8 Best Rooftop Bars in Edinburgh (2026)

Best Rooftop Bars in Edinburgh

Let’s be honest about Edinburgh’s weather. You will get rained on. The wind off the Firth of Forth has a way of finding you no matter which direction you’re facing, and even in July there’s a decent chance you’ll be reaching for a jacket by 7pm. But here’s what Edinburgh has that most cities don’t: when the sun comes out, the views from its rooftops are extraordinary. Castle ramparts, volcanic hills, church spires, and the silver line of the Forth stretching toward Fife. On a clear summer evening, drinking on an Edinburgh rooftop is as good as it gets anywhere in the UK.

The rooftop scene here is smaller than London’s or Manchester’s. Edinburgh’s historic buildings and strict planning rules mean you won’t find a rooftop bar on every other corner. What you will find is a tight collection of spots that range from craft beer terraces under the castle walls to 12th-floor cocktail bars with 360-degree panoramas. Most of them charge a premium for the privilege of altitude, but a few are surprisingly affordable. The key is knowing which ones are worth the price, and which ones are coasting on the view alone.

If you’re visiting between June and August, book ahead for the outdoor terraces. If you’re here in winter, several of these spots have heated indoor lounges with floor-to-ceiling windows that make the dark evenings feel intentional rather than depressing. And if you’re looking for Edinburgh’s best bars regardless of altitude, check out our guide to the best bars in Edinburgh.

1. 1820 Rooftop Bar

Sitting on top of the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street, 1820 is the rooftop bar that most visitors end up at first, and for good reason. The views out toward the Old Town and the castle are genuinely stunning, the cocktail menu is solid, and if you’ve just done the whisky tour downstairs you get a discount on your drinks. The food leans Scottish with charcuterie boards and cheese plates that are well-executed if not revolutionary. Cocktail-wise, the bartender Mike gets called out by name in multiple reviews, which is always a good sign.

The catch is that the table timing system confuses people. Several reviewers mention being told their table was only booked for a set window, which feels a bit corporate for what should be a relaxed rooftop drink. Book ahead, especially in summer, and be clear about how long you want to stay. The outdoor terrace is where you want to be if the weather cooperates. On a still evening, with the castle lit up and a whisky cocktail in hand, it’s hard to argue with this as Edinburgh’s best rooftop experience.

1

1820 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant Edinburgh

bar New Town

4.8 Google 145 Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 4BL, UK

• Enjoy hand-crafted cocktails with stunning views of Edinburgh
• Try delicious food like charcuterie and cheese plates
• Relax in a nice ambiance after visiting Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Tip

Consider making a reservation to avoid any confusion about table timings

"The 1820 Rooftop Bar sits atop the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street. Amazing views of Edinburgh, good cocktails made by Mike, and a discount for whisky tour participants."

Google Maps Website

2. Cold Town House

This is the one that most people picture when they think of Edinburgh rooftop bars. A converted church on the corner of the Grassmarket and King Stables Road, Cold Town House has three floors of drinking, eating, and, crucially, a roof terrace that looks straight up at the southern face of Edinburgh Castle. The proximity is the thing. You’re not squinting at the castle across a skyline; it’s right there, looming above you while you eat pizza.

The beer is brewed on-site, the Neapolitan pizzas come from a stone oven, and the whole operation feels more like a good pub than a rooftop bar trying too hard. They’ve installed old ski-lift gondola seats on the roof, which sounds kitsch but actually works as windbreaks on breezy evenings. Blankets are provided. The haggis pizza exists and is better than it sounds. On summer weekends the terrace gets rammed, so booking is basically mandatory. Midweek lunches are the sweet spot: same view, half the crowd, and you can actually hear yourself talk. Winner of Best Beer Bar at the Scottish Beer Awards, which tells you the brewing is more than an afterthought. Prices are reasonable by rooftop standards.

2

Cold Town House

bar Old Town & Royal Mile $$

4.5 Google 4 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU, UK

• The closest rooftop view of Edinburgh Castle you'll find anywhere
• Craft beer brewed on-site with Neapolitan pizza from a stone oven
• Gondola seats and blankets for when the Edinburgh wind picks up

Tip

Book the roof terrace in advance, especially on summer weekends

"Cold Town House has craft beer brewed on-site, Neapolitan pizzas, and one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle from its roof terrace. Winner of Best Beer Bar at the Scottish Beer Awards."

Google Maps Website

3. W Deck

The newest and flashiest entry on this list. W Deck occupies the 12th floor of the W Edinburgh hotel in St James Quarter, and the 360-degree views are the best in the city. Full stop. Calton Hill, Arthur’s Seat, the castle, George Street, the Forth. You can see all of it. The Edinburgh-inspired cocktails lean into local references: the Arthur’s Seat mixes Bacardi with pineapple and creme de mure; the Leith Walk uses Bombay Sapphire with a mint-infused nori liqueur. There are heated glass pods for when the weather turns, which in Edinburgh could be any given Tuesday.

