The Big Cheese

The staple of the week for student night life. Spread over two floors of the Edinburgh University student union, cheap drinks abound as do feelings of 90s nostalgia when S Club 7 hits the speakers. It's worth staying until the end for the Grease megamix. Get there early to avoid the long queue.
Potterow, Saturdays, £4 (£3 before midnight).

I Love Hip Hop

This Cowgate alternative to The Hive down the road delivers the goods for rap, R&B and hip hop lovers. With a mix of old and new, it caters to fans as well as casual club-goers wanting a good night out. Keep an eye out for the occasional MC performances too.
The Bongo Club, Tuesdays, £3.

Witness

Supposedly named after illegal liquor-wrapped bottles during the USA’s era of Prohibition, Sneaky Pete’s garage-like façade doesn't look much from the outside but is frequently packed with music enthusiasts. On Witness Wednesdays, they come to sample the fine range of EDM, with talented DJs specialising in techno, house and grime.
Sneaky Pete’s, Wednesdays, price varies.

Mjölk

The Edinburgh College of Art affair that doesn't take itself all that seriously. Swedish for milk, this alternative to regular indie night The Egg mixes Abba with The Hives, and throws in some Rolling Stones for good measure. It feels like alternative teenage disco – but in a good way.
Wee Red Bar, infrequent, £5 (£3 before 11.30pm).