Bar entertainment in Scotland
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A
BrewDog
The flagship bar of northeast Scotland's most innovative craft brewery brings a bit of designer chic to Aberdeen's pub scene along with a vast range of guest beers from around the world.
reviewed
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B
BrewDog
A new bar from Scotland's self-styled 'punk brewery', BrewDog stands out among the grimy, sticky-floored dives that line the Cowgate, with its cool, industrial-chic designer look. As well as its own highly rated beers, there's a choice of four guest real ales.
reviewed
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C
Hillhead Bookclub
Atmosphere in spades is the call sign of this easygoing West End bar. An ornate wooden ceiling overlooks two levels of well-mixed cocktails, seriously cheap drinks, comfort food and numerous intriguing decorative touches. There's even a pingpong table in a cage.
reviewed
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D
Tiki Bar & Kitsch Inn
Hawaiian shirts, palms and leis provide an appropriate backdrop to colourful cocktails in this hedonistic and amiable basement bar. Upstairs, Kitsch plays the relative straight man, though MAD magazine covers mean it's not all poker-faces. Order top-shelf spirits to watch the bar staff negotiate the ladder.
reviewed
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E
Social
A lively style bar and club with a separate dining area.
reviewed
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Social
A lively style bar with a separate dining area.
reviewed
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F
Globe
Serves good bar meals from noon to 7.30pm (6pm Sunday) and often has live music or sport on the big-screen TV.
reviewed
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G
Newtown Bar
Stylish modern bar serving good food and drink, and basement club with resident DJ that hosts regular men-only events.
reviewed
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H
Baroc
A slick spot that becomes the island’s lounge bar at nights, there’s plenty of the younger set around to keep you on your toes.
reviewed
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I
Moskito
A stylish Bath St basement bar, Moskito is just the place to kick back in the booth seating, play pool and let the in-house DJs mellow you out with their deep beats and electronica.
reviewed
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J
Aragon Bar
A traditional bar located in this trendy part of town, with changing guest ales and board games behind the bar for those lazy afternoons. There’s also a decent wine selection.
reviewed
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K
Pivo Pivo
Cavernous downstairs beer hall with beers aplenty – 100 varieties from 32 different countries, to be exact. Add to that an impressive array of vodka and schnapps, and it may be a while before you see daylight.
reviewed
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L
Pivo Caffé
Aiming to add a little taste of Bohemia to Edinburgh’s bar scene, Pivo (the Czech word for beer) serves bottled Czech beers, Budvar-Budweiser on draught and two-pint cocktails, and has DJs on the decks from 10pm on.
reviewed
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M
Mojama
Very retro and very futuristic at the same time, it’s worth popping your head into this Jetsons -like place to curl up nursing a drink in the blood-red interior. On Monday it’s wannabee DJs who spin their own tracks.
reviewed
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N
Johnny Foxes
Stuck beneath the ugliest building on the riverfront, Johnny Foxes is a big and boisterous Irish bar with a wide range of food served all day and live music nightly. Part of the premises, the Den, is a smart cocktail bar and club.
reviewed
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O
Torvhaug
Style cats slink into the ultracool Torvhaug with its sleek, dark leather and moody red lighting in the bar downstairs and club with DJs upstairs. Shadowy nooks are good on a stormy night –it has a real nightspot feel about it.
reviewed
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P
Elbow
An attractive mix of modern and retro style makes Elbow one of the New Town’s most appealing neighbourhood bars, with staff who make you feel welcome, a tempting menu of wines and cocktails, and regular pub quizzes and live music nights.
reviewed
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Q
Vodka Wodka
Every vodka drinker's dream, Vodka Wodka has more varieties of the stealthy poison than you could possibly conquer in one sitting. Its brushed metal bar dishes out the liquid fire to students during the day and groups of mid-20s in the evening.
reviewed
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R
Vic
Warehouse chic meets medieval conviviality in this strikingly restored student favourite. Walls plastered with black-and-white pop culture give way to a handsome, high-ceilinged bar with sociable long tables down the middle and an eclectic assortment of seating. Other spaces include a more romantic bar, a dance floor and a smokers' deck. There are regular events.
reviewed
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S
Standing Order
One of several converted banks on George St, Standing Order is a cavernous beer hall with a fantastic vaulted ceiling and some cosy rooms off to the right – look for the one with the original 27-tonne safe. Despite its size, it can be standing-room only at weekends.
reviewed
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T
Firewater
A large venue constantly mobbed, Firewater is a good honest servant of Sauchiehall St. It’s always lively and there are usually some pretty good bands plying their trade. Huge American pool tables, drink offers and club passes means it’s a good place to get connected.
reviewed
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U
MacSorley's
There's nothing better than a good horseshoe-shaped bar in Glasgow, and here the elegantly moulded windows and ceiling add a touch of class to this happy place, which offers live music every night and some excellent, inventive pub food. DJs from the nearby Sub Club also play sets here.
reviewed
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V
Indigo Yard
Set around an airy, stone-floored and glass-roofed courtyard, Indigo Yard is a fashionable West End watering hole that has been patronised by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Pierce Brosnan and Kylie Minogue. Good food – including open-air barbecues during the summer months – just adds to the attraction.
reviewed
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W
The Tun
Set among the glass-and-steel architecture of the redeveloped Holyrood district, the Tun is a funky fish-tank of a place, with chunky leather sofas and steel bar stools. It’s popular with political types and media people from the neighbouring BBC studios and the Scotsman newspaper offices just across the road.
reviewed
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X
Corinthian
A breathtaking domed ceiling and majestic chandeliers make Corinthian an awesome venue. Originally a bank and later Glasgow's High Court, this regal building's main bar has to be seen to be believed. Cosy wraparound seating and space to spare are complemented by a snug wine bar and a plush club downstairs in old court cells.
reviewed