The downsides are real. W Deck is only fully open Friday to Sunday in warmer months, and reservations open just 7 days in advance, subject to weather. If it’s raining, you might be drinking in the 11th-floor W Lounge instead, which is perfectly nice but not what you came for. The dress code is a thing. At least one reviewer reported waiting 40 minutes for service after not being dressed up enough. Cocktails are in the £14-16 range, which is steep even by rooftop standards. But on a clear evening in July, with the sun setting behind the castle and the whole city spread out below you, it’s worth every penny.

3

W Deck

bar New Town $$$

4.4 Google 1 Saint James Square, Edinburgh EH1 3AX, UK

• 360-degree views from the 12th floor including Calton Hill, the Castle, and Arthur's Seat
• Heated glass igloos for year-round rooftop drinking
• Edinburgh-inspired cocktails like the Arthur's Seat and the Leith Walk

Tip

Reservations open 7 days in advance and are weather-dependent

"W Deck is on the 12th floor of W Edinburgh in St James Quarter. 360-degree views, seasonal cocktails, and heated pods. Open Friday to Sunday in warmer months. Service can be slow and the dress code is enforced."

Google Maps Website

4. Nor’ Loft

Seven floors up in the Market Street Hotel, wedged between the Old Town and Waverley Station, Nor’ Loft is Edinburgh’s only dedicated rooftop champagne lounge. The name is a nod to the Nor’ Loch, the lake that once sat where Princes Street Gardens are now and doubled as the city’s medieval rubbish dump. The decor includes fireplaces designed so the angles represent the first five notes of the Scottish national anthem, which is the kind of detail that’s either charming or overthought depending on your tolerance for design concepts.

What matters more: the champagne list has over 20 labels, and glasses start at £8.50, which is genuinely cheap for champagne in Edinburgh. The seasonal small plates are designed for sharing and lean Scottish. The full-height windows on all sides mean you don’t actually need to be outside to feel like you’re above the city. Service is the weak point; reviewers mention slow table service and inconsistency, which is frustrating at a venue that clearly takes its interiors seriously. Go during the daytime for a quieter experience and the best light through those windows.

4

Nor' Loft

bar Old Town & Royal Mile

4.4 Google 6 Market St, Edinburgh EH1 1DE, UK

• Edinburgh's only dedicated rooftop champagne lounge
• Over 20 champagne labels, with glasses starting from £8.50
• Panoramic views from the 7th floor between the Old and New Towns

Tip

Try visiting during the day for a quieter, more relaxed champagne session with full views

"Nor' Loft is a 7th-floor champagne lounge atop Market Street Hotel. Over 20 champagne labels, seasonal small plates, and panoramic Edinburgh views. Service can be inconsistent but the setting is stunning."

Google Maps Website

5. Chaophraya Edinburgh

A Thai restaurant probably isn’t the first thing you think of when someone says “rooftop bar,” but Chaophraya on Castle Street earns its place here. It’s on the 4th floor, the views toward Edinburgh Castle are direct and unobstructed, and they’ve installed a retractable glass roof over the terrace so you can eat pad Thai with a view even when it’s drizzling. The cocktail menu is solid, with a Thai-influenced twist on several classics. The massaman curry and the Weeping Tiger steak are the standout dishes.

It’s a chain with restaurants in several UK cities, and that shows in the occasional corporate touches, but the Edinburgh location punches above the brand. The food is consistently good, the space is attractive, and the castle view from a terrace table at sunset is genuinely special. Prices reflect the setting; you’re paying a premium over a street-level Thai restaurant, and portions are sized accordingly. Book a terrace table specifically when you reserve, or you’ll end up inside. Popular for date nights and birthdays, which means the atmosphere skews more “occasion dining” than “casual rooftop drinks.” If you want to eat well with a view rather than just drink, this is the strongest option on this list.

5

Chaophraya Edinburgh

restaurant New Town $$$

4.5 Google 4th Floor, 33 Castle St, Edinburgh EH2 3DN, UK

• Rooftop Thai dining with retractable glass roof for year-round views
• Direct sightline to Edinburgh Castle from the terrace
• Full Thai menu with signature dishes like Weeping Tiger steak

Tip

Request a terrace table when booking for the best castle views

"Chaophraya is a 4th-floor Thai restaurant on Castle Street with castle views through floor-to-ceiling windows and a retractable roof terrace. Consistent Thai food with strong cocktail menu. Popular for special occasions."

Google Maps Website

6. SKYbar Edinburgh

Perched on top of the DoubleTree by Hilton on Bread Street, SKYbar has some of the most dramatic views in Edinburgh. The outdoor terrace looks straight at Edinburgh Castle, and on a clear day you can see past the city to the Firth of Forth. They do a Sunday SKYBrunch with sharing platters and live jazz that gets consistently positive reviews. The cocktails are competent if not groundbreaking.

