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Gay Bars: Edinburgh
Have you been looking for the best gay bars Edinburgh? Are you a part of the LGBT community and not sure where the best safe, inviting, and welcoming Edinburgh gay bars are? Are you familiar with the gay bars Edinburgh and looking for information that includes personal experience? See ManPlay's guide to the best of the best in Edinburgh gay bars: the history of gay clubs in Edinburgh, your best bets, and our directory of local gay bars!
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and has a current population of 476,990 people. In comparison to some other major UK cities Edinburgh is relatively small, but it still holds a large amount of Scotland’s national institutions, museums, and tourist attractions, and—of course—gay bars. Edinburgh has always been known as a centre for education (especially in medicine, law, literature, science, and engineering) across the globe, but the locals know another thing it is the centre of: partying hard at the best Edinburgh gay bars!
So, that’s what Edinburgh is all about. Now, let’s get into Gay Bars Edinburgh: A History:
Gay Bars Edinburgh: A History
The Edinburgh gay bars scene may not as rich a history of some other UK gay bars scenes out there, but it does have a story of its own. Long before there were Edinburgh "gay bars," there were simply bars, pubs, and clubs that became known as "safe spaces" for the gay and LGBT community. As word got around, these venues became more and more attending by members of the gay community, and as acceptance began to build, the no longer needed to keep it a secret and could begin officially branding themselves as Edinburgh gay bars. By the 1990s, Edinburgh was hosting the largest gay pride event in Scotland and was actively promoting their abundance of Edinburgh gay bars more ferociously. Now, Edinburgh is a town that prides itself on its LGBT community and all the spaces in the city that have been created by and for them.
Gay Bars Edinburgh: Best Bets
When it comes to so-called "best bets", there are not really any straight answers (or any gay answers either… sorry, terrible joke). Each and every one of the Edinburgh gay bars that we list in our directory can be your best bet for something… it all just depends what you are looking for!
If you are trying to find Edinburgh gay bars that are open late, then your best bets are probably gay bars like The Street Nightclub or Paradise Palms. If you are trying to find Edinburgh gay bars that have a great menu, then your best bets are probably gay bars like CC Blooms or Cafe Nom de Plume. If you are trying to find Edinburgh gay bars that have a quiet atmosphere, then your best bets are probably gay bars like The Regent Bar or Victoria Bar. Each Edinburgh gay
In the end, you will most likely want to check out all the Edinburgh gay bars that you can, so why not just pick one to start with and slowly make your way around to experiencing them all?
Gay Bars Edinburgh: Directory
When it comes to hitting up the best gay bars Edinburgh, you can’t really go wrong! Whether you are planning an exhaustive Edinburgh gay bars crawl with all your best buddies, you are hitting Edinburgh on an upcoming trip and you want to know which Edinburgh gay bars have the best events and late night dancing, you are moving to Edinburgh and want to know which Edinburgh gay bars the local gay community meets up at, or any other reason… we have got you covered with this guide. Check out our top nine picks for the best gay bars Edinburgh!
CC Blooms
Type: bar/clubSpace: two floors, dance floor, patio
Crowd: mixed gay and straight
Address: 23 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA, United Kingdom
Website:www.ccbloomsedinburgh.com
Notes: open 7 days a week (11:00 AM to 3:00 AM Monday to Sunday), coat check available
Description:CC Blooms is the oldest and most popular Edinburgh gay bar. During the day, it serves as a stylish and casual Edinburgh gay bar with contemporary cuisine and an extensive wine and champagne selection. At night, it blossoms into a classy and thriving Edinburgh gay club with a huge dance floor and DJs playing all the latest hits. It is located inside the Pink Triangle of Edinburgh gay bars.
Cafe Habana
Type: barSpace: two floors, patio
Crowd: mostly gay, mixed ages
Address: 22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA, United Kingdom
Website:Cafe Habana’s Facebook Page
Notes: open 7 days a week (1:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday to Sunday), dogs welcome
Description: Right across from CC Blooms sits the cozy and friendly Edinburgh gay bar Cafe Habana. It can get quite crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, but is a great place to relax on quieter nights of the week. They have reasonably priced food and drinks and great daily Happy Hour deals. Cafe Habanahas been voted as the #1 gay bar in Scotland by Pink Paper, and the best Edinburgh gay bar by the Evening News. It is located inside the Pink Triangle of Edinburgh gay bars.
The Regent Bar
Type: barSpace: on the smaller side
Crowd: mostly gay
Address: 2 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5DL, United Kingdom
Website:www.theregentbar.co.uk
Notes: open 7 days a week (12:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday to Saturday, 12:30 PM to 1:00 AM on Sunday), dogs welcome
Description:The Regent Bar is quiet place with a casual atmosphere. You can grab a quiet drink, read a book, or even set up at one of the bigger tables and play board games! The bartenders here are known as some of the friendliest on the Edinburgh gay bars scene, and are happy to let you try samples of the rotating ales they have on tap. They have a decent-sized menu of pub food with lots of vegetarian offerings.
