Panda & Sons

This newcomer to Edinburgh’s cocktail scene is a subterranean speakeasy-styled sprawl hidden behind a quirky barbershop frontage. Cocktails use smokes and foams to pull off big flavours, but with an eye to history and a great catalogue of classics.

The Bon Vivant

With two tucked-away venues lending these bars a speakeasy vibe, the Bon Vivant is a cool spot to hide from the crowds while the staff make good use of the hard-to-source rums and bourbons on the back shelves. The Thistle Street branch has its own wine merchant next door – a good place to pick up a bottle to drink back at the ranch.

Tonic

Tonic is a snug where table space comes at a premium. Just off George Street, it’s an ideal spot both pre and post-show for something short and strong or long and luxurious. Known for inventiveness, it boasts some ice-cream and sorbet staples as well as the best Porn Star Martini in the city.

Dragonfly

A big and bookable hip hangout close to the Grassmarket, Dragonfly is a stalwart of the Edinburgh bar scene and continues to hold its own among the New Town upstarts. Head here for a daiquiri to start a night out with the girls, or if you’re flagging after one too many festival shows, hit them up for an espresso martini – guaranteed to give you a second wind.

The Last Word Saloon

This convivial St Stephen Street hangout specialises in the unconventional. Using rotovaps and steel ageing, as well as almond syrup and peach pearls, the staff push creativity to a new high. It’s a great spot for a night in Stockbridge or a stop-off while boutique shopping, and it could be a welcome respite from the Fringe hubbub.