I’m back with more top tips for tipples in Auld Reekie! As brand ambassador for Monkey Shoulder, the 100% malt whisky that’s made for mixing, it’s my job to shout about our nation’s spirit to anyone who’ll listen. It’s a job that takes me all over and, since 2020, there’s been a huge change in the landscape. With venues failing to reopen after lockdown, some cut their hours and an estimated 10% of remaining hospitality sites are facing closure. 

We need the buzz of a random night out or the comfort of a familiar bar but how can you help? Simple – try new bars, restaurants or even just a different cocktail than your usual. I jumped on the Monkey Shoulder motorbike and toured all over Scotland on my Random Adventure To Interview Local Legends (aka Speed RAILL), visiting some of the best bars I know, talking to some of the best bartenders you’ll ever meet and letting them show off their favourite cocktails. Not only can you read about them here, but you can check them out on my YouTube channel ‘SpeedRAILL’ or on my Instagram. 

In these articles, I’ll point you towards some of my favourite hangouts across Scotland. To keep the party going, here are two of the best places to enjoy a drink or two in Edinburgh. Edinburgh has a wide range of incredible independent bars, restaurants, and music venues. Keep your eyes peeled for my next round of recommendations in future issues and scan the QR code for videos of venues and more across Scotland. 

Uno Mas

Uno Mas is a late-night venue in the heart of Edinburgh, focusing on great drinks and toe-tapping tunes. Enjoy a well-crafted cocktail, local beer, or a weird and wonderful whisky against a backdrop of live jam sessions, curated tunes from the team, or live DJs at the weekends. Perfect for a post-theatre libation, an early evening catch-up with your mates or a late-night party, Uno Mas is the epicentre of many a night out. With its late license, rest assured that you’ll see titans of Edinburgh’s cocktail scene visiting for a post-shift tipple, too.

Hoot The Redeemer

A ‘dive bar’ with a twist. Hoot The Redeemer is an Edinburgh institution, and quickly gained that reputation since opening in 2015. A 1950s fairground-themed bar was always set to be a fun experience, but the staff and drinks menu brings the venue to top-tier status. The music is always jumping, the drinks delicious (try their slushies, if you don’t believe me) and the staff are only too happy to guide you through your experience. If you’re feeling adventurous try the ‘Pinch & Sip’ claw machine to gamify your drinking experience – be warned, however, as the flavours are up to the claw to decide!