Planet Bar
Type: barSpace: on the smaller side
Crowd: young, lesbian
Address: 6 Baxter's Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AF, United Kingdom
Website:Planet Bar’s Facebook Page
Notes: open 7 days a week (1:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday to Sunday), daily drink promotions, DJs on the weekend
Description:Planet Bar is the only Edinburgh gay bar marketed towards gay women—although, they are far from the only clientele there. It is a smaller bar but it has a good atmosphere, reasonably priced food and drinks, arcade games, and a snooker table! It is located inside the Pink Triangle of Edinburgh gay bars.
The Street
Type: barSpace: two floors, outdoor terrace, dance floor, large front windows
Crowd: mix of straight and gay, tourist
Address: 2B Picardy Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JT, United Kingdom
Website:thestreetbaredinburgh.co.uk
Notes: open 7 days a week (12:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday to Saturday, 12:30 PM to 1:00 AM on Sunday), "Prize Surprise!" every Wednesday at 9:00 PM, "Quality Street" every Thursday at 9:00 PM, "The Wendy House" every Friday night, "Back By Dope Demand" the first Saturday of every month, "Coco Loco" the second Saturday of every month, reservations available
Description:The Street is one of the most well-known of the Edinburgh gay bars. It is filled with locals and tourists alike any given night of the week and has a variety of nightly entertainment. Upstairs, you can find several high top tables and bar stools which make it easy to mix and mingle among tables throughout the night. Outside, you can find more traditional tables and chairs for those nice weather nights out with a group. Downstairs, you can find a lounge space with couches, a dance floor, and a nightly guest or resident DJ. They have an extensive selection of beers, spirits, and cocktails and a decent menu. It is located inside the Pink Triangle of Edinburgh gay bars.
The Street Nightclub
Type: clubSpace: downstairs of The Street bar, dance floor
Crowd: mix of straight and gay, young
Address: 2B Picardy Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JT, United Kingdom
Website:thestreetbaredinburgh.co.uk
Notes: open two nights a week (1:00 AM to 3:00 AM Friday to Saturday)
Description:The Street Nightclub, put simply, is just the downstairs portion of The Street bar. It opens at 9:00 PM and runs past once the upstairs has closed at 1:00 AM, going until 3:00 PM. It is known for getting quite busy and crowded. They are featured in the 2016 best-selling guide to Scotland "Scotland the Best". It is located inside the Pink Triangle of Edinburgh gay bars.
Victoria Bar
Type: gay barSpace: on the smaller side, patio
Crowd: eclectic, mix of local and tourist
Address: 265 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 8PD, United Kingdom
Website:www.bodabar.com/victoria/
Notes: open 7 days a week (2:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday to Friday, 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM on Saturday, and 1:00 PM to 12:00 AM on Sunday), "Language Cafe" every Monday, "Singles Night" on a bimonthly basis, reservations available
Description: A cozy Edinburgh gay bar on the edge of the town’s Gay Village, Victoria Bar is a great place to start your night. You can grab a quiet pint or two from their great selection of beers, or try one of their famous gin and tonics. It’s a great place for a romantic date, but not great for large groups.
Cafe Nom de Plume
Type: barSpace: on the smaller side, lined with bookshelves
Crowd: quiet, mix of young and old, mix of gay and straight
Address: 60 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3SA, United Kingdom
Website:Cafe Nom de Plume’s Facebook Page
Notes: open 7 days a week (11:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Sunday
Description:Cafe Nom de Plume is a small cafe and bar located above Edinburgh’s LGBT Centre and run by the same team that runs The Regent Bar. It has both cozy, intimate seating and large group seating. Their menu is fairly extensive and comes with a great selection of dessert and sweet treats. Their walls are lined with shelves and books which you are more than welcome to browse and read, should you come alone or find yourself waiting for your date to show up. Cafe Nom de Plume also offers free internet access and free condoms!
Paradise Palms
Type: barSpace: patio,
Crowd: mostly straight, gay-friendly
Address: 41 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HB, United Kingdom
Website:www.theparadisepalms.com
Notes: open 7 days a week (12:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday to Sunday, open from 12:00 PM to 3:00 AM during August), reservations available, dogs welcome
Description:Paradise Palms is more of a gay-friendly venue than it is one of the Edinburgh gay bars, but it’s too flamboyant to not include on our list of the best Edinburgh gay bars! Paradise Palms has based their entire decor on building the quirkiest, tackiest Edinburgh gay bars version of a tropical paradise possible—think neon palm tree lights, leis, Hawaiian shirts… the whole nine yards! They serve food (be sure to check out their famous Ninja Buns!), have almost any kind of drink of can think of, and plays a great mix of music. They also act as an event space that can be rented out for birthdays, private parties, bar mitzvahs… whatever! They also host their own events throughout the month, such as live music performances, cabaret shows, craft clubs, flea markets, and more!
Explore Edinburgh Gay Bars and Beyond
There you go—our guide to all the best Edinburgh gay bars! With this guide to gay bars Edinburgh, we hope you will be able to get the most out of your Edinburgh gay bars experience. Whether you are looking for late night dancing, exciting entertainment, great pub food, cheap drinks, or just where the closest LGBT-friendly bar, pub, or club is located, ManPlay.com will always do our best to send you in the right direction.
If you are looking for more UK gay bars, why not check out our guide for Gay Bars Soho or Gay Bars Blackpool? There are a lot more gay bars guides where those come from, but they are a good place to start!
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