Encore Edinburgh

You're on Hope Street, that stretch between the West End and the city centre where things feel a bit more grown-up than Lothian Road but less stuffy than Princes Street. Encore takes itself seriously about cocktails without the pretension—think classic serves done right, knowledgeable bartenders who actually listen to what you want, and a room that's confident enough not to shout about itself. It's the sort of place where you can roll in after work or dress up before dinner without anyone giving you a second look, which is precisely why locals keep coming back.