One major caveat: SKYbar is primarily an events and wedding venue, and it only opens to the public on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the year. Check their website or social media before making the trip, because showing up to a locked door is a real possibility. When it is open, reviewers mention that the decor feels a bit dated and the service can be patchy. The staff are friendly, but you might wait a while for someone to take your order. Despite that, the view alone makes it worth a visit if you happen to be in the West End on a day it’s open. Just don’t plan your evening around it without confirming first.

6

SKYbar Edinburgh

bar West End

4.1 Google 34 Bread St, Edinburgh EH3 9AF, UK

• Panoramic castle views from both the indoor lounge and outdoor terrace
• Elevated Sunday SKYBrunch with sharing platters and live jazz
• One of the highest vantage points for drinks in the city

Tip

Check opening times before visiting as SKYbar is only open to the public on selected weekends

"SKYbar sits on top of the DoubleTree by Hilton with stunning castle views. Primarily an events venue, open to public on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Great views but service can be slow."

Google Maps Website

7. Forth Floor at Harvey Nichols

The name is a double pun. It’s on the fourth floor of Harvey Nichols, and it overlooks the Firth of Forth. Whether that’s clever or annoying depends entirely on how you feel about department store bars. The Forth Floor has 32 metres of floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around outdoor terrace that opens in warmer months. The wine list runs to over 350 varieties, the cocktails are well-made, and the food is Scottish-European with dishes like haggis croquettes and pan-roasted stone bass.

It’s the most polished option on this list in terms of the overall package. The interior is smart casual, the service is professional, and the views over the Old Town skyline are excellent. The outdoor terrace fills up fast on sunny days, but the bar inside is spacious enough that you can usually get a window seat. Opening hours vary by day and close earlier than you might expect: 6pm on Mondays, 10pm most other weeknights. Not the place for a late-night drink, but for a mid-afternoon glass of wine with a view, or a cocktail before dinner, it does the job better than anywhere else in the New Town.

8. The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage

Technically a restaurant rather than a bar, but The Lookout earns its place here because the setting is unlike anything else in Edinburgh. It’s a glass box perched on Calton Hill, with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides giving you panoramic views of the city, the Firth of Forth, and Arthur’s Seat. The effect is like eating inside a very well-catered observation deck. The seasonal set menu uses Scottish produce, the presentation is careful, and the staff are knowledgeable about the ingredients.

The honest negatives: portions are small for the price, which comes up in almost every review. This is fine-dining sizing, so come hungry and manage your expectations. The 4.1 Google rating is lower than you’d expect for a place this good-looking, and the portion issue is the main reason. If you treat it as a cocktail-and-small-plates stop rather than a full dinner destination, you’ll leave happier. The lunch set menu is the best value. Reservations are recommended, though some people have walked in and found a table. The walk up Calton Hill to get there is part of the experience; you’re earning your view. On a clear evening, this is the most memorable place to have a drink in Edinburgh, even if the drink comes with a tasting menu you didn’t entirely expect. For more vantage points around the city, see our guide to Edinburgh’s best views.

8

The Lookout by Gardener's Cottage

restaurant Broughton & Calton

4.1 Google 4.0 TripAdvisor 38 Calton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AA, UK

• Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Edinburgh from a high vantage point
• Experience an intimate dining setting with attentive staff and fresh seasonal produce
• Indulge in a delicious lunch set menu crafted with care and attention to detail

Tip

Reservations are recommended due to limited seating; however, you might get lucky like some visitors who found available tables upon arrival

"The Lookout by Gardener's Cottage offers a unique dining experience with exceptional views of Edinburgh, highlighted by its minimalistic design and panoramic vistas. While some reviewers found the portion sizes small for the price, others praised the quality of ingredients and presentation."

Google Maps Website

Planning Your Rooftop Bar Crawl

Edinburgh is compact enough that you can hit several of these spots in a single evening without needing a taxi. Start at Cold Town House in the Grassmarket for a late afternoon beer with the castle looming above you. From there, walk up to Chaophraya on Castle Street for a cocktail or early dinner with the retractable roof open. Then head along George Street to the Forth Floor at Harvey Nichols for a glass of wine as the light changes over the skyline.

If you want the full panoramic experience, save W Deck for a clear Friday or Saturday evening when the 12th-floor terrace is open. And if champagne is more your speed, Nor’ Loft is a five-minute walk from Waverley Station, making it an easy first or last stop.

Summer evenings are the obvious time for rooftop drinking, but Edinburgh’s late-June sunsets stretch past 10pm, which means golden hour at a rooftop bar can last what feels like forever. Budget roughly £12-16 per cocktail at the hotel rooftops, and closer to £5-6 for a pint at Cold Town House if you want to keep costs down. The honest advice: pick two or three from this list rather than trying to do all eight. Edinburgh rewards slowing down, and spending a whole evening at one good rooftop is better than rushing through four.

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