Walkabout

An 'Australian' bar that takes the theme to the max by offering various Australian beers as well as kangaroo fillets. Nice.
Omni Centre (F3), Greenside Place, 0131 534 9300, www.walkabout.eu.com, Mon noon-1am, Tue-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 12.30pm-1am.

Nichol Edwards

A lively bar with the attitude of a club: big dance floor, lots of live music and a 3am license. Oh and not to mention the 42-seat cinema room.
29-35 Niddry Street (F4), 0131 556 8642, open daily 7.30pm-3am.

The Pear Tree

With its huge outside courtyard full of slatted wood picnic tables, twinkling fairy lights and overgrown ivy, The Pear Tree is a fair-weather favourite.
38 West Nicolson Street (F5), 0131 667 7533, Mon-Thu 11am-11.30pm, Fri & Sat 11am-12.30pm, Sun noon-11.30pm.

Brass Monkey

The main attraction here is the cosy cinema room, where you can curl up on the giant communal bed and watch a DVD. A bar like this instantly becomes your home-from-home.
14 Drummond Street (F5), 0131 556 1961, Mon-Sat 11am-1pm, Sun 12.30pm-1am.

The Outhouse

Along a cobbled lane, The Outhouse sits with floor-to-ceiling windows, touches of elegant décor and large beer garden to the rear - it's drinking done with a bit of style.
12a Broughton Street Lane (F3), 0131 557 6668, Mon-Sat 11am-1pm, Sun 12.30pm-1am.

The Last Drop

In the hubbub of the Grassmarket, The Last Drop is a bit of a focal point - a traditional old pub that glows inside with lantern lights and rosycheeked merrymakers.
74-78 Grassmarket (E5), 0131 225 4851, Mon-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 12.30pm-1am.

City Café

With its central pool table, fish tank and circular leather stools, City Café has a retro-diner-cum-yard-sale sort of vibe. It's eclectically charming and has a good food menu too.
19 Blair Street (F4), 0131 220 0125, open daily 11am-1am.

Basement Bar

A little place down below with dark wood furniture cluttered round a glowing central bar. It's always buzzing and has a separate restaurant section, serving old-school Mexican food on weekends.
10a-12a Broughton Street (F3), 0131 557 0097, www.thebasement.org.uk, Mon-Sat noon-1am, Sun 12.30pm-1am.

The Globe

Gigantic flat-panel televisions flicker throughout The Globe and attract the sport-watching crowd, as does the welcoming atmosphere and cheap drinks.
42 Broughton Street (F3), 0131 557 4670, Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat & Sun noon-1am.

Whistlebinkies

A warm and friendly underground venue that combines live music with a jolly drinking atmosphere - perfect levels of chilled chaos.
4-6 South Bridge, (F4), 0131 557 5114, www.whistlebinkies.com, Mon-Thu 5pm-3am, Fri-Sun 1pm-3am.