The Raging Bull

Walk into The Raging Bull and you'll immediately clock why this place has become a proper fixture on the Lothian Road circuit. It's got that rare quality of feeling genuinely welcoming without being trying-too-hard about it—the sort of bar where you can rock up solo for a drink and actually enjoy yourself, or bring a crew and still have space to breathe. The cocktails are the main event here; they're technically sound and flavourful without tipping into that pretentious territory where you need a dictionary to order a drink. The bartenders have clearly put in the work to understand what they're making.