over the next month, you've no doubt already developed a plan of attack when it comes to the various different shows you want to see.
The first performances are set to take place this Friday, August 5, and thousands of tourists are set to flock in to the city to witness it all. And of course us locals are keen to get involved too.
The famous arts and entertainment event, globally renowned, is back in full for the first since 2019 following the covid-related cancellations of 2020 and 2021.
READ MORE: Best Edinburgh food and drink markets to visit at this year's Festival Fringe
And although the shows take centre stage, having a good handle on the food and drink scene is just as important. That's why in recent days we've been reporting on the places we feel you should go for a good pint, new restaurants to try and our city's best food markets.
Today we're taking a look at the capital's best cocktail bars - and there are plenty to choose from - where you might consider heading to extend your evening after the curtain has been drawn on the shows.
Here's eight cocktail bars we've visited and covered on our site we feel are worth checking into.
If you feel we've missed your favourite cocktail spot from the list, let us know in the comments!
Bramble
This hidden cocktail bar, nestled away below the City Alterations Tailor on Queen Street, has seen many a capital local and visitor head down to the basement to try some of their signature drinks.
From a classic 'Bramble' cocktail to some more complicated alternatives, the bar and their staff have a strong reputation for their service as well as the atmosphere and overall experience, leading it to be crowned one of the best cocktail dens in the world back in 2020.
Last year, it made the prestigious Top 50 cocktail bars in the UK list too. Here's everything you need to know.
Panda and Sons
Panda and Sons also gained significant nationwide acclaim. It too found itself in this year's list of the UK's best cocktail bars.
The speakeasy-inspired bar - located nearby Bramble on Queen Street - is considered the place to be on a weekend thanks to their inventive cocktails, extensive wine list and craft beers.
Their menu of fantastic and unusual cocktails has included the likes of their ridiculous High Society pitcher, served in a top hat and featuring two types of rum as well as lychee, ginger, lime juice, dill and prosecco.
For more on Panda and Sons and their awards, click here.
Nightcap
Nightcap is another Edinburgh venue which is a surefire inclusion on any capital cocktails 'best of' list.
A much-loved fixture on York Place since 2016, the cocktail and wine bar boasts an extensive menu, including their 'altered classics', such as their take on the Bloody Mary and Bellini Rosa.
By capital standards they're pretty reasonably priced too and can all be enjoyed in a contemporary, intimate atmosphere in the heart of the capital.
To read more about Nightcap, visit their website here.
Hoot The Redeemer
This one-of-a-kind drinking hole transports you back to 1950s New Orleans, providing a the perfect eclectic mix of both fun and the bit weird.
We've previously described this hidden gem of a place as a 'subterranean haunt' hidden away in Edinburgh's underground, but given its success its certainly now on many people's radars.
And their tarot card approach to cocktails offers something a little different, as explained by the bar team themselves: "We’ve used our mystical powers to reinterpret each card as a cocktail, and no matter where your future lies - your future will be delicious...!"
To read more about Hoot The Redeemer, visit our article here.
Hey Palu
Offering an authentic Italian cocktail experience and bringing the spirit of ‘aperitivo’ culture to the capital, this Bread Street bar is a brilliant place to spend an evening.
The Tollcross establishment, which takes its name from an informal Italian greeting, has gained somewhat of a cult following in recent years and is another Edinburgh bar to have been given UK-wide recognition this year.
Hey Palu has also been recognised as one of the Edinburgh bars shortlisted as a finalist in the renowned Class magazine awards.
The carefully selected drinks menu, paired with a “killer playlist”, continues to draw the crowds.
For more on Hey Palu, click here.
Lucky Liquor
Queen Street's Lucky Liquor may be decorated as an American diner - with black and white checkered flooring, leather seating, a white tiled bar - but this place isn't about greasy burgers and milkshakes.
Its regularly updated menu of specialists cocktails - made by some of Edinburgh's top mixologists - saw it placed in 22nd in the UK Top's 50 Cocktail Bars list for 2022.
For the rare sunny days, cocktails can be enjoyed on the small outside patio space.
You can read more about their Top 50 UK success here.
Superico
Although Superico is known for its food as well as its drinks, this place isn't to be missed when it comes to its cocktails.
The 99 Hanover Street bar was fully revamped in 2020 and serves up drinks concocted by an award-winning bar team while guests relax in a beautifully decorated setting.
Their cocktail list has featured the likes of the Padron Martini, served straight from the freezer giving it a rich, velvety texture that can only be achieved by serving it ice-cold.
For more about Superico, click here.
The Register Club
First arriving in Edinburgh in 2018, we've previously described The Register Club as an 'unmissable stop' on the capital cocktail scene.
One of the major draws is its impressive surroundings, located within luxury hotel Cheval The Edinburgh Grand, the former Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters.
As described by the team behind the opulent bar, 'it's a venue that's certain to impress, as Edinburgh's The Register Club elevates cocktails and conversation to an art form.'
To read more about the stunning Register Club, click here.
READ NEXT:
* An Edinburgh local’s guide to the Fringe and our top tips for festival season
* Edinburgh Fringe: 10 pubs worth visiting for a good pint during the festival
*Edinburgh Princes Street police box transformed into world's smallest whisky bar
*Edinburgh Fringe: 10 new restaurants and bars to visit during the festival
* We tried one of Edinburgh's quirkiest pubs and understand why locals love it so much
